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. 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R58xNpuYB
"So," Charlotte says, "what kind of clothes are we going to get?"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF26dFKokMv
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."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98aFXojU1b
"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."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpo7DnHGMq
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.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OOsOjkdIv
"What is—"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH19J5S5beK
"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.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcknaBKv66A
"Hi, Charlotte."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT1hcHiGyY
I sigh.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP7LTEkXoP
"Hi, Samual."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXQ1cdzhrQ
I look at her confused. And then I hear it.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztxcVlETU4
"Samual. I've been looking all over for you."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBvC1necDx
"Dra—"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNmMReaDUP
"Shut up! What have I told you about saying my name in public?"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz873KU4WRF
"Not to."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKUaHPKaWI
"Right. Um … I need, uh, ah, yes."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPh88QErfjZ
I hear him approaching and frantically look around. I start to walk away and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I wince.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgrA2fk6Se
"Well, look who it is. Miss Nikki. What could you possibly be doing here?"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9WZsOLlNa
"None of your business," I reply, straightening up and keeping my back facing him.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstY0dZ0iEc
"Ah, I see." He sighs. "You've been hiding something from me, haven't you?"
I wince, closing my eyes. "How did—"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oNwvhAOAk
"I’m not stupid, Nikki. I've seen the way you act when you hear I'm around."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniX3z0qQK6
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." 397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRkfk7yi9t
I turn around and start to walk away, but he grabs my arm. I look at him, horrified. He just stares right back, shocked.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9fJ05iXYu
"You can't be serious." He glances at my abdomen. He gasps and pulls me closer. He gently hugs me and kisses my forehead.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Elk2IQeT
At first, I'm completely shocked, but then I drop the sweaters and snuggle closer. So warm.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01oYCIFJh7
"You know, you could've told me sooner," he whispers.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZR2uSqIGz
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.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhm8LzrIzt
"Shh, it's alright. No need for the tears."397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiToDRB7mTP
I hear a gasp and he looks up. He pulls me closer protectively.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBjdxATgtb
"Nikki? What—Dracula?"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtJILGSwui
"Shut up Charlotte." He looks at me sympathetically and whispers, "Why didn't you tell me someone was here with you?"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhvwVDUESy
"I forgot." I look around me and gasp. "Charlotte, I'm so sorry. I—I forgot. I didn't—"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA80qCSFWEc
"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?"397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKf7Tjx3gV
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.397Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXC8CZzE5R
