CHAPTER 4

Jason rushed in after his wife ignoring the doctor's plea to stay outside the room. The instant they had landed; she had been taken to the ICU. Their personal doctor, Doctor Tom alongside other doctors all over the world had been flown in to attend to her. She had been operated on severally but it was futile. Her cancer had eaten too deeply before it was discovered. It was inevitable but he had the money to delay her death as long as possible and he'd be damned if he let her die without fighting hard. Jason Valdez started pacing the big private hospital room, flinching as the doctors opened up his wife. He stood then trying to think if another option was available. His personal doctor watched in despair. "Please, wait outside."

Jason stared at the man, lost. "Can't you try evacuation?" He asked.

The doctor walked him out trying to explain the situation to him. The other doctors were relieved to see him out. Jason's restlessness and cold demeanour was a distraction. "There is nothing to remove, Jason." Doctor Tom explained.

"What do you mean nothing to remove?"

"The cancer has eaten deep. The said womb is no longer visible. It's been integrated into her body." The loud sound of the machine distracted them. Both men looked up and were in the room immediately. The doctors were running everywhere "What's going on?"

"She's losing blood. Her pressure is high. I need a hand here." Announced the lead doctor. "Please walk Mr Valdez out." He ordered.

Jason left calmly but remained just behind the closed door. The doctors worked tirelessly for hours and finally got her stabilized. As they trouped out, he grabbed the lead doctor. "How's she? Can I see her now?"

"She's alright, for now. She is tired and would be asleep in the next...." He checked his time, "Five minutes. See her now and make it short, please." He told him and walked away.

Jason walked into the room quietly. Is wife turned weakly to look at him "I knew you'd be here the minute they left." She offered him a weak smile.

"Hey!" Jason was instantly by her side. The two held hands and remained in that position till she slept off. There was nothing to say. They were both thankful she had made it yet again. He continued rubbing her hair until she slept. Then some doctors came in to check her condition and he asked how long she's be asleep. Then he left.

****

The hot afternoon sun was so intense, Evangeline blamed herself for lazing around all morning. She was beginning to hate the idea of dinner with their mother. That woman had turned Judge Judith on her over the years, always seeing faults in every of her choices. She was sure she would have something sour to say to her today again. But then again, she was used to her pathetic talks. She was going to look her best and ignore her tonight. Driving the old Camry to the boutique, she stepped out and walked into the place. The shop attendant greeted her warmly and took her to the common room. "I want the upper class." She explained and the lady apologized then walked her to the upper room. She sighted the cloth she wanted instantly.

A black velvet gown was on display. It was well sequined and lovely enough for her. "Give me that and two other." She said pointing at the gown. She went to their shoe section and also made a few purchase. Satisfied she was okay for now, she gave the lady her card and had it packed. As she stepped out, Jason who had come to get his wife some toiletries and clothing met her by the door. The two stared at each other.

"It's you." He said.

"Oh." Evangeline replied then remembered his wife "How's she?"

"She's okay. Stable now. Thank you." He made to leave but Evangeline stayed on his path, raising his brow, he asked "Anything?"

"Can you take me to her?" She asked.

"Not right now, she's induced and would be out for hours." He told her and he started to walk away.

Evangeline stepped out of his way and shrugged, he must be hurting. Then she followed him, "I'd really like to say hello." She insisted.

"Okay." was all he said to her and went about picking things. She didn't volunteer to help. It was obvious he felt obliged to do this himself. He was probably trying to punish himself for something he had done to his wife. Heavens know what. When he was done, he paid and wordlessly stepped out. She followed him to his car and was driven to the hospital. "She's very exhausted. Just say what you have to say and leave."

"So hostile." She breathed in hush tone so he wouldn't hear her and stepped into the room.

The woman smiled at her husband and looked at her with interest, "Oh, you came."

"Yes, I did. How are you?" Evangeline asked sitting close to her.

"I've been better," She said. "What's your name? I've been trying to put a name to the face."

"Evangeline."

"Nice." When she yawned, her eyes began to close.

"I'm sorry, the drugs are making me..." She was asleep before she could complete the sentence. Evangeline smiled at Jason and walked out of the room. She wasn't about to let him see her pain again. Tearfully she told her sister she would be joining them late for dinner. Adriana who was picking the twins up would be headed to their mother's apartment from there. She went to get her car and made a quick drive to the house for a cold shower.

Dressing up took longer. Evangeline knew this was needed. Her mother had a habit of licking him irrelevant things about how she looked. It didn't matter that twice now she had been named 'Best dressed woman in technology' twice by City magazine. An article she was sure her mother had seen. At the door, she tucked in an escaped hair then press the doorbell.

"Hello mother." She tried not to sound as trite as her mother who welcomed her with no enthusiasm.

"Late as always." Mrs Swiss accused as they both hug each other stiffly and exchanged brief pecks on their cheeks.

Evan left the statement hanging but offered the champagne she had brought and shrugged out of her coat. The hanger already held her sisters' and the kids' coat. She took her time hanging hers before joining the other.

"You look curvy." Her sister blurted out as the twins ran to hug her.

"Hey you. How was school today?"

"I wanted you to come pick us. It was a disappointment to see mom..." Ethan was saying then stopped.

"Disappointment to see your mother?" Mrs Swiss said joining the whole family at the dinning.

"Grandma, that's not what I meant. Mom?' he turned to his mother for some sort of help.

Adriana turned away, trying to look like she was angry, "I disappoint you?" She teased wickedly. The boy started to stutter.

"I... no. I didn't ...."

"That's because he had bragged about his rich bad ass aunt coming to pick us all day in school." Elizabeth explained.

"You did? I would have come had you said so." Evangeline smiled at him, "Tomorrow?"

"Deal." Ethan said, gave his aunt high-five then ran to hug his mother. "I love you mother." He threw himself at her.

"I know baby."

"Now, can we eat?" Mrs Swiss said, ringing the bell. The maids came to start dishing the food. Evangeline rolled her eyes at the old tradition. Her mother was still as stiff as she had known. Always following custom. Mrs Swiss noticed and waited calmly for the maids to leave. "And do you have something to say to me?"

Evangeline smiled brightly, "No mother."

The twins were about digging in to their food when Mrs Swiss busted out, "Not in my house you both."

They dropped their spoons hastily. "Let's pray. Dear Lord, bless this food and everyone who has graciously graced our table tonight." She said, looking pointedly at Evan.

"Amen." Everyone chorused and began to eat.

After a swallow, Mrs Swiss asked her youngest daughter, "And why are you in town, pray tell?"

"Mother?" Adriana cautioned. "Can we just eat and be grateful we are all here together now?"

"What's wrong in asking my daughter why she's home?"

Nobody replied and everyone ate quietly. Even the twins could sense the tension. They talked only in hushed tones.

The table was cleared and desert was being set up when Mrs Swiss asked again. "How's your company doing these days? I heard the Technological Company is quite the deal."

"Fine mother."

"And your man?"

"None mother."

"Why?"

"Nothing mother." Evangeline pushed back her seat, a clear warning she would be leaving soon. Her mother smiled sarcastically but changed topic. Turning to her oldest child, "When is Noah coming again?"

"He should be here by weekend. He met the client yesterday. They would be having the meeting during lunch today. So, all goes well and we can have him home soon."

"Yay!" the twins yelled excitedly.

From the corner of her eyes, Mrs Swiss saw her youngest daughter pull the red wine and poured herself a full glass, she gulped it down. Her mother pretended not to see that but was clearly annoyed. When she poured herself another cup, Mrs Swiss had had enough. "Is being home so bad you have to get drunk to see it through?"

"The wine was there mom. Didn't you want us to have it? Why bring it out then?" Evans retorted angrily, whatever calmness she had been determined to act flew out the window that minute.

"I don't know why you have to leave without a backward glance. You wouldn't call, wouldn't pick my call."

"I needed to breathe. Was that so hard to understand too?" She yelled.

"Ladies, the kids. Can we calm down please?" Adriana cut in but no one listened to her.

"It's not my fault you know." Mrs Swiss said quietly.

"And I don't blame you that dad left us either. I never did."

"You did...deep down, you must have blamed me."

"Why would you come to that conclusion when I never said anything?" Evangeline blurted out angrily.

"You didn't have to, you acted it."

"Wow, way to go mother." She stood up, "Thanks for dinner. I'll see myself out." Evangeline stormed out of the house without listening to Adriana's plead.

"Why can't you just let the past be?" Adriana said sadly to her mother.

"You think it's past when she wouldn't even stay a week here." Her mother glared.

"That's because she has a business and a life back in Los Angeles. And right now, she's going through a lot. I wish you'll cut her some slack. I begged you on the phone to be nice to her."

"Why walk around edges around my own child?"

"Because she's hurt, Mother." Adriana said. She stood up to leave too. "Thanks for dinner, mom." The twins hugged their grandmother and followed their mother out.

CHAPTER 5

****

The next day, Jason had his PA sit through the meetings he had and stay on call throughout. The Zoom meeting had gone well. He was rounding off when his wife woke up. Doctor Tom came to check her vitals.

"She is doing great, but..."

"I know." Jason replied. His wife was dying and it was his fault. If only he hadn't agreed to them having kids, all these wouldn't have started.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Being with her helps. You need all the things you can get together." Doctor Tom replied.

"Okay, Doc."

Jason watched his wife sleeping. They had agreed not to have kids until they were both ready, when they got married. She had wanted to pursue her career and he let her. Though he wanted his own kids, he loved his wife enough to compromise a few years. Ellen wanted to be an Air hostess. Meeting Valdez finally gave her the chance and she took it.

All was going well. But then his wife found out he loved kids. She made him believe he craved kids around merely by watching him with other people's kids. So, even though she hadn't gotten to the peak of her career as air hostess after six years of marriage, she was ready to start a family. He had been ecstatic the day she announced she was pregnant. He had bought baby items in a day and stock up a whole room with them. His wife had been shocked but happy she was right in taking the decision. He did want kids.

But they had lost the pregnancy during the first trimester. The couple had been devastated but unrelenting. They tried again and she was pregnant two months later. Then it happened again and again. After losing their baby the third time, Jason told the doctor to run several deep tests. And that was when it was discovered that his wife had PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). It was treatable, but his wife's had been there so long it had resulted in womb cancer. He was too glad to drop the child bearing issue and have her treated. But it had been too late.

Sad she couldn't give her husband the one thing he wanted, Ellen Valdez had tried to get them to adopt a child at least. "But you're on sick bed. Who would take care of the child?" He asked

"You'd do a fine job." She told him.

"A child needs both parents; a father's guide and a mother's love." He explained, totally not buying the idea. He wasn't about to let a child run about not catered for like he had been while growing up. Ellen understood and dropped the idea.

The next day, his wife came up with another solution. "Surrogacy?" He asked when she mentioned it casually. "I don't like the sound of that."

"It's beautiful really. My eggs, your sperm and a borrowed womb." She told him and insisted on it.

With no choice, he had gone with her to the family doctor who had explained the procedure. And they decided to give it a trial. He however insisted on having the surrogate mother selected personally not a random face on the internet. He wanted someone he could meet and test her IQ, neatness, among others. But first, their eggs and sperm were to be collected and tested. The result came back terrible. His wife's eggs couldn't be used. This time, she was devastated. Personally, he could handle that. If she wasn't, he was sure she had come with another annoying concept soon. He had been wrong. Though devastated, his wife decided they should go ahead with the surrogacy. "Maybe not my eggs, but your sperm."

"It's possible to get egg donors." The doctor agreed.

Jason watched them like they were talking strange. He protested, pointing out different flaws, but the doctor had answer for every doubt he had. Finally, boxed in a corner as usual, he agreed.

"On one condition." He added

"There's always a condition." His wife joked, "What?"

"The egg donor and possible surrogate shouldn't be online. I want you to hand pick the person." He told the doctor, "You'll get to run several tests."

"That's workable." Doctor Tom agreed.

"And pick smart people please. I want an intelligent kid." He smiled.

That was before his wife became really sick and was now battling for her life. She was withering away from his life and he had no way to stop it. He nodded his head in greeting as the doctor started to leave but his wife reached for him.

"Stay." She said. "I want you here when I say this to Jase." She was helped to sit up. Well settled in, Ellen looked at her husband with all the love she had for him.

"What is it?" Jason asked.

"Promise me Jase." She began. A deep cough reeked her for almost a minute. The doctor passed Jason a cup of water. Lifting her up gently, he helped her drink a few gulps then gave the doctor back the cup.

"Must you do this now? You need to rest." Jason said parting down her hair.

"You have to promise me to see through getting our child."

Jason sighed, a child was the last thing on his mind right now. "If it's not with you, I don't want." He told her stubbornly.

"You have to. Doc, please find him someone." She helped herself up. "Matter of fact, I might have someone for you. Evangeline. The woman on the plane." Ellen told him. She had been thinking about the pretty blond since she heard her murmuring while sleeping. She had been saying something about being betrayed be a friend.

Ellen felt pitching her with Jason would help her husband. The young woman could be what her husband need to get through the pain he was about to experience. Her demise was imminent. Anytime now and she'd be gone. The Doctor had predicted a month. So, she had to piece her home together.

"Who? Hell, no." He said, rejecting the suggestion vehemently.

"She's intelligent and beautiful. And she's smart too." His wife insisted.

And wears her heart on her face! He had seen the tears she brushed off when she thought he wasn't looking, "And you know all this in what...ten minutes with her?"

"I knew her more than that, Jason." She told him casually. "She mutters in her sleep a lot, really."

Her husband's raised brow suggested he didn't believe her. "You were in the restroom then. Then she came here the other day too. Even if it was a brief meeting both times, it was quite enough for me to get my facts right."

"She's rich. Her family is well known around here."

Jason's reply made his wife smile. "I asked my PI to check her up." He explained.

When Evangeline had mentioned her name when his wife asked, he had sent the name to his PI to get her facts. He was surprised to know she came from old wealth and was doing well in Los Angeles. He had been sent every of her file from business dealings down to family and relationships. He knew also about her recent breakup.

"She wouldn't take the offer." He dismissed casually." Only poor women goes for surrogacy."

His wife laughed out loud. It was good to see her happy, "I can see your notion of surrogacy is backward." She teased. "You never can tell. Surrogacy isn't only for the poor. People do things for different reasons. She might have a reason."

"Who is this woman?" Doctor Tom asked.

"Evangeline Swiss."

"Ah, the Swiss."

"You know them." Jason noted, "See what I mean."

"Yes, they are rich but then Mrs Valdez has a point. She could be the right candidate after all."

"Doctor, please don't encourage my wife on this again."

"I mean, given their family history, she might want to try. Her sister had no child for five years. I think her mother was pretty much the same too." Doctor Tom explained. He informed them he was close to the Swiss and could bring it up to Evan if the two decides to have her be the surrogate. He excused himself and let the couple talk

"See?" His wife was excited and he didn't want to disappoint her so he kept quiet. The instant the doctor left, she asked him. "You had her investigated, didn't you?"

"Yes." He confessed, "She gets on my nerves with her teary face."

Whatever made him do it, Ellen smiled and hoped that something good will come out of it all.

CHAPTER 6

"Hey Zoe." Evangeline said when picked her friend's call. She had just retired to her room for the night. Since dinner had ended up being messed up, she had driven around town aimlessly until she was finally ready to go home. Adriana who was worried, kept calling incessantly. When she got in, the twins had slept but her sister sat down waiting for her return. When she did, Adriana hugged her and went to her room. She did the same too.

Zoe listened then asked when she heard nothing, "Are you there?"

"I'm here, just tired" Evangeline replied, "Audrey said you stopped by."

"You've been avoiding me." She accused.

"I'm in Miami, Zoe. I am not avoiding you."

"You won't pick my calls."

"That's because when I did pick, you wanted me to hear Mary out. The bitch didn't even call me. What has she got to say anyway?" she gnawed at a snack, "Let it be Zoe."

"She knows you enough that you won't pick up." Zoe tried to excuse their friend's behaviour.

"Whatever she has to say wouldn't change a thing. I'm done with Logan. I wish them both good life," she replied stubbornly. It was pointless. She knew Mary wasn't about to plead or anything.

She had wanted to do this and she had. Better to just watch things unravel itself. It was obvious from her dead silence she wasn't feeling remorseful. Only Logan had been calling and texting ever since. "We should see next week." She informed her friend.

"Can I come with her?"

"Don't you dare! Whatever she has to say, let her tell you. I might listen to you."

"Can't I convince you otherwise?"

"No." She replied matter of fact.

Zoe sighed, "I cannot accept that you know, right? Do have a good night then."

Evangeline sat in front of the dressing mirror and stared at herself. She cut some cotton wool, dipped it in her face cleanser and began to wipe her face. As she did, she recalled her meeting earlier with the Valdez.

The woman was looking bad. Something about the woman called to her. Perhaps her free spirit. The woman had been so warm and hospitable, a contrast to her hostile husband. He had completely ignored her at the hospital. At first, it had made her angry. But when she almost cried as the woman started to fall asleep with her pale face and cold hands, she was happy Jason was typing on his phone. He would have had something nasty to say to her again.

******

Later that night, when most residents of Miami had retired for the night, Ellen Valdez's cough worsened. The cough came in short lapses. Her breathe was coming in short gasp and even Jason who had been in the room all day knew it was time to let her go. His wife was in pain. Another surgery would only cause more pain. She had also pleaded that he let her go. Holding her hands, he sat down stoically beside her. "I'll miss you. I don't know how to live without you."

"Promise me you'll be fine. I can only rest knowing you are okay."

"Please." He pleaded unwillingly to make the promise.

As she struggles to breath, she smiled at him.

"What now?"

"Doesn't this remind you of something?" She asked still smiling but gazing at the scenery, "The view." She said, giving him a clue. Her finger was pointed at the opened blind. The view of the City.

"Oh..... When we first met." He chuckled. He had been sick barely two weeks after meeting her and was confined to his room. For a guy who had chased her fiercely for two weeks, it was strange when all through two days he hadn't called. So, she had decided to visit. He wouldn't eat anything made by the Chef, so she made him soup. Done, they had sat down afterwards looking out the terrain. He had told her then that he loved her.

"It was the closest I've ever being to being sick." He muttered. He had never fallen sick.

Ellen laughed and coughed in between, "You were a pretty sore sight to look at. Never seen a fine sick adult." She teased.

"Ever the complimenting one." He said, grinning from ear to ear.

Suddenly, everywhere was calm. Too calm. Ellen broke the silence. "You have to get our child, Jase. That child will need you, as you will need her."

Earlier that day, Ellen had called the doctor and then send him out. Worried about what she was going to make the Doctor do, he stood by the door listening to her. Her pleading that the Doctor get Evangeline to be the surrogate mother tightened his chest. His pain was real. What was more, she was planning her departure so easily he wept? "That will be my husband's saving grace. Please?" The doctor had promised to get in touch with the young lady. He didn't know what to think about that.

"Our child?" Jason asked his wife.

"Please, pro..." She began to cough.

"I promise. I promise." Jason said, as he gently patted her chest.

The cough subsided, "Thank you." She mouthed and turned to her husband again. "And always remember that I love you." That said, she heaved and went into a rigorous spasm. The life support machine started beeping loudly. The doctor was by her side immediately. Jason moved away and watched as the nurses trooped in. A tear drops as his wife struggled to stay alive. Then the machine's tone changed. The nurses looked at each other sadly.

"Nooooooo. NOOO!" He yelled and went to hold his wife. Her eyes were closed in pain. She was gone. His beloved wife was gone.