Seasons of Fate (18 page)

  
‘Well fuck me, it’s about time man, what took you? I thought she would never come out of her room again. And the crying, I can’t take it anymore.’

Mason
’s face darkened at Johns words

  
‘Babe, how long have you been locking yourself away, crying?’

  
‘Its fine really’ then I added to myself ‘I didn’t realise anybody heard me.’

  
‘I’m sorry hun, but we heard you crying and I know you’re having nightmares again.’ I cringed before loosing my temper

  
‘Mind your own business, I don’t listen to you guys.’

  
‘We’re just worried about you, that’s all. It’s great to see you man, welcome to Wales.’ with those words John disappeared, with Lys following behind him.

  
‘Well that went great, it would seem we have a lot to talk about. I think we should hold off telling your friends our news until we’ve told Lily anyway.’

  
‘Yeah, speaking of, want to come to school and surprise her?’

  
‘Oh god yeah.’

With that I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the front door. We drove to the school in silence. My embarrassment had gotten the best of me and I had taken it out on my friends.

   ‘I’m sorry about earlier, I just wasn’t sure what was wrong with me, I didn’t want everybody worrying.’

  
‘Babe, I love you. I was worried about you and not being right next to you sucked. I can see why you thought things were changing but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I have been busy with work, so it’s partly my fault but I was trying to get things done so I could come here. I should have told you, you may have felt a bit happier talking to me.’

  
‘No it’s my issue. When I was pregnant with Lily, I was sick from the start, plus I skipped my periods so I kind of knew, this time is so different. I have just been so tired, no sickness at all, although my emotions have been ridiculous. That should have told me I guess.’

  
‘Well who cares, your healthy, and now we know everything is for a reason. I can’t wait to tell Lily. I’m gonna hold off telling my family until we’ve had some time to enjoy this.’

  
‘Ok, it’s your decision, oh here we are. Let’s go wait by the gates.’

We walked toward the gates and Mase pulled me to his side, it was warm and loving. When I looked up I noticed the stares from the other mothers, some were smiling others looked like they wanted to kill me. Curiosity and all that, well I wondered how long it would be before they realised who was stood beside me. I moved forward so I could reach Lily before she noticed Mase.

   ‘I’m just gonna get her attention before she see’s you.’ he gave me a smile and I stood waiting. Lily ran toward me as soon as she was out the door

  
‘Mummy, I had fun today, I read, and painted, and played games with my friends.’

  
‘That’s great baby, before we leave I have a surprise for you.’

  
‘Ohhhhh what?’

  
‘Well take a look behind me.’

Her face was flushed with excitement and then her eyes popped before she screamed
‘Mase’ she sprinted toward him, gaining a lot of looks from everyone in the playground. He opened his arms for her and she jumped right into them.

  
‘Princess, I missed you, so much. Let me take a look. Wow you’ve grown.’

  
‘I’m really happy to see you, I missed you too. Did you come for my birthday?

  
‘Well I wasn’t going to miss it but I’m staying for a while so you can tell me about everything you’ve been doing.’

  
‘Mummy, he’s staying, yeah.’ Their reunion was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes, but I still couldn’t help but notice the stares.

  
‘Come on lets go home.’ We walked back to the car and drove home, I listened to their conversation all the way. The excitement in Lily’s voice was amazing, she really loved him, and his focus was purely on her, just like a dad should be.

We arrived back not long after and Lily ran into the house straight to her room. I used the time to show Mase around the house and get him settled in our room. We decided to tell Lily about the baby before dinner so I called her to our room and we all sat down on the bed. I had no idea how to start so Mason went first.

   ‘Princess, you know that we promised to be together soon, and I gave your mom a ring which tells everybody that she’s gonna marry me.’ She nodded at him but didn’t say anything ‘Well I had to stay back home to make sure I got all my work taken care of so I could come here and be with you both.’

  
‘I know. Mummy’s been sad without you, but you’re here now so that’s good.’

  
‘Thanks sweetheart. We have something to tell you and hopefully you’ll be happy about it, ummm well…. Babe you want to take over?’

  
‘Ok,’ I giggled but said ‘well baby, you know that Mason loves you, and we intend to be together, as a family’ She nodded with a hint of a smile ‘well ummm… mummy’s…. going to have a baby,’ I let it sink in before saying ‘how do you feel about that?’

  
‘Does that mean I’m having a brother or sister?’

  
‘Yeah baby, in about six months, the baby’s going to be born after Christmas. Are you happy?’

  
‘Yes, I always wanted a baby.’ I laughed and sighed with relief. ‘Mase, are you living here with us now?’

  
‘Well yes, as long as everybody’s happy with that.’ He looked at me.

  
‘Babe, do you even need to ask. We bought this house for a reason, this is our room. The second wardrobe is empty, ready for your things. I’ve left space on the shelves in the bathroom for you. This is our house.’ With a smile he leaned over and kissed me.

  
‘Yeah, I can’t wait to tell Uncle John and Auntie Lys, let’s go.’

  
‘No, baby’ but before I could stop her she was running down the stairs toward the kitchen where my friends were busy cooking

  
‘Uncle John, Auntie Lys… we’re having a baby, yeah….’

  
‘Oh My God, that’s not how I wanted them to find out.’

I walked down after her, with Mase on my heels. When I got to the kitchen my friends mouths were gaping with surprise, I didn
’t say anything just let them deal with our news.  

  
‘I’m sorry, that’s not how I wanted to tell you guys, but surprise.’ With that Lys flew toward us and hugged us both, with tears in her eyes, before saying

  
‘I’m so happy for you guys. No wonder you’ve been weird lately. I should have known.’ John walked over and said

  
‘Well hun, I’m gob smacked and speechless but very happy for you both. Congratulations.’

My friend
’s wishes were amazing. I was so happy, it was hard to believe but things finally seemed to fall into place, or so it seemed. Things were about to change again.

Chapter 16

Summer

   After our celebration, things went back into a normal routine, well as normal as possible. Mase fell into step with the rest of us, while he was maintaining his businesses back in the States. His relationship with his parents was still strained and they had no idea where he was, just that he was safe. Mase even started to take Lily to school, just like a normal family, but that was the problem, we weren’t. People at the school had started asking questions, about us, Mason.

I had no allies, so was taken completely by surprise when I walked out of the supermarket and came face to face with photographers, the flashes were blinding and unlike the last time it had happened, I was alone. They asked question, after question. I was surrounded by strangers with no help, I began to shake, my concern for my unborn child jumped to the forefront of my mind. It wasn
’t until the police were called by somebody walking by that I was pulled to safety. It wasn’t long after that Mase walked into the local police station. He looked frantic and stressed.

  
‘Baby, are you ok?

  
‘I’m fine, really I was just shocked. I was worried about, well you know,’ rubbing my belly to show him my concern was just for our baby.

  
‘But your ok? Both of you?’ He whispered to me.

  
‘Yes baby we’re good. Are you ok?’

  
‘Yeah angel I’m fine. I was worried about you, it’s all over the news. They have pictures of me at the school, with Lily, pictures of you. I’m sorry baby. It would seem that our secret is out. I mean us, not our other secret. That’s something we can keep to ourselves for the meantime.’

  
‘That sounds like a good idea, but in the meantime, what are we going to say to everyone else?’

  
‘Well I was thinking of telling them the truth, but our way. I spoke with my people and I asked them to set up an interview, which will go international. We’ll be telling everybody our story but making sure we keep what we want to ourselves, like your past, the baby, what do you think?’

  
‘Ok, if that’s what you want to do then I’m good with it, but don’t you think you should warn your family, my friends?’

  
‘I’ve already spoken with John and Lyssa, their watching Lily for us. Clive is dealing with my family back home.’

  
‘Clive?’

  
‘Yea, he’s been working for me for a while, just doing bits and bobs. This is just one of them.’

  
‘Ok…so what do we do now?’

  
‘Well I’ve arranged for us to be picked up shortly and we’ll be taken directly to the local studio so we can get ready. It’s going to be a circus when we leave so you need to stick close to me. Its about us playing them a bit, I mean The news channel thinks it’s been given this opportunity which will benefit them, but in fact is should benefit us. It’s an exclusive, a bit of a coo I suppose. How do you feel?’

  
‘I don’t know. I never expected this, all the animosity with your family, this just seems like it may piss them off even more, and when they find out about the baby, well it’s just going to get worse. They’ll think I trapped you. Probably for your money, or god knows what else…. Oh God, I feel sick.’

  
‘Babe, I don’t care. It’s about time we set the record straight. Everything, from the moment we met, until now. Obviously not the baby, that’s just for us, but everything else. I’m not afraid, why are you?’

  
‘Its not that, I’m not afraid of being with you but I dread what people think of me, I mean look at your family. They hate me, I can’t stand being the reason you’re not speaking with them and now they’ll think I got pregnant on purpose. I think….I think you should let me sign something, before you disagree it can be just between us but at least it would make me feel better about everything. Please baby?’

  
‘Does it really bother you that much?….. I didn’t realise, I’m sorry. If it makes you feel better then fine, but only for us. I don’t want it going any further. That’s my condition.’

I beamed at him, I did feel better as soon as the words left his gorgeous lips.

   ‘Thank you babe.’

A knock at the door alerted us to an officer who advised us that our ride had arrived

   ‘You ready? Let’s go.’

We walked out hand in hand and the crowd that had gathered outside went wild, pictures were taken and they tried to get any information they could but everyone remained tight lipped. We finally reached the safety of the car and were whisked away. It was a bit of a drive but when we reached the studio, a tall blonde lady greeted us and then led us to a small room where we were told that the producer would be with us soon to discuss everything. My nerves were about to gallop away, Mase just sat cool as a cucumber, of course he
’s done this loads of times before. I’m going to look like a complete dick on TV.

  
‘I think I’m gonna barf. What the hell am I doing? I can’t do this Mase, I don’t think I can go out there and let everybody see me, Oh God.’

  
‘Baby, calm down, I’ll take the lead, If they ask you any questions just wait a second before answering so you know how to respond, Its gonna be fine. Listen a second and think about this, once the interview is over I’m taking you home and I’m going to strip your clothes off and lick ever part of you, before I slowly…..‘

Before he could finish a short man with a clip board strolled in without knocking. Mase just giggled into my ear and I suddenly realised I was holding my breath, Holy shit what I visual to give me, only to have it cock blocked by our intruder.

   ‘Mr Stone, Ms Clarke, Mr names Perry Johnson, I’m just going to run through the segment before you go on. Obviously this is short notice but you’ve done this before so it won’t take long.’

He rambled on about something which I took no interest in as my mind was now focused elsewhere. Being pregnant meant my hormones were in overdrive and I was, well
…. horny all the time. Not Good. Especially before I was about to be introduced on live TV. ‘Focus Clarke‘ I told myself but before I could calm down we were being escorted to the set. Holy shit, I’m fucked.