HARD WORK

HARD WORK _13

ROXANNE & AALAM...

Roxy got home to find her bags on her front porch. She tried to get in the house but the locks were changed. She knocked and called out for Aalam who she had been trying to get hold of the whole day but he did not answer. She called her mother in-law but she also said she did not know where he was. She dragged her bags and drove away in tears.

That was three weeks ago and she still had not seen or spoken to her husband and daugther . He was still not taking her calls and his mother was no help. She was currently in her studio working,Roxy was a shoe designer and owned a shoe shop plus the gallery.

'I see you're hard at work.'

She smiled when she saw Trevor walk in but her smile did not reach her eyes. He knew how much Roxy was hurting.

' Hey Trev , I'll be with you in a minute let me just go put these at the back.'

She carried two white sheet covered canvases to their storage. Roxy's partner and friend walked in as he looked at the art and shoes in the shop.

'I hope you'll be spending your lawyer money in our shop today.'

'Hi Sunny,sorry I came to spend my lawyer money on your friend today. We are going out for dinner.'

'That's sweet of you,she really needs cheering up. With Aalam angry at her and the burden of this d-'

Sunshine was cut off by the sound of a loud thump from the back.

'We found her in the studio basement laying in the floor and unconscious.'

Sunshine spoke to the doctor in tears as Trevor held her.

'Well we are going to run some tests and hopefully we will know what's wrong. I will let you know my findings as soon as I can. In the meantime you can go see her,she's up.'

Trevor and Sunshine walked into Roxy's hospital room. They sat and chatted with her for a while before the doctor came back and they excused themselves promising to come see her the next day. After the doctor left Roxy slept but was woken up by her daughter and her husband and in-laws.

'Mommy I missed you.'

'I missed you too my baby.'

'Why did you not come to grandma's place with daddy and I?'

Roxy knew that her mother in law was not being honest with her. How could she take her son's side without asking her. She looked at her for a brief moment before smiling back at her daughter.

'Mommy had to work. I'm sorry.'

Her in-laws went out with her daughter giving her and her husband privacy. He sat unbothered

' So where is your boyfriend?!'

'Trevor is not my boyfriend.'

'Well that's not what I heard or saw.'

'You heard wrong and I really wonder how much you really know me. If you can just believe that I would cheat on you after so many years and all we've been through'

'How can I not when you've been behaving strangely lately.'

' I HAVE CANCER AND I AM PREGNANT! THE DOCTOR thinks it would be better if I aborted because they will not survive! That's the reason for my strange behaviour.'

She shouted unable to hold back the tears,Aalam stood frozen not sure what to say or do. He later got into bed with her and laid her on his chest as she cried. He cried silently for the fear of losing her.

' I'm so sorry babe. So sorry.'