Christmas' Misery

Chapter nineteen

[Christmas]

I was standing here in the doorway, watching Duke cleaning his car. My tummy now is bigger than it was before because I am now 5 months pregnant with our child. We just visited at the hospital yesterday and the doctor said my baby is doing good in my care. That's a good news for us.

"Hey, what are you doing there, huh?" Duke asked only wearing a kentucky short. He is now done cleaning the car.

"I'm just watching you cleaning the car but you already done," I answered, smiling at him.

"You shouldn't be here, Baby." He walks with me inside. "You should taking rest in our room."

"But I'm sick of staying in our room." I pouted.

"But it was the best for you." He stares at me telling that I should stop being stubborn. "By the way." His voice suddenly became deep.

"What?"

Duke take something inside his pocket and it is a container of a medicine. "The doctor gave this earlier." He gave me the medicine. "He called me to stop by at his hospital and he gave me that." He explained.

My forehead knotted. "What is this for?" I asked in curiosity, looking at the container in my hand.

"It's a medicine that will keep our baby healthy. That is what the doctor said," he answered.

"Do I have to drink this?" I looked at him.

"Yea, because that is what your doctor said," he said, "Baby, it's just a vitamins okay?"

"I know but I have a doubt in taking this." I bit my lower lip.

"If you don't really like to take it, I will not force you. I will just give it back to the doctor tomorrow." He was about to take the container in my hand when I didn't give it to him.

"No, I will take this if it is for our baby."

He smile to me. "Good girl."

The medicine that my doctor gave me I always taking it everytime we are going to sleep. I'd been using it for almost one week and it made me feel better. I thought everything is going to be alright but I feel something cramps and that was strange to my body.

"Duke?" I called as I goes out in our room to look for him. I can feel a cramps in my tummy and it's really hurts, "Duke?" I called him again.

"Yes Baby?!" he answered from downstairs.

"Come here. I don't feel okay!" I said, holding at the edge of the staircase.

"I'm coming!" Duke answered and I waited him to go upstairs. "What is wrong, Baby-woah." He suddenly stunned in front me.

"What?" I asked him in my forehead knotted.

"Y-you are bleeding, Baby," he said in shock.

On what Duke had said, my whole nerves became numb. My sight started to blurred and I feel tears running in my eyes. The next thing I knew after that moment, I awaked in the white room of a hospital.

"Ahh!" I shouted as I saw my tummy wasn't big anymore.

"Baby!" Duke immediately entered me in the room. "What happ-"

"Where is my baby?!" I asked terrify and I was about to stood up when he stopped me. I pushed him. "Where is our baby, Duke?!"

"It is gone," he answered that made me stopped.

"Gone? What do you mean it's gone?"

"Our child already dead."

"Our child already dead."

"Our child already dead."

"Our child already dead."

I suddenly woke up from my dreams, breathing heavily. I placed my hand at my chest, feeling the rush thumping heart. It seems that it is only happened yesterday.

"Hmm."

When I heard a moan beside me, I smiled a little as I saw Duke sleeping deeply. I don't know what time he came home but I'm sure it is already very late. I get off the bed carefully, avoiding not make any sounds that will wake him up. I left him in our room and I am now heading downstairs to make our breakfast. It is Sunday today and Duke doesn't have work to do in the company that is why he will stay with me here in the house. Unless he has other plans for us today.

Like what I always cooked for him in the morning, I made pancakes again with honey serum. It's already cooked and I'm only waiting for him to wake up. While I am waiting for him, I decided to water the garden first. I started to water Lexi's garden before I next our garden.

(Sounds of a crying baby)

As I heard again the voices of a baby crying on my head, I hold tightly in the water host that is in my hand. My toes started to shake like I am going to fall down together at the cramps on my entire body. Here I am again! I bit my lower lip and take deep breath, making myself to calm down. I remained my eyes close till the voices in my head gone.

"Christmas."

As I heard a familiar voice called me, I automatically turn where it came from. I was surprised seeing Aunt Lorie in front me. "A-aunt Lorie, you are here."

She chuckled. "Yea, I just moved here yesterday."

"Moved? You moved here in Jacksonville?"

"Yes but it's just for temporarily. Actually that is the house I rented." She pointed the house that is in front us.

So, it was her that Lexi telling me our new neighborhood yesterday? But she said he not her.

"Are you alone here, Auntie?" I asked her to confirm my thoughts.

"Ahm, I'm not alone. I'm with someone," she answered.

"Is it a man?" I asked again.

Her face suddenly become pail seems she was shock about what I asked. "H-how did you it was a man? You already seen him?"

I shook my head. "I didn't see who was it. My friend told me we have a new neighborhood and she told me it was a he not a she." I explained. "Maybe she didn't just saw you yesterday." I added.

Aunt Lorie suddenly laughed out. "Yea, hahaha! It was a he that I am with. He is not around so you can't meet him today. Maybe in some other time."

"Okay." I smiled a little bit on her. "Why do you rented anyway a house here in Jacksonville? And it is really where we are living. It is sort of weird for me that you are here all of a sudden, Auntie. We just talked at the phone yesterday and now you are here." I didn't stop myself to ask in curiosity. "Do you want to talk about it inside? I just made a pancake and we can talk about it there."

"Ahm, no thank you. I'm going at the grocery to buy foods right now." She said and I nodded. "The answer in your question is I had a friend here and she asked me to stay here in Jacksonville for a while. Her wedding is almost near. That's it."

"Oh, okay, Auntie. Best wishes at your friend's wedding." I gave her a smile.

"I have to go now. I'll see you soon, Christmas." Before I could talk she already turned her back on me, walking at the car that parked at the house she rented.

"Who are you talking to?"

I almost jumped in shock as I heard Duke voice at my back. "Are you going to kill me in shock, huh?!" I asked in annoyance and take the host I dropped off.

"I'm sorry, Baby I didn't mean to shock you," he apologized, "So, who are you talking to?" he asked again.

"You aren't going to believe what I am going to say."

Duke's forehead started to knot. "Why? What is it?"

"It was Aunt Lorie that I talked to," I answered, "And she rented the house in front of ours." I added.

Duke looked at the house seems he was trying to see something inside. "Is she there now?"

"She just left for the grocery," I answered.

"Hmm, why don't you invite your aunt to the dinner tonight? What do you think, Baby?"

"I think it's a good idea so I can talk to her about what did I miss when I left in Orlando," I agreed.

"That's what precisely in my thought. You can ask her later why did she sold the laundry shop and why she did not make it to our wedding."

"Yea, I will ask that later to her. Let's go inside now. The pancakes must be already cold."

Duke held my hand why we are heading inside the house. "Don't worry, Baby, I will still going to eat your pancake." He kissed the back of my hand.

Duke and I are now here in the dining, eating the pancakes I made matching with a black coffee. He was reading a newspaper in front of me and I couldn't see his face because it was cover with huge paper he is holding.

"Baby, look." He suddenly faced the page of what he is reading to me. "The Earl Grey is published again on the newspaper." He said proudly.

"Well, the Earl Grey really deserves that because the boss was a hard working business man," I said, smiling to him.

"Yea, right." He chuckled.

"By the way, how was your day yesterday?" I asked and sipped at my coffee.

Duke placed down the newspaper at his side and sipped at his coffee. "It just the same as what yesterday." He answered and gave me a smile. "So, are you going to wear what we brought tonight?"

"Ahm, yea, I guess so?"

He chuckled. "I like to see you wearing the Louis Vuitton dress, Baby. The one that has diamonds."

"Yo-you want me to wear it tonight? It's just a dinner, Duke, and we are just here in the house. It's over exaggerated."

"No is not, Baby. Please, wear it for me," he said sounded begging.

"How about you? What are you going to wear? It should be match on mine so I ain't alone who will look exaggerated later." I grimaced.

"Okay, I will wear my tuxedo if it's what you want." He starts laughing out.

"Stop laughing, Duke. There is nothing funny!" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry you ar-"

Ring! Ring!

We both stopped when his phone suddenly ring in the top of our table. Duke picked up the phone and I saw how he grimace after seeing the caller ID. He just ignored the call and placed back the phone at the table.

"Why you didn't answer the call?" I asked, looking at him.

"It isn't important. Let's just continu-"

Ring! Ring!

"I think it is important, Duke. You better answer it," I said to him.

"Okay." Duke picked up the phone again and left me here in the dining. He was in the living room talking whoever is in the other line.

I watched him talking in the phone while I am slowly eating the pancake in my plate. I putted some honey serum that made it more tasty. He seems like arguing in the other line because of his expression. Maybe there is something happened badly in the company or in the factory? But today is Sunday.

"What is wrong? You seems terrible, hmm?" I asked as he got back on his chair.

"I'm going after the breakfast," he answered coldly.

"Where are you going? There is no work in the company or in the factory, right?" I asked.

"I'm not going there," he answered, "My friend called me and he was in the hospital. He needs money that's why I'm going."

"I will go with yo-"

"No!" Duke smashed his hands at the table as he yelled on me.

I blinked twice in surprise on what he just acted. "D-duke." The only word I uttered.

He closed deeply his eyes before it focused to me. "I'm sorry, Baby, I'm just stress." He apologized and now his voice back to normal. "You better just stay here in the house so will have lot of time to prepare our dinner tonight."

"O-okay." I nodded still can't believe on what he just acted.

I left alone here in the kitchen, washing the dishes we used. Duke is now in our room preparing himself to go and I still can't believe that he yelled at me recently. After all the days we had been together, he never yell on me. He is always this person who always calm at all times or maybe he is just really stress?

"Baby! I'm going now," Duke said from the living room.

I quickly wiped my hands in the dry cloth before I goes out in the kitchen. "Be home before the dinner, okay?"

"Don't worry, Baby. I will make it to be here before the night comes," he assured.

"Okay, good," I answered and start walking with him outside.

Duke entered at his car and he didn't yet closing the door. "I'll see you soon, Baby. I love you."

I nodded. "I love you too."

Duke closed the door of the driver seat and I watched the car gone in my sights. I was about to walk back inside when I notice someone standing behind the tree.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I asked but I received no response. "Don't hide yourself. I already saw you." I added but still no response coming from whoever it is. I was about to check what is behind the tree when the telephone in the house suddenly ring.

Ring! Ring!

"Oh, damn!" I immediately goes back inside before the call ends itself. "Hello Christmas speaking." I started as I answered the call.

"Hi Christmas hope you still remember me."

"Lysias?"

"Oh, you still remember me."

"How did you get the number of our telephone?"

"Is it still matter to you how did I get the number?" she asked sarcastically, "Aren't you curious where your husband will going? Is it really at his friend, hmm?"

My forehead knotted. "What are you talking about? How did you knew that?"

"I know everything you want to know, Christmas, and I'm just waiting for you to knock on my door."

"I can't go today. We have dinner tonight with my aunt."

"Okay, there is still another day for this. I will wait for you. I'm ha-"

"Wait!" I stopped her before she could end the call. "Why are you really doing this?"

"I'm a woman who used to be with him and your a woman too who currently with him but married." She laughed. "If you don't want your life become miserable, better to knock on my door ASAP before I change my mind in helping you." She said once more and ended the call.

"What the hell?" I uttered, looking at the telephone I am holding.