by Gray, A L
"So, Anile, what's the problem?"
Elijah speaks before I have the chance to. "I did tell the secretary when I called. She's been in bed for days, complaining of headaches and sickness."
"Please, Mr. Darks, I do understand your concern but I do need to speak with Anile."
I cannot even look into the poor Doctors warm brown eyes, I'm cringing inside and waiting for Elijah to boil over.
"Excuse me!" Elijah snaps, but I quickly grasp control of the situation.
"Elijah!" I moan under my breath. "Sorry Doctor." I peer up at him. "I um... I've been feeling so under the weather. When I try to urinate, it stings, I feel sick almost all the time, my head feels as though it weighs ten stone, and my body aches so badly."
"Okay, how long have you felt like this?"
"Maybe, three days."
"Yes, it has been three long days." Elijah voices. "I've been lonely." He whispers into my ear and I flush on cue. I smile stupidly.
"Have you been abroad recently?" The Doctor asks.
"Eh, yes, we went to Egypt a few months back. Why?"
"Sometimes you can catch - what we Doctors call - a sleeping infection. Although it usually occurs in the bowels. How has your bowel emptying been?"
Without warning, I'm fire engine red. How embarrassing to have to explain this in front of Elijah! I stare over at Elijah.
"Would you prefer it if Mr. Darks left the room?" The Doc asks.
I bat my eyelashes in confusion - how can I tell him to leave without being mean?
"Anile, do you want me to leave?" Elijah asks serious and I sense displeasure in his voice.
"It's not that I want you to leave, this is just embarrassing explaining this with you in the room." I say angelic.
"That's okay Princess. I'll be just outside."
I mentally sag. I'm relieved beyond words and surprised at how easy that was. I gaze up at Elijah walking out of the door with ease, strong hands inside his blazer pockets. Once the door is closed, I open up.
"I had an ectopic pregnancy a while ago, do you think that's why I'm ill?" I blurt out.
He smiles weakly at me. "No, I don't. I think you may have a little infection somewhere. Hopefully it's just a urine infection." He shuffles some paperwork on his desk. "Right." He moves back from his desk. "I would like a urine test, and if the test comes back clear, we can continue with a blood test."
"How long will a blood test take?"
"We can have the results back today for Mr. Darks."
The almighty Darks, oh how you prevail with only your name. I roll my eyes.
"Okay, where shall I go to do the urine test?"
"I have a private toilet here, it's just through there." He points to the only other white door in his office.
I grasp a hold of the little clear pot and make my way into the toilet. I close the door behind myself and ready myself. It smells like lavender hand wash in here - he should use this scent in his smelly office. I giggle to myself. Once the pot is full, I wash my hands and the clear pot and enter the Docs office.
"All done?" He asks.
"Um, yes." I turn puce. This is so damn embarrassing having a man check me over.
I pass him the pee pot and take a seat. He makes his way over to the sink, slips into latex white gloves and starts placing little white sticks inside my urine. I want to gasp out-loud with embarrassment - but I somehow manage not to. A few minutes pass and he takes a seat next to me.
"Okay, I think I know what may be wrong with you."
"Is it an infection? Please tell me it's not a sexual infection! I have only had sex with Elijah. And that would mean he gave me something unwanted." I'm babbling.
He starts to laugh lightly. "Calm down, Anile, it shows that you are pregnant. And that explains a lot of your symptoms. I think you are suffering with morning sickness."
With my mouth wide open, I just stare past him - he may think I'm staring at him, but believe me when I say this, I'm not.
"Anile, are you okay?"
"Yes, I just..." I have nothing to say.
I start to smile slightly, and I feel my tummy underneath my hoodie.
"How far gone am I?" I whisper.
"I will need to perform an ultrasound to confirm that. I can do that today but I would need you to drink a half a liter of water."
I smile. "I can do that."
I get to my feet without another word and make my way out to Elijah. Once he sees me, he's on his feet.
"Princess, are you okay?" He asks panicked.
"Elijah, I'm pregnant." I breathe, it hardly seems real to me.
I stare up at him, his eyes are warm, crinkled at the sides.
"Are you serious?" He says low.
"Yes, why? Do you think he's wrong? Or maybe there is something else wrong? Elijah, what if something else is wrong with me, with the baby?" I gasp. I grab my throat and start to worry, my first pregnancy rushing through my mind.
He pulls me close to him, on hand on my waist, the other, raking through my hair.
"Princess, I have insured I have only good swimmers for you." He jokes, and I have no choice but to giggle.
I stare at his chest. "Do you think everything will be okay?"
"It will, Princess." He says with surety.
He pulls me right into his arms and cradles me, crushing my entire body inside in his tight grip. I cast my fingers over the collar of his blazer in anticipation. I'm worried, and rightfully so.
"Nurse, my girl, she needs an ultrasound now!" He snaps, and although I hate him bossing people around, I am honestly dying to see that our baby is okay.
"Mr. Darks, here is the water Anile needs to drink. Once Anile has drunk all of it, you can come find me and the Doctor will perform an ultrasound."
Elijah takes the liter bottle of water and I down half of it in record time - I'm desperate.
"Slow down, you'll need to pee." Elijah says worried.
"I don't care, I need to see our baby." I say. I lean over and rest my elbows on my knees, the bottle still in hand. "Elijah, do you think we will be good parents?" I peer over my shoulder at him.
"It's a little late now!" He gasps, and I cannot tell if he's teasing me.
"You don't want this, do you?" I say panicked.
"Don't start all that. I want nothing more than to make you the Mother of my child." He strangely looks up at the ceiling. "My Mother would have loved to be a Grandma, she would have been the best." He says, light tears in his eyes.
I take his hand and squeeze tight. "If we have a girl, we will name her Helen."
He gazes at me, eyes lazy. "You would do that?" He frowns.
"I would do anything for you, Elijah, isn't that clear?"
He pulls my hand up to his mouth and kisses my palm three times. "I love you, Princess."
I smile fondly at him. "I love you too." I stare down at my tummy. "We are going to have our own family." I whisper.
"It will not be perfect, but it will be ours." He says sweetly.
AN HOUR PASSES and I have drunk all the water.
"Anile?" The nurse calls out.
"Yes?"
"You can come through." She smiles tenderly at me.
Elijah and I rise to our feet and enter the Doctors room once more.
"Thank you for waiting patiently. If you would like to prop yourself up onto the bed, I can start the ultrasound." He says.
I walk to the corner of the room, pull back the blue tissue curtain, and lay back on the examination bed. My heart is pounding, pattering like a machine gun, my tummy is doing over time, and my mind, filled with worry.
"I'm going to squeeze some jelly onto the low of your tummy, it is cold."
He starts to pack blue tissue paper inside my jogging bottoms. Elijah comes up beside me, and he takes my hand. I stare up at him. He looks excited, happy. I hope everything is okay - what will I do if I cannot have a proper pregnancy?
"See this screen?" The Doctor turns a white t.v. to face me. The screen is black. "Thi
s will show the heart beat."
I bite down on my lower lip and mentally pray to God. Please God, let me have this child. I will love him or her with everything that I am, as I love Elijah. I will protect them, keep them healthy and.... oh I will love them so much!
The Doctor squeezes the cold jelly onto my tummy.
"Ah!" I moan quietly.
He pushes a white microphone looking thing onto my tummy and starts to investigate. I gaze at the black screen in anticipation. All I can see is white outlining, I think it's my tummy.
"You see that?" The Doctor points to something pulsating on the screen. "That's the babies heart beat - and I cannot be one-hundred percent sure because I think you are only around nine-to ten weeks - but I think you are having twins!"
I literally burst out into tears, happy tears. I turn on my side and roll into Elijah's arms.
"Ah, ha, ha!" I cry out.
"Does everything look good Doc? Are the babies healthy?" Elijah asks the questions I cannot, I'm a mass mess of Motherhood.
"They look perfect, Mr. Darks. Would you two like a moment?"
"If you don't mind." Elijah says.
The Doctor leaves the room and Elijah takes a hold of my face between both his hands. He gazes at me with lit blue eyes, they are bright and happy.
"Princess, are you happy?"
"Are you?" I sob.
"I am the happiest man alive." He says proud.
"I'm so happy too." I cry.
He pulls me tight against his chest, and I literally ball my eyes out. I love this man, we have been through so much together - to hell and back. I have been weak to him, strong to help him, and I have stood by him, as he has done for me. I love him, and now - finally - we will get our chance of happiness.
I wipe my nose with the back of my hand and kiss his chest so many times that I lose count. "There is no more good against evil, Elijah. There is just you and I... and our children."
TWO YEARS LATER
Mr. and Mrs. Darks, congratulations...
A FATHERS' LOVE
MY CHILDREN, Elijah Junior, and Helen. I never imagined one person could have so much love to share, to give. My wife, and my children, they consume my emotions.
"Elijah, come quick! Helen, she's saying something." Anile calls from the living room.
I'm standing in the parquet, cosy hallway, admiring our family photos that cover every wall. Anile is just stunning, even moments after giving birth to my two beautiful twins. I never thought I would have a family of my own, I never thought I was worthy.
I steal my way into the living room; it's dark outside, it's raining. But it adds to the charm of our cottage. The fire is roaring and is the only thing illuminating the living room. The television is off, it's peacefully quiet. I peer down at my miracle family. Anile is huddled between Elijah Junior and Helen on the dark brown sofa; feet up on the footstool, a cotton soft cream blanket covering them all. My children have my hair, raven black wavy locks that fair well with Anile's skin tone. Helen is like snow white, but matched with ice blue eyes. And my son, he is just like me, but with porcelain white skin. He's a good looking boy, he will run rings around the girls one day. Elijah is sleeping, but Helen - as always - she's wide awake. She stares up at me, eyes bright, and reaches out for me to pick her up.
"Dada." She says, clear as day.
"Oh my God!" I gasp.
"I told you, she says Dada." Anile beams, happier than ever.
Anile looks tired, she spares no time away from our children. It's eleven in the morning and she's still in her pink pyjamas with a baby sick towel caressing her shoulder. She has light dark circles around her ice blue eyes, but to me, she is as beautiful as ever. She has taken to Motherhood like a duck to water - I'm so proud of her.
"Come here, you." I take Helen from Anile and pull her into my arms. I kiss her soft cheek and inhale her scent. She still smells like a baby, talcum powder, mixed with milk.
"Say, Dada." I ask, holding her just inches from my face.
She grasps my nose. "Dada." She says again.
My tummy doubles over in contentment. I will be here to watch my children grow up happy, normal, I will capture every moment of their lives. I squeeze her.
"Daddy's little Helen." Anile says to Helen.
I sit next to Anile, Helen still in my arm. I pull Anile under my free arm and kiss her forehead with tenderness.
"I love you, Princess." I whisper into her ear.
She stares up at me, question in her eyes. She steals Elijah Junior's bottle, and Helen's. She passes me Helen's bottle. I take it in my hand that's hung over her shoulder.
"I love you too. Here's to our happy ending." She says. She clinks the bottles together.
I smile at her. "To our happy ending." I say.
I kiss her cheek, and then rest my head against hers. We got our happy ending, finally. And nothing in this world, apart from my little family, could have made my life worth living.
THE BEGINNING OF ELIJAH'S FREEDOM
Welcome to the mind of Darks
JEZEBEL, she's standing behind her white desk with a deadly look on her pretty face.
"Elijah, I want the Mercedes. You know I will get my hands on it in our divorce, so why are you fighting me on this?" She moans furiously, hands grasping the edges of her desk in frustration.
God, how long will it take before this woman is removed from my life? I have to grit my teeth and be sure I don't drown this infuriatingly provoking bitch!
I narrow my eyes at her, leaning slightly forward over her desk. "Jezebel, that is my car. You cannot take everything!" I snap.
I cannot help myself, even a good hiding hasn't helped this bitch. She wants the Mercedes, she will die before she gets her hands on it! I brought that car two years ago for a special person. It's loaded with bullet proof windows, extra cautious air bags, the lot. It's built fit for the Queen.
"It's old now. Just give it up, and save yourself all this bother." She tries to joke, a vicious smile on her pale lips.
I lean towards her, keeping my hands low to insure I don't strangle her. I press my hands above hers and crush them, leaning all my weight on them.
"Ow, Elijah, let me go!" She gasps. She tries to break free of my grip but honestly, she has more chance of growing a dick!
I smile savagely at her. "Do you really think I am not ready for my fight with you?" I leave my question to linger in the air between us.
"Elijah, let me go!" She snaps.
I release her, and stand tall to straighten out my suit jacket. I flash her a half grin, a winning grin. She's rubbing her delicate hands sympathetically while gazing up at me with her little brown eyes.
"Any letters for me?" I ask off key.
She shakes her head furiously - she hates that I always win.
"Here." She pushes a bunch of letters into my chest, and for a moment I wonder where they came from, her desk is spotless, there is not a single thing in sight.
"Why, thank you, wife." I joke.
I turn my back on her and glide into my office. The palatial area gives me a mental state of space. I inhale deeply, gathering my mind while I take a seat at my desk. I cast my eyes over the pile of C.V's for the internship position - I requested that C.V.'s were posted, I don't like clicking through e-mails. I need a new PA once Jezebel is gone, and although all the potential PA's will have Law degrees, they have to start somewhere. I open the first C.V. and sit in a daze for god knows how long. My breathing is deadly to me, my heart, stopping and starting in shock. It's her, it has to be her. How many other women possess this name and attended this university? I swallow hard and read over, Anile Goodens' C.V.
Curriculum Vitae
OF
Miss Anile Gooden
graduated university from the University of Cambridge, class of 2012.
Residential address
Whitehouse Apartments, 9 Belvedere Road, London, SE1
Contact information
07777744437
anileg
[email protected]
* * *
Candidate Profile
I am attentive, hard working and enjoy challenging myself on a daily basis. I work well in teams and also by myself - although I prefer to work by myself.
I have been tested in the area of being under pressure and passed my pressure exam with a clear pass. Individual certificates of my degree can be seen if requested.
I took to my law degree well and enjoyed all my classes, never showing up late, nor being the first student to leave a single class.
It was always a dream for me to study law, so once I left school, I pushed my way through anything and everything to achieve what I needed so I could one day become a successful lawyer.
My practicing field is criminal law, and I would like nothing more than to start here as a solicitor and work my way up to become a strong, independent lawyer.
* * *
Job History
I have no experience of employment because I took double law at university.
* * *
Qualifications
GCSE's
Maths - A +
English - A +
Music - A +
Science - C -
_______
A Level - AAB - English
A Level - AAB - Maths
_______
LLM and BPP Non-Masters (undergraduate) degree in - Criminal Law
* * *
Referee
Professor Isaac - University of Cambridge, Tutor for Criminal Law. 01223 337733
Professor Isaac has agreed to give a written reference if requested.
* * *
Hobbies
Swimming
Pianist - award winner