Part 17



I am not swimming anymore. I decided to accompany Eric to the swimming hall today, and I even booked the whole pool for him. He thinks I’m a bit crazy for wasting that much money on him. He is right, I am crazy. Fame and the money made me become like this and it is too comfortable to stop. I don’t like crowded places at all and it also has to do with my pregnancy as I’m in the eight month. I feel like a balloon. It feels a lot better when Matt takes me to the parental courses and I meet other becoming parents.

Christmas and New years just passed so quickly, too quickly for my liking. Everyone found my Christmas gifts for them really funny. No one bought anything special so I don’t have to feel stupid or anything. We will have a baby around next year and everyone seems excited about that. I feel a lot closer to my family and I’m so happy that Matt’s parents was celebrating the whole holiday on a cruise in some warm country.

I am waiting outside the building as Eric is washing up after his swim. It is not that cold today and it is nice after the warmth indoors. It is still early in the day and the sun is making the snow glitter. Finally Eric opens the doors and joins me smiling.

”Good day madam, fancy meeting you here.”

”Hi there mister, did you enjoy your swim?”

”It was fine though a lady kept watching me.”

”Maybe she was jealous?” I unlock the car and holds up the keys to him. ”You can drive today.”

”Are you serious!” he yells with excitement.

”Just don’t get us into an accident, Matt would never forgive you if you scratched his car.”

I don’t drive the sports car anymore for different reasons. One, that car is too low and a bit small for me to sit comfortable in it. Two, Matt’s good old car is a lot safer for me to drive. Eric likes to drive but he doesn’t have a car of his own. I can’t really blame him since I bought my first car a month ago.

”Let’s go to the beach!” Eric decides and start driving.

”Didn’t you just have a swim?” I smile to him.

”It was too hot,” he says and flashes his white teeth to me.

”Fine as long as we go for some hot chocolate afterwards.”

”Deal! How is your sister doing after the move to the school?”

”Oh, she loves her new apartment. She is quite excited to live on her own. She is settling in and this is her first week in school. I am going to visit her in a few months to see how she’s doing.”

”I wish I also could start over somewhere new,” he sighs. ”My parents are watching over me like hawks.”

”I’m sorry,” I say and pity him a bit. ”They just care about you a lot. I don’t want you to leave, I just got to know you.”

”I can’t leave the town after you bought me that membership to the multi fitness centre. Just a place of my own would be good enough.”

”Your parent’s can’t stop you if you really want to move you know. Get a job and apply for college. They have to realise that you are all grown up and I do think you understand your own limitations. They should trust you enough.”

He is quiet for the rest of the drive to the beach. I have no idea why he chose such a place to be at but I guess I’ll see. The beach is located outside the town and the parking lot has a few cars in it. I see a group of people sitting around a fire, singing and roasting marshmallows. It feels a bit surreal that people actually do this during the winter and I can’t hold back a giggle.

”Actually these are my friends, I want to introduce them to you.” Eric turns off the car and I look at him wide eyed.

”Are you serious?”

”Yeah.”

”Oh wow, I hope I won’t embarrass you.” I say with a blush.

”Don’t worry, they will just eat you whole and throw the remains into the sea,” he says with an amused grin.

”Oh jeez, thanks. I feel so relieved now.”

”My pleasure madam, let me help you out of the car. I can’t have you break the door or anything.”

He walks around the car and opens the door for me and helps me out.

”Be careful, the ground is a bit icy,” he tells me caringly.

We walk slowly over to the fire, Eric is holding me tightly so I won’t fall. The wind is colder out here and the snowy beach is a beautiful sight. It is so peaceful.

”Are you usually out here?” I ask him with wonder.

”Yeah, we like to be in the nature a lot. It is better than the city pollution.”

”I like it.”

We arrive to his friends and I wave shyly to them.

”Hey Eric! So this is the pretty chick you’ve been talking about?” one of the boys calls out.

”Yeah, everyone, this is Molly. Molly this is everyone.”

”Hi, everyone it is nice to meet you,” I answer them politely to their spread hi’s.

There are five boys and three girls. I never thought about Eric’s other friends before but these seem to be quite normal healthy people. We take our seats on a thick blanket and one of the girls gives me a cup filled with hot chocolate.

”Eric said you all like to be outdoors,” I start talking, using my people skills.

”The more the better! I’m Mariah,” a black haired Asian girl says. ”We like to hike and go camping during the summer.”

”And water skate and fishing,” a boy with huge brown eyes interrupts her. ”I’m Damien. You don’t look in shape for any wilder activity though.”

I clap my belly with a huge smile.

”This little monster will soon see daylight and I’m sure I’ll be able to join you before the summer.”

If I have the time, I’ll definetly try to join. I am planning to go on a summer tour that leaves very little free time and it’s bad enough that I will be away from my baby quite a lot. I feel guilty, but I have a job and Matt want to be a stay at home dad. Summer is always the busiest time of the year.

”We look forward to it, Molly,” Damien says. ”I hope you like singing because we do that a lot.”

”Yeah I noticed that when we arrived. You didn’t have to stop just to say hi to me.”

”No problem, we get distracted a lot.”

They start singing another song and I join them quietly, afraid that they will recognise my voice if I sing too loud. We sit there for a few hours, mostly singing and my fingers gets all sticky from the marshmallows. I know I must tell Eric my secret when I’m ready, but I haven’t known him that long yet. I like that he shows me how it is like to live a normal life. His friends are really uniqe and it is quite a difference from the world I am used to. I like that they are active just like I am, we can do so much fun together. I feel it inside of me, a longing to join them and scrap the work. I never felt like this before and it scares me a bit. Damien is a really interesting guy and I end up talking with him a lot.

”I’m taking Molly home now,” Eric finally says and I frown at him. I am having fun and I want to stay a bit more but one look at his tired face makes me change my mind.

”It was nice meeting you all!” I tell them and I mean it.

”Don’t be a stranger, Molly,” Damien says with a smirk.

”Don’t worry I’ve got your number,” I laugh and waves my phone and then puts it back into my pocket.

We walk back to the car in silence. Me in a happy mood and Eric a bit down.

”I better drive you home,” I tell him with concern and we get into the car.

”I didn’t mean to spoil your fun,” he says with closed eyes.

”What are you talking about? We were there almost three hours and it is getting dark soon anyway.”

”I usually feel well, but today… I don’t know, I am just drained.”

I take a closer look on his pale face and I shiver. I wonder how his mom will react when he get’s back home. He is not the Eric I am used to and it reminds me of how sick he really is.

”I like your friends, they seem to do a lot of activities,” I start saying. ”How many of them do you have to stand over?”

”About half maybee. Not being able to do it makes me want to do it more you know?”

I nod but then shakes my head amused when I remember that he is not looking.

”Yeah, I understand. I was in your situation earlier today. I am only pregnant though, it is not a permanent condition as yours.”

”Damien seems to be a good guy to begin with.”

”What do you mean?” I turn my eyes back on the road. I think I can read people pretty well, I only got friendly vibes from him.

”He’s quite a ladies man. He cares a lot when you talk with him, but he doesn’t care as soon as you’re out of the picture. Don’t be too sad if he turns out to be an ass.”

”I’ll be careful, don’t worry,” I tell him grinning. Caring Eric is so cute!

He falls asleep before we even reach the town and it is a shame that I have to wake him up when we are outside his home. He is even cuter when he is asleep. I put a hand on his shoulder.

”Eric, you’re home.”

He wakes up slowly, smiling.

”Oh, I fell asleep,” he says sheepishly.

”Time to go home.”

”I had a nice day, I guess I’ll see you around?”

”Yeah most definetly!”

He leaves the car with his bag and I watch him disappear into the doors. I am worried about him, but even with all my money, what can I do to help him? The answer is nothing. Another person must die to give him a new heart. Whoever it is I can’t wish the life of another person like that.

The phone starts ringing and I search my pocket quickly to answer the incoming call.

”Hello, it’s Molly.”

”Sweetheart.” I melt all the way down to my toes when I hear Matt’s voice in the phone.

”I love you,” I sigh and he laughs on the other end.

”Daydreaming about me again are you?”

”Yeah, you better have a hot bath ready for me when I get home because I’ve been out all day. Eric took me to meet his friends on the beach.”

”No problem, I was starting to wonder when you’d go home. Did you have a good time?”

”Yeah. I did, did you miss me?”

”I always miss you, sweetheart. Drive safely.”

”I promise.”

I put the phone back into my pocket and I smile. I wonder when these feelings will fade, but I hope they never will. I start driving home and I feel the urge for champagne coming over me again.

”Patience,” I whisper to myself. ”I am not an alcoholic, yet…”