Pregnant

"Get my keys in the room." After saying that, Fernando bent down to pick up Lia from the ground. Janet watched as he lifted her daughter in his arms, his face incredibly sullen and she took off, running towards the bedroom.

The master's bedroom where she would be moving back into as soon as Lia left.

She opened the door to the bedroom and snatched his keys from the table, also picking up his phone. Wouldn't it be faster to get a doctor to them, rather than have him drive all the way?

As she left the room, she dialed the doctor's number on his phone and informed him of their emergency. By the time she reached the two again, Fernando had laid Lia on the bed and was leaning over her, his whole body shaking. She eyed him for a while and touched his shoulders as she leaned down to drop his keys and his phone. She walked out of the room and bumped into Lia's bag that was on the floor.

The contents spilled out of the bag and Janet sighed, kneeling to pick them out. "This girl. How could she have left her bag open?" she shook her head and picked the things up one by one, placing them inside.

With a sigh, she carried the bag and walked back into the room. Fernando rose to his feet and walked out of the room, talking to someone on the phone.

She shook her head and sat down on the bed, picking up Lia's hand in hers. It felt very lean, almost as if she hadn't been eating or sleeping properly. She rubbed the hand gently and smiled as she was reminded of Lia as a little girl. She had been the most precious baby girl ever and she had loved her. She still loved her even now; she would still do anything for her if need be. That was why she wanted Lia to go off on her own and find her own path. What was the point in her living under Fernando's roof with her unmarried and without any man of her own.

She also deserved to experience love too just like she had, she had found her forever with Fernando and she would do whatever it took to keep him. She rose to her feet just as the door of the room opened and Fernando barged inside, two men behind him.

Janet stepped aside and watched as they carried Lia out of the room, Fernando barking orders at them. Was there something those two were not telling her? They were awfully close. Perhaps she'd have to ask them about it at the hospital. She picked up Lia's slippers and a scarf to wrap around her neck and walked out of the room.

"Get in," Fernando ordered as soon as she walked out of the house. The men from before were nowhere to be found and his car was the only thing in the parking lot except them.

"Where is Lia?" She asked as she got into the car after him. He ignored her as he slipped on his seatbelt and started the engine. When the car was out of the house and on the road, he finally answered her.

"I asked them to leave immediately and decided to take the car since you weren't out yet." Janet frowned and eyed him for a while.

She looked away eventually and shook her head. She didn't know why but his tone sounded accusatory for some reason, almost as if he was blaming her for Lia's condition. She held her peace however and refrained from asking him any questions. It would be pointless for them to start arguing in such a situation.

***

The petite woman behind the counter looked up as they walked up to the reception desk and smiled, showing off her teeth. They sparkled as the lights from the bulb above her head shone on them. "How may I help you?"

Janet opened her mouth to speak but Fernando beat her to it. She rolled her eyes and moved back, giving him the space to speak. How was he going to introduce himself when they asked what relationship he with to the patient?

"Amelia Lawson was rushed here in the ambulance. Please, how is she doing and what is her room number?"

The woman eyed him and Janet prepared herself to speak if the nurse hesitated for a second in giving them the information they needed. However, she only smiled again and faced her computer, obviously looking through something.

Perhaps they wouldn't need the relationship status after all. "Oh Mr. James, the doctor is currently attending to your wife."

Janet almost choked as she cleared her throat. Wife? What was wrong with these people? Why did they just assume any woman a man brought was his partner? Couldn't Lia be his daughter? Or had Fernando told them something?

"Actually, she's my-" Fernando tried to make corrections but Janet stopped him.

The mistake had already been made and besides, what if they prevented him access after his big reveal? Then what? "Leave it," she told him and the nurse eyed them suspiciously.

"Her room is just down this hall, two doors to your left."

Fernando thanked her and took off, playing the role of the husband a little too well for Janet's taste. With a sigh, she thanked the nurse as well and ran to catch up with him. She was out of breath by the time she caught up with him. He was standing in front of the room, his hands raised to turn the door knob.

"You're really playing the part well, I must say." She wanted to say, instead she said instead, "I'm sure Lia is okay, my girl is a fighter."

He nodded and took a deep breath, pulling away from the door. "You should go in first. You're her biological mother."

Janet smiled and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. You go. I'm sure she'll appreciate your presence more."

Fernando thanked her and zoomed off before she could say anything else. Janet scoffed and shook her head in disbelief. He was really eager. Perhaps he was taking his acting a little too far?

***

Fernando walked into the room and released the breath he had been holding, running towards the bed. He touched Lia's legs as soon as he was close enough and tears pricked his eyes.

This was all Janet's fault for insisting Lia had to leave. Lia was also at fault for letting the charade go on even when the perfect opportunity had been handed to them.

The stress of all the pretending and sneaking around just to see each other had probably caught up with her and that was why she collapsed like that.

"Mr. James, I have been expecting you," the doctor, a light-skinned man of average height, commented and smiled at Fernando. He whispered something to the woman standing beside him and handed a file over to her. He then turned to Fernando again, his smile growing wider. "Let's talk outside."

Fernando eyed Lia one last time and reluctantly followed the doctor outside, eager to hear what had him grinning so broadly. It had to be good news for him to have such a smile on his face.

"How is she doing?" he asked once they were outside and the doctor patted his back.

"Mr. James, it's all-good news and there's absolutely no cause for alarm."

Fernando searched around for Janet and frowned when he couldn't find her. Where had she gone and how could she leave without checking on her daughter.?

"How is my daughter doing, doctor?" Janet asked, coming up from behind him and he gasped, moving back in shock and surprise.

The doctor just continued to smile as he watched the two. "And you must be her mother-in-law,"

Janet eyed Fernando and then nodded, slipping on a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Mother-in-law my foot! I'm his fiancé.

"Well, Mrs. James fainted due to stress and in her condition it is not advisable for any woman to be exposed to such conditions and situations."

Janet blinked and stared, making sure her smile was firmly in place for the doctor's sake. She didn't need the doctor to finish his statement because she already understood where he was headed. No wonder he was greeting the mother-in-law.

"Doctor, I am quite confused. What condition are you talking about?"

"Congratulations Mr. James, Mrs. James is pregnant."

Janet excused herself immediately and walked into the room just as the nurse was walking out. The nurse stopped and smiled at Janet who groaned inwardly already knowing what she'd say.

"Congratulations ma, you must be so proud."

"Very," she remarked, shutting the door behind her and leaning against it; She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, trying to clear her mind. She eyed Lia's sleeping form on the bed and sagged against the door. This wasn't part of the morals and values she had brought her up with. How could she have a child out of wedlock?

She leaned up and walked towards the bed, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She tapped Lia's arm lightly at first and then more firmly. Lia moaned and stirred, but didn't open her eyes. "Amelia Lawson, you open your eyes right now,"

Lia's eyes opened slowly, her orbs searching the room for something, anything she could understand. When her gaze fell on Janet, she frowned and reached for her hand. Janet pulled away, taking a step back. The fury she was feeling was glaring on her face.

"Water," Lia croaked, and Janet sighed, walking towards the table at the corner. She poured some water in a glass she found and walked back towards Lia, handing it over to her. The stoic expression remained on her face as she watched Lia drink. She collected the glass from her and held it, her eyes boring into Lia's head.

Lia finally noticed her mother's expression and forced herself into a sitting position. "Is something wrong?"

"You tell me, she shot at her and sighed when Lia flinched. "Who are you pregnant for?"

Lia flushed and looked away, playing with her hands. "I.."

"I need an answer Amelia because this is not how I raised you. I raised you with better values than this. You are not even married yet."

Lia rolled her eyes and sighed.

"It's not like we are in the medieval days mother, this is the 21st century and I can take care of myself and my child even without the father."

"Don't force me to raise my hand to you Lia." Janet warned, her eyes like little balls of fire.

"Who is the father of your child?"

"I am." Fernando answered, walking into the room and Lia's eyes grew wide. She shook her head and slid off the bed, swaying a little on her feet. Fernando reached a hand to steady her but she pulled away, making him frown.

"Are you still going to keep this charade up and for how long?" he thundered and Lia glared at him, Janet fading into the background.

"This is not the right time to tell her anything, we are not sure what the state of her health is. Please Fer, you promised me, " She tried to reach for his hand but he pulled away, his expression hurt.

"That was before I found out I was going to be a father," he let out a dry laugh and Lia sighed, tears gathering in her eyes. "We are finally going to have a baby. Isn't this what we've been waiting for all this time?"

Lia opened her mouth to reply and then closed it again knowing she couldn't say anything because he was right, they had been meaning to start a family since everything became normal again. But they had also agreed to keep thing hush hush until Janet was better and able to hear the news.

"I want to be close to my child, close to you more than ever. It's over, I won't be separated from you again." Fernando said with a shake of his head.

He turned to Janet who had been staring at the duo in shock and sighed. "I know all this might come as a shock to you and I'm sorry. This is not how I planned to tell you everything but the situation has forced my hand. I love your daughter a lot and I can't stay away from her any longer."

There was silence, a deafening one that scared Lia and made her wonder if Janet would ever recover. And then just as she was about to check on her, Janet screamed. Lia flinched, colliding with Fernando who held her immediately, his hands around her waist.

"Mum? I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Lia begged, trying to leave Fernando's side but he didn't let her.

"How could you commit such a sin Amelia? Fernando is your father!"