I pulled out the ultrasound picture I’d just had taken and handed it to Frank. “The tests were fine. The baby’s healthy.”
Frank let out a breath. “Thank God. Okay, you should go home and rest. Lily has a bunch of tests to get through. I’ll stay here and make sure she gets them done, then I’ll come home later.” He kept his other hand glued to Lily’s side, never letting go.
I always thought Frank was so attentive to Lily because he saw her as his sick family. I never thought he’d be the person doing it all.
Watching Frank and Lily walk away, I followed,
a new feeling burning in my gut.
They disappeared into the office of Dr. Steiner,
the head of Hematology – who also happened
to be my father.
“Lily’s condition is getting worse, we need to
come up with something quick,” Frank said,
squeezing her hand.
“Just hang on for a month or two. We will get
the blood when the baby is born, Lily.”
My dad was a stone–faced. “We might not have
a month. We need to look at a bone marrow
transplant.”
“Then let’s just take the baby now. It’s been
eight months, it’s done,” an all too familiar
voice said.
I stepped forward and saw my mother, a doctor
in the OB/GYN. I felt like somebody had shoved
a knife straight into my chest.
So, they were all in on it. My own family and my
husband all wanted to use my baby to save Lily.
“Is that baby is not even nine months, it will
have problems when we deliver it,” Frank said,
<
pulling me out of my thoughts.
Mom’s face soured. Her brow furrowed. “The
most important thing right now is Lily’s heath Nothing else matters.”
Lity snuggled into Frank’s side. “Frank, if you start caring about her baby more, will you even
care about me?”
Frank immediately wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t be ridiculous. I only married her to get the cord blood to save your life. Once she
gives birth, she’s useless to me.”
Tears streamed down my face as I clutched the
abortion pill in my hand.
I looked up and threw the pill in my mouth.
I took the appointment slip and went home. I
opened up a divorce agreement and signed it
and stuffed it in the safe.
<
As I was packing my things. the front door
slammed open, making me jump.
Frank stormed over and grabbed my arm.
“Honey, the doctor looked at your latest report.
and things aren’t looking good. I need to take
you to the hospital now.”
I tried to pull away, but Frank’s grip was like a
vise, my wrist already turning red. “I’m not
going. The doctor told me everything was fine
today. And why would the hospital call you
instead of me?”
Frank’s eyes were bloodshot, with a hint of
desperation in them. “The hospital just told me.
And it was your mom who called. You should
trust her if you don’t trust me. Right?”
Just then, Mom and Dad walked in, Mom with
her face set in a tight, angry line. “It’s your own
fault for not being more careful. Now you’re
putting the baby at risk. You’re going to the
hospital with us.”
Dad chimed in. “Your mother’s an OB/GYN, for
God’s sake. You don’t trust your own mother?”
I grabbed the door handle, digging my heels in.
“I’m not going. It’s late, and I feel fine. There’s
no emergency.”
Mom glared and pried at my fingers. “You’re
going because I said so! I’m your mother, you
think I’d hurt you?”
I had been given to my grandparents to be
raised in the country. And my life started when I
was dragged back to the city to live with them
when my grandparents passed away.
I always wanted to ask them why they didn’t
care about me, I was their child after all.
Almost tearing my hand, my mother managed to
twist my fingers.
“Just leave now, and save us all the trouble
What if you wait to long? I will never forgive you
if that happens.” My mother hissed.
My cheek flushed red and I laughed bitterly. “So
the masks are off now.”
