unsolved disappearances » otis and ruby

Part 15

With the decision to attend a doctors appointment with Noah, it meant having to be referred to both the local general practice and a sexual health clinic. I was lucky under my work contract all my medical needs were covered during my time in New Zealand.

I sat impatiently in a doctors office while I wait for my assigned doctor to return with my results. My records from the sexual health clinic were slow to process and we had been waiting around in town for hours. "Sorry about the wait." The doctor apologises. "So like the nurse predicted we indicate you to be about nine to ten weeks pregnant, now is this the father?"

Noah gives a large grin, I almost want to die of embarrassment. "Yes." He simply answers, not wanting to have any more judgement put over me.

"Well, the good news is, with all the routine tests you and the baby are in perfect health. You've been keeping very active, which we like to see." The doctor comments. "My only recommendation from this point on is taking things easier and make sure to take the prescribed dosage of medication you'll pick up from the chemist." 

"Thank you." I thank the doctor when I was free to leave, picking up some valuable paperwork needed for some more bloodwork and my prescription for the medication. "So was that so bad?" Noah asks me as we get into his truck.

"More boring than excepted. I wasn't too anxious about the whole process." I explain. "Just makes everything feel really real now, I'm actually carrying a child."

"Thanks for being the sit in baby daddy," I comment which makes Noah laugh as he starts his ute.

"Anytime." He assures. "Do you think you'll return back home to the UK? Let everyone know that you're okay."

I shrug my shoulders. I was still undecided on that. I fear that there would be a lot of people that had only have negative things to say about me. "Still deciding on that, besides we still have another month left of work before we can go around and travel, I still need to explore more of the North Island," I say changing the subject.

"Ruby, as the caring fill in baby daddy. I'm urging you to go home as soon as possible. If it works out with my plans, I'll even join you for support." He offers.

"That's like a two-thousand dollar round trip just for the tickets." I remind him.

"Money doesn't mean anything unless you're able to do some good with it." He reminds me.

"I'll think about it," I say dropping the subject.

We sit in silence for the rest of the car ride. Making small comments on how bad the traffic was during the peak travel season. When Noah parks his car in the staff car park he turns to me once more. "Do you know someone called Eric Effiong?" 

The mention of that name catches me off-guard as I just stare at Noah like he had grown another head. "Possibly," I say, the tone of my voice not convincing him, as he lets out a big sigh.

"Well, I got a message request from him explaining that a picture I recently uploaded happened to have a girl that went missing in his town. You guys also happen to have the same name." He says showing me a news article that featured information about my disappearance. 

I didn't think I had been important enough for my parents to go out and still search for me. I would've believed that my father took priority over me leaving town. "Ruby, you need to be honest with me, were there bad people after you?" Noah asks.

"No," I say quickly. "I got given the idea that I needed some space to think and figure out my actions. I freaked out when the pregnancy tests confirmed the worst, I was knocked up as a teenager." 

I could feel the tears falling down my face, as Noah pulls me in for a hug. Reassuring me I was safe. "Well, I guess this proves all your fears to return home are nothing. You have your family waiting to hear from you." He explains. "I haven't responded to the boy, he made your story sound more dramatic than what the truth is. He claims a lot of rumours are going around about you."

"Eric is dramatic, I believe he wants to live in a reality show. I suppose me disappearing meant that he could have his moment." I explain. "He's the best friend to the father."

"That also came up in his long rant, he claims he's going to investigate who the hell I am and why I had my arm wrapped around you. then he was going to steal your evil spawn to save it from your insanity." Noah explains, in a dead tone. Which meant there was truth in those words.

"That makes me scared to go back home," I answer.