Sauntering back into the castle, I run into Terry doing her rounds inside. My stomach rumbles upon seeing her, reminding me that I haven't eaten breakfast. Actually, the last meal I remember having was yesterday's breakfast. My baby must be wondering what kind of a mother it has to starve her like this.
Forgive me, baby. Mommy just had a lot of things to take care of. But I won't forget you again.
"Uuumh. Ma'am? Seems like I was right after all." Terry giggles, winking at my hand as I caress my belly. Huh! I didn't even realize I was caressing it, just like I did not realize when she ambled here.
Well, I think she deserves to know that her silly hoax that nearly killed me was not actually a joke at all like I squealed that day. It was neither a bad miracle getting pregnant, as I termed it earlier. It is a sweet miracle. And what's more, it's Jerol's first child. The only one since that bitch is out of the way now. Dang! I still have to break the shocking news to him, but only when he sobers up. I hope the news will not leave him shattered. At least not so bad.
"Yes, Terry! You were right. I am pregnant." I say, and she glimmers for the whole nation, as if she is the pregnant. My!
"Mmh! Congratulations ma'am!" She giggles once again, making produce a grin in oblivion too.
"Thank you, but, your smile? I am the one pregnant, Terry, not you!" I tease.
"That is the thing, ma'am. I'm not the one pregnant. That would mean that I will quit my job and live miserably out of this castle. How will I survive?" She says, her smile still shining for the whole world.
She is too overwhelmed with this more than I am. Is she for real?
"Okay. So, what makes it so special that I am the one pregnant?" I ask.
"Well, you see, ma'am. I want to apply to be the baby's special nanny. Will you consider me? Wait, you know I am your friend, right? The only one who is not scared of your yelling when you lose your cool!" She says.
Okay! So, is that a blackmail or something. And when exactly do I yell?
"Seriously? When did I ever yell at you?" I implore.
"Huh! A lot of times ma'am! But forget all of that. There is this one time that really hurt me, ma'am. That day I insinuated that you were pregnant, that was the height of all those other things. So, it will be like a compensation for me. Don't worry, if you give me the position, I will never tell the baby how you looked that day denying its possible existence. My lips will forever be sealed." She says, and I can't help but remember how berserk I went on her.
Jeez! I even said I would leave her a curse if I died from her joke. I was extremely hysterical! But she can't understand why I was acting that way.
"You know what? You win, Terry. I will not even take any more applications. You are officially this baby's special nanny from now on. And your duties commence now." I say, and she can't help her glee. She is something else.
All in all, I don't think I would want another person as my baby's special nanny other than her. She has been of tremendous help all my stay here. She is more of a friend than a nanny, actually.
"Thank you so much, ma'am! I will not disappoint you. I promise!" She says.
"I know you won't, else you will be fired on the spot." I say, faking a serious tone.
"Ouch! That hurts, ma'am, but I can handle it. Uumh, does that mean that I will also get a salary increase, ma'am?" She asks.
Huh? Huh, his one is unbelievable! She hasn't even started the job yet she is already demanding for an increment? My!
She adds after noticing I am about to speak. "Just kidding, ma'am! With or without the salary increment, I will serve you wholeheartedly." She smiles.
Now that is more like her!
"Alright. We will think of the salary once the baby is born. For now, just focus on me. And you are lurking in your job because I am starving already. Can I have my breakfast now?" I tease, but not on the starving part. I am so hungry.
"Sure. Right away ma'am! Even sir Jerol did not have breakfast. He said you two will have it together when you return." She said.
He knew I left?
"Alright. Serve it now and bring it to my room." I say, hoping that he left that cursed gym. "Also, add a glass of lemon water." I say. That was what Gracia used to have every time she woke up feeling like crap after spending the best part of a night drinking.
"Sure, ma'am!" Terry says and walks to the kitchen, while I proceed upstairs.
I get into my room, and I find Jerol perched on the table at the window facing the direction of the door. In short, he is facing me, and at least, I don't spot anything alcoholic anywhere nearby. He looks a bit raw too, like he has taken a bath.
Mulling over walking into his arms or just assuming him for the first time, I go with the latter. His sitting position is beguiling. I can already visualize myself standing between his well-parted legs and sowing my face to his neck and taking in his rich pheromones while his strong loving arms pin us together. Sweet, right? But bitterly, I compel myself to assume all that. In as much as it's hard, I amble to the bed and slam on it, resting my elbows on my thighs as I facepalm my face.
Whatever it is that fate holds for this family, God, let it be good. I admit that we did not start off well at the beginning, especially with Mrs McCall, but they have been nothing but a family to me of late. In them, I feel nothing but happiness. I in them see a family I never had. Everything has been made right. God please, take us through this, and shower us with your showers of victory.
"Are you okay?"
I peel my hands off my face, opening my eyes to the face of Jerol crouching before me. I look at him, but no words come out of my mouth. He is not leaking of alcohol, but he still doesn't look like his usual sober self. It's not something that anyone would notice, but I know him. I can tell he is still tipsy, and I scorn that feeling.
"I know you went to see Grego. Did he do anything to you?" He speaks again, sloping his hands on my thighs. Duh! Bad idea! But I can bear it.
Well, I can't stay mad forever, right?
"I am okay." I say, looking away.
He should know that I am still hurt by his actions. I would have gotten over this if it was only last night. But he had to do it?
"I am sorry." He says, nudging me up as he buries his face onto my belly. "I am so sorry." He whimpers again, and I wrap my hands around the back of his head, soothing him.
This man will be my death, but I don't care. I love him so much to see him sad even for a second, not to talk of hours. I even feel guilty for what I did.
A knock echoes on the door, and since Jerol is not showing any signs of standing up, I don't know whether to summon Terry in or not. She can't find him on his knees this way.
"Jerol? Come on! Get up." I say, trying to pull him up, but he does budge. And he is too strong for me. "Jerol!"
"Tell her to come in." He says, and though unwillingly, I had to call Terry in.
I saw her throw a glance at us, wondering what is happening, but Jerol does not still get up. He actually lifts his head up, peeking at me like a child, not worried that one of his servants is witnessing him begging like this. Alcohol is really on him!
"Tell me what I should do so that you forgive me, love. I promised I won't drink again and I swear won't. I poured the rest of it. I took a whole hour in the jacuzzi scouring that liquor scent off myself. I took three glasses of lemon water, but I still feel like crap. Crap! I am crap! I know you said I should be sober before talking to you but I am afraid of even closing my eyes." He recites a poem searching my eyes while Terry strolls outside after setting the table for us.
He adds when I don't speak. "Should I bang this stupid head of mind on the wall so that you can talk to me, baby? Your silence is killing me. Hey, I am sorry. A million times, sorry. Should I..."
"Okay, enough!" I say. He is going berserk with apologies and I think I have had enough of them. "I will be gone before you know it if this ever happens again, Jerol. And I am serious." I add, looking into his eyes to emphasize my warning.
"I swear with both your life and that of my baby, that I will never drink again. I promise!" He swears, placing his hands on my belly, a gesture I find so intimate. Where did the alcohol in him go?
"Okay. Let's have breakfast, then?" I say.
"Okay." He gets up, helping to my feet and guiding me to the table.
We settle down, and I hand him a glass of lemon water which he gladly accepts, flashing a faint grin, while I serve breakfast.
For the next few minutes, we eat breakfast in utter silence until the tray is empty. It's either Terry was mean to us today, or we both were starving. I don't know which is which, but all the same, breakfast is done.