Oleander - Gen 7 Ch 3

Ugh, what a mess. Even with Bennie working full time on filling up the holes in the garden, it was still taking forever. Charles had moved into Cindy's old room, but he was at the military base most of the day, so the burden of the work fell on Bennie and me. Papa was getting too old for such physical labor.

It didn't help that I was constantly having to take puke breaks in between trips to the recycle bin. I tried to pass it off as residual trauma from the tunnel incident, but after a while Charles wasn't buying it.

One day Charles had finally had enough, and as soon as he arrived home from work, he hauled me off to the doctor. I initially had agreed, since I was pretty tired of throwing up, but as we approached the door I began to have second thoughts.

"I'm feeling fine now. I think it was just the flu. No need to bother the doctor."

 I turned around at the last minute and tried to head back to the car. Truth be told, I truly despise going to the doctor. All that prodding and poking and pricking. Charles was adamant though, and firmly took my arm and escorted me inside, like a naughty child. Sigh. Have I mentioned how it drives me crazy when he treats me that way?

I thought I was prepared for anything the doctor might say, except for this. I had no clue as to how Charles was going to react.

"Charles.. I don't know what to say, so I'll just come out and say it.. I'm pregnant."

I also wasn't prepared for Charles' reaction to that little bit of news. He got all gooey eyed, and when I let him feel my tummy, he looked up at me with such a giddy expression on his face, I started to feel guilty.

"Is... is it mine?" he asked with a silly little grin on his face.

I had to tell him the truth.

"I'm not sure. It could be Zhan's," I answered with a slight shrug of my shoulders. Even that didn't seem to phase him.

"Have you heard from him?"

I bit my lower lip. I didn't like to think about that.

"No," I stated. "His number is disconnected."

"Well, you know I'm here for you no matter what, Andee. I'll be with you every step of the way."

After that I wasn't allowed to work in the garden any more. I could only supervise the action from my recliner....

....which gave me plenty of time to think about Charles while I watched him work. Ultimately though, my thoughts would always turn back to Zhan. He had said he would contact me 'if he could.'  Had I only imagined the connection we had? Or was he really unable to call me? If so, why?

As I grew bigger, Charles grew ever more attentive. When I got bored at home, he would take me out to my favorite places. Tonight it was the art gallery. And now that I wasn't sick any more, I started feeling more like my old flirty self again.

"You are looking radiant tonight, Andee my dear."

"Why thank you. You aren't looking half bad yourself."

He leaned in for a kiss, and I couldn't resist. I hadn't let him kiss me for a good while now, but against my better judgement, I gave in.

I guess he took my willingness as a sign, because suddenly he dropped to one knee and pulled an amazingly beautiful ring out of his pocket.

"Andee, I love you. I want to spend my life protecting you and keeping you safe. And I want to be the best father I can to your baby. Will you marry me?"

For a minute I just stared in shock, not trusting myself to speak. The ring was so beautiful. Charles was a wonderful friend. I was sure he would make a wonderful father as well. I slowly reached out my hand for the ring, all these thoughts whirling around in my head.

Suddenly I heard another voice in my head, louder than the rest, that made me stop short.

'But do you love him? Remember the pendant...'

I knew then what I had to do. As gently as I could, I closed the box, ring still inside, and covered his hands with mine. I shook my head wordlessly.

I dreaded to see the expression on his face when I looked up and him. I hated to hurt him like this, but I knew I was doing the right thing.

"Why not, Andee? What's wrong with me?"

I started to tear up then, but I had to tell him.

"Oh, Charles. There is nothing wrong with you. You are a wonderful friend, and I'm sure you will be a fantastic father, but ... I don't love you. You deserve someone who loves you as much as you love them, and that someone isn't me. I'm so sorry."

I couldn't quite believe Charles was still here the next morning, but there he was, working away. I fleetingly wondered if maybe I had made a mistake the night before. He was such a loyal friend, and my papa's were getting old.

Papa Brook came out to inspect with me, and he grinned at me knowingly as he rubbed my belly.

"Sooo... how'd things go last night?" he whispered conspiratorially to me.

"Papa! You knew he was going to ask me?"

"Hehe. Of course. Charles is such a gentleman, of course he asked me first."

"Well, I said no," I whispered back. I couldn't believe we were having this conversation with Charles just a few feet away. I guess Papa never considered that I might say no.

"Won't you reconsider, Andee. Brann and I won't be around forever, and we know Charles would take good care of you."

"No, papa," I whispered in reply. "I don't love him. You of all people should understand that, after what you went through with grandpa Ren."

 

I hoped maybe I would find an ally in Papa Brann, but it seemed all three of them were determined to plan out my life for me.

"Won't you give Charles another chance, Andee? Just give it some time, maybe you'll change your mind."

Everything was so confused. I wasn't sure about anything anymore. Maybe I could learn to love Charles. I know my baby needs a father.  I decided to visit my favorite Grandmother. I always feel better after talking with her.

"Oh, Margi," I sobbed. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Follow your heart, sweet child. That's the advice my grandmother gave me, and it never led me wrong."

"I will. Thank you grandma."

But my heart was leading me in a direction that I wasn't sure I could explain to anyone - toward a man I had spent only two days with, and whom I had not heard from since.

I was at peace with my decision though. I could hardly wait for this baby. I just knew it would be a very special child.

I went into labor late one night, after everyone was asleep.  I had already decided I would not subject myself to that doctor again, so I tried to be as quiet at possible as I huffed and puffed by the side of my bed.

I gritted my teeth and grimaced, almost crying out. But then my eyes caught sight of Lao Hu watching me from my bedside table. I concentrated on his face, and things got a little easier after that.

My beautiful baby boy. And the second I laid eyes on him, I knew immediately who his daddy was.