After about a month, my pregnancy really starts showing. Finally, one day, on a Sunday, mom takes Charlotte and me to the mall. She drops us off and heads to work. 242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu77QOikSm
"So," Charlotte says, "what kind of clothes are we going to get?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYkfeQbPF5
I turn to her. "We're definitely getting oversized sweaters. I know they have those. Anything oversized that would look good to hide my pregnancy."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ419JpZffds
"Okay. Will do. You're so lucky I got my mom to cash two checks of 200 Romanian lei yesterday. Or else you would be just SOL. I'm serious."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYCDmakIsx
We get inside the mall and go straight for the nearest clothes shop. Once at the clothes shop, I spot the last person I want to see right now. I quickly push Charlotte behind the nearest clothes rack and watch him carefully.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14AIfGncWX
"What is—"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwHrnsrKeU
"Shh!" I give her a stern look and stab a finger at him.
She gasps and scurries over to the next clothes rack. Thankfully, it's women's sweaters. I immediately start looking through them. I look up and instantly regret it. Standing at the clothes rack that we were just at is one of Dracula's assistants. I let out a slow, silent sigh as he moves away. He glances over and I quickly hide behind the rack.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG4thdrDS3
"Hi, Charlotte."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFRfXQyutd
I sigh.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RNeBGDKUT
"Hi, Samual."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxCQvGtRzT
I look at her confused. And then I hear it.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsNlRnP4dK
"Samual. I've been looking all over for you."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJLaBMmZA8
"Dra—"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcUZhSgOH2
"Shut up! What have I told you about saying my name in public?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUVnU9hhsm
"Not to."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxayxlHqoN
"Right. Um … I need, uh, ah, yes."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Dsno2rjcE
I hear him approaching and frantically look around. I start to walk away and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I wince.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqViwbBn5Im
"Well, look who it is. Miss Nikki. What could you possibly be doing here?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoGY2RJDnB
"None of your business," I reply, straightening up and keeping my back facing him.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QiBXkE86B
"Ah, I see." He sighs. "You've been hiding something from me, haven't you?"
I wince, closing my eyes. "How did—"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH6MqXybmR
"I’m not stupid, Nikki. I've seen the way you act when you hear I'm around."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UAv9DJIg5
I whirl around. "Okay. Fine. Since you want to know so fricken badly, I'll tell you. I'm pregnant. Happy? Now leave me alone." 242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf07fVv01J
I turn around and start to walk away, but he grabs my arm. I look at him, horrified. He just stares right back, shocked.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlkBPEd8bH
"You can't be serious." He glances at my abdomen. He gasps and pulls me closer. He gently hugs me and kisses my forehead.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB2Teu1Ur3
At first, I'm completely shocked, but then I drop the sweaters and snuggle closer. So warm.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRmf0gRkTb
"You know, you could've told me sooner," he whispers.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYRIpAWsi4
I adjust and that's when I realize that I'm crying. I lift my head and look up at him. He's smiling. I smile. He looks down at me. He lifts up his hand and wipes away my tears.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPJnizoZX3
"Shh, it's alright. No need for the tears."242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMCoxcFOQc
I hear a gasp and he looks up. He pulls me closer protectively.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn9Wi5TKRk
"Nikki? What—Dracula?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyLgy5xEae
"Shut up Charlotte." He looks at me sympathetically and whispers, "Why didn't you tell me someone was here with you?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUSnoTIaEp
"I forgot." I look around me and gasp. "Charlotte, I'm so sorry. I—I forgot. I didn't—"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGJnXLkXEj
"Don't. We really need to get going. I got you some sweaters. I've also called a taxi. You've got a doctor's appointment today, remember?"242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVAEvIaXAk
I look up at Dracula, back at Charlotte, and up at Dracula. I push away and grab his hand. I pull it up and press it against my lips. I kiss it and put it on my cheek just as a tear escapes from my eye. I smile. He smiles back. I back away slowly, holding his hand. I continue to back away and let his hand drop to his side. On our way out of the shop, I take one last glance at him and smile. He smiles back and I reach out my hand. He does the same and Charlotte and I leave.242Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwBo1DJyXH
