A Lady Never Tells

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Later on, Lillian stood in her room, staring at her reflection. She was wearing her bathrobe over her under clothes. Her long hair was down and was flowing down her back. Lillian then looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was peeking through the closed door. When she realized the coast was clear, Lillian shrugged her robe off and turned to her side.

Just by looking, she couldn’t see what she was looking for. Lillian placed her hands below her chest. Carefully and slowly, she moved her hands down her stomach. While she moved her hands down her stomach, she noticed that the space between her hands and back was slightly expanding.

There it is, she thought.

Lillian quickly put her bathrobe on and went to sit on her bed. She rested her head in her hands.

Pregnant? I can’t be pregnant! How long-? How can this happen? I’ve been trying for so long, why now?

More than a million thoughts ran through Lillian’s mind. She wondered how long she had this baby inside of her. Was it before Grandmother died? Was it after Joseph raped her? Was this child created when she and William made love?

Suddenly, there was a knock at her door. Lillian raised her head and wiped away the tears she hadn’t realized had shed.

“Come in,” Lillian said quietly.

The door opened and William walked in. “Hey Lily,” he exclaimed happily as he walked inside. But, once he saw her face, his smile dropped and quickly ran over to the bed. William knelt before her and grasped her hands in his. “What’s the matter? What happened?”

Lillian shook her head and sniffed. “I’m alright Willy,” she lied.

William stared into Lillian’s eyes for a bit more. “Alright, but if there is anything I can do to help, will you tell me?”

Lillian worked hard to place a smile on her face. “There’s nothing to worry about, but if anything changes, I will tell you.”

William stood up and placed a kissed on her lips quickly. “Thank you, Lily.” He kissed her again, but this time the kiss was more passionate.

The two continued kissing and before anyone knew it, the couple was lying on the bed. Still kissing, William placed his arm around Lily’s waist and started to slide her across the bed and closer to the pillows. Lillian seemed to understand what William was thinking and broke the kiss.

“Willy, I can’t. Not today,” she said hoarsely.

Disappointed, William sat up. “Sorry Lily.”

“No, no, no, Willy. It isn’t anything that you did, I promise.”

“What’s wrong, and do not lie to me Lillian. I know that something is bothering you, but you need to tell me.” William paused before he continued, “Is it Joseph? What’s going on?”

Lillian sighed and moved her body to sit up. “I’m just not feeling that well right now.”

William nodded. “Did you ever go to the doctor like I told you to? Whatever is making you sick may be getting worse.”

“I didn’t go to the doctor. I thought that it was going to go away on its own.”

“Lillian, you were feeling dizzy. Then you were raped by your damn ex-husband. What were you thinking?”

Lillian stood up quickly. “I don’t need you to lecture me right now, okay? I need you to be here for me right now. I need you to support me and love me and trust me. That is all I’m asking.

“Alright, I am sorry Lillian. But, think of it from my point of view. You weren’t feeling all that well after your grandmother passed. In addition, Joseph raped you while you were unconscious. Which, if I may add, is extremely sick of him. I need to know that he didn’t do anything that would hurt you in the long run.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you so much.”

“Will you please see a doctor?”

“Yes, I will. I’ll call in the afternoon for an appointment.”

This time Lillian meant what she said. She was going to find out about this baby.

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Lillian was sitting in the doctor’s office, waiting for her name to be called. When she had made that appointment, William had offered to accompany her. Lillian kindly declined his offer, knowing that she wanted to tell him about the baby herself.

“Ms. Clark? I’m ready for you now,” an older man called.

Lillian rose and walked into the doctor’s office. After she sat, she told the doctor everything. The doctor examined her and when he was done, he looked puzzled.

“What is it,” Lillian asked.

“Well, I believe that congratulations are in order, Ms. Clark. You are with child,” he responded.

“Then what is the problem?”

“You’ve told me that you have had trouble having children in the past. From what I have seen is a condition that prevents women from conceiving a child, much less carry the child full term. In addition, I see that you are already three months along. You may be able to carry this child full term.”

“Wait a second, I’m three months along?”

“Yes you are. I would also estimate that you would need to be seven months along before we can guarantee that you will be able to give birth to this baby.”

Lillian thought about what the doctor said. If she was three months along, that meant that she was pregnant with Joseph’s baby. He also said that there was still a chance that she could lose the baby due to a miscarriage.

“What can I do to prevent a miscarriage?”

“I would say that you definitely need to do activities with low impact. Try to avoid a lot of stress.”

The doctor continued to answer her questions about the unborn child that she was carrying. Eventually, the appointment came to an end and she left the doctor’s office.

The whole way home Lillian was thinking two things and two things only:

I’m pregnant with Joseph’s child. How am I going to tell William?