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.

CHAPTER 7

A week after Ellen Valdez's burial, Evan received a call from Doctor Tom, and he passed on a very strange message. "What did you just say?" Evangeline sat up straight in her chair at once.

Though the burial had been a private event. The Swiss were all invited by the woman's relatives who were partners with the Swiss company. After the final rite, everyone waited in line to greet the widow. Jason was stone-faced, responding only with a nod.

When it was Adriana and Evangeline's turn, her sister had greeted the man casually. Instead of walking away, she lightly tapped the man, "I'm sorry," she said, then turned to leave. Jason managed a faint smile. A smile that her sister, and her mother had caught.

"I didn't know you knew the man." Adriana asked her sister in hushed tone as they walked out. Mrs Swiss looked at both women coldly. The cold stare made Adriana and Evan to chuckle. They were still in church and everyone was looking at them as if they had committed a crime.

"Must be the way the black dress accentuates your curves. It's a sin to look sexy inside this old pew," her sister teased. Evangeline sighed and pushed through the crowd. Ones out, she gulped in the cool air in rapid succession. Her sister took her bag and walked to the car.

Evangeline was about going after her when Doctor Tom sighted her. "It's been a while Doctor." She greeted. Then the doctor told her he would love to contact her about something so she had walked him to the car to retrieve her card.

"Afternoon Doc." Adriana greeted.

She handed Doctor Tom her card, and he went his way.

"What did he want?" Her sister asked the instant she was in the car.

"I don't know."

Apparently now, she had a good idea what he wanted. She had left Miami and was back at her office. There had been so much to do that she had ignored her calls all morning. The good doctor had called the office line when she didn't pick up after several missed calls. "Why would you even think of me in that way?" She asked in shock.

"Because Mrs Valdez asked me to." He explained.

All through the day, Evangeline was confused. She went about her work half-heartedly. Even Audrey knew something was wrong with the boss.

"I made another mistake, right. Didn't I now!" She blurted out when her PA came in with the same file she had treated twice today. It wasn't easy not being distracted after getting such a call. She wondered what Jason thought about all these.

"Yes ma'am." Audrey replied. "Do you want me to get the Accountant to work on it?' she asked, a deep frown edged on her forehead.

"I think you should. I'll like to check when he's done though."

"Okay ma'am. Then Zoe is here." Audrey informed her boss, who was already heading out.

"Send her in."

The PA left and, in few minutes, her friend walked in. "Can we go out? I'm feeling stuffed in here." She asked her friend, her bag was packed already.

"Hey you too." Zoe eyed her viciously. "Where?"

"I want to be distracted." She said and began to walk towards the exit.

"I know just the place."

As they stepped out, Evangeline watched Logan coming out of his car with bouquet of flowers. Eyeing her friend suspiciously she asked, "Did you do this?"

"I didn't come with him, I promise."

"I don't want to talk, Logan. Can we do this some other time? Now isn't a good time." She started to walk past him.

"Do you even care to know what really happened?" he asked trying desperately not to show he was angry at the casual way she was dismissing him, "You've been shutting me out. It's really not what you think."

Evangeline stopped and turned to face him. "You keep saying it isn't what I think. Didn't you sleep with her?" She flared. Logan looked down in shame.

Zoe bristled angrily. "Oh boy." She said in hushed tone, then left the couple to handle their private matter. She collected Evan's car keys and went to wait in the car.

"Make it snappy." She said, as she walked away.

The two moved towards the other end and sat down on the couch by the security man's office. Turning to Logan, she said to him "So, you have two minutes. Let me know what I don't understand."

Logan didn't bother trying to defend himself, "Not this way. You're too upset to__"

"I'm not upset Logan." She cut him short. "I'll help you with one important question. Who posted the picture? Answer that and you will know why I think it's best we part ways." She started to leave. "Your two minutes is up."

"Evans? Please." Logan watched irritated as the woman she had lost walked away from him. If only he could honestly answer what had happened that night, he wouldn't have been in this mess. But she had a point. He had been so busy getting his team to take down the pictures online and threatening bloggers running the story with lawsuit.

He had ignored the most important question. He watched Evans drive off, then picked out his phone and called his team leader "James, I need to know who posted those pictures ASAP." He told him.

Zoe directed Evangeline to the newly opened bar. They opened during the week and were running promo which made the place exceptionally packed to the brim. After getting a good parking spot, the ladies got down and walked to the far end of the bar. The loud music was deafening.

"Just what I needed," Evans yelled to Zoe above the blasting song. "Told you I know just the place," She mouthed, not bothering to speak. They were at the bar then. Each grabbed a seat and ordered drinks. And they were sipping when a tall, dark-skinned guy came to ask them to dance. Evans ignored his outstretched hand, but Zoe, up for the game, took it. Leaving her friend with a bottle of bourbon, she excused herself.

For a while, she danced excited and must have danced for what seemed like ages. Zoe had even changed partners somewhere on the dance floor. And the guy who had asked her to dance was nowhere in sight.

Zoe bristled, he had a good physique. She had been hoping to get him down later tonight. So sad, she thought and started to make her way to the bar. All the while, Evangeline had been drinking. She had finished the bourbon and was on her fourth bottle when Zoe came back and found her wasted.

"I hate when you do this." She said and grabbed her. They both staggered about of the bar. Pushing her gently into the back seat, Zoe tucked Evan in and locked the door. She managed to get them in one piece. Dragging her into her apartment was a tug of war. After several pulls and tugs, they were at her entrance. She punched in the code twice before it dawned on her that her friend had changed her passcode.

"Code please." She screamed in utter frustration.

"You know it." Evans slurred.

Zoe sighed in annoyance, "You changed it."

"Ladies." Jason greeted seeing both women arguing on the door way. He had come to see Evans and met her door locked. Though he knew where she was, he stayed outside her apartment waiting for her to come.

When Doctor Tom had told him Evans had been somewhat irritated when he called her earlier, he felt obliged to explain things himself. Perhaps if he explained, she would understand.

He had called his pilot and was here before thinking things through. It was a whole lot to dump on someone. Now, he wasn't sure he made the right call. Ellen! The things you make me do. He had been on call with the doctor when he saw them stumble in. At least they would have ample time to settle down before he made himself seen, he thought. "Need help?"

"Who are you?" Zoe asked.

Evangeline looked at him and drawled, "Oh, it is the hostile Valdez."

"You know him?"

She nodded in her wasted state and started to swirl around. Zoe quickly hold her, "Yes, from Miami."

"What's going on with the door?"

Helplessly, Zoe replied him, "She's too drunk to give me the pass code."

"I think I can help with that." He brought out his phone and moved the screen to the door. Zoe who had been about to make a sarcastic comment kept quiet as the door opened instantly.

"I'm a Tech Guy." He explained and helped them inside. They settled Evangeline into the couch and got her water. It didn't take a gulp to have her throw up immediately. Resigned to the work she had indirectly brought on herself, Zoe started cleaning the place. When her phone began ringing, she passed the mop stick to the man she was yet to understand his mission. Jason took over to allow her pick up.

Some minutes later, she was back and very surprised to see Evangeline had been safely tucked in the couch and was sleeping soundly.

"You managed that pretty fast." She complimented.

"I've had help." He replied mysteriously.

Looking desperate, she asked him to sit "It's urgent." She told him worriedly, "Can I trust you with her?"

"I'll be a perfect gentleman."

"When are you leaving?"

"That I'm not sure about." He looked at the sleeping lady, "I came to talk, but it seems none of that would happen tonight. Tomorrow then."

"Good, I'll keep in touch. Thank you." Zoe said, rushing out as the phone started ringing again.

"Bye." she called from the door.