The Surrogate Proposal

Chapter fourteen

Faith watched from afar, waiting.
She can't give up, not yet. She never knew the mistake of her past can hurt her. Her mom had sent her a private letter, she knew all along that she had a daughter.
How shameful!
She thought and rubbed her hands on her face trying to feel calm. She had been playing the perfect daughter without knowing that her mother knows, she had told lies not knowing she knows. She wiped a tear that wanted to fall.
"you're my real mother?", she heard and turned to see her daughter standing before her. She nodded slowly.
They both walked to the beach where they sat and talked. She told her daughter what happened between her and her dad. She was young and crazy in love. Damon was her first, he was every girl’s dream in school. When he singled her out-even though she was a nerd-from all the girls going crazy for him, she had felt like a queen.
Damon was more a country guy, which is adorable and innocent and sexy but yet that disqualified him. She was her mother's favorite, she had plans for her and Damon wasn't in it. She had step siblings and cousins, then it felt like they need to compete for their mother's love. But before she could get herself to let go of Damon, she was already pregnant. She could've aborted it, but, it was the only thing that could prove her love for Damon, a gift.
They spent hours together, talking, she told her things about her mother and the inheritance. Faith was happy for one thing, her daughter, was willing to talk to her, she didn't blame her or get mad at her.
"why are you not angry at me?", she asked her,
"cause father always talked about you, not in front of mother though, he's always telling me stories about his youth",
"but he hates me",
"No, he doesn't, he's just doing it for me",
"can I hug you?",
"ofcourse", she hugged her.
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"good morning, how are you feeling today?", Lucy asked Gina,
"good",
"are you sure?", she asked looking at her bandaged hand,
"you didn't come yesterday",
"yea, had an emergency",
"what were you telling me the last time you came?", she asked but Lucy ignored her,
"ah", she said and Gina opened her mouth and she gave her an oily nice scented multivitamin E,
"what's this?",
"it’s for oxidative stress", she said and Gina nodded, although she didn’t understand what it means,
"you said I might have twins",
"I said that?",
"yes, you did!", Gina said, she knew she hadn't changed, sneaky Lucy!
"well, this is surrogacy baby, it’s not possible at this stage", she said with a smile, ina imagined herself jumping off the bed but her body felt so big,
"does that mean all you told me the last time was a lie?",
"what exactly?", Gina felt her nerves stretch,
"you said something about my contract, then why Seth chose to do this!",
"Seth", she said and raised one of her eye brows,
"well, that's his name",
"about the twin, I was just trying to be careful in case he's listening, he was listening", she said and sat beside Gina,
"you signed a contract in which you'll have to carry and birth his baby, he'll pay you and you'll walk away, without your baby, right?", Gina swallowed hard and nodded,
"and you don't even know why he would only want a baby and not his mama?",
"why?",
"i can't tell you, my job is at risk",
"what?! So, what do you want me to do, why are you even telling me this?",
"because I know you and by the way, don't mind me, you've already started the journey. I won’t lie, I was surprised to find you in this state, given your background", she smiled. Gina clenched her teeth,
"oh, and I'll be getting married soon", she said flashing her ring,
"wish me luck", she winked, "nice necklace though", she walked to the door and stopped,
"oh, and don't worry, your secrets safe with me, my job is on the line", she said and left. Gina rubbed her hair with her two hands.
Should she even listen to her?
She said her job is at risk? Is it that serious?
Regina
She thought.

Seth walked in with his phone placed on his ear and papers which he kept shuffling. He's wearing the sweater she made for him. She watched as he dropped the phone and opened his laptop and got busy. She sat on the bed, thinking. She tried to sleep but couldn't. She got up and went to his desk, she sat before him for awhile but he didn't even spare her a glance.
"can I help with anything?", she asked and he looked at her for three seconds,
"no", he said and went back to work. Gina bit her lips, tapping her finger softly on the desk.
He looked at her again and threw a file before her, Gina took it,
"sort it out in a chronological order", he said and Gina nodded with a smile.
They worked in silence, when she was done, she just watched him, she doesn't know what else to do or say, but she wants to do something else, to keep her mind busy and off some thoughts.
She took a framed picture on the desk, it’s a picture of Seth, Liam and Tricia.
"is this you?", Gina asked, " omg, you're so fat! You were fat?", she burst out laughing,
"what's so funny about it?", he asked feeling ashamed,
"nothing, just that, omg and this is Liam, right?", she burst out again,
"alright give it back",
"why?",
" just give it", he said extending his hand to take it,
"no, this is funny, I love it", Seth stood up and walked around the table to take it from her and she stood up too walking backwards,
"what are you doing?",
"I’m not done looking at it"
"you’re done",
"hm hm", she said shaking her head still moving backwards as Seth walked towards her,
"give it to me",
"I won't", she said laughing, "y'all are looking great here", Seth took a big step towards her, she tried to move backwards but she missed a step and fell back, Seth quickly stepped forward and grabbed her by her waist. The picture fell off her hand and shattered on the floor.
Gina felt her heart beating against her chest, they were looking at each other, face to face, she felt her face flush. Her little baby bump was touching him and his strong cologne filled her nose again, she almost gagged.
Just then the door bell rang,
"I think someone's-", before she could finish, Seth helped her up and walked to the door,
"stay here", he said and Gina nodded.
Katy walked in and tried to peck Seth but he withdrew himself.
"what are you doing here?", Katy walked past him and sat down,
"can I atleast have a drink",
"what do you want?", he asked, Katy exhaled and walked to the mini bar to fix herself a drink. She poured a glass of whisky and downed it at once. She looked at him and noticed the sweater he's wearing,
"did she make it for you?", she said pointing the empty glass at Seth. She dropped it and walked towards him,
"I went to your office", she placed her hand on his chest, "several times. They told me you're working from home, Seth Mcgregor", she wrapped her hands around him, "that got me thinking",
He tried to remove her hands but she pressed her body against his,
"is she richer than me? beautiful?", Seth pushed her away,
"you need to leave", she chuckled,
"what are you hiding?", he went and picked her bag,
"leave", she bit her lips and took her bag from him,
"and, we have nothing together", he said,
"are you sure you want to do this?", she asked all tear eyed but he didn't respond and she walked out in anger.
Seth walked back into the room, the shattered glass is still on the floor and the picture is lying on his desk. Gina was already asleep.
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Maria stopped by the bakery shop and picked a cake she ordered earlier. Her heart kept beating hard against her chest, she almost changed her mind. She can't bear seeing Frank again, after so many years.
She stopped at the church and picked Fr. Raymond. When they stopped at the front yard, there were balloons everywhere, they could hear them singing and chattering. Maria hesitated but Fr. Ray nodded at her to encourage her. He knocked and MaryGlory opened the door, she hugged him but when she saw her mother her face changed, she looked at Fr. Ray and he smiled warmly at her. He had talked to her about forgiving her mother but it is quite hard to do. She didn’t expect she would have the guts to come to the birthday. She gave her a weak smile and walked back to the table.
Before dinner was ready, it was remaining Frank. Maria met her grandson, whom she sees as an intelligent and bright boy, just like his grand father. The door opened and her heart jumped again, just like it had done everytime the door opens, but this time, her heart burst into flames, she almost cried.
Frank was standing at the door, seconds away from her. He hugged MaryGlory, then Peter ran to him happily, Fr. Ray hugged him and everybody else welcomed him, but she just stood there, ashamed, different, odd, frozen.
Frank stared at her for some seconds, he was surprised, the room was quiet, intense. MaryGlory called peter to blow on the candles and make a wish. They had a wonderful night but not for Maria, Frank and Fr. Ray.
After the wonderful night, they all decided to call it a night. Maria stepped out first, followed by Frank and the others, they all said goodnight.
Fr. Ray stayed inside to help MaryGlory pack the remaining foods. Frank and Maria stood uncomfortably, staring at the starless night.
"hi", Frank said breaking the silence,
"hi", Maria said chuckling,
"how are you?",
"am...okay and you?", he nodded, thinking whether he's okay or not,
"good", he finally said and another straight silence.
"he's a good one", Maria said referring to Peter,
"yes he is. He's growing faster than we did, during our time",
"yes",
"am sorry about your mother", he said after another weird silence.
Maria looked at him, for the first time since he walked into the room, she looked at him fully, she had avoided looking at him, even when he passed her a plate during dinner. He hasn't changed at all, not one bit. Same height, same color, same eyes, same body, not even a little change.
They heard the door close and Fr. Ray walked out
"what are you both doing out in the cold?",
"want to grab a beer or two?", Frank asked,
"are you kidding me, I've had enough for today",
"for old times sake",
"oh, don't for old time sake me, my body is growing weak unlike yours, why don't you take Maria home, we have plenty of time to do old times", he said walking past them,
"how are you going to get back home?", Maria asked,
"its not that far",
"no, its late already, I'll drop you off and then get home",
"no-",
"why don't you two go ahead, I can get to the hotel on my own", Frank said but before Maria could argue that, he had pecked her and waved them goodnight.
"you should've gone with him", Fr. Ray said, Maria smiled at him,
"don't do that",
"what?", Maria laughed as they drove off. MaryGlory who has been watching from her window closed the curtain and climbed her bed.
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Tricia watched as Katy stepped out of Seth's house. She walked fast to her car and slammed the door. Tricia watched from her car as Katy slammed her hands on the wheel before driving off.
She wondered what could be happening. She thought something was going on between the two, she thought they would marry or maybe they are planning to marry soon. She looked at the mansion and thought something must be going on. She had sent someone to monitor him and he had given her the pictures of his movements. She thought Seth was hiding something, it’s unlike him to not do something. He is not the type of person to stay quiet, especially when it concerns their grandmother's inheritance.
What could he be planning? She thought.
If it’s not Katy, then, who is it?
Who was the lady caught on camera with Rosa?
He didn’t even flinch when I showed him the picture, what is going on?
She folded her arms, thinking hard. She picked the envelop beside her and took out the pictures.
Three women now
She thought staring at the picture of Gina and Rosa, she understands that the girl with Rosa could be a new servant, since Rosa has been their head servant since they were teenagers, but then there’s Katy whom she believed Seth is dating and could marry and she just stormed out of his house and there is this other lady that comes often.
What is happening?
Another clue, he started working from home.
Seth is working from home.
"what is he hiding?".
She ducked as another car packed in front of his house. She watched as Liam walked out with bags and a bouquet.
"why would Liam give Seth a bouquet?".
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Montserrat sat on a couch as a doctor checked on her. She sat there for few minutes while the doctor repeated his routine. When he was done, Montserrat sat up and walked to her room and locked the door. She entered the tub and reached for her drink sitting beside the tub, it slipped and fell on the marbles and shattered.
She stared at it for awhile and picked a piece and slit her hand.