Danger lurking.

Danger lurking.


"So you're attending birth classes today with Ross. What else?" Kathy asks as I put on a pale coat.

It is a bit chilly outside today. The air is unusually cold and everywhere outside look like it is covered in a thick layer of mist.

I walk around my apartment living room looking for a scarf and my handbag.
Ross and I signed up for the morning birth class, just so we can have the rest of the day and do other things since these days we seem to have a lot on our plate.

We both have a lot of things to do. We have to talk to the event planner, we have to decide what we're going to do about the Dunham case and on top all of that we are expecting two babies.

Sometimes when I think about it all, It just feels unreal. All I had to think of before was how I would pay for Kathy's surgery.

All of the problems.


"Well, I'm going to close the deal on the apartment today. If all goes well we'll move in by the end of the month"

"I better text Nick soon. He wants to close the deal with me"

I am dreading the conversation that I will have with Nick when the time comes. We have so much to talk about and I feel like I've hurt him badly.

Kathy looks like something is bothering her but she hasn't spoken up.

"Is there something wrong?" I ask her as she twiddles her thumb.

"Well, it's time for my one year check up"

"Has it been one year already??"

I exclaim as I take a seat next to her.

Her hands feel warm against mine when I hold them in mine.

I didn't know that it had been a year already. It certainly didn't feel like it was already a year since I agreed to be a surrogate, Kathy's surgery and my marriage to Ross.

And Kathy has been doing fine, except for a few minor check ups, her new heart hasn't given up on her nor has her body rejected it and for that we're so relieved. It means that things her looking up for her.

"Don't worry. I'll make time to go with you right after my birth class. In fact, I'm going to cancel the appointment with realtor today"

I pick up my phone and start typing out a long message that I wouldn't be available to come to close the deal due to unforeseen circumstances.

"That's not it. But I appreciate the fact that you're coming. It's just that I want to know if Carly can come with us"

"Must she come?"

I grimace and Kathy frowns at me. I am aware of the growing relationship between Kathy and Carly but I really don't know if there's anything going on between them. I don't want to push Kathy away from Carly since it seems she's different from the rest of her family. And I've been too shy to ask if anything is going on between them.

Even Grandma had asked me if Kathy was a lesbian and I didn't have the appropriate answer for her.
Growing up having the sex talk with Kathy wasn't something that I had to do since my parents were still around then and even after that, I have never had to worry about Kathy and guys because she was frequently in and out of the hospital.

"Are you and Carly.... Are you guys dating?"

I quickly blurt out before I fight the urge to say it.

I can see a blush forming on Kathy's face and I take that as a yes.

"Not yet, we're taking things slow since I'm still figuring myself out"

"So.... You're a lesbian?"


"No! I know I like boys too. But the thing with Carly, I don't know. It was unexpected, but I like her more than I'd like a girl whose just a friend"


"Ah! Good to know!" I pick up my handbag from the couch.

"Don't tell Grandma about this yet. Or Julian..." She pleads and I nod my head.

"My lips are sealed."

I make a gesture with my hands and Kathy smiles.

"I have to go. Don't want to be late for birth class"

The idea of birth class has been freaking me out since I know we're supposed to watch a birth video. And all the birth video I have seen so far, well, I haven't been able to watch them past the first thirty seconds.

To say that I am scared would be a gross understatement.

That's why I'm going with Ross, so I can hide my face in his shirt while he watches it. He can tell me what happened in the video later if he isn't too scarred.

"Aren't you going with Ross?" Kathy asks and I nod.

"Yes, I am actually. Let me call him now he's meant to pick me up"

"I'll see you later!" I turn to blow a kiss to Kathy with my phone in my hand dialling Ross.

When I open the door to get out of my apartment I find a box right in front of it.

"Did you order something?" I call out to Kathy who murmured a no.

"Maybe Grandma did?" She asks as she comes to have a look.

I notice the brown box isn't sealed so I kneel and open it up.

The scream flies out of my mouth so quickly it startles Kathy.

"What is it?"

She asks as she searches my face.

I slowly move away from the box.

Kathy cautiously walks towards the box.

"Stay away from the box Kathy! Please just stay away!" I scream and Kathy jerks back in surprise.

"Why? What's in it?"

"I don't know, I just saw blood and I freaked out!"


"Calm down. I think there's a note inside" Kathy peers inside.

She is dangerously close to the box and I move closer to drag her away.

I don't want her to put too much strain on her heart once she sees it.

But my heart is beating so fast I feel its about to rip out of my chest as I open the box again.


The blood in the box is so sickening it's hard to make out what exactly is in the box. The whole box is covered in blood. And there's a long object in the middle smothered with so much blood that I can hardly make out what's in it.

But then I find a folded note just sticking out at the side of the box and I have to pick it up.

The note is half soaked in blood but it it still easy to make out the words on the note.




WHERE'S THE WAITER ELENORA? SEND HIM THIS AS A TOKEN. IT'S HIS GIRLFRIEND'S FINGER.



"Oh My God!" I scream as I rush to the bathroom.

I kneel before the toilet seat and throw up all my breakfast which mainly consisted of the Boston cream pie and tea I had in the morning.

Even when there's nothing more in my stomach I still continue to retch.

I can't get the image of the bloody finger out of my mind.

Or the fact that someone is hurt because of me.
Because I wanted to find out who tried to hurt my babies.

I sit down on the cold floor hugging the toilet seat as tears streak down my face. I feel so much pain, so much anger.

"I just called Ross! He's on his way!" Kathy rushes into the toilet as she hands me my phone.


I don't move from the spot, I don't move an inch as I stay still hugging the toilet with the smell of my puke still pungent in the air.

All I do is cry and hug the toilet seat.

"Elenora, please stand up! Please...."

Kathy cries.


"Ross is on his way, he called the police, please stand up!" She whimpers but I don't listen to her.


Because I'm not even sure I can hear her, all I know is that a woman could be dead, all because of me.


All because I wanted justice.


All because I fell in love with Ross and I am having his babies.