THE NARCOLEPTIC GENIUS

CHAPTER 24

They hadn't yet gone home and Marybeth was sitting on the staircase outside the court. Mrs Williams sat next to her. They sat there in awkward silence until Marybeth said, "I'm ready to talk. Who is Detective Ronalds? How is it that she's my mother and why haven't I ever known this? " "I think it'll be best if you hear it from her, " Mrs Williams said. Marybeth looked at her. "Go, and ask. She's under police custody. She's locked up but they haven't taken her to jail yet, " Mrs Williams said.

Megan was sitting behind bars looking at the floor when she heard a voice say, "I'm pregnant. " Megan looked up and saw Marybeth. She stood up and went closer. "Is that what happened to you? Did you get pregnant at an early age? You couldn't take care of me so you left me with the first family you saw fit? " Marybeth asked. "No, " Megan said. "Then? What happened? " Marybeth asked.

Megan breathed and said, "Your mom and I have been best friends from high school. As fate would have it, we even went to the same university. We had different views about love. I didn't believe in it. I didn't believe in marriage coz well, my family never turned out well. So I had no interest. I was the type to just have my pleasure and leave. My heart was locked. I didn't fall for anyone.

Your mother on the other hand was a sucker for love. She believed she would find Mr right and she did. She found your father and honestly, I was happy for her. Shortly after university, he proposed to her and they got married. Everything was going great except that they couldn't have kids. After medical consultation, Olivia was found barren. It was impossible to have a child but they really wanted one. So they opted for a surrogate. Being her closest friend, Olivia suggested I be the surrogate. They both knew me and knew all my medical background and trusted me so I was their first option. I was hesitant about it but I soon agreed and the assimilation was done.

Since I was the surrogate, they had to take care of me, and so, I moved in and boy were they good to me. Both of them were but I started developing feelings for Philip. I knew he wasn't mine to take but he's the only man I felt loved by and soon I wanted what Olivia had. Of course Olivia noticed but she brushed it off and blamed it on my pregnancy. But soon, she realised it was more than pregnancy. And the fact that Philip was so nice to me because of you, didn't help.

They started arguing frequently and deep down, it made me smile because I pictured their relationship breaking and him falling me. Olivia even suggested I move out but he insisted I stay so that you would be safe. But I mistook his love for you as love for me and I went to far.

So one day, when they had argued so much that Olivia decided she needed to breath and left the house, I tried to seduce Philip. I did what Cameron did to you. I drugged him and lured him to bed with me but he was so drowsy he didn't even touch him and I was not strong enough to initiate anything. So I just lay on his chest and cherished that moment.

We woke up to Olivia screaming. When Philip was alert and aware of what was happening, he pulled away from me and stood in disbelief. I tried to manipulate the situation but he rebuked me and told me to my face that he didn't love me. He only cared about the child I was carrying. He made it clear to me that I was nothing but a surrogate and he wasn't lying because at this point, I also lost my best friend.

It took some time but I realised I was wrong and decided to come clean. I told Olivia that nothing happened between us and that my foolishness shouldn't ruin their relationship. She believed me but I knew forgiving me was another story so I promised her after I gave birth to you, she would never see me again. I only asked her for one thing, that she shouldn't hate you because of me. And looking at how she's raised you, for her, you were more than a promise. You were a gift. You were her child.

I didn't mean to come back here but Philip told me what happened and I thought I had to do my part. I came to pay my dues. And I tried hard to prove Cameron guilty. I even found the last piece of evidence but I was too late. The verdict was announced and I found all that commotion. I saw you pick up that gun and I read your mind. So, I did it for you. I pulled the trigger. "

Marybeth looked down and was silent for a while until she said, "I'm actually pregnant. " Megan looked at her and saw the devastation in her eyes. "He raped me and I fell pregnant. I thought I saw my period but it was just spotting and I recently realised I'm pregnant. When I saw him leave, I just wanted justice for my baby. But now that he's dead, I'm still lost. I don't know what to do, " Marybeth said. "Keep it and love it. It may have been a product of a dirty act but it's your child. A child is always nature's gift to a woman no matter the circumstance. Your mom will be there for you. And your dad, " Megan said.

"Thanks mom, " Marybeth said. Megan's eyes lit up as she said, "You just called me mom. " "Well aren't you? I have to moms now and I like the sound of that. One of them is caring and gives me all the emotional support and the other is ready to kill for me. What more could I ask for? " Marybeth said. Then they hugged through the bars.

"So, do I also have a second dad? Maybe even siblings? " Marybeth asked. "No, after what I did, I hated myself for being the cause of something I hated the most. I almost broke my best friend's marriage. I feel I don't deserve to be loved, " Megan said. "You deserve all the love, " Marybeth said. "Well, as long as you don't hate me, I'm fine, " Megan said.

Marybeth walked out of the the station and found her dad waiting for her. "Your mom told me you were here, " he said. "Where is she? " Marybeth asked. "She went home early. She told me to wait for you, " he said. "Oh, then let's go home, " she said. "You okay? " He asked. "I will be, " she said. He hugged her and they left.

As soon as Marybeth was home, she went and looked for her mother. She saw found her in the kitchen and hugged her from behind. "Whoa! What's the special occasion? " Mrs Williams asked. "Nothing, I just wanted to say I love you, " Marybeth said. Tears rolled down Mrs Williams eyes.