Chapter 68

*Olga*

The taxi pulled up outside the wrought iron gates and one of the security guards stepped out of the security booth and opened the side door. He got out and I lowered the tinted window. He recognized me and motioned for the gate to be open.

As the vehicle trundled up the driveway past the well-manicured lawns and the topiary bushes I finally felt at ease.

I was back next to the love of my life and nothing will stop me from having him. So what if I lost the child, babies can always be made and that is going to be first on my list. Fortunately I knew that I was about to start ovulating.

As long as I get pregnant again, Jayden would still want me. The car pulled up outside the house and I saw Maria getting out of the house. It looks like the guards had already informed her of my arrival. I paid the driver his fare and then stepped out of the vehicle with my little bag.

"Welcome back Ms. Therrins," she said, taking the bag from me. "Your suite is clean and ready for you. We didn't know you would be coming today but I will get Emily to stay in today as your housekeeper."

I entered the house and all the scents hit me and I almost shed a tear. I was at home here. I could even smell traces of Jayden's perfume in the living room.

"Is Jayden around?" I asked as we entered my suite.

Maria shook her head and said, "Jayden and Frankie left for Seasbury a few days ago. Would you like anything?"

"Yes, Call George and let me meet him in ten minutes at the back?"

She nodded but I saw a look flash across her face for a second. I know she wondered why I wanted to see the head gardener.

"It will be arranged," she said and walked out of the room. First things first I have to burn the medical reports I got while back in the capital. I took the envelope that contained it and went to the fireplace in the living room.

I lit a match and made sure to burn all the papers. Then I changed into a pair of jeans and a hooded sweater. I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed that I was slightly thinner. I put my hand on my belly and stared at my reflection. I will have to make a stop at a certain shop but for now I better wear baggy clothes.

I went outside and met George. He greeted me and asked how my health was.

"I would like to plant a tree, where do you suggest is the best place?" I asked him.

He scratched his head and then peered his eyes as he looked at me, "It depends on the tree you have in mind."

"I want to plant a cherry blossom."

His eyes shot up before they narrowed again, "The cherry blossom also known as the sakura or in its native name senbonzakura. Cherry blossoms are some beautiful and vibrant trees that symbolize the beauty and fragility of life."

He looked around as if surveying the grounds, "Usually they typically grow in temperate regions. If you want to grow your own cherry blossom tree, you need to consider some factors such as the type of tree, the climate, the soil, the sun exposure, and the planting time. Fortunately that is why you called me."

"Do you have any seeds or saplings in your repertoire?" I asked him about my hopes rising up.

He bit his lip and shook his head, "No I don't but we can get them in the garden center. Give me an hour and I can go and get a few for you."

"We can go together, I also have to go to town and get some items, we can live now," I told him.

He scratched the back of his neck and looked around uncomfortably, "You are a guest at the house. I honestly can't take you in my rickety old vehicle."

"No worries we will have one of the drivers take us," I said and went back indoors. I went to the nearest telephone and called the staff quarters where I was finally able to get a driver who would take us to town. He asked me if there was a particular vehicle I wanted to use, I wisely told him a pickup is preferred.

I went back outside and waited for the vehicle to be brought. It would take a few minutes as the garage was way at the back of the property and the pickup was rarely used.

"I want the Yoshino tree," I told him. The pickup pulled up beside us and I got in the back as he sat in front with the driver.

The drive to the center was short as it was just five minutes away. It was situated in a very large tract of land surrounded by trees and hedges. The center itself was shaped like a gigantic greenhouse and exclusively made of glass.

The car was parked and we got out and headed to the garden center through a wooden archway covered with climbing roses. I could smell the sweet fragrance of the flowers and hear the buzzing of bees. George and I walked along a gravel path that led us to different sections of the garden. I could see a variety of plants, from herbs and vegetables to shrubs and trees and I could only identify a handful. Fortunately, there were signs that told the names and prices of each plant as well as a little fact about them.

We reached the cherry blossom section, where I was greeted by a stunning sight. Rows of yoshino cherry trees lined the path, creating a canopy of white and pink blossoms. The sun shone through the petals, creating a soft glow. A gentle breeze flowed through the canopy making the flowers sway and fall like snowflakes. I snatched one of the petals mid-air and admired its delicate beauty. Delicate just like my baby's life.

I walked closer to one of the yoshino cherry trees and touchedits smooth bark. A cluster of flowers adorned its branches and I inhaled their almond scent and smiled. Feeling of peace and serenity washed over me.

My daydream was interrupted by one of the attendants who walked over with a smile on his face.

"Welcome to the garden center, you seem interested in the sakura blossom." I looked around to see George looking at the other types of the cherry blossoms.

"I want the yoshino but a seedling," I told the attendant.

"That's a great choice, I take it you know already about the tree so I will dive straight into how to care for it."

"When you plant the seedling, pick a spot with full sun to partial shade. The blossom trees need at least four hours of direct sunlight per day to blossom. They also prefer elevated spots that avoid cold air pockets."

He went on to give more details on the soil type, its drainage and acidity. George had come back and was listening intently.

"You had asked for a seedling so let us head to the nursery," he said and led the way to the nursery. "I will give you a one-year-old tree from the nursery. It is easier to grow a cherry blossom tree from a young sapling than from seeds. Also, might you know the environment where this seedling will be growing?"

George answered the question and the attendant nodded. He walked away from us and came with five saplings in his hand.

"These have been growing in an environment similar to the one you plan to transfer it to." He said. "The best time to plant a cherry blossom tree is in late winter or early spring, when the soil is thawed and the weather is mild, which is basically now."

He finished off his lesson with talking about mulching to keep off weeds as well as retain moisture. I only needed one seedling so I zoned out when he started talking about spacing and watering. I looked around at the other plants in the section.

There were azaleas in various colors and shapes. Daffodils, forsythias, magnolias and tulips. I walked around and smelt each of the flowers in the section. I liked the scent of the magnolias the best.

George added a few more items to his purchase. I saw fertilizers as well as some tulips and azaleas that he threw in the cart. We went to the checkout area where I wanted to pay but George shook his head.

"Gardening is my department, Mr. Grey gave me a card specifically for that."

He paid and then put the items at the bed of the pickup. I told the driver I needed to make a stop at a certain fashion store where I popped in quickly and made a purchase before we headed back home.

George unloaded the items from the pickup and ferried them all except for what we needed at the moment.

He came back with a shovel and dug a small hole for me. "I think that is big enough, are you sure you want to plant it? I can do it."

I shook my head. I wanted to plant this tree alone as it had a significance to me, a memorial to my lost child. He handed me the seedling and left. He promised to look after it until it grew.

I got to the ground and removed the seedling from the pot and transferred it to the hole. I filled the ole with some soil and lightly patted it down.

"Is that a cherry blossom?" I looked up to see Lorraine walking up to me. I stood up and watched her as she got closer.

"A lovely plant that denotes beauty, fragility and transience," she said and her gaze flickered a little over my stomach.

"Jayden isn't home he traveled," I told her, getting back on my knees and applying the light mulch around the seedling.

"I know," she said, "I came to see you actually. We were all worried when you suddenly went no contact for that long. How was the capital?"

Now I was curious and wondered what she wanted from me."The capital was okay though I was mainly indoors."

I finished applying the mulch and watered the ground around it then went to the tap beside the wall and washed my hands. I wiped my hands on my muddy jeans and then waited for her to speak.

"For the sake of the baby and for you as well as my brother I have reached out to a few places and this place has all the testing equipment needed."

She pulled out a booklet from her bag and handed it to me. I took it and saw it was a health center specialist in antenatal and postnatal procedures and care. I turned to the first page and read out loud:

"Cell-free fetal DNA testing to screen for some chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. Amniocentesis this test can be done between fifteen and twenty weeks of pregnancy. It can diagnose certain genetic disorders or birth defects by examining the baby's chromosomes. Chorionic villus sampling…"

I dropped the leaflet and looked at her with an angry glare as I saw red. The last test on that list had been her reason for coming and suggesting the tests. This had nothing to do with the baby's health.

"You forgot to read the last one, the non-invasive prenatal paternity test," she said, matching my gaze. "I will not hide it. I don't really think you are pregnant with Jayden's child. You may be trapping him with another man's baby."

"How dare you-"

"Oh spare me your righteous anger. It will not work on me and you know that very well. I will give you a two week grace period to set up an appointment with this place and have the DNA test done. If the baby is Jayden's then I will have no further say in the matter. However, if I find out it is not his for your own safety, please just leave town."

I inhaled deeply and then looked at her with a crazy smile on my face, "Lorraine you don't scare me. I am not going to do the test and you will wait until the baby is born to do your silly test."

"I suppose I could do that," she said, "But I assure you that if you don't, all I have to do is just whisper to my brother and you will be kicked out of this place until you do. I think you know that or have you already forgotten?"

I hadn't forgotten how terrifying she was but I wasn't going to back down. She gave me one last look and then headed to the driveway where her car was waiting.

That means that now I have to rush things. Fortunately I was ovulating this week, all I had to do was get Jayden to bed and make sure that he impregnated me. After that I will have to make an excuse and buy more time. My other option is I willingly disappear until when my child will be visible and the test to be done.

Her car rolled down the driveway and I leaned against the wall. It looks like losing the child was a blessing after all. I wouldn't have passed the DNA test with that baby. There was no way I would have passed off Mark's baby as Jayden's.