Chapter 19: Chapter 19

NINETEEN- I CAN’T BE YOUR FRIEND

"How long before I get out of this place doctor?" Naa Larley tiredly asked as the male doctor checked her vitals. The door sharply opening barred the doctor from giving any comments to that question.

"You'll be bloody spending the rest of the pregnancy here at the hospital if you don't stop working." Louisa spat out in anger as she marched into the private ward with Mike in tow. They had both arrived at the same time, and were quickly directed to their patient's ward. The poor man rushed over to his wife and engulfed her in a long hug.

"Naa, thank God you're okay." He breathed her in. "You have no idea how worried I was." He whispered as he brushed a few hairs away from her face.

Louisa stood across the bed, arms folded. Mike was in an emotional position right now, therefore she had to be the tough one.

"You've got to stop working Naa... or at least work from home. Too much stress isn't good for you or the baby." She advised in a less angry manner, inching closer to her friend and wrapping her arms around her.

"I was very worried when I heard the news." She said, tone vulnerable now. "Mama, Isa... You scared them all to death."

Naa Larley looked down in shame, tears glistening in her eyes. "I'm so sorry for causing you all so much trouble." She tried to sit up on the bed, her husband quickly rushing to her aid to help her out.

The doctor cleared his throat awkwardly and the duo now glanced at the tall man in white they hadn't noticed in a haste to get to their friend and wife. "I know you guys were worried and all, but I don't believe I'm that invisible." He stated and laughed lightly in the process, brushing off the stream of apologies that came flooding his poor ears.

Everyone listened keenly as he turned into professional mode. "Well everything is fine with Naa... the only problem I found had to do with her blood pressure, which is a bit on the high side." He glanced briefly at the folder in his hand to confirm.

"Yes... that's about it. I think I'll have to keep her here till we get that to normal, then she's pretty much free to go home." He concluded and then stepped out of the ward, leaving Louisa and Mike with the patient.

Louisa's phone rang, and she stepped out to take the call, leaving the couple to themselves for a moment. It was Chris.

"Hello Chris."

"Hey, Louisa." The deep, velvety voice replied and Louisa felt herself go limp as she leaned against the wall outside of Naa Larley's ward. Chris's voice really had the power to make one weak in the knees.

"Are you home?" She heard him ask and she replied in the negative, explaining to him that she was at the hospital because one of her friends was ill.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Which hospital is that?"

"Inkoom hospital. Why do you ask?" Louisa quizzed with raised eyebrows. She could practically feel the man's shrug as he said, "Oh no reason... I was just curious."

His voice lowered an octave. "I've missed you Louisa."

Blame it on the stress of Naa Larley's fainting or whatever, but Louisa felt really bothered by the husky admission, her panties had even dampened, it was so weird, she hadn't felt that way in a long time, but she wasn't going to admit that he did that to her. No way.

Instead, she countered. "You just saw me yesterday so I believe that is not possible."

Chris laughed. A rich baritone boom that further enhanced her state of arousal. "Oh Louisa. But everything is possible when you believe."

It was now Louisa's turn to laugh. "Oh my God, did you just quote a song?" She couldn't exactly remember which song it was, but she had heard the phrase in a melody before.

"Who are you? And what have you done to my friend Chris?" She teased causing Chris to go off in mock indignation.

"Friend? You think I want to be your friend Louisa? Well I don't."

Louisa's face fell in disappointment. She really thought they were hitting it off but apparently he didn't.

"I can't be your friend Louisa." Chris continued.

"How can I be when all I constantly want to do is taste those rosy lips of yours? When all I want to hear is your moans as I do wicked things to your body? I don't want you as a friend Louisa... I want you to be more than that." He quietly whispered. For the first time in a long time, Louisa was at a loss for words. She honestly didn't know what to say to that.

"Oh. Uh...uhm I have to go. Naa Larley just called for me. I'll talk to you later." She managed to stutter before she quickly hung up. Her head fell back against the wall and she closed her eyes tightly to momentarily collect her senses. She then proceeded to her Naa Larley's room.

Louisa entered the room just in time to see Mike giving his wife a goodbye kiss.

"Where are you going, Mike?" She asked.

"Well I decided to go get Naa some stuff from home. You're going to be here right?" He asked to confirm and Louisa nodded. "I most definitely won't be leaving her here all by herself." She affirmed staunchly.

Naa Larley groaned. "I feel perfectly fine guys. You worry too-"

She quickly swallowed whatever she was going to say at the twin glares of irritation that met her eyes.

Mike turned to Louisa and gave a grateful nod. "I'll be back soon."

Louisa strode towards her friend and reached out for one of the chairs as Mike walked out of the room. Unfolding her length into the chair, she groaned tiredly. "You have no idea what happened today."

○●○●○●

The clock read 7:30 p.m. William sat at the dining table, a pack of takeout in front of him but try as he could, he couldn't enjoy his meal. He just couldn't shake off the image of the young girl he had seen at Louisa's office... her daughter, from his mind.

He tried to guess her age. Looking at her, she would be between thirteen to fifteen years. He did the math.

That meant there was a probability that she was his, seeing as he and Louisa were still together around that period and she definitely wasn't one to cheat.

He stood up to dump his leftovers in the bin and came back to clear the table, taking his plate to the kitchen and depositing it in the sink.

Ever since Reggie had left, the house seemed so lifeless. It felt so weird coming home to utter silence but all that would soon change if his hunch was correct. William felt hope begin to seep back into his chest. He headed for the living room and reached for his car keys, not bothering to change out of his black sweatpants, with a matching sweatshirt and a cap.

He needed answers, and he was going to get them now.

○●○●●

"Oh my God... so do you think he knows?" Naa Larley asked after Louisa had completed her tale of the day's happenings.

"I honestly don't know girl." She confirmed.

"He sure was asking a lot of questions." Louisa recalled, standing up from her seat to take a sniff at the fresh rose flowers that had been delivered compliments of the hospital.

Naa Larley looked at her friend, an uncomfortable look on her face.

"What? What is wrong?" Louisa asked in concern.

"I think you should uh... tell him the truth." She cringed at the glare Louisa threw in her direction, but continued anyway.

"Hear me out Lou. You just let him know he has a daughter… at least that will reduce the gravity of the situation. Knowing he had left and all, I honestly don't think he's going to try to take her from you... besides you can make sure he doesn't seek Isabel out, you're a lawyer after all."

Louisa began to pace. "I don't think it's a good idea Naa, you know it could backfire in my face. I'm not willing to take that chance with my daughter." She declared giving her friend a look that said that was the end of their discussion.

"I understand Lou. Trust me I get you and I'm with you all the way no matter your decision." Naa Larley finished stretching her arms beckoningly.

"Come here." She said as her friend stepped into her arms for a hug.

"Everything is going to be alright." She assured.

○●○●○●

Louisa and Naa Larley heard a knock at the door as they watched the evening news. It was one of the nurses and she had a message for Louisa.

"There's a man out there looking for you, Ma'am." She said.

Louisa and her friend glanced at each other in surprise. Who could that possibly be?

"Did he say who he was?" Louisa asked.

"Yes ma'am, he said his name was Chris Ayettey." The nurse confirmed as Naa Larley squealed with delight.

"Oh my God! Please let him in right away."

The nurse left to do what had been asked of her as Louisa looked over at her best friend.

"I promise, I didn't know he was going to come over. He did ask which hospital you were in when he called but I didn't know it was because he wanted to come over." She uncomfortably rambled causing Naa Larley to break out in giggles.

"Well I think this is the perfect opportunity to know the plans he has for you, don't you think?" She teased wickedly, laughing now at the horrified look on her friend's face.