Chapter 47: Chapter Forty-Seven

Owen and Olivia went outside, back out through the mazelike hospital halls. The route to and from Soonja’s room was familiar by now to them both, and they barely had to take notice of the colored line guiding their path.

In the lobby was a franchise coffee booth, one of several dotted around the hospital’s extensive interior.

“Do you...” Owen indicated the coffee stand and Olivia shrugged.

They joined the short queue, and when their turn came, Owen made the order. “A double espresso for me and a large caramel latte for the lady.”

He turned to look at Olivia then. “Sorry, did you want anything else perhaps?”

Olivia shook her head. “No, but I am surprised you remember what I like.”

Owen leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek. “How could I forget, darling? I had to drink your coffee the first day we met. I hated every drop of that thing, but hey, it was what brought us together, right?”

“Why did you drink it if you didn’t like it?” Olivia laughed.

“Well, it’s coffee. We can’t let coffee go wasted, right?”

“Indeed, we cannot,” Olivia said with a smile. “Your espresso was too strong for me, but I was so nervous on my first day at work that I actually needed it.”

Owen put his arm around her shoulder. “And here we are again, ordering the same. We have come full circle, haven’t we?”

The drinks arrived swiftly, Owen paid, and they both took their coffees outside. Automatic doors swished at the lobby threshold, and then they stood outside in the car park. Still cradling their drinks untasted in their disposable cups, Owen and Olivia began an aimless walk around the hospital grounds.

Low bushes and a few small trees edged the car park. Beyond, and around the corner of the hospital building, the gardens began. The car park had been in the building’s shade; Olivia and Owen rounded the corner into bright sunlight.

The gardens were deserted, a wide strip of lawn demarcating the hospital grounds on two sides, with car parks enclosing opposite. Bushes and trees disguised the perimeter fence and muted the distant road traffic. Beyond the bustling massed stress within the hospital itself, the gardens seemed to impose an aura of relative calm. The stress of the recent days, of the weeks building up to a head, seemed to recede from Owen and Olivia.

“It’s better out here,” Owen said.

“Yes,” Olivia agreed, then shaded her eyes and looked back at the hospital, trying to pick out Soonja’s window from the top floor row.

“Olivia…”

“Mm-hmm?” she said, distracted.

Owen reached out and lowered her hand from her eyes. He laced their fingers. “He is fine,” he said calmly. “Nana is with him. Stop worrying.”

Olivia sighed. “I can’t help it.”

Owen brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I know, love, but really there’s no need now. Everything went well. I asked the doctor on my way to her room. Jude is fine and soon will be out of the hospital.”

Olivia rested her head on his shoulder. “You are right. It’s just that so much have happened lately. It seems like I haven’t had a moment of peace.”

“Let’s sit over there,” Owen said, pointing to a wooden bench. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Me too,” Olivia replied.

They took a seat and Olivia tried her coffee. As always, a sound of pleasure escaped her lips after that first sip.

“Good?” Owen asked.

“Very,” she replied. “So, what did you want us to talk about?”

“Would you like to go first? You said you had something to tell me too.”

Olivia shook her head. She wasn’t ready to reveal her big news yet. “You go ahead.”

Owen took a gulp of his coffee and then said, “I met Jillian today.”

Olivia almost choked. A thousand thoughts passed through her mind at the mention of Owen’s ex-girlfriend’s name, but she decided not to voice any until she heard what Owen had to say. “Oh?” was all that came out of her lips.

“I actually have good news.” Owen took hold of her hand and gave it a light squeeze. Olivia thought he might have sensed her anxiety and wanted to reassure her. “I took her to a clinic to have a paternity test and guess what?”

Olivia gulped. Owen was looking at her, grinning. It made her wonder if he was happy to be a father. To Jillian’s baby… not hers…

“You’ll never guess it right,” Owen started, “so I’ll tell you myself.”

“Okay?” Olivia said, curiosity and worry coloring her voice.

“Jillian wasn’t pregnant in the first place. Can you believe it?”

“Wh-What?” she said.

Owen burst into laughter seeing Olivia’s shocked face. “I know, right? I was shocked too when I heard the doctor saying there is no baby. Jillian was too. I actually took pity on her. Turns out she was having a phantom pregnancy. She really thought she was going to have a baby.”

“Are you sure she wasn’t faking her shock? I mean, didn’t she go to the doctor to confirm it?”

“Well, she said she had all the symptoms. Anyway, the point is there is no baby, Olivia, and Jillian will never bother us again.” He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and gently caressed her cheek. “I am all yours now, Olivia. There is nothing stopping us from being together as a couple now. And this time, I want it to be real and official.”

He leaned in and planted his lips on hers. Olivia responded to his kiss instantly, and Owen didn’t miss the chance to turn it into one of his long, passionate kisses that he usually reserved for their time together in the bedroom.

Olivia broke the kiss first, aware they were in a very public place. “Owen! Someone might see us.”

“I don’t care. I love you!” he said and kissed her again, though this time he made it quick. “I am so happy about how things turned out. I can finally be with the woman I want.”

Olivia smiled. She was happy too to know that he loved her but couldn’t help wondering how Owen would take her news.

“Owen…” She shifted on her seat nervously. “I need to tell you something, and I don’t know how you…”

“Whatever it is, Olivia, we will deal with it together,” he interrupted her. “You can trust me. I will be with you through thick and thin.”

Olivia stared at him for a moment without replying. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Remember how I was getting nauseous a lot these days?”

Owen nodded. “Are you sick?” he asked, worried. “Is that why Jude said you should go to the hospital too? Is it serious?”

Olivia couldn’t help but laugh. She put her hand on his cheek to calm him down. “I am not ill, don’t worry. But it is a serious matter, and I need you to think about it before you give me an answer.”

“You’re scaring me. What is it, Olivia?”

“Do you like children?”

Owen looked at her, confused. “Yes?” he said after a moment.

Olivia smiled. “Good… because soon you will have one. I’m pregnant.”