A woman's dilemma - Episode 18

 

Francesca:

"Thank you for the help Christina. I'll make sure to have this year's donation ready by the end of the month." I drop a few tins of milk in my basket as I walk down the aisle. Christiana ends the call and I'm happy that at least I've done something right for my friend Amy. It's awful all those things she had to go through . It kinda pales to my problems in a way I think. Speaking of my problems, I check my wrist watch for the time. Really don't want to miss the time to pick Ola up from school. He's been scared of his father for days now. I still have a few hours. I pass a roll of Blue band margarine and sigh dreamily. I envision Francis' disapproving face when he sees me stuffing my face with more fattening food. I shake my head at the temptation and start to walk on.
"Are you really not going to get some?" A male voice comes up behind me. I jump back in surprise when the stranger pushes past me to grab a few cups of the margarine. What a rude man. I bite my retort and start to leave the rude man when he turns around and drops the several cups of margarine in my basket. I gape at him.
"Gideon?!"
"You should keep that figure of yours. For your husband at least." He's grinning ear to ear

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. I sober up quickly at the mention of my figure and husband. I hiss at Gideon and start to unload my shopping basket of the cups of margarine.
"Hey what are you doing? You obviously want to get them." He starts pushing the cups back into my basket as I put them out.
"Stop!" I yell at him and drop the basket to the floor. My crate of eggs shattering too. I gasp in horror. The reins on my emotions gradually slip from my hands. I squat to the floor to inspect the damages.
"Oh my God. I'm so sorry." Gideon comes down with me and helps me gather the items. I notice warily that he still drops a few cups of margarine in my basket.
"I don't need them! Why are you bothering me!" I slap the last cup from his hand and stand up.
"I remember calling you Margaret for a week back then just because of how you consume margarine. It was a miracle how you didn't get fat back then. I like the new look though" I hiss at the jibe and push past him without taking my basket. Gideon's footfalls behind me just annoys me more.
"Are you following me!" I snap at him. He looks around like I'm talking to someone other than him.
"Do I look like I'm playing around with you? You just ruined my food and now you're wasting my precious time." I jab at his solid chest. He looks a little guilty now.
"I'm sorry." His right hand cover my finger which is jabbing at his chest and I gasp at the feeling. Our eyes clash and he drops his hand. I blink back my surprise at his touch and focus a bored glare at him.
"Let me pay for your things." He starts to bring a wallet out and I notice the eggshell sticking to his elbow. A stiffled laugh is forced out of me. Gideon's head snaps up to face me. A frown etched on his face.
"Something funny?"
"You--" I giggle again and now his frown turns to a scowl.
"Me. Oh, I get it. You think I can't pay for the stupid eggs I broke? You're still a rich snub I see." He pulls a few thousand naira notes from his worn out wallet and pushes it into my hand before I can explain myself. He starts to storm past me but I grab his hot hand.
"Gideon stop I--" he snaps his hand from mine and level me with an angry look. I try in vain to stop the hand of fear squeezing my lungs. This isn't Francis. He won't hurt me. My breathing starts to come out in labored pants. I grab unto Gideon's forearm at the dizzying feeling that washes over me.
"Hey!" He holds my body up and I feel his hot hand on my clammy forehead.
"Arrgghhh." I groan at a shot of pain in my abdomen. The first thought that comes to mind is that I'm having a miscarriage. Mixed feelings fight inside me worsening my headache. I feel myself slumping again.
"Frances! Are you okay!" Gideon's panicked yelling filters into the fog of dizziness. I try to shake it off and pull my eyes open but they feel like lead. I feel myself being pulled into strong arms and carried as carefully as possible just before I lose consciousness.

****

Gideon:

"Frances? Hang in there okay?" I whisper to her writhing form as I pull both her eyelids open and study them with the tiny torch. Her pupils aren't dilating. I try to calm myself as I hook the IV to the stand beside her bed.
"You're going to be okay." I pat her hand, the huge diamond ring on her finger stabbing my palm as I try not to linger. She's a married woman I remind myself for the hundredth time since I saw her days ago. It's not an easy feat to see the woman who broke your heart without knowing and not want to linger on past feelings. Feelings which haven't changed but has been suppressed ever since you attended her marriage to a powerful man.
 Her face looks strained even in sleep and I resist touching her face. She's a married woman Gideon. Her hands on her stomach reminds me of why she'd come to my chemist that day. To get pregnancy test kits. My guess is she's pregnant. More reason to add to the never ending list of why I should forget her. She's married. She's too rich. She has a kid and is expecting another. She doesn't want you. That should top the list.
"Frances, I'm just going to grab the ultrasound machine and I'll be back okay?" I start to retrieve my hand from hers and begin to stand.
"No! Don't leave." She grabs my hand firmly without opening her eyes. I freeze half way. Is she awake?
"I need to check the condition of your baby just to rule out a few things." I whisper to her. I start to sit back down beside her on the bed when her eyes snap open, startling me a little. She looks around her, a bit disoriented then her eyes lands on my face.
"Gid--" she notices her grip on my hands and she drops them like they are burning hot. I try not to let the hurt show on my face.
"You're in the hospital. You lost consciousness and brought you to the hospital I work." I explain when she keeps looking at me weirdly.
"You are a doctor?" She sounds surprise. I nod.
"Are you feeling better? I still think I should get an ultrasound to check if everything is fine with the baby." I point to her stomach and her slow gaze follows my finger. Her eyes snaps up to mine just as quickly.
"Ola!" She snaps out of the bed on a scream.
"What are you doing?" She starts to peel the IV from her hand a little too roughly. The sight of her blood pushes me into action and I try to get her to lie back. She fights to get free.
"My son. I have to get him from his school." She continues struggling with me and for a woman who was just faint, she's strong.
"You are not strong enough. Lay back Francesca." I instruct. She looks tired and does as asked.
"If you'll just give me your husband's number so I can fill him in on your situation so he can pick your child up." I pull my phone out to get the number. Fear clouds her eyes at my suggestion.
"No!" Frances pulls up from the bed again, this time she's more determined to leave.
"Doctor, the patient in the other ward just gained consciousness." Nurse Tilda comes into the room to inform me and Frances uses this opportunity of my distraction to jump off the bed. I make a grab for her but she sidesteps me and hurries past the surprised nurse.
"I'll see him after I'm done here." I bark out to the nurse as I hurry after Frances who has already broken out into a run. She's out of the hospital before I can catch her but I corner her on the street when she stops to hail a cab down.
"Frances!" I grab her hand and pull her off the cab which just stopped for her.
"Sorry sir." I apologise as I push the door close with Frances outside it. The cab man throws us an insult before zooming off.
"What is your problem?!" Frances snaps at me. She's fuming mad. The angry tears staining her cheeks make my mouth dry out. I hang my head in confusion. Why is she crying now? Pregnancy hormones?
"I'm sorry." I find myself saying. I ache to comfort her but ball my hands into fists instead.
"I'm going to be late." She cries. Why doesn't she just call her husband to get the child? She's not supposed to be up.
"I'll take you." I say after a thought. She eyes me up and down.
"What?"
"To pick up your son. I'm off duties right now so yeah, let me drive you there. To at least make sure you're alright." She's still eyeing me. I roll my eyes at her.
"Yes, I have a car, Frances. Not a flashy one but it'll do." I point to my pigeout parked in the front of the hospital.
"That's your car?" I see her try to stiffle her laughter but I catch it anyways.

Read " Mirage " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I'm not even offended. The car is a wreck. It was my father's before he died.
"It did get you safely to the hospital if you must know." I grin crookedly.
"Awwwn. It saved my life then?" Frances teases and I nod seriously.
"You should kiss it's tyres and profess your loyalty for it's help y'know." I'm a bit taken aback by the boisterous laughter that comes out of her at my words.
"What?" She giggles out when I keep looking at her. I catch myself and smile instead of telling her how beautiful she looks right now with the happy tears at the corner of her eyes and her lips turned up in laughter.
"Let's go get your son. Or are you doubting your lifesaver?" I point to the car.
"I wouldn't dream of it." She grins and walks ahead of me to the car. I try not to watch her walk. I'm not a creep who likes married women, I swear. I shake off my thoughts and follow behind her to the car. I guess I'm picking up my first love's child. Ironic huh?