Chapter 24: Chapter 24

24

Derek came back home and brought a cupcake with special mint inside, he had specifically informed the baker to bake it that exact way, he does that every year on this same date, it was his mother's birthday today and on her birthday she always prepare cupcake with special mint flavor, even after her death, on her birthday, he always baked the exact cake and sat in front of her picture as he eats the cake alone, he missed her so much, he always remembered her to be warm and welcoming, her warm smile always brightened his day, he had been devastated when she was diagnosed of failed liver and it had been too late to save her and she had passed away two days to her birthday. Derek had bought a birthday gift for her already, hoping she would get better soon, but unfortunately, he had not been able to give her that gift and would never be able to

"What's that?" Kathleen asked as soon as he entered pointing at what he was holding and he chuckled, "you'll see" he placed the wrapped parcel on the table and opened it,

"Cupcake" she sniffed, " what's that smell? Is there mint in it? He chuckled again, " you have a good nose"

"Why did you suddenly get cakes?" She stared at him and his face fell, she put a hand under his chin and met his gaze, "what's wrong?"

"I do an exact same cake with the same taste every year the same day because today was supposed to be my mother's birthday and she loved these cupcakes"

Kathleen's eyes filled, "I'm sorry"

He stared at her, trying to look unaffected but failed completely, " it's okay, there was a time I was traumatized by her sudden death but I'm over it now, she died of failed liver"

Kathleen wrapped her arms around him, "that's terrible, I can't imagine the horror of it, I was told it was what killed my dad, although I don't remember him but still, for someone who grew up with his mother, it must have been horrible for you"

"Yeah, I couldn't get over the grief for years"

Kathleen could tell he was still grieving his mother's death but said nothing, he walked to a drawer and brought out a lady's picture, the lady has blue eyes so like his own and was smiling, there was a light in her eyes, Derek stared at it for some minutes, "this is her, I do bring her out on her birthday to eat with her" he placed the picture on the table and Kathleen stared at it, "she's beautiful" she whispered softly.

Derek stared at her with an unnamed expression, "thank you," he choked out. he placed the cakes on the table and after wishing her, they ate the cake.

"So your mom raised you by herself after your father's death?" Derek said in between bites and she nodded, "yeah, though it was tough growing up without a father but I was happier when I had none"

Derek raised a brow," when you had none?"

She nodded, "mother was taken in by my foster father, at least he placed a roof over our heads and took us out from the Street but I lost my mother to him"

"I'm sorry" she shrugged off his sympathy and continued with her cupcakes, she devoured it with relish much to his amusement, she ate almost all of it while he ate just a little, "I see you love it".

She nodded, ", it's delicious, I want more of it" she frowned at the now empty cups on the table.

" I'll get you more if you so love it"

"Oh, please I can't wait" no sooner had she uttered the words when she frowned, holding her stomach

" Are you okay" his concerned gaze searched hers but instead of replying she quickly stood up and ran to the bathroom where she emptied her stomach.

Derek followed her to the bathroom, "perhaps your stomach didn't agree with it?" He was anxious, she had become suddenly pale, could it be the cakes? she ate too much of it if he must admit.

"I'll be fine, I think I just need to lie down for a while", Derek nodded and helped her get in bed, few minutes later she was asleep.

Kathleen didn't feel any better the next day, she woke up and immediately ran to the bathroom, retching, she was feeling so weak and drained, her body quivered.

"I'll take you to see the doctor" Derek informed her as soon as she came out, his worried gaze scanned her face, she shook her head, " I'll be fine, I believe I ate too much of that cake yesterday, perhaps my stomach didn't agree with it, it'll need time to calm".

Derek looked uncertain, "are you sure?"

She nodded, "I'll have a hot bath, then get something to eat and I'll be fine".

"Lie down, I'll prepare the bath for you and get your breakfast" Derek quickly prepared a hot bath for her and helped her sink in the tub, he left her there to get her breakfast, she wasn't back when he returned with the meal thirty minutes later, he waited another twenty minutes and her meal was getting cold, he quickly entered the bathroom only to see her fast asleep in the bathtub, he bent close to her and stared at her for some minutes, there was little color on her face, he gently shook her shoulders and she opened her eyes slowly, "your meal is ready and is almost cold"

She got up slowly, "I feel so weak Derek"

"Let's visit the doctor then" he replied, again she shook her head, "I'll be okay, I just need to rest".

Derek gently helped her out of the bed and dried off her body, he lifted her and took her to the bathroom where he helped her dressed and fed her, she fell asleep immediately after eating.

Two days later, Kathleen was still having fever and vomiting, she hardly left the bed as she sleeps all day, she was looking pale and sickly and Derek wondered if she was allergic to the cake or if it was something else, on the third day of her illness, he has had enough, he couldn't stand watching her sick and getting lean, "get dressed, we are going to the hospital right now"

"But Derek..." She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her short, "no buts.....we are going right now".

Too tired to argue, she simply got dressed and followed him.

The doctor ran a test on her and she was sitting, leaning on Derek waiting for their test results, finally, the doctor came out, "I don't think there's any cause for alarm" the doctor was grinning and Derek felt like punching him, his wife was here sick and the doctor was busy smiling and telling him there wasn't cause for alarm?

"She's two weeks gone" Derek's mouth fell opened and Kathleen looked at the doctor, "what do you mean by that doctor?" Derek asked, he simply couldn't wrap his head around what the doctor was saying.

"What I mean is that your wife is two weeks pregnant, congratulations" the doctor was grinning from ear to ear as he gave them the test result and left.

Kathleen's hands flew to her stomach as she stared at Derek while Derek's mouth hung opened staring at her stomach, confused emotions ran through him, "pregnant" although, they had unprotected sex several times and he hadn't ruled out the possibility of her getting pregnant but now that he was faced with such news, he doesn't know how to feel, he was going to become a father.

"Are you okay?" Kathleen's voice penetrated his befuddled mind and he snapped his mouth shut, drawing her to him, he hugged her very tight placing his lips on her hair.

"I am okay, I should be asking you if you're okay"

She nodded at his question, he held her hand and led her out from the hospital.

" How do you feel concerning the pregnancy?" She asked him in the car when they were on their way home and he stared at her briefly,

"Honestly, I have no idea, still getting used to the news and you, how do you feel?"

Kathleen shrugged, "same as you, no idea, didn't expect it"

He chuckled at her reply, "we had unprotected sex numerous times, I wouldn't rule out the possibility".

Kathleen stared out the window enjoying the view, in a short while, her eyes dropped close and her breath even out.