CHAPTER 18

The following week was intense. The doctor had given her the food preferences, and it had taken a toll getting used to. For someone who had always enjoyed her meals, it was hard ignoring one meal and eating just a particular dish every time. After three days, she was almost back to her normal eating.

But somehow, she was able to stick to a plan. Finally, she was back in Miami, and the doctor was ready to do the needful. She had also been placed on fertility drugs and was checking in every day with the doctor. Even Jason was monitoring the whole procedure even though he wasn't in Miami at the time. He kept calling to check how she was feeling. She was beginning to grow fond of his genuine interest. He was going to be a great father. When the doctor confirmed the incubation had kick-started and the transfer could be done the next day, he had flown in from wherever he was to see it done. Jason Valdez was waiting for her in his office. He insisted on being there for the procedure. Evan smiled at him. She had brought Adriana along since he wasn't in town. But her sister had decided to wait it out outside. The doctor wheeled her to the theatre while Jason and the nurses tagged along. She was helped to the bed and her legs fastened. Scared, she held his hands.

Jason smiled and held her hands tight, "Don't worry, everything's going to be fine."

The doctor worked tirelessly. He kept explaining what he was doing. Evan barely followed his tales, but she could see Jason paid attention to it all.

"Here's the fertilized egg with the sperm. It's already formed." He said, holding up a test tube. "All that's left now is the implantation. I can't you. But I'll give you something to make you numb."

When she nodded, he went on to inject her. Everything became blurred after that.

A few numbing minutes later, doctor Tom announced, "So, it's done." He eased Evan up and informed them. "You can check back next week so that I can confirm the pregnancy. In the time being, you will need to take things slow for now. No stressful work. No running around."

Jason blurted out, "She's staying with me. I'll see to that."

"What? I'm not." Her response was sharp.

"You heard what the doctor said, no stressful...."

"I'll be fine. I'm staying with Adriana. I told you this."

"That was before the doctor told me how stressful the first trimester could be. I don't want anything happening to the child." He said in a tone that was both offensive and disturbing. The doctor knew he was trying to avoid going through what he went through with his late wife. Before he could voice his opinion, Evan replied, equally angry too.

Evangeline was irritated. He was back to his old self instantly, and she hated that. He was caring and friendly. The next, he was angry and wrecking her nerves. "Look, I can take care of myself. I don't need you to babysit me."

"Why don't you wait in my office, Mr. Valdez?" The Doctor pleaded. Jason stepped out into the reception. He started pacing back and forth. He didn't realize Adriana Swiss there. They hadn't met since the funeral rite of his wife. He walked up to her if Evan was going to birth his child, making Adriana a Swiss family.

"Hi." She greeted and sat down with her.

"Frustrating you too, I see." She smiled. Her sister could be both sweet and stubborn

"She won't stay with me." He told her dryly.

"She didn't want to stay at mine either. She had me go to this rusty old cottage no one's used in ages. I didn't try persuading her not to. I had to take her there so she could see for herself what she was getting into. Then I may have bribed the Realtor not to show us good places so she could stay with us. I can't have her leave by herself in such a state. She's never been pregnant before."

Jason smiled at the woman with profound respect. He loved her instantly, "Then she is in safe hands."

"You bet she is."

He stretched out his hand for a shake. As both shook hands, Evan walked out of the office. The doctor had just told her why Jason was skeptical about losing the child. Though she understood his plight, she wasn't going to let him treat her like a child. She had told the doctor she intends to take things easy, but he better see to it that Jason fall in line too. They had a mutual agreement then. Relieved, she stepped out only to find her sister in some kind of deal with the man. She eyed them suspiciously. "What is going on?"

"Nothing, sis." Adriana said and started to pull her away. As she did, they both stumbled on Mrs. Swiss.

Mrs. Swiss looked from one daughter to the other. She had been suspicious of her eldest daughter's continual absence. She was always rushing off somewhere. She had her followed. It wasn't a surprise to hear that she had been meeting her sister all along and visiting Doctor Tom. She knew it was about the surrogate thing. Here they were again. Her disappointment was plain for both to see.

Then she turned to the young man who had turned her daughter, "Mr. Valdez. A word please." As they both walked out of the room, Mrs. Swiss turned back to say to her youngest daughter, "Young lady, I think it's about time we had this conversation too."

Then to her older daughter, she added sarcastically. "If you don't mind, that is."

Adriana walked away, knowing her sister could handle this. But it was already too late. The procedure had been done and 90% successful already. There wasn't anything anyone could do. Not at this stage. And knowing mother, abortion wasn't even an option. Not that Evan would hear of that anyway. She wished she could let the mother know. The warning look on Evan was enough. The rebel Swiss was going to use that to her advantage.

CHAPTER 19

Mrs. Swiss walked them all to Doctor's Tom office and asked that the good doctor excuse them. "If you don't mind, I'll like to see these two first before having that conversation." She told the doctor who had been about to put in a word.

"Your role in all these doesn't go unnoticed." She added as the man took his leave. She sat down and asked both Evan and Jason to do the same. The ease with which she became accustomed to the office made Evan snicker. Her mother had always been one to take control of every situation. And her father had let her. Though strong and fierce as a lawyer, as a father, he let her mother do whatever she liked.

Mrs. Swiss had assumed the role of God in their lives. She dictated what they wear, who they visit, what case her father shouldn't handle, what course the kids study in school. It was exhausting. Growing up, she had been intrigued by it. Especially when other kids talk about their home, it was usually in reverse.

They would complain about how their dad ruined dinner, how he wouldn't let them visit whom. And each time she asked where their mother was, the response was usually interesting.

"Oh, mother has no say in all these." Was usually the response. But most of their moms were stay home moms.

They did nothing. Hers was sophisticated and a lawyer. So, she had concluded her mother being a lawyer too made the difference. Then the divorce happened, and for all its worth, she knew it was mother's fault. And so, she began to rebel. While her dad and Adriana did their mother's bidding, she did the very opposite, which was why even now, she stood fuming while her mother sat down and commanded her to take a seat.

Swiss looked at the defiant look on her youngest face and shook her head. Whatever she did to this one, she wouldn't give her a breathing space. She was a woman who was feared and respected everywhere. Her family name alone commanded respect. But all that amounted to nothing with Evan. The only being she couldn't control was her youngest daughter, who at every chance tried to make sure she notices she couldn't be toiled with. Even now, she wouldn't sit when she offered them a seat. Jason Valdez also seems to loot around her.

Regardless, she accessed both of them through hooded eyes and decided to say what she had in mind. The idea of becoming a baby mama was preposterous. She had raised her kids better than this.

"So, Mr. Valdez. What on earth did you think you mean to force this on my daughter. When Logan told me about this outrageous idea, he never mentioned the man. I had assumed it was some strange, irresponsible brute..."

"Mother." Evan cautioned, then added, "He didn't force anything on me."

Ignoring her, she continued, "Imagine my surprise to find out yesterday that it was you. My family has been in business with yours for ages back. One would think you'd extend the courtesy by running this through the proper channel. You can't just walk around with plans to impregnate my daughter because...."

"Mother!" Evan said, hitting the table. "Look, this isn't the 19th century. I wanted to do this. And he's not impregnating me. Not in that sense."

"But you will be carrying his child. How is that not impregnating?" She stood up too, too angry to care that her feet were hurting from standing all day at work, waiting for the information she had requested about her daughter.

"If you wanted a child, why didn't you go through the proper channel? Why this?" She rubbed her head stiffly. "I forbid you."

Evan blushed at the way her mother was handling it. It was embarrassing. She better gets her facts right then. "Before you forbid anything, mother." She added the last piece slowly, "You should know that I am carrying the child already."

Mrs. Swiss looked taken aback momentarily. The look on her face, it looked like she was going to faint after all. As she stumbled back, Jason was beside her in a quick stride. He helped her back to her seat. "Is she right?" Mrs. Swiss asked, looking at the man holding her. His nod provoked her. She pushed his hands off her.

"Yes, ma'am. It's been done." Standing a few feet away from her, Jason confirmed, "And if it's any consolation, I'm deeply sorry about everything. If I had known you felt this strongly about it, I would have backed out. I don't want you having issues with your daughter over my family's affair." He looked at Evan. "Doing this was a great gift bestowed on me." He smiled sadly before turning back to Mrs. Swiss, "If you will excuse me."

Evan ran after him, "Jason?" When he stopped, she told him, "Look, my mother and I have never seen eye to eye over anything. This..." She spreads her hands. "It's not what is eating at her."

"I still wish you'd told me her reservations. I'd have tried getting her blessing or so."

"Her what?"

"Look, I need to go. Okay. I'll see you." And he was gone. She watched him leave sadly. Something about his stride told her he was upset.

CHAPTER 20

He didn't call all through the week. Neither did he call when she went to confirm the pregnancy. She had been elated when Doctor Tom confirmed her pregnancy. Excitedly, she called him to give him the good news. He didn't pick her call. Something about what her mother had said must have gotten to him. She felt sad. And to think she would be in Miami. She walked into Adriana's home a little sad.

"Hello." She greeted Noah, who had come to open the door. She forced a smile. "You're home today."

Noah hugged her warmly. "Yes. With the twins. Adriana dumped them with me. I've been ducking bullets all day. Hey, duck!" He shouted a little too late. Ethan fired a rubber bullet that stuck to her arm.

"You have to pretend you're in pain. You've just been shot on the hand." Evan laughed, then quickly held her hand and squeezed her face as the little shooter ran in.

"Gotcha!" Yelled the little boy excitedly. "Liz, it's Linne." He called to his sister, who came running out. It was a trick. He hides behind the door. As his twin came out, he shot her on the head. "And she dies." He jumped up excited.

"Oh." Elizabeth said, pretending to fall. Her brother took that as defeat and moved closer. She then shot him in the chest, "And we both die." She laughed, getting him.

Evangeline applauded them. "Well played, guys. Who taught you all these tricks." Both kids pointed at their father, and she laughed. Turning to Noah, she praised him, "You are good with them."

"I try to. They are the best thing that's happened to me in a while. I lost most of my family..." He stopped talking. Whatever he had been about to say, he let it go as he set out the table. "I was about serving lunch. You hungry?"

"Starving." She replied, rubbing her stomach, unconscious of the act. She had been so sad earlier she had skipped her meal.

Noah shook his head. Women and their acts. The baby was barely even planted, and Evan was acting all preggy already. "What's with the Tommy-rubbing?" He teased. Turning to the twins, he said, "Kids, go wash up and come for lunch."

"Okay, dad." they chorused and ran out. While they did, Evan helped set the table. "You made this?" Evan asked, tasting the food. Then taking another spoonful, she added. "It's so delicious."

"I got that delivered." Noah smiled sheepishly. "Only thing I did was mix it up with some whipped cream I learnt back in the days."

"Wow... it's tasty." She complimented him.

******

While her family was having lunch, Adriana walked happily into her mother's office to drop the file Noah had worked on all night. They had scheduled a meeting since Noah was home, and the twins would be in safe company. She walked in to find her mother in deep conversation with someone on the phone.

"I can't meet with him." Her mother eyed her suspiciously then moved farther away from her. Instinctively, she followed her.

"Look, I hate that you're bugging me all the time. I have nothing to say to your boss." She disconnected the call and turned to find her daughter right behind her.

"Let me guess. That was Jason on the phone." When she shrugged nonchalantly, Adriana's heart sank. "Why are you always sabotaging her happiness?" She shrieked. "That young woman has been through enough already. Thanks to you. Must you make this difficult for her too?"

"Sabotage? That's a strong word. And shouldn't you use that for Mr. Valdez? From where I'm standing, he did just that with my daughter's future."

"He hasn't been able to contact Evan ever since you talked him down at the hospital. He might have been feeling guilty apparently for not going through the right channel as you said." The smile on her mother's face made her step away from her mother, with a sad look plastered on. "It's been done already. You might as well accept it."

"I will not accept this." Mrs. Swiss replied stubbornly.

"What you don't know is how miserable it's making your child." Adriana said, dropping the file on her mother's table and walked out angrily. "To think I ditched lunch for this." She muttered and decided she'd rather be home than be here. Mother was being plain impossible. Evangeline wouldn't be happy with this.

"We were supposed to have a meeting." Mrs. Swiss called after her.

"The meeting can wait." She shot back.

Mrs. Swiss shrugged. Her daughter would come around. She may not understand now why she was doing this, but she had to. Someone had to.

She opened the file and sat straighter. Something didn't feel right. "Did Ad see this before bringing it to me?" She picked her phone to call her daughter. Adriana wasn't going to choose. Not after what just happened. She probably thinks it was because of their earlier banter she was calling