The Billionaire's Redemption

A TEST *FIONA* Her hopes formed hard edges on the wall as she relaxed her head onto it. The rough brown of the bricked wall reflected the calming silence, and Fiona closed her eyes. Sometimes, one needed the serenity to cool off and take a break from black sticky thoughts that left their irremovable stains on one's brain. Sometimes, it just didn't work out. A door creaked and Fiona's eyes cracked open. Today was one of those days. She was on her feet immediately as Mike walked towards her. There was a smile on his face, a hint, not much, but it was something. Fiona's heart drummed, and she swallowed. "Fiona. " He said. "Baby" Her voice carried her curiosity in waves. But where was the doctor? Why was he alone? She feared to ask. "What is the...re... result?" Mike took his wife's hand. "Let's head home Honey. I'd narrate to you when we get---" " No, I want it now. The rest....Mike, what does it say" He stared at her, at the black well of hope in her pupils and he sighed. "Come sit" When they had settled, he said. "The test, came back negative." His tone rose and fell like tidal waves. "Oh I see." Her words were coated with misery, and transported by a hollowness in her throat. They had revisited this horrible movie how many times now? It didn't scare as much as it used to, she realized. "Are you okay darling?" Mike squeezed her hands in his. That was reassuring enough. It was evident that he feared relaying the news to her. "Yes baby. I am fine. Actually." She said " We'll keep trying, okay? Know that I am here for you and nothing will ever make this a problem for us? I will wait for as long as is needed." Fiona looked at him."But how long is too long? Perhaps the essence of being patient is that we have to do something?" Mike frowned ." Don't do that Fiona.. how can you entertain such thoughts?" " What do you want me to do?" She lowered her head." You need a child." Mike chuckled."yeah, because we are in the 50s and probably 80s were having an heir to inherit your fortune was everything." " It's not that.." " I don't care what it is. " " I want you to understand me" " Everything is going to be natural Fiona." Mike combed through his sleek black hair, clearly frustrated. " I am not letting you try out any artificial means of conceiving. I won't take that." Fiona clenched her fists. " Maybe it's my own decision to make" "Fiona!" His phone chimed, a musical addition that signaled the end of this horrific episode. She was done watching, and didn't want anymore of it. "What's that?" She asked. Surprise flashed on Mike's olive features."Wow. You gotta be kidding me." Evidently confused, she strained her neck like a flamingo to view what it was, but her thoughts were in so much disarray they couldn't process what she was seeing. "What's that?" An amused smile coated Mike's face. "Nothing much, just big news from your sister, an exciting one." Jane? She always popped up whenever she wanted didn't she? Even if it was at the wrong time. "What is she saying?" "She's gotten pregnant." Fiona snorted in surprise." You can't be for real." Her phone dinged, with the same message from Jane. Only then did time seize her breath for the few seconds it took to read the message. A gentle breeze brushed through the glass windows, whistling melodies panned in pain. "I guess her and David have been busy a lot lately." Mike said. His voice bit at her ears, with a ferocity she almost couldn't bear. "How do you find this amusing?" She suddenly snapped. Mike looked confused. " It isn't?" "I can't believe you Mike...how can she just go get pregnant? She's young, I mean an adult yes, a young adult, but she's not ready..this is preposterous" Anger reshaped the lines of her face. "Why are you annoyed?" "What will she tell our parents?" " Like you said, she's an adult, she's old enough to do whatever the f**k she wants to do. She can handle it. " " Well, I am definitely going to talk to her, and Dave." " It's not like she's going to listen to you, if at all you guys ever talk." "You have her stubbornness to blame." Mike considered in silence. "Or maybe you are the one projecting?" Fiona turned to him, and looked away immediately. She couldn't even bare to look him in the face and that alone tore at her. She felt like she had failed him. She swallowed. "Let's go home. I'm sick of iodine and peroxide scents." ***** Fiona couldn't wait to get some rest and collapse into sleep as she opened the door to the bedroom, Mike lounging lazily behind her. Her heart warmed at the thought of how he had stood by her and comforted her. She couldn't be more grateful for such a husband. She was more than thankful for him, and she was going to try and let him know, this night maybe. She giggled silently as she made her way in, but paused in her tracks when her eyes fell on the bed. Purple silk panties---that definitely wasn't hers---was placed on it. Her heart sank, deep into a well of confusion. She swallowed, then walked forward to examine it--just maybe it could have been hers from some time ago that she didn't remember, if she just looked closely she might remember---but it wasn't hers. She would never leave her underwears out in the open, even if she'd had the most reckless lovemaking of her life with Mike. "Oh gods" she whispered, the realization hitting her with the full force of an incoming train. She couldn't move, and she couldn't remove her gaze from this object--the toxin-- that was about to shut down the life force of her entire existence. It silently screamed a challenge at her.