The Other Man's Child

FIVE YEARS EARLIER. Selene's POV. "Congratulations, you are pregnant! The nurse grinned, holding up a clipboard. "Your vitals are great, and your baby is healthy." My heart pounded; for a second, it felt like the world spun around me. I shook my head. "I can't be pregnant; Rowland and I, we have always been careful." Her smile faltered. "Well, these things do happen. Even when contraceptives are used, dear." "Are you sure this is correct?" I asked, desperation in my voice. "These might have been swapped?" She shook her head.

"Your name is boldly over the top; we don't make this kind of mistake, ma'am." My head spun, for a second the walls closed in on Me. I glanced at the report one more time. Hoping that when I looked at it again. It might have just been a mistake the first time, but that was it. "Thank you," I managed to say, smoothing my skirt as I stood to leave. My legs wobbled as I made my way out. How was I going to tell my overly disciplined father that his eighteen-year-old daughter was pregnant by a boy she wasn't married to? He would disown me and kick me out of the house. He would never allow such a stain on his name. The most successful man on the block with a wayward child. That's what people would say. "Take me to Rowlands," I said to Martini. Immediately I shut the door of the SUV, trying to steady my trembling fingers. Martini was my personal driver. My father had hired him to keep tabs on me, so he made sure I went from school back home. But my little trips after school to Rowland's House were a secret between the both of us. I leaned my head against the window; my mind spiralled. "Is everything alright, ma'am?" Martini asked. "I am fine," I replied, not looking up. The car pulled up in front of the small building Rowland shared with his family. "Wait for me; I won't be long," I said before spinning on my heels along the narrow road that led to the gate. I stopped at the gate, poking my head through its railings because when I tried to shove it open, it was locked. I spotted Rowland's brother Mark bent over with a spanner in his hand. He was twirling some loose bolts on his bike. "Mark!" I yelled. "Rowlands not here," he called out. "Where is he then? I have called him several times, but he isn't answering." He dropped the spanner and walked towards me. "He's gone off to Mexico." My chest tightened "Mexico!" "What do you mean, Mexico!" He flapped a towel over his shoulder. "He left Selene, and I don't think he's coming back." A knot formed in my throat. Suddenly, the railings felt hot against my fingers. My hands flew to my tummy where life stirred. I gasped for air, my heart shattering into tiny pieces. Rowland and I had planned to elope together. My parents never approved of our relationship. They said Rowland was a poor church rat but I loved him either way. We were curled up together in his bed when he brought up the idea. "Selene," he ran his fingers through my hair, gazing into my eyes. "I can never imagine a life without you. I think we should run away together" My heart skipped a beat. "I mean, if you don't want to, it's fine." He added. For a second the thought of being away from my family sent shivers down my spine, but as long as I was going to spend the rest of my life with him, I didn't mind. A smile played across my lips "that's the craziest thing you have ever said to me Rowland, and I love it" He grinned widely "That's my girl" We were going to leave the next month. Did he leave without me? "When is he coming back Mark?" My voice shook. "Look, Selene, he is never coming back" Mark said, "you have to take things easy, and really, I would advise you to move on with your life. It all just kind of happened. Take care Selene" He turned and walked away. I stood frozen to the floor. My heart pounded against my ribs, the pasta I had eaten earlier threatening to spill. What was going to happen to me? To my baby? How was I going to handle this. How would my parents take this? I didn't go home; I went back to school. I needed to get myself together. I was Determined to keep the news to myself till I was ready or till I couldn't hide my protruding belly any longer. But two days later, my father had called for me, furious and angrier than I had ever seen him in my entire life. He wiggled the test results above my head, with my mother sobbing behind him, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief while he spoke. "What is the meaning of this, Selene?" His voice came out in thunders. I cowered in fear. "I was going to tell you, I promise." Tears streamed down my cheeks as I struggled to find the right words that wouldn't provoke him further. "You are not bringing shame to this family, Selene," he said through gritted teeth. "Dad, please, I am sorry." I clutched his feet. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen." "We should have kicked that boy out the moment he stepped his dirty feet into this house." He frowned, pacing back and forth. Mother wouldn't dare speak, not when he was in such a mood. "You are going to marry Mr Harold's first son," he said, finally. "No!" I yelled; my voice came out weaker than I intended. "Yes, Selene, we won't have a daughter who has a child but no husband. A child born out of wedlock. Never!" "Dad, please. I can't marry him. I don't love him," I begged. "You should have thought of that before..." He raised his hand above me. I flinched. "Richard, no, please," Mother cried. She ran to him with quickened steps, clutching his hands in hers. I looked up at him, and in his eyes was disappointment. Shame. His hand dropped. "I have made my decision. We meet his family tomorrow. With that, he stomped out of the room, flinging the paper as he walked. Tears trailed down my cheeks, my breath caught in my throat. "Mother, please, I am sorry." I hugged my knees to my chest, tilting back and forth. Mother crouched beside me. The liquid from her eyes dripped into my sleeve. "Oh Selene, what have you done?" she cried. "Mum, please do something. I can't marry his arrogant son. What would become of me?" "I won't allow him to throw you away, Selene." She wiped at my eyes. "No matter what, you are still our daughter. I will talk to him." I nodded, but I knew, because once Father had made his decision, there was absolutely no going back. After so much pleading, mum had brought up the idea for an abortion but when we went to the hospital, the doctors report wasn't in my Favour. "Aborting the baby would be very harmful, she might bleed out" The doctor said. "I will not risk my daughter's life for your selfish desires Richard" Mum snapped at father. Father looked my way and shook his head in disappointment. Something broke within me. My only hope at freedom, gone. After we left the hospital, the ride home was painfully quiet. No one was going to say it, but I knew the fate that awaited me. Three weeks and two later, there was not a single call from Rowland. I stood at the alter, wearing a wedding dress I hadn't picked myself. In front of me stood a man I met only few days before. Tom Harold. He smiled but he's expression said otherwise. He wasn't to know about the baby, If he ever did, it would ruin everything. Father's grand plan was that, in two weeks Tom was to believe the baby was his. Every move I made had to be strategic before I started to show. I glanded at the entrance for the hundredth time hoping Rowland would walk in, beaming with smiles and safe me from the mess. But it was empty. I really shouldn't be thinking of Rowland, not now. The ache of what could have been lay in my chest. Guilt tore at my insides as I faced Tom, noticing his striking features for the first time. He was surprisingly handsome, but handsome couldn't save me from this cage. I would come to love him, I told myself. Little did I know what I had plummeted my self into. I forced a smile as I recited the vows, my fingers clutched the fabric of my dress where life stirred. If this is what I had to do to protect my child, so be it. I was willing to take whatever that came.