Chapter 45: Chapter 45

LET IT BE

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SOPHIE’S POV

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Three Months LATER…………..

The morning sickness has subsided greatly and I heaved a great sigh of relief. I thought the baby would come out of my mouth as I nearly puked my intestines out daily for almost three weeks.

I wonder why they call it morning sickness when you are sick all day. I found myself eating foods I usually detested and found out the smell of my once favorite perfume made me sick.

I know you guys must be wondering why I'm talking about morning sickness when I had earlier made an appointment to get rid of the baby.

FLASHBACK……….

I could not concentrate at work after I called the doctor and made an appointment for a D & C. How could I when my life was crumbling before me?

“Me, pregnant!.” was all I could think about at work. How could I possibly love this child and want to keep it? Now that my career was taking shape, I was now a stronger contender than my uncle to hold the helm of the family business. I won't allow any baby to stop me from achieving my goal.

My phone rang again just then. Miriam! I wondered as we had just finished talking some minutes ago. Was she calling to cancel my appointment? I picked her to call, and she spoke, shocking me more.

“I am free for the rest of today, you can come for the evacuation.”

“You mean now.” I was shocked at how fast things were going.

“Have you changed your mind?”

“No! I have not, but, can we wait till tomorrow. I just need to get a hang of all that is happening.” I said, my head spinning already.

“Okay, tomorrow then,” Miriam said and hung up.

Resting my back on my office chair with my eyes raised to the ceiling, I wondered why all this was happening at once. I watched as the lights from the bulb danced around the ceiling as if in merriment. I used to enjoy the sight, but not today. I heaved deeply, grabbed my bag and moved over to the u-shaped table, and made my way out of my office.

“Cancel all my appointments for today and tomorrow,'' I said to my secretary, without stopping. I knew she would be staring at me till I was out of sight because I had never done that before but there is always a first time and today was that day.

I drove straight home from the office and thankfully, Caleb was out. He was rarely around these days. The man that was the cause of my predicament was probably frolicking in the arms of another woman.

“You are home early, are you okay?” My mother asked me, I had gone straight to her and father’s room. I just felt the need to be with them.

“I'm okay,” I replied, but was I really?. I felt broken, and what I needed was a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on.

“You don’t sound like it.” my mother said, her eyes bore into mine and I couldn't hold it again and wept like a child.

Mother did not say anything, she held me close to her and stroked my hair as I cried. “It’s going to be okay,” she said, cajoling me as if I were a child.

She brought a box of tissues and kept it beside me. I took some and blew my nose feeling better and embarrassed at the same time.

“Thank you, mom.” I smiled at my mom.

“Now tell me what's eating you up.'' She sat beside me and held my hand.

“I'm pregnant.” I watched the shock appear and fade out almost immediately from her face.

“Okay.” she nodded

“Don't you have more to say to the news?”

“You are an adult and married, are you not?” mum reasoned. “Is Caleb not the father?” she asked me

“Yes mum, but you know the circumstances surrounding our marriage,'' I replied. I hated my situation so much.

“Do you love him?” mother asked me and I turned towards her in shock.

“I don't know mum,'' I replied, trying to be as honest as I could. I stood and walked to the terrace and looked out, my parents had the best view in the mansion and the array of vast land and green lushness spread out.

I watched as a deer with its fawn walked together and I subconsciously placed my hands in my stomach. A tear slipped down the corners of my eyes and I wiped it off with my palm.

“I have opted for an abortion.”

“It's your choice darling, but is that what Caleb wants?”

“He does not know that I am pregnant, I only just found out myself.”

“He has a right to know.” my mum said and this angered me.

“He has a girlfriend mother, and we are not a couple, I can’t even remember the sex we had that resulted in this.” I pointed towards my stomach

“You love him, don't you. I have seen the way you look at him.”

I turned to face my mum, “Do you think he knows this”

“I doubt that he does, you hide your feelings well enough.”

“But you found out.” I felt exhausted already and sat back on the bed

“You are my daughter, and I nurtured you from the womb till you became an adult.”

“What do I do mum?”

“Follow your heart honey. Your instincts have never failed you and it won’t now.”

“I love you, mum,” I said, meaning it more than ever. She hugged me and assured me that it would only get better. I stayed with my mum till my dad got home and I informed him too.

They both did not try to change my mind and allowed me to make my own decision. At night I could not sleep but turn and tossed. I had weird dreams about my baby and Caleb being a happy family.

The next day, I left for the hospital as I had decided to go ahead with the abortion.

The hospital was with its usual razzmatazz and noise from the ambulance sirens, ringing phones, beeping machines, people chatting in the waiting areas, doctors yelling medical orders at distressed interns.

I went straight to Dr. Miriam's office and she was not available. I had to call her but her phone was switched off.

I went back to the reception desk and enquired about her. Turned out she had an emergency call and would be back next week.

“Next week!” I almost yelled I can’t have this baby in me till then. Dejected I took the wrong turn and found myself in the maternity ward of the hospital.

“The doctor is here.” an old lady shouted as soon as she saw me. She held my hands and started thanking me for saving her granddaughter’s life. Before I could respond she was already taking me into the room where her family was.

“Isn’t she beautiful.” she smiled at me

“Mama, that's not the doctor.” the mother of the baby said.

“She looks like a doctor .” the old lady said in confusion.

“Mum, stop.” The daughter apologized for the misconception and tried to make the already grumbling grandma do the same.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind,” I said, “your baby is very beautiful.” I held her tiny hands and was surprised when the baby grasped my thump. I felt something tug at my heart, it felt nice and calming.

“You will make a good mother.”

I smiled at the grandma wondering if she knew. “Thank you, I replied.

One week till my doctor came back from her journey, one week to make my final decision.

PRESENT-DAY

A smile enveloped my face as I reminisced, exactly 3 months since I planned on evacuation and almost 4 months pregnant, I had not informed Caleb yet. He looked burdened about something or someone. I see fear reside in his eyes more often as if anticipating bad news.

Aside from that my business had flourished and I knew it was just a matter of time till I was announced as heir, fingers crossed. The day at the office ended well and I couldn’t be happier about the milestone the Fernandez business has accomplished.

I got to my car and allowed myself to be me, no pressure just looking towards the future as James drives us home. I reached home and the gate was opened allowing an ambulance to leave the mansion.

On the front lawn were my mother and grandmother, mother’s hands were woven around her as my grandmother was crying.

“What happened,” I ask the maid that came to help me with my things

“There was a fire at the warehouse.”

“Why was I not informed earlier?” I panicked

“I don’t know ma.” the maid said and scampered away.