What If I Do?

Chapter 29: And Baby Makes Three

August 12, 2005

Dave and I got married on August 2, 2003 and things where going pretty good. After about a year of being married we started trying for a baby. We had been trying for about a year and I was doubtful it would ever happen. After we celebrated our second wedding anniversary we said we would keep trying but not as actively as we had before. Taylor and Abby where now married and trying to start a family themselves. The guys where on tour for their new record In Your Honor. I had left the tour to come home to see my aunt who wasn't doing so good since Carlos left her. Since I had known I was going to be in town I had scheduled a doctors appointment. I was on my way out the door to go to my aunt's when the phone rang.

"Hello," I said after I picked it up.

"Hi is Brittany Lane there?" the girl on the other end asked.

"Speaking," I replied.

"Hey there this is Dr. Jones's office. We got your test results in and I'm just calling to see if you can come in today at 3?" the girl asked. I told her I could be there and then headed over to my aunts. I let myself in and found her sitting on the couch completely out of it and staring at the wall.

"Hey aunt Jane. How are you doing?" I asked as I sat down beside her. She turned her head to look at me and then smiled momentarily.

"My perfect little Penny is here. How are you my dear?" she asked me, ignoring what I said.

"I'm ok. How are you though? You look tired," I replied. Aunt Jane grabbed my hands and just heled them as she looked at me.

"Oh I'm fine. Do you want some pills sweetie? They make everything feel good," she asked as she reached over to the coffee table.

"Uh no I'm good and I think you are too. Aunt Jane I love you and I really think you should not take anymore of those," I said as she knocked a stack of papers over as she grabbed the pill bottle. I noticed a mirror with a decent sized pile of cocaine on it and decided I needed to get her out of here.

"Just one more baby. I just want to be numb. You wouldn't understand Penny. You're happily married to the man of your dreams," Jane said in response.

"I do know what it's like aunt Jane. Dave broke my heart a few times before we finally got it right. Carlos is a moron for leaving you. Hey why don't you go take a nap instead of that pill. I can stay here while you nap and maybe clean up a bit before I get you up. You can come to the doctors with me if you want. I could use someone since everyone is still on tour," I said. I took the pill bottle from her and she didn't put up a fight which surprised me.

"Are you okay? Are you dying sweetie?" Jane asked me. She looked about as worried as she could with the state she was in.

"As far as I know I'm fine. I had my yearly physical and then she asked me come back in today after running some tests," I responded with.

"Ok well I got an idea. Why don't I do some of that over there and then we'll clean for an hour. Then we'll go see if you're okay. I don't need to lose you too," my aunt said.

I watched as she leaned over and pulled the mirror over to her. I got up and started picking up the beer and wine bottles as she did a couple of lines. We cleaned for an hour before my aunt went to shower and get ready. She seemed a little more normal now but I knew that was just the coke. When she came down the stairs she looked like the old Jane but just more clumsy and paler. I still couldn't believe that Carlos, who had adored my aunt more than anything, left her for someone younger. If I ever saw him again I'd probably kill him or at least yell at him. We headed to the doctors and got there a few minutes before three. We were brought into her office and we waited for her. My aunt couldn't sit still and kept bouncing her knee, tapping her foot or biting her nails. When the doctor came in I was relieved because my aunt was driving me nuts.