His Hired Surrogate

Chapter 2

“Yes, it's a lot of money but look at your health too. I am not advising you against it, but Denise right?, Okay good, Denise there are rules and of course There are many benefits..”

“Doc look, I am ready. 9months isn't that long, when you think about it.” she was saying this when my phone rang. My ring tone disorganized me, I dropped my heels , bag and wig on the floor. I started rustling through the bag but the phone kept ringing, I was beyond embarrassed. Just when I am about to understand what's going on John calls.

“What?” I whisper into the phone, as passersby watched me looking like a thief, I kept waving at them mouthing sorry for whatever noise I assumed I was causing that's louder than an earthquake right now or a woman in labor.

“Where are you?” he asked so directly, I got irritated immediately.

“What are you calling me John?” younger brothers can be really annoying, just when things are going well they appear. They are both one of the reasons I work extra hard to make ends meet. Mom is not feeling well.

“Mom refuses to sleep, she said she must wait for you to return.” he said was as if annoyed at the other end of the phone.

“Have you fed her? Given her medications?” I have shown them a l how to do it. After we lost our dad to the hands of a painful death when I was 15, our mother started paying up the debt, one day after so many years if carrying our stress alone, I was called from school. I was still a student then, and more broke than now. She worked at least three jobs, one of the jobs was a factory job, we're she got paid wages for obvious hard labour, that was where she slumped.

“Catherine your mother slumped at work.” I was having exams and completely stressed, I panicked running straight to her, she was all we had left. I cried my way to the hospital, wiping off every body before it rolls down my cheeks and hits my top, I even practiced to fake a smile for when I saw her, knowing how much she hated pity, when we lost father and had no one to run too, she gave all three of us a big hug promising it would be alright kissing us on our foreheads. I would do anything for this woman, not just for the fact that she carried me for 9months and I fed off her, there were times when her salary came late and the wages she got that day would be low, I would watch her go I to the kitchens and mix up whatever magic and get us something to eat. Our mothers really did have magical hands, but everyone knew that father was a way way better cook. He always teased her “you didn't just marry for love, you married me because you wanted decent meals”, he said her cooking skills were so terrible that one their wedding night she offered herself to him as food. We were young then, so we didn't really understand that dirty joke, our parents were not high school sweethearts or those lovey-dovey stories you read or hear. They met at a fight, I know it's crazy. Mother loved Father more than anything, I pray for marriage with love but I know I wouldn't have that, Mr. Andrew has been keeping tabs on me since I was 17 when I first heard the story and now I am 29 and totally broke. I do feel like an embarrassment.

I entered the hospital as if I was one fire from the outside. I told the nurse who i wanted to see, she directed me to the room. I met with her friend Rebecca who was sitted beside her bed where she was admitted.

Mother looked so pale, and extra light in complexion as if there was no blood in her system. Her lips looked too dry for someone who was once so obsessed with skin care.

“What happened?” I asked Rebecca, rubbing on my mums hair kissing her hair. Rebecca held on her hands giving her light massages from where she sat.

“The doctor said he wouldn't tell me anything because I am not family, but I am sure its stress, she has really been complaining about how she just paid for John and Fred's school fees yet, and she wanted to reduce the stress and worry on you.” on hearing these words leave her lips, I didn't know when all my practice in the bus fell off, I started to cry. I cried an internal loud cry as I held in my sob, I am worrying about her and she was worrying about me, at that time I was 25, I am supposed to be worried.

“Baby are you crying?” she asked quietly

“No.” I replied with a cracked voice, sniffing in. I cleared my throat. “How are you doing?” I asked her, it was the dumbest thing to ask but I didn't know what else to say.

“Catie please don't stress, I am doing well.” she tried to assure me giving my hand that was now on her shoulder a small squeeze.

“Be strong okay, I will soon be done with school and I would deal with all this I promise.” I assured her, I had alot of delays in school, because of financial problems and well life.

“I know you would.” she said again turning away, I hated how week she looked.

A nurse came to inform us that a doctor would be coming soon, so we waited on him.

“Good day.” he greeted as he walked in his labcoat and a nurse writing whatever they write.

“Good evening doctor please what happened to my mother?” I need to know. I needed the news.

“Catherine, yes?” he asked and I nodded in response.

“Lets talk outside.” I knew I was about to hear what I didn't want to hear. I gave her a small reassuring squeeze, and followed the doctor.

“Tell me.” I said looking at him as I folded my hand on my chest, I looked strong but my legs couldn't hold me, but I was not about to give in.

“You mother is really stressed.” he said, we could see that he should say something reasonable.

“Okay..” I asked more than said.

“Your mother is showing signs of stroke, in a few weeks it could get more serious or even year's, but I mean she is really stressed and she has acute depression. I assume she puts this tough ask for you people at home, but your mother is not doing very well mentally.”

The mother the words left his mouth, the more I started to search for a place to sit down. I cried even more, I kept jerking my leg up and down as I tried to stop myself from screaming and crying, my mother is suffering because of us. Over thinking and stretching herself because of us, and I am still eating from her.

“I am sorry, Catherine but she needs more love now than tears, and she shouldn't be told about her condition, it only reduces the will to try harder for such patients.” I kept blinking off tears, my mother is sick. I cannot be weak.

***

I know how far I have gone to get here, so John had better not annoy me this night.

“Yes I have fed her.” he said, this made me smile a little.

“Okay just stay with her, or watch something, I will be home in a bit.” I assured him, we are all equally stressed.

“Catie, please get us yoghurt on your way back, we haven't really had milk for three days now.” I know how hard it was for him to make this request, I wouldn't scold him.

“Sure I would, in fact I would get doughnuts too.” I said with a smile, I could hear the happiness in his voice. The door to Doctor Max’s office was opening, so I ended the call with him abruptly.

The doctor came out and she followed, I stood up fixing my things and short dress, now I wished I wore something better. He looked at me with a confused expression but said nothing.

“Go to the receptionist, she would give you the documents to sign, meet her to guide you through. I am here for any question at all.” he told her.

“Thank you doc.” she said smiling at him as she left.

He looked at me again, and I avoided his gaze again out of panic, I was not sure what I wanted to say but I knew I need that money.

“Do I know you?” he asked can't.

“Me?” it was stupid to ask, of course me.

“No, no, but..” how do I started telling him I listened on his conversation.

“You can come in Mrs or Ms?” he asked stretching his hand to me.

“Ms. Catherine.” I hurriedly did the sanitizer thingy and took his hand, I hated how I disorganized.

“I am Dr.Max, come in.” he lead the way and I followed.

“Thank you.” I was still bare foot. My heels in my hand, my bloodied white dress, sleepiness from the drugs, everything was just a mess.

“Sit.” he offered a chair opposite his.

“I noticed you follow us from the elevator.” oh My God he did?, this is embarrassing.

“I, I really didn't mean to.” okay I did mean to but, I am desperate.

“I couldn't helps but hear your conversation.” I started, he gave a nod for me to continue speaking. I was jerking my leg again as I do when I am nervous and I know he can see that.

I summoned the courage and said it.

“I am interested, I need the money, I am desperate and we have a deadline, we owe her dangerous people and I just need help." I was talking so fast, I just told a stranger my life problem.

“Calm down and breath, okay.”

“Did you just say okay?” I wanted to scream in happiness.

“Yes, I did. I will put you through.” right now I was thanking God with all I had in me. I hope this goes well.