CHAPTER 31


    The party had ended, Lydia had left too, but with a promise that she''d help me figure out something


    before the lunch with senator Jackson. I had been too engrossed in my problems that I''d lost track of


    time and didn''t realize when José left. I felt I wascking as a friend.


    "Princess!" I hear my mom say.


    "Hello, mother." I answer, wanting to the conversation to end as quickly as possible. I had seen my


    father before the party begun, and left him to sleep. I would check on him right after she left.


    She touches my hair, "I was so busy I barely had enough time to see how beautiful you are. Who are


    you wearing? Is it Versace? You look stunning, as always, my love." She says.


    "You were too busy sipping wine and talking toplete strangers that you didn''t have time to check


    on your own child? Familiar, but I''m not surprised."


    She rolls her eyes, "For the love of God, you mustn''t always ruin the mood." She says, throwing her


    hands in the air. "You should understand my duties, when you be a mother you would understand


    me, I''m sure."


    "Never, mom. That will never happen, I will die first before I be anything like you. I wouldn''t put my


    child through that." I say.


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    She pokes my head with her index finger. "Have some manners! Don''t you read the Bible? Don''t talk to


    your mother that way." She yells and walks off.


    I don''t knock as I enter my fathers room. He is fast asleep, and his favorite book, Ace of spades is


    seated by his bedside. He must''ve been reading before he slept off.


    "Oh, daddy." I whisper. "You don''t know how much I miss you everyday. I need you to get better soon


    so you can stop sleeping so much." I caress his head as he sleeps. I spend a few more minutes with


    him.


    **


    "Are you ready to go?" Luke asks me as we stand beside our car. I nod, as he puts his jacket on me. I


    give a small smile and although he''s still taking, I ckout. My head is spinning and I feel a wave of


    dizziness hit me. I try topose myself, but in a second, I''m thrown into a world of nothingness.


    The first person my eyesnd on as I open them is Aunt Ruth. "Water. . ." I ask. "She''s awake!" Aunt


    Ruth screams as she sits beside me. Thest thing I remembered was talking with Luke outside, but I


    could feel myself on a bed. Lukees in, apanied by another woman. Aunt Ruth holds my hand.


    "How are you feeling, my love?" Luke asks, kneeling beside me. I was in my room, our bedroom.


    "When did we get home?"


    "An hour ago, you were knocked out all through the way here. Don''t you remember what happened?"


    I nod a no. Luke looks at Aunt Ruth as though he wasmunicating something with her. "You fainted,


    but the doctor— he gestures at thedy standing. "Says you''re perfectly fine, you just have to rest and


    eat properly from now on."


    "But I''m not sick, right?" I massage my head. "I feel really weak." I add.


    "No, you''re not. You''re pregnant, my love!" He says, a wide smile on his face. Immediately, I sit up. I''m


    in shock, trying to decipher if I heard correctly.


    "I''m what?"


    "Expecting a mini version of yourself, my darling!" Aunt Ruth says, tears in her eyes. I gasp. "Oh my


    God. How?" Luke chuckles at that and so does the doctor. I feel embarrassed, "No, not how, I mean,


    when? How long has it been?"


    "Almost two months. Didn''t you get signs? Morning sickness?"


    I nod, trying to think. "Now that I think of it, I think I did." I say as I look at Luke.


    He agrees, "Yes, the wine, my cologne, your cravings. We had no idea!"


    "I lost my bnce severally, I didn''t get my periodst month— I told you," I say to Luke. I ce my


    hand over my stomach. "I''m pregnant." I say, as I try to convince myself. My attention is diverted to


    Emmanuele as soon as she enters the room.


    "Natalie''s pregnant, Emmanuele!" Luke announces, as he rushes to hug her. I don''t know how, but I


    can''t control my tears as I caress my belly. I was shocked, worried, afraid and excited. To think I had a


    life growing inside of me made me anxious. I didn''t have a clue that I could possibly be pregnant. Luke


    and I had a lot of sex regrly so I could''ve conceived anytime.


    "I''ll send Mr. Carrington your gynecologist schedule first thing tomorrow morning. Make sure you have


    some rest, and eat something tonight before you go to bed. If you''ll excuse me."


    "Darling, you''re having a child! I remember the little girl you were and now, you''re having a baby?" Aunt


    Ruth says, her tears still falling. "Thank you, Jesus. Finally, something positive." She says.


    "I still can''t believe this, it feels like a dream. I can''t believe you''re carrying my child, my heir. Thank


    you, Natalie, you don''t know how happy this makes me" Luke says and kisses my hands.


    "You always wanted a family, now you have one, my love." I respond as I hold his chin. Emmanuele


    leaves and Aunt Ruth leaves along with her.


    "Can you believe it?" I ask Luke as I get up to go to the bedside mirror.


    "Yes, my love." Luke says still kneeling. "This just confirms that you''re the best thing that has happened


    to me. We are meant to be." I''m zoned out as I look at myself in the mirror. Slowly, I begin to notice all


    the changes. My stomach had a little bulge. My breasts were slightly bigger or swollen? Everything was


    right in front of me, but I''d been so engrossed in keeping Rocky away that I''d failed to see my body


    changing. Luke hugs me from behind and I''m back to reality.


    "Do you think we''ll be good parents?" I ask.


    "Of course, my love. You''re the best person anyone could wish for as a mother, and wife." Luke


    responds and my worries go to bed. I would never be anything like my mother. I would never let my


    child feel alone and have no one to talk to. Above all, I would never sell my child off for money.