Chapter 171 Reconnection

Chapter 171 Reconnection
Eden’s Point of View

Lola stood out; I saw her right from the moment we began walking towards the airport's arrival hall. Her dark skin, like caramel, glowed under the fluorescent lights, her lips pursed slightly in annoyance and eagerness, while her eyes darted around, searching for something.

“See, that’s Lola.” Theron pointed with an evil grin, as if she had noticed it from the corner of her eye, they darted towards us, and she waved, grinning from ear to ear.

“Lola!” I tried to run, but Theron’s grip on my forearm prevented me, and he shook his head.

“Running is bad for you.” He muttered. “You’re pregnant.”

“Yes, not injured.” I finally snapped back at him, but he still didn’t let me go. Lola rushed towards us instead, and only then did my gaze shift from Theron back to Lola.

“Eden… how could you?” she asked as she slammed me into a hug; her slender but tall frame covered me, suffocating me, her arms tightening around my back. “I thought I was your friend. Why didn’t you tell me anything?”

The pain in her voice cut through me, it stirred up something inside me, and it made me realize just how selfish my decision of running away was; so, I hugged her back, that was the least I could do, and somehow the warmth stirred from our hug, dissolved the doubt.

“I am sorry,” I confessed. “I should have at least told you, but I was worried you would tell Theron—I have seen how close you two have become.”

“Me? Close to this old man?” Lola was being sarcastic, and she hissed, pulling away from me, giving Theron another one of her dramatic and exaggerated looks.

“We shouldn’t be standing for too long, Lola, round it up, my wife’s pregnant.” And an unintentional growl escaped me; I had heard that statement almost a thousand times today.

For instance, in the bathroom before our flight.

“Should I help you brush your teeth?”

“Eh, no,” I answered, a little confused as I reached for the brush.

“Holding the brush for too long might be harmful; it’s heavy. Pregnant women shouldn’t lift heavy things.”

Or when I suggested I carry my own luggage. “As I said, you’re pregnant, just give me the heavy things, I will carry them for you.” He said with a soft smile as he took all my bags from me.

Or that time at the airport when they wanted to search me with a handheld metal detector. Immediately, the security personnel took up the baton-like equipment. Theron jumped forward in between us.

“Can I request a hand search for her instead?” He asked curiously, and the security’s questioning eyes flickered between Theron and me. “She is pregnant.”

“Okay.” He agreed almost immediately, setting down the detector, and proceeded to search by hand instead. I pressed my lips into a thin line—wondering if all first-time fathers were like this.

Or that time I wanted to sit down at the window seat.

“Aren’t you scared of heights?” He asked curiously. “Sit here instead.”

He didn’t even wait for me to answer his question, and he just picked me up like I was a child and sat me on the chair.

A pleased smile crept on his face, ignoring the watchful eyes of the other passengers.

“Now you don’t have to worry about your fear of heights.”

I don’t remember having a fear of heights.

Ignoring what Theron had to say, Lola continued, and my eyes narrowed, wondering if something had happened between them while I was gone.

“There is someone who is here to see you.” She was a bit hesitant, and I froze for a second, when she motioned for the lady standing at a distance to come forward. “I didn’t know how to inform you, but this might be her last opportunity to apologize.”

I felt my heart seize when Felicia finally wobbled to us. Her shoulders were slumped, her gaze was to the floor, and she was unable to meet either my gaze or Theron’s gaze. “She wanted to talk to you, and I just couldn’t say no.”

Theron pinched the bridge of his nose, irritation obvious in his eyes. “You could have at least informed me. Is this because of the shifts?” He asked, and Lola rolled her eyes.

“I plan to get revenge for what you did to me.” She then grabbed his arm, pulling him away to the side, while they argued.

They gave both Felicia and me space to talk about our differences. I am quite grateful for Theron’s understanding, despite his annoyance.

He still stopped at a safe distance, refusing to be dragged off any further.

Yep, something definitely happened between them while I was away. “Eden…” Felicia called me in the softest and kindest voice that I remember. She doesn’t really speak much; she was quiet most of the time and only speaks when she wants to ask questions.

That's why it kind of stung to realize she would backstab me like that.

“I don’t deserve to even speak to you, but I don’t think I could ever live with myself if I don’t explain—” I interrupted her rambling immediately. “There is no need to explain,” I assured her. “Theron told me everything, and I know you’re not at fault. I don’t hate you, nor do I blame you.”

Her eyes watered, and she sniffed.

“I am sorry, I didn’t know you were pregnant. If I did, I would never have agreed to do it. You must hate me for endangering the life of your child.” She sobbed loudly, not minding the influx of people moving around and sitting. “I felt scared to come see you, but Lola encouraged me to at least explain.”

“But I just told you, you didn’t need to.” I neared her, holding her hands. “You didn’t do it intentionally, perhaps. I am fine, my baby and I…there is no need to cry.”

She pulled me into a hug, her body trembling in my embrace.

“Please forgive me.” She begged, sobbing into my blouse, her tears soaking through my shirt, and I palmed her hair. Theron and Lola seemed to have stopped arguing, and they just observed us from a distance.

“I know how much you love working in the hospital,” I told her. “I can talk to Theron, and he might let you come back.”

She shook her head.

“Thank you, but I think Dr. Theron is kinder by letting me go.” She wiped the rest of the tears from her cheeks. “I can’t look at you every day, after what I did to you. I think I should be away from you.”

Before I could speak, she interrupted me quickly.

“I am blending in my environment, it’s less competitive, I can be able to prove just how much I have learnt from you.” She sniffed back. “I will be forever indebted to you, as my senior and friend.”