Chapter 3: Life & New Surroundings

After the party for Liana, Clovers social life became pretty non existent. She spent her days reading books, rubbing her growing belly and whispering sweet nothings to her unborn child.
She hadn't heard much from Travis, but that wasn't important. She couldn't go play love games when she was about to give birth to something that was going to change her life forever.

When the big day came, Clover was, like she expected to be, alone.
Liana was stuck at work, with her promotion she had so many new tasks, she basically lived at work. But the birth was pretty uneventful, absolutely normal, like the Doctor said. Perfect, was closer to what Clover called it.

Somehow Clover was a natural mother, she had no idea where it came from but she just felt the need to do everything possible for her child. Ellie, she had named her after her grand mother. Elisha Darkmedow.
She had Michaels eyes and his upper lip. At first Clover struggled with keeping the burning tears away when she looked upon Ellies perfect face, but eventually the hurt and anger faded and she only felt joy when she saw Ellie. She wasn't going to let the action of her father poison her life.

"I love you Ellie, My Ellie" She cooed.
As time passed, so did the family funds. Clover was on maternity leave which meant she wasn't getting much money in. She was making ends meat by writing some random articles about uninteresting things that she picked up here and there around town. However, her efforts did not stop the repoman, or woman in this case,from coming.

The repo-lady cracked up manically, as she swooped up Clovers entire kitchen counter, it hit her that she really needed to step up her game. She looked over to Ellies crib, it warmed her heart to see her daughter giggling and making adorable noises to herself, Clover promised she would do better for her daughter.

Clover struggled to catch more writing jobs the following weeks, but she had managed to put away some money every now and then. She was planing on moving to a small house. She chouldnt raise Ellie in this small apartment, it just wouldn't work. As she was finishing up an article about the local dog show, where a furry pig had won the show, to later be exposed and caused a scandal in the dog world, the door bell rang.

"Hey Clover, let me in" Lianas voice was familiar, Clover buzzed her in.

"Hey girl,Long time no see" She greeted clover as she threw her arms around her.
"Hah, Yeah I'm sorry, Busy being a mom and all" she looked over to Ellie sleeping in her cot.
Liana had been over quite a few times since Ellie was born, However it was only quick visits, to shower the little baby with kisses and love. Liana was a busy woman these days.
"Yeah I heard you were looking for a new place." She sounded very excited "Cheap" she added and winked.

"mmhmm" Clover agreed. "It's pretty impossible though, the market is crazy!"

"Well, you're in luck!" Liana could barley contain herself and Clover was getting dragged along in to the excitement.

"You found a place!!" She squealed.

"YES!! Well not me, Travis did, he doesnt have your number though and I was in the neighburhood so I figured I'd tell you!!" she explained

Clover was so happy but for some reason, it irked her that Travis had found the place, Liana and Travis were close? For how long had she been out of the social loop?
"Thats great! wow!!" She began but trailed off. "Travis? You guys hang out?"
"Well, we do more than hang out" Liana blushed.

Clover tried to not let it show that this information had somehow hurt her, as it was news to herself.

She didnt even know Travis.

"You're dating?" She sounded more sour than she intended to.

"We are kind of more than dating, we've been going steady since your party, I think its pretty serious. I'm sorry I havent let you know. I figured it wasnt important, or well. You know, considering..." she trailed off and glanced over at Ellie.

Clover felt insulted, as if she cant talk about men just because the father of her child broke her heart and turned her world upside down. She followed Lianas gaze and felt the reassuring 'warmth' in her chest when she saw Ellies face.

"Why? Did you like him or something?" Liana sounded apologetic.

"What? No, heavens no. We all know I got enough to deal with" She lied.

Lianas phone rang and ended the weird conversation.
"Shit, its work. Ugh. I wish I could get some free time!" she cried.

She obviously has enough time to hook up with hot guys, Clover thought to herself.

"Here" Liana handed her a piece of paper "It's Travis number, call him. He will give you the information you need. You have to act fast, that house wont be on the market for very long!" She gave Clover a quick hug and a peck on the cheek. "Love you girl-- YES I'm on my way, My god. Yes I have finished the paper work." her words faded off as she entered the elevator.

Clover unfolded the piece of paper in her hand, Travis name and number had been scribbled down fast. She picked up her phone and dialed it. She waited patiently for the dial to go through, she was nervous. Why on earth was she nervous? The house, she thought. Its the potential gain of a house, she told herself.

The dials kept going and she was beginning to think he wouldn't pick up.

"Hey it's Travis" his husky voice was familiar.

"Travis, It's Clove-"
"I'm not here right now please leave a message"

What the hell she thought.

"The hell, uhm.. err.." she began.

"JUST JOKING!" Travis laughed. "Oh wow, why is that so funny." He was clearly wiping a tear from his eye.

"Goddammit Travis!" she sounded upset, but if he could see her right now he would see her smiling.
"Sorry Clover, You're probably calling about the house thingy."

"Yes, that life changing thingy.." She muttered.
"Well, Cheer up! Because its yours."
"What?" what was going on

"Well, I'm standing in the house right now, They couldn't wait and you didn't call so I bought it, for you. You pay me back whenever you can."

"Are you serious?!" Her world was spinning.

"Yepp, Hey I can't talk right now, I got some paper work to deal with..OH! Come down here right now, You can sign them and it will be your house from the start. Hurry, I'll text you the address."

So, Clover grabbed her coat. Hit 1 on her speed dial, the baby sitter, and bolted of to the subway station.

Only 15min later she arrived at the address in the text.

Travis was waiting for her.

"There you are, fast isnit? Pretty quiet out here yet really close to the city!"

"Yeah wow, I cant believe this is happening, that youre doing this. Travis you didnt have to.." She began feeling those warm fuzzy familiar feelings and she pushed them aside as Travis walked her in to the house.

It was a small, new and perfect. It was way bigger than the apartment, this was a 2 bedroom, bathroom and a big kitchen with a small yard next to a little river. Just perfect she thought to herself.

After the paperwork was done, it was just her and Travis left in the house. He was walking around feeling mighty proud of himself.

"Why did you do this, Travis? You don't even know me."
"Psh, You're a good friend of Liana. Besides, I wasnt in the need of the money for the moment. You got lill Ellie and needed space. I could help, so I helped." he looked her deep in the eyes and she was about to drown in the light green ocean that was his eyes. They were quiet for a while, lost in each others gaze. Clover felt hot, warm, so tense yet she didnt want it to stop.
Suddenly Travis broke off, blushing but hiding it by walking towards the back door.

"Also! there's room for a waterslide right there! It's perfect, I was thinking for when Ellie is bigger and all that." He grinned at her.

He was thinking of Ellie, that was all Clover could think about.
Travis looked nervously at the time on his phone.

"I gotta go, Liana is coming home from work soon." He smiled apologetically. "Don't worry about the financial stuff, move in when you want to. I'll get back to you next week. Kay?" He handed her the key and walked out the front door.

Back home Clover couldnt shake that moment she had with Travis, her thoughts drifted off in to impossible possibilities. She was woken up out of her day dream by the slurping sounds from the bottle, letting her know it was empty.

"Oh Ellie" She cooed "we are moving to a bigger house!"
However, she had to get the packing done, selling this apartment. She wanted to get a good price so she could pay Travis off as soon as possible.

The day before the move it was time for a big event in Ellies life as well.

It was time to grow up, just a little.

On unsteady feet, Ellie and Clover left their old apartment to make their way to their new home.

Ellie tugged her mothers hand, begging to get picked up.

Clover couldnt do more than obey her beautiful child. Ellie leaned her head against her mothers chest, she giggled.

"mm..mommaa" She tried.

Clover froze, looked down at Ellies face who seemed to be just as chocked as herself.

"Yes, mommy!!" Clover encouraged.

"mmoommmaa!" Ellie giggled and hid her face against her mothers chest.

Clover beamed, she felt like she could take down mountains. She was indeed a mother and she was going to give everything to this child.