The Pregnancy Kit

By the time Elaine finished having breakfast with Xavier and his family and also watching him fight with Margaret, she was already an hour late for work.

Staring at the time on her wristwatch, she threw herself from her car and began to make her way toward the building. She’d refused to go in the same car with Xavier as she knew that they might end up doing something that might make her arrive at work way past work time. Besides, she had a lot of work to do at the company today.

Swinging her purse, she walked through the cars in the parking lot but before she could take more than a few steps, a hand came around her wrist, halting her progress. She frowned and turned, her eyes coming in contact with a man who had his lower face covered with a mask.

“Who are you?” She tried to break free from the hold. “Let go.”

Her feet froze on the floor as the mysterious man took off his mask and revealed himself to her, her eyes widening at the sight. She finally was able to snatch her wrist from his hold and wrapped it around her chest, glaring at the man who stood before her.

“And what do you want, Jimmy?”

“Elaine.”

“Look, if you’re here for trouble, then I’m warning you to stay away. You don’t want to know what I'm capable of now. Who even let you in here.” Just then, her eyes fell on the cleaner fit that he wore. “You came here pretending to be a cleaner?”

“It was the only choice that I had. You have to listen to me, Elaine. I’m going to say this super fast.”

“I have no interest.” She intended to swivel around and continue her journey to the building but he again snatched her palm and stopped her from taking a step. “Didn’t you hear me?”

“Calm down, okay? Calm. Look,” he looked around them before leaning in and whispering. “I’m in trouble right now and I need your help.”

Elaine couldn’t help the chuckle that broke out from her lips. “What? You need my help? Let me hear what I can help you with this time.”

“Money. For the sake of our past love, Elaine. If you’ve ever loved me one time, help me with a few bucks. I need to leave the city.” He said the words with urgency and panic, his eyes continuing to look around them suspiciously.

“For the sake of what love? I thought you grew up already.”

“Fuck.” He combed his fingers through his hair. “I have no time to banter words with you, Elaine. I’m in a fucking bit of trouble.” Jimmy stepped closer and held her shoulders. “Help me with a few bucks, I’ll pay you back. The police are on my trail.”

“Why?”

“I did something. Just fucking help me with money already.” His voice raised.

Before Elaine could reply to him again with a negative answer, the sound of footsteps and yells began to echo in the place. He pushed away from her. “You must not tell them that I’m here.”

With that, he raced to the back of a car and hid himself there just in time for the company’s security men to reach Elaine.

“Mrs Romano.” One of the men stepped forward, his head lowered into a bow.

“What is going on?” She immediately composed herself.

“Did you perhaps see any guy with bleached blonde hair? He’s about 5’8 and I think he wore a cleaner uniform to be able to sneak in. The police are here too. They said that he ran into the company.”

“So what you’re trying to say is that there is a criminal in my company? What is the offense of this person?”

“He duped a big shot. Sorry for bothering you ma’am, we’ll look for him quickly.”

“Wait.”

The security man froze. Her next words caused his eyes to widen.

“I know where he is.”

“What?”

“At the back of the blue car. Hand him over to the police.”

Her words were definite and absolute and having said that, she started her journey into the company, taking the elevator that led to her office’s floor.

She found Beth already waiting for her with a stack of clothes on her couch as she got in and she threw her back to one of the couches and slumped on it. “I’m only just arriving and I’m tired.”

“Girl, I heard there is a criminal in the company. I’m so worried. We should do something,” Beth suggested, her tone laced with worry. “I mean, what if he's here for you?”

“Oh that, I settled it.”

“How?” She stepped up to Elaine and sat beside her on the couch. “How did you do it?”

“It was simply just Jimmy. He’s been handed over to the police already. Don’t bother your pretty head about someone like him.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried as hell.”

“I’m sorry that I came late. The clothes are ready?”

Beth’s lips stretched into a smile and she took a dress from the stack of dresses on the couch, held it to her chest, and turned to face Elaine. “Tada.” She twirled around, showing Elaine the full view of the dress that she’d designed. Elaine’s hands flew to her mouth as she took in the pink dress that was embroidered with diamonds, its designs sparkling.

“Oh my world, it’s pretty,” she exclaimed.

“I don’t think pretty is the right word to use for it. Your hands are truly talented. I told you that we’ll make a big hit off this dress.”

“I’m sure of it.” Elaine stood up to run her fingers through the dress. “All the designs are pretty but I think this one stands out. We must have a big party after we release these designs to the world.”

“Did you see our company’s page online? It’s blowing up from people asking about the designs. There has to be a launch party, girl.”

“I’m excited. I’ll ask Xavier if it’s safe to have a party. You know how he is.” After she was done admiring the design, her eyes fell on the box of cookies that lay on the middle table.

“Oh?” Her feet quickly took her to it and she picked it up. “Cookies.”

“I made a lot this morning so I brought some for you.”

“That is so thoughtful of you. I’ve been missing a good cookie and thank goodness for you make the best milky ones.”

This time, she didn’t sit back on the couch, she walked to her chair behind the desk, her heels clicking with each step that she took and she took her seat, opening the cover of the cookie box.

But something strange happened. Just as she opened the box and the milky fresh aroma filled her nostrils, she felt her stomach churn badly and her hand immediately flew to cover her mouth. She threw the cookie box to the table.

“What is wrong, Elaine.” Beth raced to her side instantly. “Is there something wrong with the cookies?”

“I…I think it’s just me.” A wave of nausea hit her for a second time and she covered her mouth tighter and took in deep breaths.

“Are you sick? Oh my, it looks bad.”

After she was able to calm herself down, she took her hand off her mouth and raised her head to gaze at Beth. “I’ve been quite picky with food lately and I’ve been sleeping a lot. I think I’m sick.”

Beth placed her hand on Elaine’s neck, trying to check her temperature. It turned out that her temperature was normal and there wasn’t anything strange about it. “You should go for a check-up…. Wait.” Her eyes grew wide, almost popping out of their sockets. “I think you’re pregnant.”

*****

“4 minutes and 57 seconds, 4 minutes and 58 seconds, 4 minutes and 59 seconds…. 5 minutes.”

The timer on Elaine’s phone went off and she instantly picked up the pregnancy test kit and opened her eyes. “Two red lines, two lines….ahhh,” she screamed, jumping up and down in the bathroom in excitement. There were two red lines in the test kit that she’d bought on her way from work. She’d closed an hour early and as Beth had suggested, she bought a pregnancy test on her way home, hopeful that it would come out positive.

She couldn’t be happier as she screamed her heart out in excitement. “I’m pregnant again,” she chanted as if unable to believe the truth.

As she gazed at the test kit. She couldn’t help but envision Xavier’s reaction when she told him the latest update. She couldn’t wait for him to return home so that she could spill it to him.

They were going to be parents! The universe granted her a second chance. Tears streamed down her cheek as she gazed at herself in the mirror, her hands coming over to pat her flat tummy. “Trust me, baby. This time, I’m going to protect you with everything in me.”

The blaring sound of her phone broke her from her thoughts and she wiped her eyes, picked up the phone, and stared at the caller’s ID in surprise. “Ria?”