Just A Night Stand

The ultrasound

FLASH BACK

“Let go of mum!” Naya pulled her abusive father from her mother, but her father slapped her hard on the cheek, sending her flying on the couch.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, as she watched him torture her mother with a belt.

“Please stop it! I beg of you!” Her eight-year-old self pleaded helplessly as she watched. This wasn’t the first time, and it might probably not be the last. What was the point of having a child, if you couldn’t care for her? What was the point of birthing a child in the world of torture? A world where her mother is being maltreated. Naya couldn’t bear the thought of this anymore.

“Let him show his love the way he can show his love, dear,” her mother said to her all the time.

“Let him be the husband he can be.”

“I do not want this kind of love!” Naya cried. “No one should love like this. I should never have been born into this kind of home.”

“It’s fine, my love,” her mother stroked her hair. “My father used to show my mother this kind of love too. It is normal.”

Naya saw many things wrong with this. Her father never married her mother, and kept his real wife in an old mansion which belonged to his father. He never even stayed with his real wife. Every-time, he would stay with Naya’s mother instead, torturing her as if she was some punching bag.

The day her mum fled with her on a rainy night, Naya knew that was the best decisions they made. From then on, her mum never cried anymore and instead met a man who genuinely loved her and cared about her.

Naya doesn’t hate children. But she disdained

the fact that children were born in unfavorable environments. Why give birth to a child in an abusive home, or a broken family or an inconvenient life which would be torturous to the child’s mental health? Then they say something about a wounded childhood and abusive past…why wouldn’t they have that?

As Naya thought of this when she packed her bags, she stared down at her belly. Maybe she was too harsh on things. Not everything was under one’s control. Having her child was not under her control. It just happened at the least expected time. Thanks to Amelia, whom she might never see again. Naya caressed her stomach, before focusing back on her packing.

“We will find you a very good home,” she said with a smile. “Your parents are very nice people. They should be able to take good care of you. Do not worry about me. I am a hustler,” she giggled before packing her last outfit.

***

“How do you love your room?” Lovelyn asked as she led her into a luxurious bedroom. “We made sure there is a good ventilation system, and regulated the air conditioner for your comfort. We also subscribed a separate cable for you in case you wanna watch anything you want.”

“This is too much,” Naya smiled. “You do not have to do this.”

“O! Come on! You are my hopes and dreams. I have to be extra careful with you. Feel at home and do not stress yourself too much. My husband will be here soon to take you to the gynecologist. Feel free to contact me if you need anything.” Lovelyn spoke a bit too much. Naya nodded and watched her leave.

“These rich people are doing too much!” She thought to herself.

Later that afternoon, a knock came on the door and her mind drifted to Brett. He was probably ready to take her to Doctor Doris for the ultrasound. Naya prepared herself and hurried to open the door.

“Shall we?” He asked with a stern look. His once enthusiastic look was gone, and there was an obvious awkwardness between them. She wasn’t sure of why he was suddenly awkward around her.

“Yes,” she nodded and he walked away without a word. They got into the car and he started the engine in silence.

“Your seatbelt,” he instructed without bothering to look at her face. She silently obeyed and gazed out of the window. After a few minutes of awkwardness, he broke the silence between them.

“Don’t ever call me a playboy before my wife,” he instructed. She turned to him.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“You seem to have a big mouth and talk too much. Do not tell my wife that you think I am a playboy. It will make me really mad,” he explained.

Naya felt he was overthinking things now.

“Are you listening to me?” He snapped her out of her thoughts.

“Yea, you said something about not telling your wife anything about my assumptions,” she nodded. “Fine, I won’t.”

“Just hand us our child and leave us alone.” He sounded mean.

“I am not a manipulator,” she clarified. “I will give you the space you want, and hand you the baby as you want. All I want is for you to fulfill your side of your deal and help my mother.”

“Fine,” he nodded.

“Double fine,” she concurred too.

There was another awkward silence again.

***

They both arrived at the clinic and watched Doctor Doris apply the ultrasound gel, before gently tapping the transducer on her stomach. Doctor Doris smiled at the sight of the tiny embryo.

“Baby is looking healthy and good!” She announced, pointing at a curled ball on the screen. That ought to be the baby?! Naya thought. Well, okay. Life was definitely a strange place for sure.

“I am sure if you keep up with the schedules, go for your antenatals and have your probiotics, you will be good to go. Just visit me anytime you feel anxious or have questions.”

Both Naya and Brett nodded.

“Do you want to handle the transducer?” She asked Brett who shook his head promptly.

“No, I…”

“Come on,” Doctor Doris handed him a glove.

“It’s cute. You should be able to feel the presence of your child.”

Brett agreed and did as he was told. It did feel good watching his child on the screen, but his thought was on Lovelyn and he wished Lovelyn was in place of Naya.

When they arrived back home, he pulled Lovelyn for a hug and carressed her hair softly right in front of Naya.

“I wish you were there,” he said. “Next time, let us go with her. Do not leave me by myself in a situation like this.”

Lovelyn didn’t understand why he got so emotional. She nodded and pressed her lips against his.

Naya felt her stomach churn. She excused herself and walked upstairs into her room. When she had the door shut behind her, she placed her hand on her stomach and sat on the floor.

“Your parents love each other so much,” she thought. “You couldn’t be any luckier.