WORK IN PROGRESS The Parent Contract

Revelations 1 posted

"Excuse me Ma'am." Amy sidled up to me.  I sighed and put down my book, to give her a smile.
"Amy, since when am I Ma'am?"
"Sorry Toni, just letting you know Drake is here. He'd like a word."
"Drake? Really at this time? He's early,  I wasn't expecting him until we have to go to the gala." I sat up and looked towards the house.  Through the glass doors, I saw movements.  One was distinctly my husband, the other I wasn't too sure of. My heartrate quickened. 
"Wow,  can you help me please? The chair is over there." I pointed to my wheel chair.  The long covid was still affecting me,  even though it had been over a year since I contracted the condition, and I was saving my energy for tonight.  Amy helped me shift over from the day bed to the wheelchair, and helped me wheel into the house.

Drake looked tense, but then he always looked that way now.  Tense and worried.  I guess that's the result of working so many hours.  At first I thought he might be avoiding me since my return from hospital.  6 weeks of assisted breathing, then 6 months of learning my limitations, and now I was learning to manage my energy levels.  I was slowly getting there,  but slowly wasn't really in Drake's vocabulary,  and money could help me with the best medical advice. So I rationalized his work ethic to be another form of love.
"You're early home!" I exclaimed as I came through the door. His eyes searched mine,  and finally his smile beamed on his face. 
"Toni," his voice melted me.  He hasn't said my name like that since before I got sick. I waved Amy away and took control of my own wheels, to zoom up to him. He crouched down and kissed me, then stroked my chin.
"How are you feeling?"
"Good today,  I'm just saving my energy for tonight."
"Yes, the gala,  do you think you'll be fine?"
Drake's family business was a major sponsor for the hospital gala, so his appearance was a must. If you are reading this on any other platform, please be aware it is totally free on Wattpad, where it is published as chairs are written.  Please download and use Wattpad for further chapters. I'd been working on my energy levels to ensure that I'd be able to go with him. And I knew I'd be totally wrecked for the next few days,  but it would be worth it to feel human for a night.
"As long as you're there to help me stay upright, I'll be fine." I smiled.
His eyes stayed soft as he kissed my nose.
"Perfect." He sighed, "I've got some great news to tell you. And I wanted to tell you myself. But it involves a confession."
"Oh?" I put the brakes down on the chair so it wouldn't roll.
He stroked my cheek.
"I'm guessing you've noticed I haven't been around that much. Well, I'm going to be home a lot more from now on. You see,  we're going to have a baby."
What? My mind glitched. Wasn't this normally done the other way,  girl tells boy? Shouldn't the female know first?
"Pardon?" I stammered.
"We're going to have a baby." He repeated confidently.
I looked at him sceptically, and he laughed.
"Oh not you, Peta is having the baby." He gestured to the couch where his PA was sitting.
"She's been a great help to me while you've been incapacitated, and well, one thing led to another."

I looked at her,  and then him.
"Oh, don't look like that, Toni,  it'll be OK.  I'm not leaving you.  We're married, and I'll always love you.  Peta's just... having our baby. It'll be fine." He tried to soothe me.
Unfortunately, my Alarms were going off, literally. 

Amy rushed to my side and shut off the beeping on the watch.
"Mrs Lonsdale, look at me! Slow your breathing, deep breaths."
I looked at her,  her eyes were welling and her jaw was tight.  I was shaking, trembling. I watched her breathing and copied her until my tremors subsided,  but I didn't let go of her hand.
"How long?" I whispered, turning to Drake as he stood near the window where he'd moved to.  Peta had gotten up to stand with him.  I could see a little bulge in her dress.
"Three months,  so our baby will be here in six more months."

I shook my head,
"That's not what I meant.  How long have you been cheating on me?" I clarified. 
"It's not cheating, it was just..." Drake ran the few steps forward to kneel at my chair again. I shook my head.
"If there's been a pregnancy resulting from Peta's 'help', then it's cheating."
Drake grabbed my face and turned it to him gently.
"It doesn't matter how it happened, Toni.  I love you and you're my wife. Peta's just carrying the baby for us,  although we'll probably have to let her have some part in the Babies life."
I saw the flash of anger speed across Peta's face and disappear.
"What does that mean?" I asked.

Drake dropped his hands and pulled over a footstool to sit on.
"Well,  to make things as easy as possible,  she'll move in of course.  So the baby will have all their family in the one house,  Peta, you, and me." He spoke as if he was discussing a new marketing direction, completely ignoring my question.  Just rushing ahead with his plans.
"You of course will be their mother setting as well get the adoption papers drawn up, and Peta will manage with whatever is left."
He waved vaguely in the air as he talked.
"Is this what you want, Peta?" I asked the silent woman. She pulled a face.
"This sounds like the best solution at this point in time." She said stepping back to the spot on the couch.
"We'll draw up a contract and get it all formalised if you want, sweetheart. But isn't this great? We're going to be parents!" Drake was becoming excited again.

"Can you explain to me how I'm a parent?" I asked him.  He huffed.
"You're my wife, Toni. You'll be their legal mother."
I nodded carefully.  My head felt like it was going to fall off if I moved it any faster.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. The stylists have arrived." Amy interrupted.
"Thankyou Amy." I threw her a quick smile, but her interruption raised anther question. "Drake, am I still going with you tonight?"
"Yes,  why wouldn't you?"
"I don't know,  I'm just a little overwhelmed." I told him. I took the brake off and nodded to Amy.
"Amy,  can you take me to the dressing room?"
Amy quickly took the handles and pushed me away.

"I've got you, Toni. I've got you." She whispered as we entered the lift. 
"Thankyou,  Amy. I have a feeling I'll need you so much more."
"First things first," Amy spun me around in the glass tube to face my husband and his baby Momma as we started to rise. "No tears,  they don't deserve it. You're a strong woman, Toni.  Your body may be letting you down,  but your  core spirit is a warrior and we won't let them beat you down."
I drew in a deep breath.
"I think I need to contact a lawyer. Amy. Do you think you could organise that? For tomorrow.  I need... I need to know where I stand in all of this... I need to find a way to get out. I can't stay."

"Do you want me to organise a hotel for you to stay in tonight?"

I paused as the doors opened on the first floor.
"No," I shook my head, "I need to be home.  Even if he is here, you're all my sanctuary. All my people are here." I flicked the brakes off and powered through to the dressing room under my own steam.  The encounter had taken a big chunk out of my energy reserves,  but I could meditate and see if I could get another boost while my hair and makeup was being done.