Halley
Part Eight
By Claire
cartersgirl@handbag.com

 Notes- A little bit of angst, but some happy stuff too! The song is called Yellow by Coldplay

‘John. John, wake up’ Carter jumped in bed and said to Halley ‘What? What’s wrong?’ Halley smiled and said ‘The baby wants a glass of milk and a chocolate donut from the box we have downstairs’ Carter groaned and said ‘It’s 3:30 AM, and you are waking me up because YOU want something to eat and drink’ ‘It’s not my fault, it’s the baby.’  

Carter sighed and dragged himself out of bed. ‘I’m gonna start bringing up the entire contents of the kitchen every time we go to bed from now on.’ Halley laughed and said ‘You love me really’ Carter smiled and said ‘That’s for sure’ Carter went downstairs, and smiled as he saw the latest sonogram picture of their baby on the kitchen table. Halley was six months pregnant now, and Carter loved seeing how happy she was. He would always see her with her hands on her bump, smiling to herself. She had had a rough time at the beginning of the pregnancy, and she still got very weepy and upset. But she was a lot happier overall than she had been for a long time, and the same went for Carter as well. He couldn’t remember a time when he had been this happy. He got Halley her donut and milk, and he went back upstairs again. 

Carter went back into their bedroom, and Halley said excitedly ‘quick John come here the baby’s kicking’ John put the donut and milk on the bedside table, and placed a hand on her bump. The baby was kicking away, and they both smiled at each other. After a few minutes, the baby stopped kicking. Carter looked at Heather and said ‘I got you your things’ She looked at the donut and milk and said ‘I don’t want them now.’ Carter stared at her before saying ‘It’s a good thing I love you so much.’ Halley giggled and switched the light off, and went back to sleep. 

Halley and Carter had been discussing their wedding plans, and they had decided to get married sometime after the baby was born. Halley was having a break at work. She was sitting on the sofa in the lounge, and she felt miserable. She was prone to having good days and bad days, and today was one of the worst. She had just woke up in the morning feeling upset and crabby. She tried to figure out what it was; but then she realised why. It was almost two years ago that Kennedy had raped her.  

Carter was at the admin desk, and he could tell there was something wrong with Halley. He knew that it was nearly two years ago since the attack, but he hadn’t mentioned it to her because he didn’t want to upset her even more. He decided to go into the lounge and see if she was ok.  

Carter walked into the lounge, and his heart nearly broke when he saw Halley slumped on the sofa, sobbing her eyes out. He went and sat next to her, holding her in his arms as he rocked her gently. He started to sing their song to her quietly.  

Look at the stars, look how they shine for you. And everything you do. And they were all yellow. I came along, I wrote a song for you. And all the things you do. And it was called Yellow. So then I took my turn, what a thing to have done. And it was all yellow. Your skin, oh yeah your skin unfolds. Turning into something beautiful. And you know, you know I love you so. You know I love you so.

 I swam across, I jumped across for you. What a thing to do. Cause we are all yellow. I drew a line; I drew a line for you. What a thing to do. And it was all yellow. And your skin, oh yeah your skin unfolds. Turning into something beautiful. And you know, you know for you I’d bleed myself dry. For you I’d bleed myself dry. Its true, look how they shine for you, look how they shine for you. Look at the stars, look how they shine for you. And all the things that you do. 

Halley’s sobs stopped and she sniffed, raising her head to look at Carter. He wiped her face with a tissue and she said ‘Thanks John’ ‘Are you going to be all right? Do you wanna go home?’ Halley shook her head and said ‘No, I feel better now after I’ve had a good cry. I’ll just go and wash my face.’ Carter kissed her and she got up and went to the bathroom. 

Halley looked at herself in the mirror. She looked such a state, tearstains streaking her face, puffy red eyes, and her ankles were hurting. She nearly burst into tears again, when she thought of Carter singing their song to her a few minutes ago, and how good and loving he was to her. She smiled, playing with her engagement ring, although her fingers were almost too swollen for her to wear it. She felt the baby kicking and she placed her hands on her stomach, realising that she had so many good things in her life at the moment. She washed her face, smiled in the mirror, and went back out to work. 

The rest of the day was ok for Halley, although she felt very tired. She and Carter were at home watching the TV. Carter had his hand on Halley’s bump, as the baby started moving around. He smiled to himself, and looked at Halley, whom he now realised was fast asleep. With some difficulty, he picked Halley up in his arms and carried upstairs and put her in their bed. 

Carter started thinking about their wedding, which they had set the date for in nine months time. He knew Halley didn’t have a lot of family, and she didn’t talk to her parents after they had abandoned her when she was a baby. Her adoptive parents were definitely coming to the wedding. Carter had met them before, and they were very nice. Halley had also met his family, and they had all gotten along well.

Carter lay down next to Halley and switched the light off, wrapping his arms around her as he also drifted off to sleep

TO BE CONTINUED