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melissabik

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It was refreshing to be in a place where people spoke English.  Even though I had learned most of the language in Croatia, English was far easier.  Sam’s cousins had a nice house on a quaint little block in a town called Yorkshire.  They gave us a room with comfortable white sheets and yellow walls.  It was just what I needed.  The first two days flew by like a blur.  I didn’t even really remember them; I slept through most of it.  I officially met his cousins, Burt, who was married to Emma, and Roger, Burt’s brother.  Burt and Roger were very comical, and Emma was so sweet.  She made me tea and cookies, and it reminded me of Millie…  I was really beginning to miss everyone, but this place was a haven, and it was really helping me.  I sat out on the porch in their backyard that overlooked the ocean.  It was beautiful.  I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply.  “You look much better today,” Emma remarked as she arrived with a tray of crumpets.

I opened my eyes and smiled up at her as she sat down next to me.  “England is doing wonders to me,” I replied as I took a crumpet and began eating it.  Emma turned her gaze to the water.  “I have to tell you that I am very glad you are here,” she stated sincerely.  I nodded.  “Well, I am glad to be here,” I replied sweetly, relieved to be over the hurdle of despair.  “I don’t have very many girlfriends, and when Sam brought you here, I was ecstatic.  I miss having simple little conversations about girly things…  Roger and Burt aren’t much for womanly conversations like that,” Emma exclaimed with a smile escaping her lips.  I laughed as I leaned back on the patio recliner and closed my eyes again.  “Would you like some girly conversation right now?” I joked.  Emma laughed as she got up and took the tray from the table.

“You just relax and fully recover.  Then you and I can go shopping in town for some new outfits,” she stated with excitement as she walked back inside.  A few moments later, Roger emerged with a glass of iced tea and sat down in the spot Emma had left.  “Beautiful day,” he remarked as he turned towards me.  I nodded.  Roger was generally quiet, but with Burt, he was lethally comical.  “How are you feeling?” he asked politely.  I shrugged my shoulders.  “Much better; England is very refreshing…  How are you?” I asked, knowing that people didn’t generally ask Roger that question.  He was working very hard for his brother.  He had built the house they were living in; he was an architect.  He was busy with his business, and that gave him very little time for any personal life.  He was generally alone…  Roger smiled at my question.  “I’m all right…  Lonesome, but at least I’ve got my health,” he replied. 

Emma looked through the dresses to find me one that matched my eyes.  “I think that this one would look wonderful on you,” she exclaimed as she pulled out a purple dress; it was simple, but still elegant.  “It really makes your eyes pop,” she added as she held it up against me.  She seemed a bit happier than usual.  I smiled as I glanced over into the mirror at myself.  The reason we were looking for a dress was because Sam and I were going to have a special night…  We hadn’t had much time for relaxation or any dates since we ran away, and tonight was going to be the night we would stay in each other’s arms and forget about the rest of the world.  “Are you excited?” Emma asked as she gave me the dress to hold while she looked for some more dresses.  “I am… But you seem more excited than I do,” I remarked as I took a good look at her.  Emma shrugged her shoulders as she turned to me.  “What are you talking about?” she asked nonchalantly.

I cocked my head to the side and eyed her curiously.  “You seem different today,” I stated.  Emma hesitated for a moment, considering whether she wanted to tell me the news she was obviously hiding.  “Well… if you must know… I’m pregnant!” she replied with glee as she waited for my reaction.  My eyes widened as I put the dress down.  “You’re serious?” I asked in shock.  Emma nodded, waiting for me to respond.  “That’s wonderful!” I replied as I rushed over to her and hugged her.  Emma smiled as her eyes began to water.  “Do you think Burt will be happy?” she asked with worry.  I smiled.  “Of course!  He is going to be thrilled,” I exclaimed to reassure her.  She began to laugh.  “I just can’t believe I’m pregnant!” she stated in disbelief.  I squeezed her arm to assure her that everything was going to be wonderful. 

We continued to look at some more dresses and I decided on the purple one that Emma had picked out for me.  We talked about how she could tell Burt about the baby as we walked down the street towards the house.  As we arrived, the door was open.  Suddenly my heart stopped.  “Who left the door open?” Emma wondered as she walked up to the door slowly.  Something was wrong…  I rushed in front of her and into the house.  It seemed quiet and empty.  “Sam?” I called in worry.  Something was definitely wrong.  Things were out of place, and it looked as though someone was looking for something.  “Burt?  Roger?” Emma called as she entered the house after me.  My heart pounded even harder as I searched the house.  But there was no one around.  Sam, Roger, and Burt had gone missing.  And someone had entered the house while they were gone…  Gabe, my mind screamed.  I didn’t want to believe it.  I didn’t want to believe that Gabe had found us…  But that was the only explanation to all of this.  What if he already captured Sam?  What if Sam was dead?

Fear gripped me as I went out onto the patio in the back of the house.  There was no one there.  “Sam?” I screamed out, feeling terrified.  It was silent for a moment when there was a reply.  “Kat?”  It was Sam’s voice.  It was coming from the entrance of the house.  I raced back inside and to the front.  As soon as I saw his face, relief washed over me.  I ran into his arms and embraced him.  “What happened here?” Burt asked as he entered the house with Roger.  “I think someone tried to rob us,” Emma exclaimed, not knowing what else to say.  I looked up into Sam’s eyes.  He could read me.  He knew exactly what I was saying.  “Gabe?” he whispered.  I nodded slowly.  “I think so,” I whispered back.  Roger noticed us conversing and turned to us.  “Does this have something to do with you, Sam?” he asked.

Sam turned towards Roger and glanced over at Burt and Emma.  He didn’t want to answer, but he knew he had to tell them the truth.  “Yeah… we think so,” he answered slowly.  “If you want us to leave, we understand,” I added, feeling terrible that we were putting them all in danger.  Emma shook her head.  “Of course not…  You two can stay here as long as you want,” she replied.  I shook my head.  “But you could all be in danger.  I don’t want to jeopardize all of you… Especially you, Emma,” I stated.  As soon as the words were out, I knew the cat was out of the bag.  “Oops,” I added quietly.  Everyone turned to Emma.  “What is Katarina talking about?” Burt asked, searching Emma’s face.  “I am so sorry, Emma,” I stated.  Emma shook her head.  “It’s okay…  Well, Burt…” she began as she took Burt’s hands, “I found out some wonderful news today.”  Burt was confused.  “What’s that?” he asked.

“Well… you see… there is going to be one more person in this house soon,” she exclaimed.  Burt’s eyes widened.  “You mean…” He couldn’t even finish his sentence.  Emma nodded with a smile.  “We’re pregnant!” she exclaimed with glee.  Burt’s face lit up as he picked Emma up and spun her around.  “I don’t believe this!  We must celebrate!” he stated.  For that moment, even though we were all worried about Gabe making an appearance, Emma’s news was somehow a blessing.  Her child was helping us all to forget about our worries and just relax, for whatever time being.