by S. G. Sonysa
“I know Kate. You are right. He has been talking to her more, spending time with her too. He even started lying to me about small things. She is trying to steal my son’s loyalty from this family. She is changing him and distracting him from his goals in life.” I heard my mom say.
“Do you know how we can stop him from ruining his future? I don’t even believe it’s his baby.”
“Yes, I don’t believe it’s his baby. And I know how to stop him from ruining his life,” Mom said.
“She is in her third trimester of pregnancy. We cannot even get her an abortion.”
“I asked the doctor if we can get Hailey an abortion. She said it could be done, but there are some risks.”
“What kind of risk?” Kate asked.
“Serious kind of risk. Like Hailey can die during the process or the abortion will do some permanent damage to her, and she wouldn’t get pregnant ever again.”
“So have you decided to get her abortion?”
“I have not made the decision yet.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. Did they just discuss murdering my child and my wife so casually? The girl who never uttered a hateful word against them even after what they did to her. Now, they were planning to hurt her again. I couldn’t stop the rage building inside me and entered the kitchen.
Kate and Mom stared at me with shock written all over their faces.
“Chase do you want something son?” my mother asked hesitantly.
“Yes, Mom I want something. Actually, I want many things. But first, I want you both to stop interfering with my life.” I was so angry at them.
My mom’s face turned red in anger.
“Watch your tone with me. How dare you talk to us like this?” she asked.
“I’m talking to you like this because I don’t know you anymore. You’re my twin sister, and you are my mom, but do you care about me?”
“We care about you, Chase,” they said in unison.
I laughed sarcastically.
“That’s why you were planning to kill my wife and my baby?” I asked them.
They stared at me in shock.
“We were not planning anything.” Mom lied.
“I heard everything Mom. You just told Kate what the doctor said about getting Hailey abortion.”
“I was just telling her the doctor advised abortion as she is really young to bring a life into this world.” Mom tried to feed me lies again.
“Mom, stop lying,” I yelled. “How could you guys talk about getting her abortion this easily? I have spent twenty-one years of my life with both of you, but believe me, I never thought that you both could be this cruel. I never thought that you could plan to murder my child, your son’s child.” I felt dejected.
How could they do this to me?
They both stayed silent.
“Tell me, Kate, Mom. How can I make you both believe that the baby Hailey is carrying is mine?! I’m the one who didn’t use protection, and I’m responsible for everything,” I said, taking a step closer. “Please for God’s sake accept that your son is not a saint, and he can very well make mistakes. I can do wrong things like any other human being. I already hate myself enough for the way I treated Hailey. Now, you are making me hate my existence for being your son. It’s hard to believe that you are a mother yourself. Getting Hailey abortion will ruin her life as well as mine.”
“Chase, I thought you don’t want the baby,” my mom said.
“Why wouldn’t I want my own child? Please, I beg you, stay away from Hailey. Leave her alone and let her live.”
“You are accusing us. She is turning you against your own family.”
“Mom, she is not turning me against anyone. You have no idea how pure and innocent she is. If something happened to her or my child then remember you will lose me too. I’m going to protect my child and Hailey with my life,” I said.
The thought of killing an innocent unborn child disgusted me. I was so angry that I wanted to smash everything on my way out. I was barely controlling my rage.
I walked out of the kitchen and picked up my car keys on the way out. I closed the main door and left the house to calm myself down.
How could my mom talk about hurting Hailey?
Hailey was the girl who never disobeyed her and from the first day loved her. When did my mom become this heartless that she could think of killing a baby?
Hailey and I had been getting close because of the baby. I knew a lot of things about her now: about her life before she married me; about her past, which no one knows; and the reason why she agreed to this marriage.
I also found out that we had a lot of things in common. Hailey was an intelligent girl. She was not into gadgets and internet like us, but she was a walking encyclopedia.
She was an angel with a beautiful face and personality.
What made me worried was her innocence. She needed to become strong and independent to survive in this world. I wanted her to fight with me when she thought I was acting like an ass. I needed her to learn to protect herself and voiced out her concern.
I knew I cannot change her easily, but I would stand beside her as a shield until she learned to protect herself without my support.
I understood now that she needed my protection and my love. Her heart had been broken so many times in the past.
I couldn’t tell when I started to realize what I felt for her was nothing but love. I had fallen in love with her.
I didn’t care about the past anymore. I was not going to curse my fate anymore for pairing me with a teenage girl. I was going to accept her and my fate with all my heart. I was not fighting a lost battle anymore. She was meant to be my life partner as I was meant to be hers, and this was my life now.
I felt weird when I found out I was going to be a father, but not for a second had I wished of getting rid of the baby.
First time in months I felt content with my life. I was happy that I had a beautiful wife and a baby on the way. I knew Hailey, and I still had a lot to learn about each other to develop a relationship like normal couples had. And for that, we would need to go on dates and spend time together.
I planned to make her fall in love with me again and make her mine forever.
My phone rang, and I picked it up.
“Hello,” I said.
“Today is Hailey’s birthday you dumbass. Don’t tell her that I told you about it. Just pretend you know it already.” The line went dead.
I realized the voice belonged to none other than my stupid brother. I laughed.
Cameron was different from me. He was a rebel and enjoyed disobeying our parents while I was the one who wouldn’t do anything without our parents’ permission. I respected our parents a lot and followed their rules with eyes closed; on the other hand, Cameron liked breaking the rules and doing exactly what my parents forbade him to do.
I always admired his courage and rebellious nature because I lacked it. From the day I was born, my parents had decided what they wanted me to do. I was selected to run my dad’s business in the future. They portrayed the image of this perfect man with a perfect future, and I had spent my whole life working to become that guy.
My life was ruled by my parents and especially my mom. She would decide everything for me: where I would study, and who I would become friends with. I felt glad for standing up against her today and stopping her from hurting Hailey.
If Cameron got to know what I had done today, he would definitely laugh at my mom’s face and would tell me to join his rebellious group of teenagers.
I loved my brother despite the fact that we were so different in many things.
What did he say? Today was Hailey’s birthday!
How the hell did Cameron know this when I didn’t know it was her birthday today?
My jaw clenched in anger, and I wanted to call him back to tell him to stay away from my wife. But then he did help me by telling me that today was her birthday.
What should I do?
I should surprise
her. No, I should take her out somewhere. It could be our first date. I could arrange something romantic for us.
I started with making a reservation. I called the restaurant that arranged birthday dinners and served the best cuisine.
After the reservation was made, I went to the boutique to buy a dress for Hailey.
I was looking around for something, which will fit Hailey as her belly has rounded pretty nicely in the past seven months.
“Hello, sir, how can I help you? Are you looking for something specific?” The salesgirl came to my assistance.
“Uh, I’m looking for something that’s not body fitting,” I said, staring at the figure-hugging dress on the dummy.
She frowned at me in confusion.
“My wife is pregnant.”
“Oh, how far along is she?” she asked with a polite smile.
“Seven months.”
“Okay. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll show you some of our collection that will be suitable for your wife,” the girl said and went inside the storeroom of the shop then came out with four dresses.
She showed me the first one that was in red color with a low round neckline. I didn’t like it. The second one was dark blue with jewels around the waist, and short on the front. It was nice but not what Hailey would wear. The third one was a simple green dress with a brown belt, and I shuddered, remembering how Hailey reacted at the green colored pasta on my graduation dinner.
The last one was in purple color. It was floor length and looked perfect for Hailey.
“Sir, it has a sweetheart neckline, and it’s loose from the belly. Your wife can easily wear it,” the boutique worker said.
“I’m buying this one.” I then walked to the counter while she packed it for me in a large box.
Then I went to the jewelry store and bought a gift for her then drove back to the house. I entered the house and didn’t find my mom and Kate anywhere in sight.
I went upstairs and knocked on Hailey’s door.
She opened her bedroom door and looked at me in confusion.
“Hi,” I said and entered her bedroom, pulling her with me and closing the door behind us.
She was dressed in a plain blue shirt and pajama shorts.
“What are you doing here?” She was fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
“I will answer you, but first tell me where Mom and Kate are,” I asked her.
“Your mom told Amy that she is going to her friend’s house and Kate also left with her friends a few minutes ago.”
I nodded my head and looked at the box in my hand.
“Uh… This is for you,” I said, giving her the box, which had a dress inside.
Hailey looked at me weirdly then peeked inside the box. She pulled out the dress and stared at it.
Her mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish.
“Thank you.” She mumbled blushing.
“You’re welcome. You need to get change into this dress right now.”
Her eyes widened. She stared at me like I just confessed to her that I murdered kittens in my leisure time.
“I’ll wear… it some other day,” she said, looking flustered ready to put the dress back inside the box.
I shook my head.
“Get changed into the dress, Hailey. We are going out,” I said, dragging her to the washroom. “Go get ready.” I didn’t give her a choice except to get changed in the dress.
She nodded at me and went inside the washroom.
I went back to my room and pulled out my blue slacks and grey blazer with a white shirt to wear underneath. I got changed into them hurriedly. I pulled out my shoes and put them on. I sprayed some cologne on me and went back to Hailey’s room to find her changed into the dress.
My jaw dropped and touched the ground when I looked at her.
She looked enchanting in that dress; the purple color looked beautiful against her pale complexion. The dress hugged her chest perfectly, showing a teasing amount of cleavage.
Hailey was staring at herself with an uncomfortable look on her face while she was trying to pull the dress up to hide her cleavage. I hid my smile and walked closer to her.
She had no idea how sumptuous she looked while doing that.
I ran my eyes up and down, gazing at her beautiful face and the baby bump, which was clearly showing from underneath the pleats of the dress.
“You’re looking gorgeous, Hailey. You don’t need to hide and feel uncomfortable,” I said, standing behind her.
She glanced at me with a shy smile.
“Let’s go,” I said, taking her hand in mine.
Then my eyes landed on her feet. She was wearing flip-flops.
“Hailey, why are you wearing flip-flops?” I asked her.
“I don’t have any good shoes to go with this dress.” She looked down at her feet.
The smile she had on her face earlier disappeared.
“Okay, wait here, I will come back in a minute,” I said, leaving her room.
I sneaked into Kate’s room and opened her closet then searched for flat shoes that would look good with Hailey’s dress.
After looking at my sister’s expensive shoe collection, I finally found the silver shoes that look comfortable enough for Hailey and would match her dress too.
Picking those shoes, I went back to Hailey’s room and placed them in front of her.
She put the shoes on and glanced at me.
“Now, you look perfect,” I said.
I took her hand in mine and led her out towards my car.
“Where are we going?” Hailey asked me after getting inside the car.
I strapped the seat belt and said, “We are going on our first date.”
Her eyes widened.
“Da-Date?” she stuttered.
“Yes. I just realized we never went out on a date. I mean that’s what people do before getting married.” I took a glance at her while driving.
She nodded her head and looked out from the window.
The drive to the restaurant was peaceful. When we arrived at the restaurant, I pulled out a blindfold.
“Hailey, I’m going to blindfold you,” I said.
She gave me a nervous glance but nodded in consent.
I helped her get out of the car then covered her eyes with the blindfold.
“You can’t see anything right?” I asked her to make sure the blindfold was working fine.
“Yeah, I can’t see anything.” She touched my shoulder, clinging to me for support.
I took her inside the restaurant, where I had arranged a birthday surprise for her. I removed the blindfold from her eyes, and she stared at the table with her mouth ajar.
Her eyes brimmed with tears but she blinked them back.
“Happy seventeenth birthday, Hailey,” I mumbled in her ear.
***
Hailey
“Happy seventeenth birthday, Hailey,” Chase mumbled in my ear.
I wanted to cry my eyes out after looking at the cake and all the arrangements.
“How do you know that today… is my birthday?” I whispered.
Instead of answering me, he kissed me on the forehead, and said, “Let’s just celebrate and forget about everything else.”
I nodded because I was dazed by the spell he put on me.
My brain was in awe at Chase’s efforts. Everything on the table looked delicious and extravagant.
He put a knife in my hand, and I cut the cake.
Then everyone started singing happy birthday, and rose petals fell on us from the ceiling.
I laughed looking at Chase. His head was covered with rose petals while mine was still pretty clean. He touched his head and dusted the petals off.
“Well, I think I’m standing on the wrong side,” he said, looking up.
I laughed again.
A few petals were still stuck in his hair, so I removed them.
“Thank you,” I said and kissed his cheek.
His face turned a little red, and I smil
ed staring at him.
I took a slice of the cake and fed him some. Then, I turned back to slice another piece, when I felt something wet on my cheek. I touched my cheek with my hand and found some frosting.
Chase chose that moment to snap a picture of me. He was laughing at my shocked face.
“Why did you put frosting on my face?” I asked him in confusion.
“It was for the picture, Hailey.” He then proceeded on wiping the frosting off my face with a tissue paper.
Chase pulled out a chair for me and then food was served to us at our table.
I enjoyed the pasta, steak, and salad. I felt like Chase had ordered everything the restaurant had.
“I’m so full,” I said, eating the last piece of cake.
“Me too.” Chase groaned.
I giggled looking at him.
“You shouldn’t have ordered so much,” I said.
“Um, you are right. I think I was just too excited to notice that.”
He was more excited than I was and it made me wonder. When did I win his heart? All this time, he had a beautiful smile on his face while he talked to me.
“We should leave now,” I said, looking at the restaurant.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m such a fool. You must be tired after sitting here for hours.” He stood up ready to leave.
I stood up from the chair and walked to him.
“I’m not tired. I just don’t want to sit,” I said.
He surprised me by leaning down and kissing me on my cheek, but it was too near to my lips. When he pulled away, I tried to calm my heart.
Then we left the restaurant. After fifteen minutes of driving, Chase stopped the car outside a beautiful park.
“If you are not tired would you like to spend more time with me?” Chase asked me.
I nodded my head then we went inside the park.
There was a large fountain in the middle of the park, and he stopped there.
“Hailey this is for you,” Chase said, placing a small box in my palm.
I looked at him in confusion.
“It’s your birthday gift,” he said.
I opened the box and gasped at the beautiful diamond bracelet.
“It’s beautiful and looks so expensive,” I mumbled.
