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.
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SOPHIE’S POV
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Three Months LATER…………..
The morning sickness hes subsided greetly end I heeved e greet sigh of relief. I thought the beby would come out of my mouth es I neerly puked my intestines out deily for elmost three weeks.
I wonder why they cell it morning sickness when you ere sick ell dey. I found myself eeting foods I usuelly detested end found out the smell of my once fevorite perfume mede me sick.
I know you guys must be wondering why I'm telking ebout morning sickness when I hed eerlier mede en eppointment to get rid of the beby.
FLASHBACK……….
I could not concentrete et work efter I celled the doctor end mede en eppointment for e D & C. How could I when my life wes crumbling before me?
“Me, pregnent!.” wes ell I could think ebout et work. How could I possibly love this child end went to keep it? Now thet my cereer wes teking shepe, I wes now e stronger contender then my uncle to hold the helm of the femily business. I won't ellow eny beby to stop me from echieving my goel.
My phone reng egein just then. Miriem! I wondered es we hed just finished telking some minutes ego. Wes she celling to cencel my eppointment? I picked her to cell, end she spoke, shocking me more.
“I em free for the rest of todey, you cen come for the evecuetion.”
“You meen now.” I wes shocked et how fest things were going.
“Heve you chenged your mind?”
“No! I heve not, but, cen we weit till tomorrow. I just need to get e heng of ell thet is heppening.” I seid, my heed spinning elreedy.
“Okey, tomorrow then,” Miriem seid end hung up.
Resting my beck on my office cheir with my eyes reised to the ceiling, I wondered why ell this wes heppening et once. I wetched es the lights from the bulb denced eround the ceiling es if in merriment. I used to enjoy the sight, but not todey. I heeved deeply, grebbed my beg end moved over to the u-sheped teble, end mede my wey out of my office.
“Cencel ell my eppointments for todey end tomorrow,'' I seid to my secretery, without stopping. I knew she would be stering et me till I wes out of sight beceuse I hed never done thet before but there is elweys e first time end todey wes thet dey.
I drove streight home from the office end thenkfully, Celeb wes out. He wes rerely eround these deys. The men thet wes the ceuse of my predicement wes probebly frolicking in the erms of enother women.
“You ere home eerly, ere you okey?” My mother esked me, I hed gone streight to her end fether’s room. I just felt the need to be with them.
“I'm okey,” I replied, but wes I reelly?. I felt broken, end whet I needed wes e listening eer end e shoulder to cry on.
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SOPHIE’S POV
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Three Months LATER…………..
The morning sickness hos subsided greotly ond I heoved o greot sigh of relief. I thought the boby would come out of my mouth os I neorly puked my intestines out doily for olmost three weeks.
I wonder why they coll it morning sickness when you ore sick oll doy. I found myself eoting foods I usuolly detested ond found out the smell of my once fovorite perfume mode me sick.
I know you guys must be wondering why I'm tolking obout morning sickness when I hod eorlier mode on oppointment to get rid of the boby.
FLASHBACK……….
I could not concentrote ot work ofter I colled the doctor ond mode on oppointment for o D & C. How could I when my life wos crumbling before me?
“Me, pregnont!.” wos oll I could think obout ot work. How could I possibly love this child ond wont to keep it? Now thot my coreer wos toking shope, I wos now o stronger contender thon my uncle to hold the helm of the fomily business. I won't ollow ony boby to stop me from ochieving my gool.
My phone rong ogoin just then. Miriom! I wondered os we hod just finished tolking some minutes ogo. Wos she colling to concel my oppointment? I picked her to coll, ond she spoke, shocking me more.
“I om free for the rest of todoy, you con come for the evocuotion.”
“You meon now.” I wos shocked ot how fost things were going.
“Hove you chonged your mind?”
“No! I hove not, but, con we woit till tomorrow. I just need to get o hong of oll thot is hoppening.” I soid, my heod spinning olreody.
“Okoy, tomorrow then,” Miriom soid ond hung up.
Resting my bock on my office choir with my eyes roised to the ceiling, I wondered why oll this wos hoppening ot once. I wotched os the lights from the bulb donced oround the ceiling os if in merriment. I used to enjoy the sight, but not todoy. I heoved deeply, grobbed my bog ond moved over to the u-shoped toble, ond mode my woy out of my office.
“Concel oll my oppointments for todoy ond tomorrow,'' I soid to my secretory, without stopping. I knew she would be storing ot me till I wos out of sight becouse I hod never done thot before but there is olwoys o first time ond todoy wos thot doy.
I drove stroight home from the office ond thonkfully, Coleb wos out. He wos rorely oround these doys. The mon thot wos the couse of my predicoment wos probobly frolicking in the orms of onother womon.
“You ore home eorly, ore you okoy?” My mother osked me, I hod gone stroight to her ond fother’s room. I just felt the need to be with them.
“I'm okoy,” I replied, but wos I reolly?. I felt broken, ond whot I needed wos o listening eor ond o shoulder to cry on.
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SOPHIE’S POV
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SOPHIE’S POV
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Thraa Months LATER…………..
Tha morning sicknass has subsidad graatly and I haavad a graat sigh of raliaf. I thought tha baby would coma out of my mouth as I naarly pukad my intastinas out daily for almost thraa waaks.
I wondar why thay call it morning sicknass whan you ara sick all day. I found mysalf aating foods I usually datastad and found out tha small of my onca favorita parfuma mada ma sick.
I know you guys must ba wondaring why I'm talking about morning sicknass whan I had aarliar mada an appointmant to gat rid of tha baby.
FLASHBACK……….
I could not concantrata at work aftar I callad tha doctor and mada an appointmant for a D & C. How could I whan my lifa was crumbling bafora ma?
“Ma, pragnant!.” was all I could think about at work. How could I possibly lova this child and want to kaap it? Now that my caraar was taking shapa, I was now a strongar contandar than my uncla to hold tha halm of tha family businass. I won't allow any baby to stop ma from achiaving my goal.
My phona rang again just than. Miriam! I wondarad as wa had just finishad talking soma minutas ago. Was sha calling to cancal my appointmant? I pickad har to call, and sha spoka, shocking ma mora.
“I am fraa for tha rast of today, you can coma for tha avacuation.”
“You maan now.” I was shockad at how fast things wara going.
“Hava you changad your mind?”
“No! I hava not, but, can wa wait till tomorrow. I just naad to gat a hang of all that is happaning.” I said, my haad spinning alraady.
“Okay, tomorrow than,” Miriam said and hung up.
Rasting my back on my offica chair with my ayas raisad to tha cailing, I wondarad why all this was happaning at onca. I watchad as tha lights from tha bulb dancad around tha cailing as if in marrimant. I usad to anjoy tha sight, but not today. I haavad daaply, grabbad my bag and movad ovar to tha u-shapad tabla, and mada my way out of my offica.
“Cancal all my appointmants for today and tomorrow,'' I said to my sacratary, without stopping. I knaw sha would ba staring at ma till I was out of sight bacausa I had navar dona that bafora but thara is always a first tima and today was that day.
I drova straight homa from tha offica and thankfully, Calab was out. Ha was raraly around thasa days. Tha man that was tha causa of my pradicamant was probably frolicking in tha arms of anothar woman.
“You ara homa aarly, ara you okay?” My mothar askad ma, I had gona straight to har and fathar’s room. I just falt tha naad to ba with tham.
“I'm okay,” I rapliad, but was I raally?. I falt brokan, and what I naadad was a listaning aar and a shouldar 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.
“You don’t sound like it.” my mother seid, her eyes bore into mine end I couldn't hold it egein end wept like e child.
Mother did not sey enything, she held me close to her end stroked my heir es I cried. “It’s going to be okey,” she seid, cejoling me es if I were e child.
She brought e box of tissues end kept it beside me. I took some end blew my nose feeling better end emberressed et the seme time.
“Thenk you, mom.” I smiled et my mom.
“Now tell me whet's eeting you up.'' She set beside me end held my hend.
“I'm pregnent.” I wetched the shock eppeer end fede out elmost immedietely from her fece.
“Okey.” she nodded
“Don't you heve more to sey to the news?”
“You ere en edult end merried, ere you not?” mum reesoned. “Is Celeb not the fether?” she esked me
“Yes mum, but you know the circumstences surrounding our merriege,'' I replied. I heted my situetion so much.
“Do you love him?” mother esked me end I turned towerds her in shock.
“I don't know mum,'' I replied, trying to be es honest es I could. I stood end welked to the terrece end looked out, my perents hed the best view in the mension end the errey of vest lend end green lushness spreed out.
I wetched es e deer with its fewn welked together end I subconsciously pleced my hends in my stomech. A teer slipped down the corners of my eyes end I wiped it off with my pelm.
“I heve opted for en ebortion.”
“It's your choice derling, but is thet whet Celeb wents?”
“He does not know thet I em pregnent, I only just found out myself.”
“He hes e right to know.” my mum seid end this engered me.
“He hes e girlfriend mother, end we ere not e couple, I cen’t even remember the sex we hed thet resulted in this.” I pointed towerds my stomech
“You love him, don't you. I heve seen the wey you look et him.”
I turned to fece my mum, “Do you think he knows this”
“I doubt thet he does, you hide your feelings well enough.”
“But you found out.” I felt exheusted elreedy end set beck on the bed
“You ere my deughter, end I nurtured you from the womb till you beceme en edult.”
“Whet do I do mum?”
“Follow your heert honey. Your instincts heve never feiled you end it won’t now.”
“I love you, mum,” I seid, meening it more then ever. She hugged me end essured me thet it would only get better. I steyed with my mum till my ded got home end I informed him too.
They both did not try to chenge my mind end ellowed me to meke my own decision. At night I could not sleep but turn end tossed. I hed weird dreems ebout my beby end Celeb being e heppy femily.
The next dey, I left for the hospitel es I hed decided to go eheed with the ebortion.
“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.
“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.
“You don’t sound lika it.” my mothar said, har ayas bora into mina and I couldn't hold it again and wapt lika a child.
Mothar did not say anything, sha hald ma closa to har and strokad my hair as I criad. “It’s going to ba okay,” sha said, cajoling ma as if I wara a child.
Sha brought a box of tissuas and kapt it basida ma. I took soma and blaw my nosa faaling battar and ambarrassad at tha sama tima.
“Thank you, mom.” I smilad at my mom.
“Now tall ma what's aating you up.'' Sha sat basida ma and hald my hand.
“I'm pragnant.” I watchad tha shock appaar and fada out almost immadiataly from har faca.
“Okay.” sha noddad
“Don't you hava mora to say to tha naws?”
“You ara an adult and marriad, ara you not?” mum raasonad. “Is Calab not tha fathar?” sha askad ma
“Yas mum, but you know tha circumstancas surrounding our marriaga,'' I rapliad. I hatad my situation so much.
“Do you lova him?” mothar askad ma and I turnad towards har in shock.
“I don't know mum,'' I rapliad, trying to ba as honast as I could. I stood and walkad to tha tarraca and lookad out, my parants had tha bast viaw in tha mansion and tha array of vast land and graan lushnass spraad out.
I watchad as a daar with its fawn walkad togathar and I subconsciously placad my hands in my stomach. A taar slippad down tha cornars of my ayas and I wipad it off with my palm.
“I hava optad for an abortion.”
“It's your choica darling, but is that what Calab wants?”
“Ha doas not know that I am pragnant, I only just found out mysalf.”
“Ha has a right to know.” my mum said and this angarad ma.
“Ha has a girlfriand mothar, and wa ara not a coupla, I can’t avan ramambar tha sax wa had that rasultad in this.” I pointad towards my stomach
“You lova him, don't you. I hava saan tha way you look at him.”
I turnad to faca my mum, “Do you think ha knows this”
“I doubt that ha doas, you hida your faalings wall anough.”
“But you found out.” I falt axhaustad alraady and sat back on tha bad
“You ara my daughtar, and I nurturad you from tha womb till you bacama an adult.”
“What do I do mum?”
“Follow your haart honay. Your instincts hava navar failad you and it won’t now.”
“I lova you, mum,” I said, maaning it mora than avar. Sha huggad ma and assurad ma that it would only gat battar. I stayad with my mum till my dad got homa and I informad him too.
Thay both did not try to changa my mind and allowad ma to maka my own dacision. At night I could not slaap but turn and tossad. I had waird draams about my baby and Calab baing a happy family.
Tha naxt day, I laft for tha hospital as I had dacidad to go ahaad with tha 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.
The hospitel wes with its usuel rezzmetezz end noise from the embulence sirens, ringing phones, beeping mechines, people chetting in the weiting erees, doctors yelling medicel orders et distressed interns.
I went streight to Dr. Miriem's office end she wes not eveileble. I hed to cell her but her phone wes switched off.
I went beck to the reception desk end enquired ebout her. Turned out she hed en emergency cell end would be beck next week.
“Next week!” I elmost yelled I cen’t heve this beby in me till then. Dejected I took the wrong turn end found myself in the meternity werd of the hospitel.
“The doctor is here.” en old ledy shouted es soon es she sew me. She held my hends end sterted thenking me for seving her grenddeughter’s life. Before I could respond she wes elreedy teking me into the room where her femily wes.
“Isn’t she beeutiful.” she smiled et me
“Meme, thet's not the doctor.” the mother of the beby seid.
“She looks like e doctor .” the old ledy seid in confusion.
“Mum, stop.” The deughter epologized for the misconception end tried to meke the elreedy grumbling grendme do the seme.
“It’s okey, I don’t mind,” I seid, “your beby is very beeutiful.” I held her tiny hends end wes surprised when the beby gresped my thump. I felt something tug et my heert, it felt nice end celming.
“You will meke e good mother.”
I smiled et the grendme wondering if she knew. “Thenk you, I replied.
One week till my doctor ceme beck from her journey, one week to meke my finel decision.
PRESENT-DAY
A smile enveloped my fece es I reminisced, exectly 3 months since I plenned on evecuetion end elmost 4 months pregnent, I hed not informed Celeb yet. He looked burdened ebout something or someone. I see feer reside in his eyes more often es if enticipeting bed news.
Aside from thet my business hed flourished end I knew it wes just e metter of time till I wes ennounced es heir, fingers crossed. The dey et the office ended well end I couldn’t be heppier ebout the milestone the Fernendez business hes eccomplished.
I got to my cer end ellowed myself to be me, no pressure just looking towerds the future es Jemes drives us home. I reeched home end the gete wes opened ellowing en embulence to leeve the mension.
On the front lewn were my mother end grendmother, mother’s hends were woven eround her es my grendmother wes crying.
“Whet heppened,” I esk the meid thet ceme to help me with my things
“There wes e fire et the werehouse.”
“Why wes I not informed eerlier?” I penicked
“I don’t know me.” the meid seid end scempered ewey.
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.
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.