Chapter 18

By the time we reached home, Zeke and the others were already awake and helping my mom in the lively kitchen and I saw Leo's car parked outside, so I assumed he might have dropped in as well.

"You go in, I'll bring in the stuffs", Joshua told me and I obliged as I needed to use the restroom urgently. What was it with all my frequent peeing I wondered but thought it must be one of the many effects of pregnancy and brushed the thought aside, I just needed to rush to the restroom for now before I peed on my pants and that wouldn't be a good sight.

"Hey Issy, you never told me about your hottie cousin over there",Gabby who opened the door started as soon as she saw me. I could only brush her aside and run to use the restroom. "Well, that was a nice hello",I heard her say.

After finishing my business, I came out and came to the kitchen to find Zeke and Aurora peeling the peas and my mom chattering about my childhood and how much of a naughty kid I had been, while Leo was adding in more of my childhood mishaps and apparently enjoying their laughs at my expense. Joshua sat at the side and occasionally smiled at Leo's stories, while Gabby was only too happy to be in the company of three handsome men and relished their company. She saw me looking at her and she only winked at me with a sly smile,and continued to do what she was doing earlier.

"How can I help?",I announced and my mom only replied nonchalantly, "Your friends here have already done everything, you can just sit and relax while we have fun and do the cooking". "By fun,we mean sharing all your dark childhood secrets to them ", Leo said and I could only roll my eyes at him. He sure was having fun I could tell.

"Issy, I never assumed you to be a climbing and falling off trees kinda girl",Zeke said while Gabby added,"And don't forget the pranking teachers with a fake tarantula. Just how did you pull that one up?",she laughed again and I only winced at the memory of having my parents called to the principal's office after that stunt I pulled. That felt like a very long time ago. When did I turn into this serious, always stressed out, not having fun kind of person? After I fell in love with Roy, my mind answered for me.

I turned away and looked at where Joshua was seated and looked at him, just to see him looking at me, as if studying me. I gave him a smile and looked away and went over to help them with whatever I could so I wouldn't let my mind drift away to Roy. The doorbell ringing came to my rescue as I went to get the door.

"I see the whole family's in the kitchen,let me freshen up and join you guys",my dad said and went to his room. Since there were already enough people helping my mom in the kitchen, I took the time to go out in the garden my mom kept. I sat in the garden swing and gently tried to swing like I did when I was younger.

I let my pent up tears flow out as there was no one here and I didn't need to pretend that it didn't hurt. Sure,I was glad that my family and friends accepted the news of my pregnancy graciously, but it still hurt cause how could I forget everything between Roy and I in just a couple of few weeks. What hurt most was that all the love I gave Roy and everything I did for him, he just tossed it away.

Was it my ego that was hurt or was it just how heart breaks felt, I wondered,cause I knew that even though Roy would take me and my child,if he didn't change his flirtatious ways,I would always end up getting hurt. My mind made perfect sense,but my heart still hurt and missed him. Despite the wonderful friends and family surrounding me,my heart still missed him and that hurt a lot.

"So this is where you're hiding",Joshua came up behind me. I quickly wiped the tears off my face, but he had already seen it and passed me some tissues. I was surprised that he had tissues on him, and it was apparent on my face,so he chuckled and replied,"I always keep some with me,you never know when you'd need them, like now",he looked at me and smiled.

"Thank you Joshua. I didn't mean for anyone to see me like this",I said honestly."I just needed to let it out",I added and shrugged."I understand you do, but you need to take less stress and take the medicines I prescribed",he simply stated matter- of-factly.He was being Dr. Joshua Williams now,so I only nodded and assured him with a smile,"Aye aye doctor. I won't do anything to bring harm to my baby".