Disastrous (Disastrous Series) (25 page)

First thing Monday morning, Marcus contacted Dr. Lee’s office, and after intense negotiations, we were scheduled for that evening. I truly thought Marcus wouldn’t be able to get us in as Dr. Lee was booked until next year! Then again this was Marcus DeLuca; he could be very persuasive and persistent when he wanted his way. Since we had the entire morning and half of the afternoon free, Marcus wanted to take me out for a day in town. He didn’t leave my side, holding my hand, hugging me tight, and kissing me every chance he could. Although this was his regular routine, somehow today it seemed different.

He made sure I ate well and consumed plenty of water throughout the day. When his phone rang, he ignored it. He gave me one-hundred-ten percent of his attention. At one point when we entered a store and I wandered off to a look at some clothing, he shouted my name around the aisles frantically. When he found me, he embraced me with a tight hug and kiss. It was as if he thought that I was going to run away the moment we were apart. I assured him I wasn’t going anywhere. He would just nod and slightly smile, but his eyes were filled with uncertainty.

When we finally entered Dr. Lee’s office, I was in awe. The office was contemporary with high-end furniture and equipment. The entire building was extremely shiny and clean; I felt like I needed to take a sanitary shower before entering the building. Because of that, I added two points to my very own mental review. The super friendly staff and nurses made us feel welcome and comfortable, so I added another star. After meeting with Dr. Lee, I gave him a rank of five stars. I will never judge a male doctor again…he was gentle and made me feel comfortable throughout the entire process.

Peanut is the nickname we’d decided to give our little one. At six-weeks that’s exactly what the image on the small black-and-white screen appeared as, a tiny peanut. Marcus couldn’t wipe the grin off his face as we walked out of the doctor’s office side by side with my arm wrapped around his waist and his one arm slung over my shoulder, holding the small picture of our peanut.

“I can’t believe this little thing is our baby.” He said still mesmerized by the photo.

Laughing at him, I grabbed the picture so I could have a better look. “I know, right … our baby is already adorable.”

He pressed his lips on top of my head and kissed me. “If our child looks anything like his mother, then yeah, he’ll be one gorgeous baby.”

I could actually imagine an adorable little boy or girl with Marcus’ smile and dimple and my green eyes. Sighing with contentment, we stepped into the car.

“So where do you want to go now?” he asked, turning on the ignition.

I shifted my body to face him. “Marcus, I’m really tired right now. Do you think you could take me home?”

Caressing his thumb along my cheeks, he gently smiled. “Of course, baby. Elle will be happy to hear the news.”

“Uh Marc, ah, I don’t want to say anything to anyone until the second trimester. You heard what the doctor said, “There’s a possibility of complications.” I just don’t want to get anyone excited and then…” When I didn’t finish my sentence, he seemed to understand.

Nodding in agreement, “Sure, let’s go home.”

“Um, Marcus?” He turned to face me. I didn’t know how to say this without hurting his feelings. “I would like to go home, to
my
apartment. It’s not that I don’t like being at your place; I just haven’t been home in over a week, and I would just like to go
home
.”

Nodding in agreement, he turned on the ignition. “Okay, we’ll go to your apartment tonight. Not a problem.” What I really wanted was to be home alone. I needed
me
time, and I was exhausted, but I decided to just let him come with me. After the previous night’s fiasco, I’m sure he didn’t want to leave my sight.

The ride home was in silence. I looked out the window, thinking how so much had changed within the last two and a half months. Who would have known that night at Club21 when I met Marcus that I would be sitting here right now with him, holding his hand, twirling his fingers with mine, discussing baby names for our first born? How will it work with us living-arrangements-wise? Will he move in with me? Will I move in with him? Will we stay as is in separate households?

The thought of home brought me to Jeremy. I hadn’t spoken to him all week. We’d seen each other at work, but it wasn’t the same. There was so much we needed to discuss. I know I told Marcus I didn’t want anyone to know just yet, but maybe I could tell Jeremy. I wondered how he would react.

When Marcus finally found parking, my initial reaction was to look around to see if I found the black SUV. It was nowhere to be found. I wasn’t sure why I felt uneasy about the stupid car. It could be a new neighbor’s vehicle for all I knew.

Marcus made his way to my side of the car and opened the passenger door. Looking up at him, I witnessed the biggest smile on his face, and it was contagious. He was so happy. I giggled at his amusement. He gave me his hand, and I took it. Yanking my hand, he pulled me into him and kissed my forehead. “Marry me,” he said casually.

“What?” I looked at him baffled.

Chuckling, he tightened his arms around my waist. His face grew serious. “I know it’s not the ideal proposal, but I love you, Mia. I can’t see myself with anyone else; you’re my life. Now that you’re carrying a small piece of me, I want you to be in my life forever. Be my wife. Please say yes. Marry me.”

“No.” His head cocked back with widened eyes and his lips parted, trying to come up with some response to my unexpected answer. I bit down on my lip to keep from laughing.

“No? Why?”

“That was a half-assed proposal, Marcus! I will not say ‘yes’ unless it’s better prepared. You’re lucky I’m giving you a second chance at this; most men aren’t so lucky.” I arched my eyebrow playfully.

His face relaxed, pressing his forehead against mine, he laughed once. I looked into his wrinkled, joyous eyes. “You’re killing me, Mia … but I love you so much.”

We kissed again and walked towards my building. Jeremy’s car was nowhere in sight, so I guessed he was at Stacy’s again. I hadn’t been home all week, so I wondered if he even took the trash out. If not, I wondered if my pregnant hormones could handle the scent of trash juice.

We entered the building and walked up the stairs. Marcus was playfully slapping my behind with each step. I giggled and smacked his arm away. It just inspired him to torture me some more, so he began to tickle the side of my ribs.

Trying to get away, I began to run up the stairs giggling. When I turned the corner of the second floor, I rushed over to my door. He was chasing me. Adrenaline pumping from our childish chase, I tried to hurry and search for my keys before he got close.

“Mia?” Startled to hear my name by an unfamiliar voice, I turned towards the direction from where it came.

A few feet from my door a woman was seated on the floor, leaning against the wall. She slowly lifted herself up. I tilted my head to study her, wondering if I recognized her. She knew my name, but she didn’t look familiar.

She had dark circles under her eyes and wavy untamed golden brown hair. She was well dressed in fitted jeans, flats, and a white blouse. After adjusting the strap of her purse on her shoulder, she fidgeted with her fingers. Looking down at her hands for a few moments, she finally looked up at me, but didn’t move any closer. At this point, Marcus was beside me. He must have sensed my distraction or uneasiness because his hand was pressed firmly against my lower back.

“Yes?” I asked.

Inhaling a deep breath, she took a step forward, still keeping her distance. “Are you Mia Sullivan?”

“Yes, how may I help you?” It occurred to me that she was probably seeking information for any vacant apartments.

Slowly she made her way over to me, playing with her fingers the entire time. When we were only a few feet away her eyes met mine, and she gasped. Lifting her hand to her mouth, her eyes began to water. “Oh my God, you’re beautiful.” She choked as tears dripped down her face.

Alarmed by her reaction, I turned to look at Marcus. Apparently he turned his head at the same time…we both stared at each other with the same awkward expression. I gave him a questioning look, wondering if he knew who she was or what she wanted, but he lightly shrugged in response.

Fixing my gaze back at her, I asked, “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

Closing her fingers into a tight fist against her lips, she lightly shook her head. She tightened her eyes closed then opened them again. They were the biggest, most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen. The color was very similar to mine: a hue of emerald green. “I’m Sara Sullivan … I’m your mother.”

Taking in what she just said, my mind began to fog, everything closed in, my heart dropped, and my head felt light. Then her face turned into a blurry vision, and before I could speak, everything went black.

“Maybe you should go …” Marcus’ voice was distant and faded.

“I know … I just wanted to make sure she’s okay,” a woman’s voice responded.
Shit
! It wasn’t a dream. Flashing my eyes open, I looked around frantically. Marcus was instantly at my side, dabbing a warm damp cloth around my forehead and face.

“Baby, how you feeling? You fainted.”

Jerking up I looked around, and after a second glance around the room, I spotted her. She was sitting on the edge of the couch across from me. Pulling my legs off the couch, I scooted to the edge to get a better look at her. She was biting her thumb nail, her eyebrows were pulled in, and her knee was bouncing nervously. Cocking my head to the side, I examined her features: perfectly arched eyebrows, long, golden brown, wavy hair, heart-shaped face, small, round, button nose, and long lashes which accentuated her stunning green eyes.

Gasping for air, I raised my hand to my mouth in disbelief. I was unable to control my emotions; tears streamed down my face. I was the
spitting
image of her. All my life, I wondered who I looked like. My father had light brown eyes and sandy brown hair; my brother took after his features. In pictures we were a family, but it looked as if I didn’t belong. I’d never seen pictures of my mother. My father never described her to me or even mentioned her. All I knew was that she was the woman that ran out on our family.

“W-what are you …?” Unable to speak, I cleared my throat; it felt hoarse and raspy. “What are you doing here?” I asked with my fingers still spread along my lips.

Her legs stopped shaking. Lowering her head, she placed her hands to her lap, fidgeting with a gold ring around her index finger. After several seconds, her head slightly lifted, meeting my gaze. Biting down on her lip, tears began to swell her eyes. “I’ve been trying to find you for a couple months now … I wanted to see you, talk to you. I understand if you want nothing to do with me. I just want to explain everything to you, but if you don’t want to talk with me, that will be fine—well not fine, but I’d understand.” She had a high-pitched tone to her voice. She stood from her chair, and she grabbed the purse lying beside her seat.

“No, um, just give me a minute.” Not exactly sure what I was doing, it was the first thing that blurted out of my mouth. Nodding she sat back down. I quickly stood and rushed to the bathroom.

Once behind the closed door, I leaned against it. I exhaled deeply, staring at the ceiling trying to find answers. What does she want? Why is she even here? Oh God! I let out another deep breath. I managed to move my shaky legs to the sink. I rinsed my face a few times, and the cool water helped soothe my heated skin.

I looked in the mirror, not able to stop staring at my features. The reflection I saw was a younger version of the woman sitting on my couch, proclaiming to be my mother.

A soft knock on the door startled me, but I didn’t turn to see who it was. I could smell Marcus’ scent. His light footsteps made their way to me, and then I felt his strong, warm hand against the middle of my back.

“Mia, you don’t have to do this right now.” His voice screamed with concern.

Turning to face him, I buried my face into his chest. His strong arms wrapped around me, and I felt safe. “Marcus, what am I supposed to do? She’s here. She found me. I don’t know anything about that woman. What am I supposed to say to her?”

Marcus sank down to meet me at eye level. Cupping my face, he lightly turned my head, demanding that I look at him. Through my lashes, I managed to view him past my blurry tears. “You do not have to speak with her … if you want me to, I can ask her to leave a number, and you can contact her when
you’re
ready … is that something you want to do?”

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. It felt overwhelming. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be standing before my mother: a woman who decided to leave her newborn daughter, ten-year-old son, and loving husband behind for reasons I never knew. I never asked questions growing up, well, maybe once. But after getting the runaround from my brother and father, I knew not to ask again.

I’d never felt anger towards her, yet at that moment I felt enraged. After twenty-four years she walks into my life now? After everything I’d been through, when I needed her the most, she wasn’t there, and now she stumbles in front of my door wanting to talk. Suddenly, I wanted answers, I wanted to know where she’d been, what she’d done with her life, the reason for leaving and
most
importantly, the reason she was back.

Sucking
m
y bottom lip, I inhaled, and I placed my hands on top of Marcus’. Gently I gave him the best “it’s okay” smile I could. Wiping my face to hide the evidence of my tears, I strolled out of the bathroom with my chin up, and my shoulders relaxed. Well at least I hoped they seemed relaxed. Marcus, of course, hurried behind me. When I entered the living room, she must’ve sensed my presence. She jumped to her feet with her purse clenched to her side and chewed her thumbnail nervously.

“Would you like some tea, water?” I asked in the best casual way I could.

Dropping her hand to her side, she masked a tiny smile. “Tea, please.” Following me into the kitchen, Marcus set her at the table and arranged two chairs side by side to sit across from her. Taking my time, I thought of a million ways to start our conversation. The room was silent: the only noise was the steam emanating from the teapot.