*
*
Faith heard the sound of the door opening, and then the footsteps.
Her eyes squinted when bright light suddenly invaded.
A distressed groan escaped her mouth, she wasn't ready to get up from the alluring comfort of her bed and pillows just yet.
"Close the windows!" She muttered without opening her eyes.
The person didn't obey, what she felt next was the sheets around her being pulled away and next her brother's jolting words.
"For how long did you plan to sleep? Your doctor's appointment is in thirty minutes!"
Her eyes fluttered open slowly, of course, she knew that today was her last consultation with the doctor before her expected delivery date. She was simply feeling quite lazy this morning.
"Can I not go today? I believe I'm perfectly fine, I would know if there's anything wrong."
"You said the same thing the last time as well, this is for your own good, and after today's appointment, you'll be free!"
Faith had to remind herself that today was indeed the last time, she struggled to get into a sitting position but failed, her enlarged tummy simply wouldn't allow her.
"Help me, will you?" She bit out at Julian who wasn't offering to help quickly enough. Some days, she felt like a prisoner, her movements were very much restricted. Getting up from the bed was a hard task and finding a comfortable sleeping position was always tougher.
She couldn't wait until she could regain her independence.
Just a few weeks___
She noticed that Julian seemed lost in his own thoughts and couldn't help being curious.
"What? You are not thinking that I'm too heavy to lift now, are you?" She was only trying to lighten his mood but he didn't seem keen, his expression remained serious.
"I'm still angry on your behalf! How could he allow you to go through all these on your own?! What will happen after you give birth to the child? He has to take responsibility!"
Faith swallowed hard, it was a conversation she had been avoiding for the past seven months, one of her biggest fears had been Julian going to confront Sterling.
"I can take care of my child without him, you and mom are present, she will have a wonderful family." Faith caressed her belly gently, wearing a small smile. Julian's gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained bitter.
"That bastard shouldn't be left off the hook like that! You can't have to suffer alone because of him!"
Faith exhaled aloud, it was clear that Julian wasn't willing to let it go this time.
"What? Is this your way of telling me that you take care of your sister? Am I that much of a burden?"
She knew guilt-tripping him would work as his face fell instantly.
"You know it's about that, sighed, seeing you go through this alone, I just feel like__"
"Actually, he doesn't even know." Faith didn't know what prompted her to confess the truth for the first time.
"What?" Julian appeared confused.
"He didn't know I was pregnant when we divorced!"
"WHAT? Why? "
Faith blocked her ears against Julian's scream of disbelief.
"There was no reason for him to know!" Faith bit out sharply and that signaled the end of the conversation. She didn't want to talk about it anymore, she had merely wanted Julian to stop blaming Sterling's absence.
She had divorced Sterling without telling him about the child, the reason was quite simple, if he had known about the pregnancy, he would have used that to manipulate her into staying with him.
"I'm going to take a shower." She muttered, ignoring Julian's question-filled stare as she walked into the bathroom and slam the door shut.
*
*
"Take care mom!"
Faith kissed both of her mother's cheeks. Her mom's hands slowly reached to caress her face and Faith smiled amidst tears.
Her mom was making a rapid recovery. She could now stand and walk unaided, though her movements were pretty slow.
Her mother's visit to the therapist was once a month, which coincidentally happened to fall today itself.
"I'll call you when I'm done!" Faith spoke to Julian, he still had to take their mom for her monthly check-up which was at a different hospital.
The car zoomed off.
Faith walked out of the doctor's office, she was excited and very much nervous at the same time. The doctor had said that the baby might be born sooner.
Maya.
She had already decided on the name, it would suit her little princess.
She exited the hospital building, it was quite windy outside.
For some unknown reason, she was feeling quite uneasy, perhaps it was the news that her daughter might be born sooner?
She texted Julian to let him know she would be entering a taxi.
As she gave the driver the directions, she suddenly got that feeling of uneasiness again, this time it was stronger.
As though she was being watched.
Her head moved on its own accord to stare through the glass windows.
She couldn't have prepared herself.
The shock nearly made her forget how to breathe as a familiar face stared back at her.
Rex.
What was he doing here?!
Oh god!
Even worse, he'd seen her!
*
*