Chapter 14 - Secrets

'Ah, this dratted bump!' I muttered to myself as I tried for the umpteenth time to comfortably tuck my chair in. Yes, I was pregnant again. And I wasn't happy about it. We couldn't afford to care for another baby and I was trying to find work but, with less than a month left to go, my health was suffering. I was so upset when I discovered the child that I ignored it. I didn't tell a soul and even then, at eight and a half months, Dayvid didn't know of his impending fatherhood. He was at work most of the time and I dressed in large, baggy clothing to disguise my swollen belly, not going to a single check-up. So there I was, in an impossible situation. About to give birth to my sixth child without anybody knowing. Not even Katie, who was by then the mother of a baby girl called Jolene and preparing for her move to Moonlight Falls.

I heard the door open and jumped, forgetting that I was sitting in Jasper's room. I pretended I didn't notice and continued to tap furiously at the keyboard. I felt his eyes on me as he passed. Tonight was prom night and he was getting ready to leave with Rebecca who was waiting downstairs. It was also Celeste's birthday and a houseful of party guests were on their way. Everyone had been instructed to come in their swimwear as Celeste wanted to play on the water slide and I was dressed accordingly. My belly strained against the flimsy fabric of my costume but I had intended to put a robe on before I went downstairs, stupidly not factoring in the fact that I was in my son's room.

He spoke as he closed his chest of drawers.
'Mum, can I speak to you a moment?'
There was concern in his voice and it frightened me. 'Uh, sure, honey. What's up?'
He looked at me almost pityingly. 'Mum, I know.'
I tensed.

'I know you're pregnant. Why haven't you told anybody? Even Dad doesn't know.' He continued.
The truth was, I didn't know why. Tears welled in my eyes and trickled down my cheeks.
'I... I... How did you know?'

'No offence, Mum, but it's kind of obvious.' He gestured to my bump.
'I suppose.' There was a pause.
'Mum, you're not answering me. Why haven't you told anybody?'
'I don't know! I guess I just thought that if I left it then it'd go away! I know that sounds stupid but you don't understand! What if your father shunned me again? You know we're having money trouble!' I whimpered and lowered my head, ashamed that my teenaged son was more mature than me.
He looked at me with sad eyes. 'Mum, I'm sorry, but you need to just tell him. He's a changed man now. Just tell him. He'll be happy. Just tell him.'
He held me close as he repeated that phrase - 'Just tell him'. Oh, how many times had I thought about saying those words in my life? Just tell him you still love him. Just tell him she's not his daughter. Just tell him you're pregnant again. I felt embarrassed that Jasper felt the need to console me so I drew away from his arms and wiped my eyes.

He smiled at me and bent down, whispering to the baby as he placed his hand on the bump.
'We love you very much, little one. Please come out soon so we can meet you.'
I sniffed. 'Not too soon, honey. I need to tell your father and right now I've got a party to go to.'

Satisfied with our talk, Jasper joined Becca in the stretch limo her grandmother had hired for them, just as the guests were beginning to line up in their swimwear outside.

I changed into a flowing dress and went downstairs to greet the guests. Briar was, of course, invited. His wife had had twins a little after Colin was born. Two boys called Aaron and Brandon. Not names exactly to my taste, but whatever. As Cescie blew out her candles, however, I began to feel what I thought were the early pangs of labour. A sharp, isolated pain in my lower abdomen that slowly spread through every inch of my body.

I breathed slowly, trying not to give anything away until my eldest daughter had grown into a beautiful teenager.

And she really was stunning - voluminous hair the colour of wheat fields, and a tall, athletic body. I felt very proud of my gorgeous daughter who I knew, with her brains, would go far.

Nevertheless, the pain continued and I made my way to one of the top floor bathrooms. I couldn't decide whether announcing my pregnancy to Dayvid when I was in labour or when I was holding our newborn child was better. I plumped for after the baby was born as I couldn't face explaining everything when I was in this state. I sighed and arched my back, rubbing my neck with one hand, and waited for the next contraction.

My mouth fell open as my water broke and the strongest wave of pain I'd ever experienced flooded my body. It was one hundred times more painful knowing that I'd have to explain it all to my husband afterwards. I clenched my teeth so as not to make too much noise and battled on.

Luckily the labour was over relatively quickly and before long my baby girl was in my arms. As I looked down into her little face I felt at peace for a moment, despite the fact that she was wailing at the top of her lungs. The colour of her skin showed that she was a vampire and a little tuft of golden hair sprouted out the top of her tiny head.

After taking a few minutes to calm down and get my thoughts together, I took out my phone and dialled Jasper's number. I stared at the screen for a while, contemplating whether or not I should press ring. It was his prom, after all, and I wasn't sure if I should disturb him. But I needed to speak to him and proceeded to make the call.

He picked up on the second ring and I told him everything.
'It's okay, Mum, don't worry. I'll be home as quickly as I can.'
'No! I'll be fine, honest. I just thought you should kno-'
But he had already hung up.

Within ten minutes of me contacting him, he burst through the door to find me snuggling my youngest child.

'Mum, are you okay?'
'I'm fine, darling. Thank you. Just a little overwhelmed.'
He smiled faintly. 'She's beautiful.'
'Isn't she just?' I looked into her big, dark eyes and felt a huge sense of pride for the person I had created.
'I moved the spare cot into your room. I think we should go and put her to bed.' he said.

We tiptoed downstairs so as not to alert anyone and I placed my little girl in her cot. Before going to give birth I had told Dayvid that I was going to Rebecca's house to wait for the young couple's return as the original plan was for Jasper to sleep over there. He still believed I was out.

'Mum, I'm going to get changed and go to bed. I'll leave you to talk to Dad. Goodnight.'
'Night, darling.' I replied. I could put it off no longer. I'd kept the news from my husband for seven long months and now his daughter was here, there was no way I could hide it any longer.

I found him on the landing, about to go to bed himself.
'Oh, hi honey. I didn't here you come back.'
I drew a deep breath. 'Dayvid, darling, I never left. I have something very important to explain to you.'
'What? What's wrong? Are you okay? Where's Jasper?'
'He's upstairs. He's fine, don't worry. Look, these past few months I haven't been entirely truthful to you.' I paused and studied the expression on his face, but it was one of concern and not of anger so I continued. 'Dayvid, seven months ago I discovered that I was pregnant.
'Liza! What!? What happened? Did you loose the baby?'
'Oh no, no. That's the thing.'
He looked utterly confused, as well he should have been. 

'Darling, I can't explain how sorry I am that I didn't tell you but... well maybe you should just follow me...'

He walked slowly behind me as I went into our bedroom. When he saw our child he froze. Without looking away from her he tried to speak. 'Is that... is that my... is...'
'Yes, Dayvid. This is your daughter.'
At those words a shakey grin formed on his face and tears began to drop onto the floor, from the both of us. There was a long pause. 'Hold her.' I said, and he nodded and leant over the cot.

My wonderful husband didn't ask any more questions. Nor did he shout at me for not telling him sooner. He just spent the night in a chair, cradling our sleeping daughter in his arms. I lay in bed, watching the two of them. Just as I was about to drift off, he spoke softly.

'I want a vasectomy.'



Author's note
Hello! I'm so sorry for not getting this out sooner. I got Island Paradise for my birthday and it's so good! I promise I will try harder to make more posts. In fact, I'm going to start another one right now! I definitely recommend IP. As well as comments, I would love to hear your views on The Sims 4 trailer. Thanks for reading my blog, I really appreciate it. Sorry again!