After crying for some minutes, she picked up herself from the chair and walked to her room. She unlocked the door, got inside the room and closed it before sliding to the floor, leaning on the door. She had tried these past weeks to pick up the pieces Jack had broken her to, and now, a baby was growing inside of her. She placed her hand on her belly, rubbing it gently, as if she wanted to feel it. A smile smile broke on her face as she thought of the child. She was going to keep it. She was going to be a proud mother.
Jack supported his dad as they walked out of the hospital to his car parked at the garage. His father had just been discharged after spending three days in the hospital. The doctor had confirmed that he was okay to be discharged, but he was to rest at home in order to fully recover. His parent got into the back seat while he occupied the driver’s seat. Ever since he moved out of his parent’s house, he had been driving himself alone. He hated the extra presence of a driver. He wind down the car window as he drove out of the hospital. The doctor had advised them to reduce the exposure to cold, especially from air conditioning sets.
“How is things going on in the office?” Jack’s father asked after they had driven some distance away from the hospital. His two hands were on the steering as he turned slightly to reply his father.
“Everything is fine, though I haven’t gone in for some days now.” he replied, returning his concentration to the road. They drove on for few minutes and when Jack was getting closer to his parent’s house, he turned to his dad again.
“I’ll be taking over your business now. You’ll be forced into compulsory retirement.” He started and his father wanted to reply but stopped.
“That is better.” his mother chirped in and he smiled at her through the mirror. The all knew that was the best option to take now.
They drove the remaining distance in silence before they drove out of the highway into the little street that led to their house. He horned at the gate once and it was immediately opened by the gatekeeper. He drove in and stopped in front of the building before killing the engine and stepping out. He slammed his door shut before walking over to the back side of the car where his father was. He opened the door and cautiously helped his dad out, putting his hand around him for support. The doctor had suggested a wheelchair to aid his movement but he had immediately rejected it.
Karen walked out of her house and locked the door. She was dressed in black office skirt that stopped at her knees, white designed shirt and a long blue coat that stopped mid tigh. She walked to her car that was parked in the garage and threw her bag to the back seat before sliding in to the driver seat. She pushed the key in and the soft sound of the engine came on before she drove out.
It had been over a week since she found out that she was carrying Jack’s unborn child and she had spent the past days contemplating whether to tell him or not untill she came to a conclusion and she was going to tell him today. She had no plan of getting back together with him through the child or letting him back into her life. She just wanted to let him know.
She drove towards his building and when she saw his car parked at the front from some metres away, she suddenly became nervous. Her palms became sweaty on the steering wheel as her heart starting thumping hard against her chest. She parked her car beside his’ and remained inside the car for over ten minutes, trying to regroup. She was seeing him for the first time in about a month and she was with news that could change their lives. She rearranged her hair using the mirror in front of the car before stepping out with her handbag.
Taking slow, beautiful steps, she walked over to his door and rang the doorbell. Her heartbeat increased as she waited for a response. Her sweaty palm did nothing to conceal her nervous stance as she glanced around the building, trying to keep her mind away from her reason for coming. Her eyes caught sight of a beautiful flower by the side of the house the same time she heard the door unlock. The flower hadn’t been there the last time she was there.
“Heyy” he called and she turned slowly to look at him. Her speech was hooked on her throat as she stared at the male figure in front of her. He stood sexily by the door dressed in a white sport joggers and a sleeveless black Nike top that exposed his strong and big hand muscles. His hair looked disheveled and he had a tired look on his face, but even with it, he still looked as handsome as ever.
Jack stood by the door staring at her. Today was his day off from the office so he decided to spend it at home, on his comfortable bed. He had woken up about an hour ago and had been in the gym since then. The cleaning agency had left his house about an hour ago, he had woken up with they were gathering their equipments to the truck. He cursed under his breath as he heard the doorbell ring. He was in the middle of an exercise and contemplated not answering the door but after waiting a few minutes and not hearing the bell ring again, he decided to go out and check it out.
“Heyy.” He said immediately he opened the door and saw a female figure standing by the door. She was backing the door slightly so he couldn’t see her face clearly, just the side of her face was visible. He stood in shock as Karen turned and looked at him. He ran his eyes through her beautiful figure that stood in front of his door. He hadn’t seen her for a long time now, and her sudden appearance made him nervous for the first time.
“Hi” she greeted in response and it brought his mind back. Her voice was calm and beautiful, the same way he has remembered. He left his eyes on her face. She had gotten more beautiful since he last saw her. Her lips got more plump and her cheeks fatter. She looked to have added quite some pounds in weight.
“Come in.” He offered politely, cutting her off from her next sentence. He opened the door wider for her and she stepped in before he closed it back.
She could feel the tension and her nervousness as she stared round the house before her eyes settled on one of the painting hung on the wall. It was a painting of a half naked woman. The drawing stopped at her stomach, leaving her boobs covered by her hands. He noticed her prolonged stare on the image before clearing his throat to regain her attention.
“Sit down while I offer you something.” He gestured at the chair behind her. “What would you like -”
“I’m not here to drink anything.” She cut him off, more harshly than she intended. She noticed the look on his face and felt bad. She didn’t mean to get upset. He nodded curtly and and she continued.
“I’m here to tell you something important.”
She looked at his face and when she noticed that she had picked his interest, she continued.
“I -” the words hanged on her throat as she stared at him nervously, unable to utter the words she so much wanted to. She had spent a lot of minutes in front of the mirror everyday practicing her speech and today, she becamed air-headed. Jack stared at her with interest. Something in his guts kept telling him that she was about to say something huge and her nervousness confirmed it. Her nervousness rubbed off on him as he thought of possible things she wanted to say.
“I’m pregnant and it’s for you.” Her eyes were shut as she finally made the statement. Cold air descended in the room as she opened her eyes to stare at Jack who looking at her dead in the eyes.
“What?” He finally asked after staring at her and she gulped before responding.
“I’m pregnant.” She replied, more boldly. “Over a month gone.” She added and she noticed his jaw tighten. His face hardened, making her more nervous. Sighing loudly, he took his hand to his hair and racked his hand through it.
“Has the doctor confirmed it?” He asked, refusing to believe that she was truly pregnant.
“Yes, and here’s the result” she responded, handing the test result that in the envelope to him, but he ignored it. It all made sense to him now. She was the one he had seen at the hospital that day though he couldn’t see her face clearly. She had obviously went there to conduct a pregnancy test.
“I’m not telling you this to force us back together. As a matter of fact, I’m very comfortable with the idea of raising this child alone. I just wanted to inform you out of courtesy.” She spoke in one long stretch of words and he started at her incredulously, still unable to mutter a word.
“I want to be in my child’s life.” he stated lowly and she turned sharply to stare at him like the words pricked her like needles.
“Goodbye Mr Antonio.” She took one last look at him before walking to the door.