Surprise
2313 Words
I opened my eyes in a white clinical room with a blood pressure cuff inflating on my arm. A nurse stood at the end of the bed.
"Hello Ms Ash. How do you feel?" She asked
"What happened?"
"You had a collapse, your friend tells us your under a little pressure lately. We're waiting for your blood work and the Dr will be in to see you." She smiled
"Am I ok?"
"We've to wait for your bloods but so far just seems like your a little dehydrated." She turned and left as I sunk back against the pillows.
Tristan entered.
"Hi" he meekly said from the doorway.
"Hey" I began before a Dr bustled in.
"Significant other?" He asked Tristan.
"Friend" Tristan sighed
"Then I'll insist on speaking to Ms Ash alone if you don't mind" he added bustling Tristan out.
"Okay" Tristan seemed alarmed but left
"Ms Ash" the Dr began
"Is everything ok?" I asked
"Yes Ms Ash it seems your pregnant"
"No I can't be I have the implant" I replied.
"How long is it in?" He asked
My blood ran cold it should of been changed a year ago but when Sean died I hadn't thought about it.
"Over four years" I sighed
"We only suggest it for three." He replied
"I know something happened and I forgot to change it"
"Well its best to give you a scan and see how far along you are, we can get you a solid due date." He kindly answered. "Would you like me to call in your friend?"
I swallowed loudly and shook my head.
"It's okay"
"Alright let's have a look" he pulled the ultra sound machine towards the bedside. I pulled up my shirt the cold gel on my stomach shocked me that this was really happening.
"Right there Ms Ash" he pointed out a tiny outline of the baby. "That flicker is a heartbeat. Your nearly ten weeks along according to the baby's measurements." He added. I numbly nodded. "It all looks great." He smiled. He printed out some prints of the tiny figure and handed them to me.
"You need rest, plenty of fluids and prenatal vitamins. I'll send you out another sonogram appointment. You can come see me in my office for the next one if you like." He seemed kind and understanding to my shock.
He stood and left. I sat on the beds edge wondering what I should do next when Mercy entered.
"He wouldn't want this. He never wanted kids" she bit indicating to the scans in my hand
"Don't you knock?" I snapped stashing the pictures in my pocket. "It's not your business Mercy" I warned.
"No but I know Tristan this would make him miserable." She added. "He told you himself he's not the father type" she answered. " Be smart play happy families with your cop"
"Haha you'd love that but I can't we don't have a relationship. I think he'd get wise when I claimed it was an immaculate conception" I snapped.
I stood up and faced Mercy.
"This is your fault Freya and he'll know it. You trapped him"
"What do you care Mercy?" I paused.
"Oh my God you love him. You've probably been running all his girlfriends for years "
"Your not right for him" she lamely answered.
"You work for him, he sees you as nothing more then a good assistant. Your replaceable Mercy, his baby is not" I bit back at her.
"From his own lips he told you, you had no future and he doesn't want this baby"
I stormed past her and found Tristan in the waiting room alot of eyes were on him.
"Tristan" I began just as Mark flew through the doors.
"Freya" he gasped gathering me in a hug. "You okay?"
"Fine. Just stressed and dehydrated"
"How are the boys in blue fairing finding Freya's stalker?" Tristan asked.
"Don't worry Mr Devon we will find the person." Mark snipped. Tristan moved closer to Mark his chest puffed out his stance a little aggressive. Mark went stiff and also moved towards Tristan.
"Stop it" I warned in a low serious tone. "You're grown men this isn't high school. Now if you don't mind I'd like to go home please"
Mark put his arm around me.
"Come on Freya let's get you rested up"
"Thank you Tristan for looking out for me today." I added before turning away.
"Always" he muttered as I walked away
Mark fussed over me as he tucked me into bed.
"Mark I'm fine. Stop it, I just need to drink more"
"Speaking of" he smiled pulling out a pink water bottle. "From now on, you drink two of these a day" he added.
"Okay" I muttered snuggling down under the blanket.
My hand rested on my stomach out of Mark's sight I sighed before dozing off.
The next few weeks were a blur I slipped my buddy system long enough to purchase pre natal vitimans. I lied to the gang about having a small stomach ulcer from stress to give up drink but I knew my time was limited. I was a slim girl and almost overnight since I found out I had developed a little pouch that wasn't exactly visable in my current clothes but soon would be.
I spent most of my days in a daze thinking about if I should tell Tristan or not. I also needed to let my parents know. At sixteen weeks pregnant I made the decision to tell my friends.
We were all gathered in our sitting room when Rebecca broke the ice.
"Okay Freya spit it out"
"I'm pregnant." I blurted it out "sixteen weeks" I added.
Mark showed no emotion or expression he remained blank in his facial expression.
"So that makes the father......" James trailled off
"Tristan Devon" Rebecca sighed
"Your sure?" Pam asked her eyes briefly flitting to Mark.
"Yes I've been with no one but Tristan" I snapped a dangerous edge to my voice which told Pam to back off.
"What's your plan?" Xander asked
"I'm going to fly home and tell my parents. I will take some time in Ireland to decide my next move." I replied.
"And Tristan?" Rebecca asked.
"I don't know but I will have to tell him soon it's his baby too"
"I've to go to work" Mark stood.
"Mark ...." I began
"Freya it's okay we'll chat later" he added as he left.
Everyone shifted uncomfortably
"I've made such a mess" I sighed dropping my head into my hands.
No one answered which was all the answer I needed.
It took another couple of weeks to tell people at work. Jessica was shocked but understanding when I told her I was pregnant she also agreed to my three week break to go home to Ireland to break the news to my parents.
"Your mam will go ballistic you know that right?" She sighed
"Oh I know. I'll be the shame of the village" I sarcastically replied.
"Yup I was a disgrace when I ran away to be a dancer. Shocking it was" she laughed. " But Freya they get over it. That's the best I can tell you Freya small villages love scandal but it's brief and you have nothing to be ashamed of." She added. I smiled and nodded.
"I'll make sure Mia has everything under control before I leave" I reassured her.
"I hope you come back Freya your good at what you do here" she answered as I left.
"Do it by myself?" Mia looked terrified.
"I had no experience with the job and I did it. You'll be great" I reassured her.
"The job has changed since then we don't pick up dry cleaning anymore. You made it into much more. We plan full events now" she fretted
"Mia I'm on the other end of a phone anytime you need me. It'll be great"
"Okay." She relented. "So more importantly what are you going to do about Tristan?" She asked.
"I figure I have to tell him. I've a Drs appointment today and I'm going to stop by his place after. It's like a band-aid right?' I asked her "I just got to rip it off"
"Sure quick and painless" she agreed.
"Yeah painless" I sighed already feeling the pain in my heart.
The Drs office was quiet as I watched my baby flicker on the screen. It's little features were clear now. I smiled lightly.
"Would you like to know the baby's gender?" He asked
"I hadn't thought about it" I replied
"Well I can tell if you like or you can wait?"
"Tell me please" I replied
"It's a little girl" he smiled. "Congratulations'
"A girl." A tear fell from my eye. "I have a daughter?"
"You sure do. Everything is perfect Ms Ash" he added handing me some prints of the baby. "Enjoy your trip home I'll see you when you get back" he added.
"I will thank you" I tucked the pictures into my handbag.
I walked into Tristan's apartment building and stopped at the desk. I'm here to see Mr Devon please.
"Certainly Ms Ash" he signaled the elevator attendant to take me to the penthouse lift. We stood in silence in the lift. When the doors opened on the penthouse level I found my way blocked by Mercy
"He's not here" she bit
"I'll wait"
"No you won't. I'm not letting some fling destroy his life"
"Your not his mother, his babysitter or his keeper. He has a right to know he has a daughter on the way" I argued still in the enterance to the lift.
"Get back on the elevator and head home Freya if you know what's good for you"
"Threatening me now Mercy?" I asked. "Have you sunk so low?" I added.
"Leave or I call the police for trespassing." She warned.
"I want to see Mrs O Connor please" I changed tact.
"Noway. Leave now please security will take you down." One of Tristan Devon's security men stood from his seat by the elevator and signaled to the attendant to take the lift down.
Once again I found myself in the lift crying with the two men pretending nothing was a miss. I rushed from the lift and out of the building.
Mark was waiting when I got home he took in my tear soaked cheeks
"Freya?" He asked grabbing me in an embrace. Again I was reduced to a sobbing mess and once again it was Mark who consoled me not Tristan. I cried harder thinking how simple it would be if I could transfer my desire for Tristan to Mark. Life would be so simple then.
"Freya are you scared of going home?" He asked softly.
I nodded and took a deep breath
"Amoungst other things" I honestly responded.
"Freya I can help you raise this baby. Tell your parents it's mine. We can make this work"
"I......" Lost for words I stood back from Mark. " I couldn't ask you to do that"
"I want to. Freya from the moment I met you I knew we were meant to be together" he rushed on.
"Mark I'm going home tomorrow for a few weeks. You should really take the time to think this through" I cut in.
"I'll fly home with you introduce myself. Tell them we have a plan and everything will be okay"
I swallowed uncomfortably going home with Mark would soften the deal but it would also be a lie.
"Mark you are such a sweet man but this is forever. My baby is Tristan Devon's child and I don't think I could live with the lie"
"He's not going to be able to be a father to your baby either"
"Maybe not. But I owe my child the truth. She could have an amazing step parent but still know her biological past. Everyone deserves to know where they come from Mark."
"She?"
I placed my hand on my stomach "yeah I found out today that I have a daughter."
"A little girl" he smiled.
"Mark I know you want the perfect family and I think it's honourable that you are willing to love my baby as your own. But that's only part of it I like you, I love you platonically as my best friend but I can't make myself love you romantically."
"Plenty of relationships grow from friendship." He argued
"Agreed but as your friend I think you deserve someone who loves you madly and deeply." I pressed my finger to his lips to stop him arguing. "You deserve to have and to told your own babies with a partner on your own terms. I don't want you trapped because you're a good guy who wants to help his friend. I made this mistake along with Tristan and what hurts most is no matter what has gone on between him and I lately I still love him. He's the first thing I think about in the morning and last thing at night. You deserve someone who feels that way about you" I added wiping an angry tear from my cheek.
Mark stood closer to me again
"I think about you first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Freya just consider you ,me and that beautiful little girl together" he put his hand on my stomach and my breath caught. Images of a laughing baby being pushed in a swing by Mark in the sunshine flashed into my mind. The sudden idea of how happy my baby would be was very appealing.
"I will think about it" I sighed.
"Thank you." He hugged me tight the baby kicked between us. "Did you feel that?" He asked laughing
"Yes I did" I laughed. "Come on I've an early flight in the morning." I added.
- Writer
