Chapter 32

THAT MORNING, DAWN had woken up to an empty bed and a dull throb in her lower abdomen.

For a moment, she'd shrugged off the pain, classifying it as one of the after-effects of having three carnal rounds with David but a heavy realization seemed to hit her hard the moment she made use of the toilet and caught glimpses of bloodstains between her thighs.

She'd instantly did a double-take, blinking profusely as her heart began to pound against her chest. She squinted and focused her eyes as hard as she could, but the end result remained the same and somehow her whole body grew weary at thought of something possibly going wrong with her pregnancy.

She'd quickly rounded off her toilette and rushed to stare at her stomach in the full-length mirror. She caressed it gently and sighed. As much as she wanted to stand there and hope that everything was okay with her child, she knew the only way to be certain was to see a doctor, and luckily for her, David wasn't home. He'd left a wrap of fresh bagels and a cup of Starbucks coffee along with a sticky note that said he had an urgent appointment with a client.

She'd gotten dressed and wasted no time in booking the quickest appointment with an available doctor at the general hospital and now, after 25 minutes of rough driving and an extra 30 running various tests, she sat on the exam table, patiently waiting for the doctor to arrive.

After a bit of time passed, a knock sounded on the door and she instantly felt her nerves kick in.

"C-come in," she stuttered and the door creaked open, revealing a man draped in a white coat with glasses perched on the top of his head.

"Mrs. Argent?" He asked, looking up from the clipboard he'd been scanning.

Dawn smiled nervously as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and nodded.

This was one of the parts she hated most — the anxiousness and anxiety that came along with the thought of being in a cold, depressing room alone with a doctor.

"I'm Doctor Phillip, your obstetrician. I apologize for the little delay, we were having little difficulties processing the papers but everything has been sorted now and I have your results"

Dawn swallowed, a wave of anxiety hitting her hard. "What does it say?" she asked, scrunching her forehead as she watched him go over his clipboard with a waning look on his face.

"I'm afraid there is a slight problem..."

She inhaled deeply, suddenly feeling out of breath and tipsy "Is my baby okay?"

He shook his head softly. "There is an 89.9 percent probability that you're baby might not live long enough to see the ending of this trimester"

She creased her brows in confusion, her hands instinctively going to caress her stomach as she felt her heart beat ten times faster. "What do you mean?"

He sighed softly and moved forward. "While conducting the test, I noticed an abnormality in the way the fetus is growing"

"Abnormality? How?"

"I don't suppose you are familiar with the term Ectopic pregnancy?"

"N-No I'm not"

"Mrs. Argent, when a fertilized egg mistakenly attaches somewhere outside the womb, It's often referred to as an ectopic pregnancy"

Dawn suddenly found it difficult to gulp as her throat had gone dry. She nodded, urging him to continue.

"Though cases of EP's are less common than a miscarriage, it is  highly severe because the fertilized egg cannot survive outside the uterus and If left to grow, it may damage nearby organs and cause life-threatening loss of blood"

Fear took over her and she began to shudder, almost positive that her pupils were shaking wildly. She opened her mouth to speak, but the shock had constricted her words. "Isn't there a way out of this? I don't want to lose my child"

She couldn't think of it, not now, now that she had come so far.

"Sadly all we can do for now is watch and access how the fetus progresses in terms of growth.  You're still at the beginning stage of your pregnancy so, there is a slight possibility that your condition might improve. But if it doesn't ..."

She momentarily tensed. "If it doesn't ...? "

His shoulders dropped slightly and he sighed. "Mrs. Argent, If the complication persists by your next transvaginal ultrasound, you'll have no choice but to terminate the pregnancy."

***

"YOU MUST REFRAIN FROM ANY demanding activity Mr. Argent." Doctor Anthony began, scribbling on his clipboard as he read out the qualifications. "No drugs or alcohol, scrap out sex if possible"

"Sex?" David blinked, looking up at him for confirmation.

"Yes Mr. Argent, sex. I'm sure a week apart from your wife wouldn't cause any significant damage. That is, except you are addicted to—"

"No. It's fine" he cleared his throat. "Carry on"

"I'd advise taking multivitamins that do not contain iron or herbs. Due to the numerous red blood cell you will be transmitting, additional iron supplementation is unnecessary. Your body does not eliminate iron"

He pushed up his glasses.

"The nurse has fixed a therapy section to prepare you mentally. Also, avoid any sudden injury that may lead to infections. within the week to come you are expected to practice self-maintenance and put away anything that might hinder this procedure because your son's life as we know depends on you"

David sucked in a huge amount of air and nodded "Thank you, Doctor Anthony"

"It's what I do" he smiled. "On your way out please visit the clerk and have the insurance papers signed"

David gave a polite nod and got up "Thank you again" he said and walked out to meet Amanda pacing around the door.

"What did he say?" She immediately asked with a worried look on her face.

David sighed and rested himself on the wall. "Everything seems to be in place. He is responding to chemo and all that's left is the surgery which will happen in the week to come"

"David, are you sure you're ready for this?"

David didn't respond. He simply let out a barely audible groan in response as he swiftly ran a hand across his face.

Was he ready for it?

That was the question he'd asked himself all morning. Was he ready?

It didn't matter if he was. He had to do it, he'd swore to do everything within his power to save his son. He wasn't going to chicken out now.

"I'll be fine"

"What about Dawn. David, you need to tell her before this happens. You've held back for too long already"

"I will. Just" he let out a long slow breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Just not now"

"When?"

"When I'm ready"

"David!"

"Look mum everything is finally fitting in, Dawn is happy and I cannot ruin it by telling her I have a son"

"How about Alex? are you planning on hiding him for the rest of his life? what happens when he gets out and—"

"Mother" He closed his eyes as if her words stung then paused before speaking again. "Don't you think I want this too? Don't you think I want to introduce Alex to the love of my life and watch them bond? I want to see them smile together, to laugh and talk like one big happy family but— " he sighed. "Just trust me, mother, that's all I ask."

Amanda sighed and pulled him into a hug. "I trust you, David"

***

AFTER A WHILE OF LINGERING AROUND,Dawn had left the hospital with a heavy heart and strangled thoughts.

She still couldn't process it, she didn't want to believe it and all she could do was cling to the small hope that her baby was going to be fine.

She'd been frustrated and restless and the only person who could make her feel less like a train wreck was her best friend who had forced them out for shopping yet again.

"So, does David know that you're pregnant yet?" Becky asked as they stepped into the maxi dress section of the mall.

Dawn paused and then shook her head softly. "No" she muttered, pulling her cart slowly.

Becky turned and sent her a disapproving gaze. "Why?"

"It's a bit complicated" she added, squeezing the cart lightly as she was suddenly reminded of the doctors' words. There was so much to deal with right now and having to tell David about her pregnancy wasn't one of them.

"What's so complicated in letting your husband know you're pregnant? I honestly don't get you married people"

"He's not interested in having kids, Becky"

"So? My Dad wasn't interested in kids too but he had me and four others"

She sighed. "It's different"

"How?"

"It's just different okay"

"You know, I think you're just surrounding yourself with all the excuses you need to avoid telling him. Well here's a news flash, when you're tummy starts getting bigger and you start eating like a pig, your dear husband is gonna ask questions"

Dawn simply shrugged and continued to walk.

"You know, if you weren't my best friend and pregnant I would've bitch slapped you right now"

"You don't understand, Becks"

"Come on. What are the odds? He's rich, doesn't need to worry about hospital bills or childcare, hell, he doesn't have to worry about rent! He's a freaking billionaire"

"Millionaire"

"Look! Good or bad, he has the right to know. it's not like he's gonna tell you to get rid of it or something like that. Gosh, you married people complicate everything"

Dawn sighed and stopped walking. "I want to tell him, I really do but lately, things have been complicated between us. He's going through a tuff time right now and I'm afraid telling him might only add to his worry. He's already having nightmares and keeps speaking of the name Stacey in his dreams and I —"

"Did you just say, Stacey?" Luke asked, nearly startling them with his presence.

Dawn turned. "Luke. Hey, It's so nice to see you" her eyes lowered to his cart full of baby lotion and powder. "I didn't know you shopped at this mall"

"I don't" he groaned "My girlfriend is pregnant so I'm on baby pick up duty"

Dawn chuckled "I didn't know your girlfriend was pregnant"

"It's been a while now actually, didn't David tell you?"

She shook her head softly. "Either way, I'm happy for you"

"Thanks, I guess" he chuckled. "You mentioned something about Stacey earlier, is she back in town?"

"You know her?" She questioned in confusion.

"Well if it's Stacey Albucho then yeah, I mean who doesn't, she was David's first crush" he laughed and Becky suddenly cleared her throat, noticing the chaotic look on Dawn's face.

It was an easy take to figure out that she had no idea about it and Luke's laugh suddenly faded when he realized it.

"Shit, did I just say something I shouldn't have?"

"You know, for a lawyer, you're pretty slow-witted" Becky chipped in, glaring darkly at him.

Luke smiled nervously. "I believe it's just a misunderstanding. What you heard —"

"Becky" Dawn jumped in. "Go ahead, I'll catch up"

She glanced up at Luke and then back to her. "You sure about that?"

She nodded with a tight smile. "Luke and I are just going to have a little talk"

His brows jumped up. "We are?"

"Yes Luke, we are" she turned back to Becky. "Please"

"Alright"

She shot one last scowl at Luke and sashayed out of there.

After an awkward moment of silence, Luke glanced at his watch. "Oh look" he chuckled nervously, his shoulders tensing. "I better get going now. Don't want to keep my girlfriend waiting" he wavered, but the moment he saw the dark look in her eyes, he knew he was a goner.

"I'd like to know more about this Stacey girl, I'm sure you can share?"

"I'm sorry Dawn but it's not in my place to speak further. Why don't you ask David? I'm sure he'll be more than willing to share it with you"

"And I'm sure your girlfriend would be more than happy to know about your business trip to Oklahoma"

"Shit" he rubbed down his face. "David told you?"

She waved him off dismissively. "Just tell me Luke, who is Stacey?"

"Fuck Dawn, David will cut off my ball sac"

"You'll live. Talk"

"Dawn, you —"

"I wonder if the congressman would be interested in the details of your trip with his only daughter to Bulgaria for—"

"Alright! Alright, I'll talk" he exhaled deeply. "Just never bring that up again"

Dawn nodded. "Go on"

"Stacey and David were inseparable best friends, they did everything together, got drunk together, and studied together but one day all of a sudden David left and so did Stacey. That was the end of their story"

"Did they sleep together?"

"I wouldn't know that Dawn, I was barely a part of the circle"

"Did they look like they slept together?" She asked.

"Well a day before David left, he acted a little off, it was a night before we got drunk and Stacey took him home"

"So he left. why?"

"I don't know. Why don't you try asking him instead of blackmailing me?"

"I have to go now"

"Great, Davids gonna kill me"

"Sorry Luke, I hope you have a great life with your girlfriend!"

Dawn ran out, leaving her cart behind and heading straight for David's office. She needed an explanation and was planning on getting it but arriving at the office, her mood only worsened as she met his absence and an equally oblivious secretary.

"He didn't say a word, just left like he had been doing for the past few days now" she commented with her eyes glued to her screen.

"Do you maybe have a clue?"

She looked up "I'm his secretary ma'am, not his bodyguard"

After leaving the office, she'd driven home, her mind pacing back to the journal he'd been reading a lot lately.

She hated to do it. But she had no choice. She searched everywhere, trying to go through his belongings without messing anything up but as time went by, she got desperate.

After checking all the shelves and drawers, and coming out empty, she went to where he'd kept his private files only to find that it'd been locked.

"No no no!" She bit her lip, her head spinning and palms sweaty as she knelt there, trying multiple combinations till it beeped open and revealed some brown cased files and the journal that was kept upside down at the very bottom.

She pulled it out, her heart thundering in apprehension as she tea had for the band, and pulled it off.

She'd always wanted to know but now that she held the answers in her hand, she was afraid of what she'd see.

As she opened the first page, a part of her hoped to find nothing but there was another part that wanted to put an end to the mysteries. If David was having an affair she had the right to know.

She read through the second page, adrenaline suddenly coursing through her as her eyes scrolled fast. She surveyed through it, flipping quickly till her eyes joined with a certain paragraph that made her heart skip a few beats.

December 12, 2015

I don't know why, but my cheeks just won't stop hurting from all the wild grins. I visited the hospital today and they confirmed it. It's gonna be a boy. David is going to have a son.