Kate Evans - A Selfless Love!

07

"What? What is that supposed to be?" frowning, I asked.

"It's a pregnancy complication," said Amelia Jones.

"Oh, okay! So, what does that have to do with me? You are definitely not here to ask me to recommend a doctor. I'm sure your husband can find the best doctors for you," I said slowly.

"No, I'm not here to ask you to recommend a doctor," said Amelia Jones. She continued when I nodded, "I have high blood pressure and my due date is in 2 weeks. 3 months ago, I've been told to abort the child or I might die during childbirth. As a mother, I can't abort my child just to save my own life. Since then, I've been trying various medications to lower my blood pressure. 5 days ago, my friend made me take some tests and told me that I've been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. The chances of miscarriage and my death during childbirth are high."

I felt bad for her situation and confused as to why she wanted to speak to me.

She continued, "During my delivery, doctors would ask Jacob to choose to save the child or me. I don't want him to choose. So, I have signed a consent form to save the child over me."

Though we're not related, hearing someone say that they will die in the next few days is uncomfortable. I'm not good at talking about death. I've faced enough with my parents' death and have been doing my best to keep myself on course and not let myself be influenced by my emotions.

I took a glass of water and drank before asking, "Why are you saying this to me?"

Amelia Jones took a deep breath and said, "I want you to marry Jacob."

That's it. The moment she said it, I stood up and banged the table hard with both my hands. The glasses on the table and its contents fell, but that was of no concern to me at the moment.

I shouted furiously, "What the hell? Have you gone insane? Marry your husband? You bloody want me to marry your husband?"

She hushed in hopes of trying to calm me, but that was not working. I would never take someone else's place, and I had made that very clear to her previously. What was she even thinking, asking me to marry her husband? She has really gone way overboard.

"Please calm down and let me finish what I have to say," she pleaded, and I sat down, still not calming down one bit. I had made up my mind to reject anything and everything she wants me to do.

She started speaking again once I sat, "I want you to take care of Jacob and my child in my absence."

"That is just another way of asking me to take your place," I retorted.

"Once I'm dead, it is no longer my place. Please, you're the only one who can help me," she pleaded.

"The only one? Are you kidding me? Why did you even think of me in the first place? What made you think that I'll agree to help you? What made you think that I'll marry your husband? What made you think that I'll agree to become your husband's second wife? What made you think that I'll take care of your child?" I retorted in contained anger.

"You love Jacob and I think you're still in love with him," said Amelia Jones.

"Seriously? That's it? If that's all you considered, then I'm sure you can find a lot of girls that match this criterion. And I'm pretty sure that most of them would love to marry your husband and be his second wife," I retorted and stood up to leave.

"That's not all I considered," said Amelia Jones instantly.

When I turned back to look at her, she said, "I know that many girls in his college are crazy over Jacob, but I'm sure none of them would take care of my child. They would look for ways to get rid of my child or harm him in other cruel ways. All these girls' heart is filled with jealousy and envy."

"And what makes you think I'll not harm your child?" I asked immediately.

She thought for a moment before saying, "I had asked Jacob about you on the day you visited us. From what he said, you seemed to be a good person. Independent, strong and morally righteous. The way you spoke that day, it showed how true you were to yourself as well as others. I don't think you'll ever harm a child, be it mine or anyone else's. You wouldn't ask for anything that's not yours, it shows how matured and responsible you are."

I shook my head, indicating that I'm not convinced. "Don't you have friends or relatives that you know and trust? You don't know about me and I don't know about you. So, why me?" I asked.

"I have friends and relatives who can visit my child occasionally, but I can't ask them to take care of my child as a mother. And I know everything about you from Jacob," said Amelia Jones.

I scoffed and said, "I understand that you want your child to have a mother, it's for your child's future. But what made you think I'll be a mother to your child? And for a fact, no one knows everything about me other than my family and my best friends. I have only 2 best friends and your husband is not one of them."

"Jacob had told me that you're compassionate to your college-mates. I believe you'll be a good mother to my child," said Amelia Jones.

I thought for a moment and then said, "When I can take care of your child like a nanny, why would I marry your husband?"

"No. Asking you to become a nanny of my child is disrespecting you. I want you to be respected for who you are. Moreover, I believe you will take care of Jacob when I'm dead," said Amelia Jones.

"Seems like you're sure that you will die. What if you don't die?" I ask.

"The chances are very low. If I don't die, then you won't have to help me," said Amelia Jones.

"So, am I a substitute for you?" I retorted.

"Please consider this. You're the only one who can take care of both of them," pleaded Amelia Jones.

I took a deep breath and said, "I still don't know why I should marry your husband and take care of your child. Just because you asked me? If I do it just because you asked me, aren't I naïve? What about me and my life? Am I not sacrificing a little too much just to help you? Your demands are way overboard, not just for me but for anyone. Asking to marry your husband and become a mother to your child is demanding too much for any woman."

Amelia Jones was almost in tears when I finished speaking. It's time for her to stop thinking only about her husband and their unborn child and think about the other woman she wants to force into helping her.

"If that's all you wanted to talk to me about, I shall leave now. I've heard enough of what you had to say, and honestly, I think this demand of yours is just too ridiculous. I'm sorry if that hurts you in any way, but you need to stop being single-minded. I have my own life to handle and my own business to take care of, which is no less than handling a child. There are things I must do in my life, and I am not a sacrificial pawn that you can use. If you still insist on your demand, find someone who'll oblige as you say," I said standing up and then left the cafe, without turning to look back at her.