For someone who looked so heavy, Celia walked so sprightly in her purple, embroidered, flowing silk gown.
She did a pirouette as she looked around in admiration.
"See, I was not wrong about you. You have such a good taste. I knew there was a reason why I liked you.
Reyona saw Charlotte come out of her office with a questioning look. Reyona shrugged and said, "Ma'am, this is Charlotte, my secretary. Charlotte, this is..."
"Ma'am? You make me sound like a fifty-year-old" Celia said as she moved closer to take Charlotte's hand in a warm handshake. "Hi there, I am Celia."
"Good afternoon, ma," Charlotte said with a pleasant smile.
They were about to enter the office when Toria came out, yawning.
She looked at Celia and said, "What is going on here? You smell like cinnamon."
Celia's curious expression morphed into laughter.
Then she let out a loud gasp as she reached for Charlotte, who was standing close to her.
Reyona couldn't believe it, yet it was right there in front of her.
Celia let out a sharp cry, just as Reyona saw the wetness that suddenly showed on Celia's gown.
With her hand halfway to her mouth to stifle another yawn, Toria gaped googly-eyed as Reyona quickly moved closer to support Celia.
"Did... did her water just break?"
********
"Call my husband" was the first thing Celia said.
Right before, she lamented about how he would kill her if he knew where she was.
Reyona had no idea why her husband would want to kill her, but she quickly made arrangements to get her to the nearest hospital.
That was another issue for Celia, though.
She insisted they had to go to their personal hospital.
The moment they got to the lower level, the men and maids that came with her sprang into action when they saw Celia being helped out of the elevator.
"I will call master," one of them said.
But Celia stopped her keening groan long enough to say "No," Then she looked at Reyona. "You will do it."
What difference does it make?
"But I don't even know who your husband is," Reyona said as she helped her to open the car door.
"You do. He has to know that you were his saviour," Celia said before biting down hard on her lips as another contraction rocked her.
They were coming faster now.
One of the men quickly took one of the cars and went to get the birthing kit from home with one of the maids.
The other maid helped Reyona sit Celia.
Before the other man could enter the car, Toria quickly took charge of the wheel.
Dressed in pajamas and floppy, rabbit-haired slippers, she looked at the man who hurriedly entered the car.
"Where to?"
"Jordan Hospital. They will be waiting for us," the man said even as he tapped rapidly into his phone.
That name rang a bell in Reyona's head.
Then the man said, "I think you need to make that call, ma'am. Master wouldn't want to miss any moment of this."
Reyona looked at Celia, who was being helped through a particularly painful contraction by the maid at her side.
She turned to the man and said, "Give me his number, then."
Almost immediately, a few statements made earlier occurred in Reyona's mind.
"Jordan Hospital."
"They would be waiting for us."
"You do. You know him."
"Jordan? Andrew Jordan? That is your husband?" She blurted out.
"Oh, she finally figured it out," Celia said in a strained voice that ended with another hiss of pain as another contraction rocked her.
Reyona quickly called the man.
His terse tone when he called suddenly became urgent as Reyona told him what was going on.
He promised to join them immediately.
Reyona disconnected just as they got to the mega-hospital.
Two doctors and five nurses were awaiting their arrival.
Within the twinkle of an eye, they transported her from the car to the padded gurney they had wheeled outside.
It still felt surreal to Reyona when the woman was addressed as Mrs. Jordan.
The bizarre coincidence of being friends with Andrew Jordan's wife was beyond what she would have imagined would happen at all.
She wanted to stay back once she was sure that Celia was in God's hands, but then Celia called for her and told the doctors that he was her lifesaver.
Since Reyona saw no point in calling a woman between life and death a liar, she simply took the hand that Celia reached towards her.
Celia smiled at her and told the doctors that she wanted her with her in the labour room.
Pain racked her body again, and Reyona almost cried out from the way Celia's fingers clenched against hers as they wheeled her away.
Andrew Jordan rushed into the room a few minutes later.
Celia reached for him and tearfully asked where he had been since.
Seeing the raw moment of anticipation and love between the couple made Reyona edge towards the door.
Celia saw her, though, and she called her back.
"Meet my husband, Beatrice," Celia said.
"Babe, Beatrice saved me," she said, even as sweat trickled down her forehead and Reyona could see the pain in her eyes.
"I didn't do much, and I think you need to conserve your energy," she said sympathetically.
"I am going to do this. I just need a brea…" she cried out sharply as pain rocked her body again.
Soon enough, she gave birth to a baby girl.
Reyona couldn't believe the enormity of the feeling inside her when Celia urged her to hold the baby.
It was like being given the greatest treasure of her life.
She had no idea when tears leaked out of her eyes.
Toria leaned over to gingerly pat the downy hair on the baby's head.
She simultaneously gave Reyona an understanding look.
That only made Reyona more emotional.
She looked up to see Andrews giving her a curious look.
It was different from the almost hostile look he had tossed her way earlier.
"I am sorry. She is so beautiful," Reyona said as she placed the baby back in Celia's arms.
Her arms immediately felt like they had lost something that belonged to them.
Reyona looked over at the baby in Celia's hand, and she knew she had to leave.
She looked at Celia to tell her, but the compassionate look in the woman's eyes was just too much for her.
"I..." she pointed at the door.
Celia nodded. "I know. Thank you so much. You and I have a lot to discuss, you know."
Reyona nodded.
She nodded in Andrew's direction and turned to leave.
Just as a big bouquet of flowers preceded someone into the room.
"Am I late for the party?"
Maxwell Rohan asked as he peered out from behind the giant bouquet he had in hand.
He saw her standing a few paces from him and the grin on his face died.
Reyona could only exclaim inwardly in exasperation.
Not again.
Why now?