Something New – Chapter 17
I want to send out a Happy New Year shout-out to everyone and apologies for my long absence. Unfortunately it was avoidable. Hope you and your loved ones are safe. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for the dozen of requests for the updates to my stories. I will do my best to make up and implement a schedule so that they will be regularly updated.
Sitting in her towel on the edge of the bed, she stared at the text on her phone. Unconsciously, she cradled her swollen belly. It's judgment time. Despite her actions, she still loved Rick and he being the father of her child will be a dream come through. However, if it turns out that Desmond is the father, her child will be a prince or princess, albeit an illegitimate one. That's not a bad prospect either. Desmond and his family will have to give her some measure of respect as the first grandchild of their family. He may not marry her but her child would have perks she could only dream of. She walked down to her mother's room and knocked on the door. There was no response. Casually, she walked down the stairs and saw her mother sitting on the sofa, smoking her favourite cigar, smiling to herself.
"Mom? I thought you stopped smoking."
"I thought I did too but it feels like a special day."
"Why?"
"I don't know. It's just a feeling."
"Anyway, the clinic text me. The results are in."
Her eyes widened which took Lori off guard.
"Really?" She got up and walked over to her. "So I was right. It is a special day." She hugged her, causing Lori to stiffen. "Do you want me to accompany you to the clinic?"
Lori stepped away from her mother, highly suspicious now.
"You would do that?"
"Yes! Of course! For moral support. Everything will fall in place. You'll see." She hugged Lori again. "I'll get changed."
Lori looked at her mother as she disappeared from sight. A chilling feeling ran down her spine. She dialed Andrea's number. It picked up on the third ring.
"Hey."
"My mum is up to something! I could feel it!"
"What do you mean up to something?"
"I just told her the DNA results are in and she was calm!"
"Calm?"
"Yes! And supportive! Something as big as this that could change the course of our lives and she was calm! Something is not right Andrea!"
"You think she got someone to alter the paternity test?!"
"I don't know but I wouldn't put anything passed her at this point!"
"Then you need to call Rick and Michonne now! They need to know what's going on."
"Do you think they will listen to anything I have to say?!"
"No but you have to try! This is your chance Lori! Your chance to make amends. If your mother is up to something, you need to say something."*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rick hugged and kissed his mother. Despite pleadings to go with him to the clinic for moral support, he declined. He got himself into this and he needs to face the consequences of it. Whilst getting dress, part of him had already accepted the possibility of Lori's child being his and losing Michonne for good. He loved her too much to jeopardize her future after all, she is not some ordinary girl. She's a Queen in the making. He had to come to terms with that. He pulled out of the driveway in his black hummer.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michonne stared at the number at the unknown number before answering.
"Hello?"
No one responded.
"Hello?"
"It's me."
"Lori?!"
"Please don't hang up!"
Her thumb hovered to end the call.
"Please don't hang up! I have something I need to tell you."
Silence ensued.
"Michonne?"
"I'm here."
"I just want to apologize to you for the hurt and pain I've caused."
"Today is not the day Lori."
"So you know?"
"That the results are in? Yes."
She hesitated.
"I think my mum did something."
"What do you mean?"
"When I told her that the results were in, she had a weird reaction. She was calm and supportive." She paused. "You have to understand. That is not my mother! She has been raging since this whole thing started and all of a sudden, she's cool? Something isn't right."
"You think she tampered with the paternity test, don't you?"
"Yes! Her exact words were…. 'everything will fall in place.'"
"I have to call Dr. Ebeleme!"
"Please do. I don't want this situation to get any worse."
Seconds of silence float between them.
"Thank you for calling. I appreciate it."
"Thank you for listening."~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michonne called Dr Ebeleme and he assured her that under no circumstances was the paternity test compromised.
"Are you sure?"
"100% positive Princess. I personally did the test myself and took extra precautions as per your father's instruction."
"Okay. I'm just anxious."
"I'm sure you are."
She paused.
"Is it Rick's baby?" She just blurted it out. Dr Ebeleme noticed the nervousness in her voice and chuckled alittle.
"You know I can't tell you that."
"I know and I'm sorry for asking."
"Aren't you coming with Rick?"
"He doesn't want me too."
"Hmmmm. I guess as fast as he knows, you'll know. All the best Princess."
"Thank you doctor."
She hung up but the uneasiness in pit of her stomach didn't dissipate with the doctor's words. Something is not right as it prompted even Lori to call her. She grabbed her coat, pulled on her boots and rushed over to Atiba's apartment.
"I'm going to the clinic."
He grabbed his car keys.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lori kept her eyes on her mother as they drove to the clinic. Her mother was smiling. She has not smiled in months.
"Mom?"
"Yes." She didn't look at her.
"I just want you to know that no matter what this test says, I'm going to be okay. This baby is going to be okay."
Her mother glanced at her briefly.
"I know." *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rick pulled up in the parking lot of the clinic but he didn't get out. He looked at the clinic across the street and felt emotionally drained. He looked at the items in the passenger seat next to him and smiled. It was the only thing that gave him some sense of comfort. Gathering them, he got out and began walking across the street when his phone rang. It was Michonne.
"Hey."
"Hey. Where are you?"
"In the car park. Just about to go in."
"Wait for me! I'm almost there."
"Why?"
"Lori called."
"Lori?"
"Yes. She thinks her mother switched the paternity test. I spoke to the doctor. He said that's not possible but Lori is worried."
"Since when do we trust anything Lori says?"
"Humour me Rick. Something is off. I could feel it. Wait for me."
"Okay. I'll be out in front."
"I'll be there in five."~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
From the reception area, Dr Ebeleme saw Rick sitting on the bench outside. He approached him.
"What are you doing out here?"
"Waiting for Michonne."
"Hmmmm. She called me with some concerns about the test."
"Yes. She told me."
"Is anyone else here?"
"Prince Desmond is not coming. He sent a representative instead. He's inside already. We are still waiting for Ms. Buchannan."
Rick scoffed. A nurse approached them from behind to speak to the doctor.
"Duty called."
"I'll be inside as soon as Michonne gets here."
"Okay."
He watched as the doctor walk inside. Suddenly a horn honked and he turned around. It was Atiba. Michonne jumped out of the car smiling. She waved and she began walking towards him when someone called out to him from behind.
"Rick Grimes?"
"He turned around to face a pale, slender build man, dressed in all black with a black baseball cap pulled very low over his face, obscuring it.
"I got a message for you."
A single shot rang out.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michonne froze when she heard the first gunshot and lost her breath when the second one rang out. Rick began crumbling to the ground. She shrieked.
"Rickkkkkkkkkkkk! Noooooooooo!"
She ran towards him blinded by her tears and crashing into people scampering away. Upon reaching him, she grabbed him up in her arms.
"Help me!" She screamed as she pressed her hand over the expanding red pool in his chest. His eyes were fixated on her as he tried to speak.
"Shhhhhhhhh! Don't speak! Don't speak! Save your strength!" She looked around. "HELP!"
Dr Ebeleme and two nurses appeared at her side but she refused to let him go. Suddenly strong arms grabbed hold of her and tried to bundle her away but she fought them viciously.
"Noooooo! Noooooooo!" Her hands lashed out violently while trying to hold onto Rick. "Get off me! Get off!"
"It's me! Atiba!" With one firm grip, he tore her off and Ebeleme and the nurses moved in to better attend to Rick who was bleeding profusely. Her bloody hands grabbed on to Atiba's jacket and she cries.
"I need to help him! I need to help him! Pleaseeee! Please let me save him!"
He corrected her forcefully.
"The doctors will save him and you need to be there for him! You will be the first face he sees! Let Ebeleme do what he does best."
"He can't die!"
He cupped her face.
"He's not going to die!" He took off his jacket and covered her head, concealing her identity as she clung to him crying. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dr Ebeleme work quickly on Rick on the pavement infront of the clinic. He had to stabilize him for when the ambulance arrive to transport him safely. The nurse had a phone to his ear and he was speaking in his native tongue furiously.
Michonne looked back and seeing Rick's limp hand trying to reach out to her, she pulled away from Atiba and was instantly at his side. Tears ran down the side of his eyes. Taking his cold hand into her bloodied own, she kissed them tenderly.
"I'm here Rick! I love you! I love you!"
Ambulance sirens wailed behind them and three men in blue jumped out and rushed over to them with a stretcher. They too were speaking in Ebeleme's native tongue to him. Then he turned to Michonne.
"Go to St Finberg's Private Hospital. There is a reserved wing on the sixth floor for dignitaries. A room is being prepared for him."
Reluctantly, she stepped aside and watched as an unconscious Rick is carried into the ambulance with Ebeleme following close behind and they sped off. The crowd began to disburse with everyone murmuring to themselves and that's when she saw the items on the ground - a large bouquet of yellow hibiscus and card trampled beyond recognition and covered in blood. Dropping to her knees speechless, she picked them up and opened the card which read:
"To my beautiful heart and the other half of my soul Michonne, these past few months have been the greatest in my life so matter what is thrown at us, YOU ARE MY TRUE ONE AND ONLY. I LOVE YOU."
Holding the card to her chest, she cried out. Atiba reached out to her.
"Let's go. Rick is waiting for you."~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michonne was just getting into the car when she saw Lori and her mother pulled up. In a fit of rage, she slammed her door shut and lumbered over to them. Atiba followed, trying to restrain her.
"I'm not going to do anything Atiba! I just want to see their faces."
Reluctantly, he released her and she walked over.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lori was startled by the crowd dispersing in front of the clinic. Then she saw Michonne stalking over to them and she was covered in blood. She got out of the car.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Facing Lori and her mother who had remained in the car, she was searching for guilt. Lori looked mortified whilst her mother merely snickered.
"Michonne?! What's going on?! Why are you covered in blood?!"
Wordlessly, she walked over to the driver side of the vehicle and placed her hand on the window leaving a full bloody print. Her action took the woman off-guard momentarily.
"Michonne?! What happened?!" She looked around and just as the police began arriving. That's when she saw Rick's black hummer. "Where's Rick?!"
Michonne faced her.
"Ask your mother."~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lori turned to her mother who had finally gotten out of the car.
"What did you do mom?! What the f*ck did you do?!"~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Updates for TWD Chronicles, Sin and The Colony coming next