Chapter 49

… Emile pov…

As I sat in the doctor's office with my mom holding my hand tightly, I'm nervous and annoyed at this turn of events, yet excited about this new chapter in my life.

The doctor starts explaining my antenatal schedule and I pay close attention, eager to learn about the journey ahead.

"Okay Emile, you're about 8 weeks along now. So, we'll be scheduling your next appointment in 2 weeks," the doctor explains as he marks something on my file.

"And what happens during these appointments?" my mom asks.

"Well, we'll be monitoring the baby's growth and checking your overall health. We'll also be doing a few tests to make sure everything is going smoothly," the doctor answers.

I nod, trying to take it all in. This is my first pregnancy, and I want to make sure I'm doing everything right.

"What kind of tests?" I ask leaning forward.

"There will be ultrasound scans, blood tests, and a few others. But don't worry, they're all routine," the doctor says, trying to reassure me.

My mom asks, "What about the delivery? Have you thought about where you want to give birth?"

"I haven't decided yet, but I was thinking of a natural birth at the hospital," I reply.

The doctor nods, "That's a great choice, Emile. We'll make sure to include all the information you need in your file."

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling grateful for the doctor's guidance. This whole pregnancy thing is new to me and it's comforting to know I have someone to guide me through it.

The appointment comes to an end, "Thank you Dr Jones." my mom and I chorused with me saying it like I was talking through my nose. I was still angry with him. Dr Jones just smiled weakly and nodded his head as we left. As we make our way out of the clinic. My mom turns to me and says, "I'm so proud of you, Emile. You're going to be a great mother."

I smile, feeling a rush of emotions. "Thanks, Mom. I'm just trying to take it one step at a time."

We walk to the car, talking about all the things we need to buy for the baby and what the nursery should look like. I can already see my life changing.

As we stepped out of the hospital, my mother turned to me and said, "Emile, we should go get some unisex baby things.

The doctor said the gender of the baby is still unknown, right?" I nodded in agreement, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about the unknown.

"Let's go get some baby things," my mother said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "We need to be prepared, now that the baby is on its way."

"That's a great idea, mom," I agreed, glad to have something to focus on. "I'd love to start shopping for my little one."

As I stepped out of the taxi, I looked up at the towering building in front of me. The bright neon lights illuminated the entrance of the shopping mall, and I could already hear the bustle of people inside. My mother and I had come to buy some baby things for the little one growing inside me.

We were greeted by a young lady who worked at the mall. She had a warm smile and greeted us with a cheerful "Good morning!" She asked us what we were looking for, and when we told her, she led us inside. The mall was packed with people, but she guided us expertly through the crowds to the baby section.

The baby section was located on the second floor, and as we approached, I could already see the colorful displays and shelves filled with baby items. I was overwhelmed by the sheer variety of products available, from strollers and cribs to onesies and blankets. My mother and I looked at each other, unsure of where to begin.

The young lady who had greeted us earlier appeared by our side and offered to help us. She was so knowledgeable and helpful, pointing out different products and giving us advice on what to buy. We asked her opinion on several items and she offered her honest opinions, which we greatly appreciated.

As we shopped, I was attracted by the sight of the happy families around us. Parents cooed over tiny outfits, grandparents admiring the latest gadgets for babies, and children giggled as they tried out strollers. It was a heartwarming scene. Maybe being a mother now wouldn't be so bad, I sighed.

"But I was meant to choose to be a mother, not just taken unawares," I said to myself. I picked up a cute little onesie, but my mother pointed out that we still didn't know the gender of the baby.

"Let's get some unisex items then," she suggested. "We can always add more later."

I nodded and we started to look around the store together, picking out items that caught our eye. I was drawn to the soft, colorful blankets and tiny booties, while my mother was more practical, picking out items like diapers and baby bottles.

As we filled our cart, I noticed my mother glancing at the prices of each item. "Don't worry, mom," I said, sensing her concern. "I've got this."

"Are you sure?" she asked, looking at me skeptically.

"Of course," I said, pulling out my debit card. "Dickinson credited my card, so I can buy whatever I need for the baby."

My mother nodded, and we continued our shopping spree. We found everything we needed and headed towards the checkout. I think we've got everything we need for now," she said, flagging down a taxi.

As we settled into the taxi, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to do something for Dickinson. He had always been there for me, and now it was time for me to repay the favor.

"Mom, can you drop me off somewhere? I need to go somewhere," I said, feeling a sense of urgency.

My mother looked at me with concern, "Is everything okay, Emile? Where do you need to go?"

"It's okay, Mom. I just need to take care of something. I'll be back soon," I reassured her, giving her a hug before I stepped out of the taxi.

I stepped out into the park, taking in the sights and sounds of families enjoying the day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. It was a perfect day to be outside. As I walked along the path, I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. The sight of happy families playing with their children was so heartwarming, and I couldn't help but think about how wonderful it would be to have a family of my own someday.

I came across a group of children playing with a ball, and as I passed by, the ball rolled to my side. I bent down to pick it up and saw a little boy, no more than five years old, looking at me with big brown eyes. "Here you go, little man," I said, handing him the ball.

He looked up at me with a grin and thanked me. "What's your name?" I asked, feeling a sudden urge to talk to him.

"My name is Timmy," he said, still grinning. I couldn't help but smile back, he was just so adorable.

Timmy had curly brown hair and rosy cheeks, his little nose was dusted with freckles.

He was wearing a red t-shirt with a cartoon character on it and a pair of shorts that were just a bit too big for him.

His eyes sparkled with mischief as he ran back to his friends, who were waiting for him. "Timmy what a nice name I thought", as I smiled.

I sat down on a nearby bench and watched as the children played. It was a beautiful sight, watching them laugh and play together. I couldn't help but think about how precious childhood was and how quickly it passed by.

I sat on a bench in the park that was under a tree that acted as a shade, staring out into the open sky and letting my mind wander.

So much has happened in the past few days. I was pregnant, kidnapped, and then rescued. And now, I was going to be a mother. I wondered if I was making the right decision, if I was ready for this kind of responsibility.

Just as I was lost in thought, my phone beeped, bringing me back to reality. I took it out and checked the phone. I saw two missed calls. Mom? I had put my phone on vibrate and didn't hear it. I suddenly realized that I have stayed here for a long time.

A message? I went to my inbox and I saw it was a message from Dickinson.

"Speak of the devil," I muttered to myself and couldn't help but grin. He had always been one step ahead of me, and now he was reaching out again.

I opened the message and read it carefullyI sighed as I read the message from Dickinson, finally getting a clear answer on where we were meeting. The Golden Wok at 8 pm. I quickly texted back a simple "Alright" and almost immediately another message came through. "See you there". I looked up from my phone and saw a popcorn stand at a silent corner of the street.