DETECTIVE SANDERS' SURROGATE

CHAPTER 8

LANA'S POV

I had been contemplating whether I should go ahead and get a new job or not. I couldn't ignore the fact that it was possible for me not to get pregnant at the first try. That also meant that I needed to get a new job to keep myself going until the next trial of insemination. But then again, if I found a job and started working, only to realize I'm pregnant two weeks after, I would have to leave my job, and that wouldn't be a right way to do things. It was just two weeks right? The money Steph and Derek had given to support me was still available, and it was more than enough to last me for weeks. I was going to survive on the money, until I finally go for the test in the next two weeks.

With a sigh, I exited the premises of the hospital, very self conscious about the fact that a fertilization process was going on inside me, which may result into pregnancy. So technically, I was practically carrying a child inside me. The feeling it gave made me put my palm upon stomach subconsciously. Right then, I decided I was going to used the next two weeks to my best capacity. It was our quiz week at school, and I had to study really hard to ace all my tests. Thankfully, I had as much time to prepare. I made my way back home and quickly contacted my course representative, Beatrice.

"Heyyy Lans!" Her shrill scream of excitement sounded from the other end of the line.

"Hey Bebe!" I chuckled.

"It is so nice to hear from you. You've been absent for a whole week. Tried calling several times, but you weren't accepting my calls. I hope you're good?"

"I'm doing just fine, Beatrice. And about being absent, I've been so sick lately. Needed some time out to recuperate."

"Ohhh! I'm so sorry, hope you feel better?" She asked and I hummed in agreement. I did feel better. The ailment which had been plaguing me was lack of money to help cure my sister. But now, there was hope, so I felt better. "So that means you'd be back in school next week? Lans, our quizzes would begin next week."

"That was the reason I called, actually." I supplied. "I wanted to know if you could help me with the timetable, so I could start preparing for the exams."

"Oh, but of course, yes! You would receive it immediately we drop this call."

"Thank you so much."

"Always welcomed sweetie. Is there any other thing you may be needing?" She asked.

"Nothing else, Bebe. Thank you."

"Anytime. Good day."

"Good day." I replied and hung up the call. True to her words, in less than 5 minutes after we ended our call, I received a message from her, and it was the timetable. I scrolled through and noticed the quiz began with the simplest of our courses, and gradually proceeded to the toughest ones. I already had a method of reading, and that was starting from the last course to be written, up to the first course. And that was how I started. It was indeed a long weekend.

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It was two weeks already, and today I was supposed to write my last quiz. I had been feeling quite fatigued and I knew it was as a result of my lack of sleep these past few weeks. I don't think I've ever read as much as I was presently doing. It was very much expected because now, I wasn't working, and had enough time on my hands. Thankfully, it was an early morning paper, so I had all the time to sleep for the rest of the day. Just as I was fondling a long paper containing some important formulae in my hand, waiting for the course supervisor to arrive, the paper fell out, making me struggle within myself to bend and pick it up. I was so tired and all I just wanted to do was write my exam and go back home for a proper rest. After so much contemplation, I reluctantly bent to retrieve the paper from the floor. I was getting up from my bent position when my boobs brushed the edge of my desk.

I had been wearing a lace bra, so it made the friction between my boobs and the desk so much more painful, and I almost let out a whimper. After some long seconds, I recovered from the agonizing pain and made to lightly massage my breast. I hadn't been able to massage it for long because the tender way they felt, made me quickly retract my hand. Christ! I was really fatigued. Just then, the supervisor walked in and announced the commencement of the quiz. I quickly put aside every material I had with me, and got ready for business. God help me, this course was the toughest and had the highest credit unit. If I aced it, it was really going to help boost my CGPA.

I was still shocked about how smooth the quiz had turned out. I hadn't expected it to be so easy, despite being the toughest course. It almost felt like I had wasted my time staying awake all night just for the course, but then, no knowledge was a waste. I was exiting the exam hall when I received a call. Seeing Dr. Presley's name on the caller ID made my brain do a quick jerk. Was there something I had forgotten about? I quickly answered the call and put the phone to my ear.

"Dr. Presley. Good morning."

"Good morning Lana. How are you preparing for your test later this morning?"

"No, I just finished writing it and I'm about exiting the hall." I smiled to myself, happy he was concerned about my academics. But then, I didn't remember telling him about my exams, so how..... Oh my goodness! He meant test, as in 'test'. The pregnancy test. How on earth had I forgotten about it? Lord!

"Lana dear, I had no idea you were currently having some tests in school, but I....."

"I understand you sir! I'm so sorry, I totally forgot."

"Uh~oh! Does that mean you wouldn't be able to make it for the test?"

"Of course not! I'm on my way now." I replied, shocking even myself. If someone had told me that the tiredness I felt would have disappeared in the blink of an eye, I wouldn't have believed. But here I was, completely alert and making my way towards an empty cab.

"Are you sure...." He was still talking when my call for the cab man interrupted him, and most certainly made him believe I was on my way to the hospital indeed.

"Taxi!" I yelled, running after the cab that seemed to be making a reverse. Luckily, the cab man noticed me and waited until I got to him.

I eventually got into the cab and through out my journey to the hospital, I couldn't help but think on Maisie's words the other day. She was right indeed when she said I had a life of my own. For a long while, I had been so invested in working and making ends meet, just to ensure my little sister was fine, and to make sure I could sort out the bills. Just a few weeks of minimal relaxation and complete focus on my academics, and I had already forgotten I had a pregnancy test to be carried out. I had already forgotten how important being pregnant was, for the sake of my sister. I wasn't gonna lie to myself, I felt so horrible. It felt like I could easily forget my sister at any given opportunity, and that wasn't the way it was supposed to be. Once I had paid the cab man and alighted his car, I made my way into the hospital and straight to Doctor Presley's office. On a normal day, judging from the fact that I hadn't seen Maisie in weeks, I would have gone to her first, but then..... she had not been supportive of the whole surrogacy plan.

In all honesty, I knew she wasn't gonna be. As time went on, I had begun to think that Maisie was really getting used to the idea of not living long, and that was exactly what I was trying to kill. That ideology. Maisie thinks all hope is lost but then, I wanted her to know that miracles still happened and she still had a long way to go in life. Now, I had to go ahead with all of these, without letting her have the slightest idea. I needed to do this for her. One knock on Dr. Presley's office, and I heard his voice asking me to come in. I quickly made my way in and he flashed me a smile.

"Welcome Lana. I had been wondering why you hadn't stopped by to check on Maisie and see how she has been faring these past weeks. I guess I got my answer already. You've been so busy with school work." He nodded in understanding, but I quickly shook my head.

"No.." I said.

"What?" He asked.

"Surely, school work isn't enough for me to not see my sister in weeks." I explained.

"So, what is it?"

"Well.... I had spoken to Maisie about my decision to go ahead with the surrogate agreement, and she wasn't in support of it. So, I'm just trying to stay away until I know the deal is sealed. In that way, I wouldn't be able to opt out. Neither would she be able to talk me out of it." I rushed out, and gauged his reaction. He seemed surprised.

"Maisie is not in support?"

"Of course, she's not. I had actually expected it. She went on and on about how she wasn't going to let me sell off my child for her sake."

"But you're doing it all the same." He muttered.

"Yes. Because she is my sister. And then, because I actually pity the sick man as well. The more we delay this, the riskier it is for him. I took note of the fact that he has to undergo a surgical operation soon."

"That's right." He nodded. We went silent for a while, before I spoke up.

"So, about the test...."

"Yes! About that, we should go see William first, then...." He was still talking when I swiftly cut in.

"We would go see him before the tests are conducted?" I asked, and he nodded. "That's unnecessary. What if the test result comes out negative? Then it would be that we have only made him so tense, only to bring a bad news? I would insist we carry out the test first." He seemed to be in deep thoughts, before finally nodding in agreement and succumbing to the suggestion.

He led me to the laboratory for the sample of my urine to be taken. While waiting for the lab scientist to run the tests and bring the results, my mind ran through a lot of things. If it turned out I was pregnant, then I wouldn't be seeing my period which was supposed to begin tomorrow. It also meant I have another life growing inside me! It also meant my sister's chemotherapy would start tomorrow, if possible!! I felt my hands shake in anxiety, as my palms quickly started becoming filled with sweat and felt clammy.

"Lana." Dr. Presley whispered. "Relax, you'd be fine. Let's hope for the best." I found it difficult to respond, so all I did was nod. After some minutes, Dr. Presley left and didn't return until after an hour. When he did, the lab scientist strolled out of her office and handed a neatly folded paper into his hands. I guessed the result was ready, and she had called him to come collect it.

She didn't say a word to him, and just turned and left. I wasn't bothered because Dr. Presley could very well explain whatever it was on the paper. After looking through the paper for a few seconds, he looked at me with wide eyes and said.

"Lana, your HCG level is high!" Immediately, I became alarmed. What did he mean by that? Was I sick in any way? What did he mean by HCG?

"W..what's HCG?" I managed to ask.

"Oh Lana. HCG level simply means your Human chorionic gonadotrophin level."

"Does that mean I'm sick?"

"No. It means you're are pregnant. You're pregnant, Lana! It worked." He grinned, and I let out a huge sigh of relief. I was pregnant! My hand quickly made it's way to my belly as I gently caressed it. My baby was in there.

"I can't believe this." I muttered, with teary eyes. I honestly couldn't believe it. Two weeks ago, I was very much far from being pregnant. Now, it was a different case entirely.

"We should go see Mrs. Sanders and her son immediately. They would be so excited. And also, Maisie's treatment would be able to commence immediately." I didn't need any further encouragement to make me follow him to Mr. William's room. On getting to his room, we gently knocked, before hearing a voice that sounded like Mrs. Sanders', asking us to go in. Dr. Presley opened the door and we walked in. The first person I saw was William. He looked huger and way more handsome today. But then, I could clearly see that he was tensed and no one had to tell me why he was. It was because of the pregnancy test.

"Good morning everyone!" Dr. Presley greeted, but only Mrs. Sanders has responded. I looked at William and realized he was probably too tensed to say a word. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke up.

"You're here." He stated the obvious, looking at me. I nodded in agreement, waiting for him to finish saying what he had in mind to say. "That means....."

"Yes, the test has been carried out." I helped him out.

"The test has been carried out?" His mother rushed out.

"Yes." Dr. Presley nodded.

"So? What does it say?" William asked.

"It's positive. Lana here, is carrying your baby."

I heard a shrill sound erupt from William's throat, as he bent his head, while putting a hand across his chest. Was that how much relief this news had given him? I couldn't explain the kind of joy seeing him exhibit so much happiness over the news, gave me.

"Oh my! This is such a wonderful news!" Mrs. Sanders said, before rushing towards me and pulling me into her embrace. "Thank you so much my dear! Thank you so much! We are grateful to you. I would make sure the agreed part of your payment is wired to you immediately."

"No!" I said. "Don't send it to me. Let it go straight to Dr. Presley, so that my sister's treatment can commence immediately."

"If that is what you want, then it isn't an issue. He would receive the payment immediately." She assured me.

I let them revel in the pleasure of such a good news, before throwing my next question.

"So what's next?"

"What's next?" She asked, and I nodded.

"What's next is that you're moving into my place immediately." I turned to see William's eyes on me. I had actually forgotten that part.