Chapter 11

"Make sure you call me when you call me when you get home mom." I said as I walked her to her car later on that day.

She opened up her car door and got in, "I will sweetie…are you going to tell Mark about everything?"

I shrugged, "I don't know mom, I mean I know he deserves to know the truth but, I don't want to be the reason behind his unhappiness."

She sighed, "Well I know how you feel honey and believe me I would hate to be in your shoes…but you should really give it some thought. Your sister needs help and this may be the only way to help her out."

"She won't see it that way mom. She'll see me as a home wrecker."

My mom chuckled and shook her head, "You can't wreck something that was never intact to begin with sweetie…just think about that."

I nodded as she closed her door and started her car, I waved at her once more before turning around and heading back to the guest house. When I got there, I grabbed a blanket from the closet and a water bottle before heading out to the porch. I laid on the canopy bed and covered my legs. Quietly I watched the stars begin to appear in the sky as the sky darkened and the heat turned into cool air. I gently rubbed my belly, imagining the day when he would come into the world. I wondered what he would look like…what he would sound like…Gosh I was so excited to be a mom. It would definitely be a breath of fresh air from all of this crap I was going through.

I must have laid there for ten or twenty minutes before I heard Mark's motorcycle coming up the driveway. I looked in his direction taking in how sexy he looked riding on it. Damn my sister and her ways…if I had the chance I would definitely give him a chance…Oh my gosh, what was I saying! Mark hated me as far as I was concerned, and here I was imagining him touching and kissing me in ways I had never experienced. Why I was suddenly attracted to this man…I don't know.

He parked his bike in the garage and came out looking really pissed off. I was going to call him over but he was coming in my direction anyway. I sat still and watched him approaching me. It was then that I realized he not only looked angry, but his eyes were glassy.

"Mark are you ok?" I asked as he stepped onto the porch. He pulled up a chair from the other side of the porch and sat down next to me. I could feel his anger radiating off of him like an overheated furnace.

He folded his arms over his chest and stared at me.

"Is everything ok?" I asked.

He shook his head, "No it isn't."

I sat up slowly and pulled folded my legs so that I was sitting Indian style. "Do you want to talk?"

He sighed, "I do…but first I want to apologize for being such an ass to you the other day. I was overreacting and I'm sorry."

Though he didn't sound sincere I still accepted his apology. "It's ok Mark. I know you were just looking out for me and that's alright."

"Really?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yeah. I thought about what you said and though it came out wrong…I completely agree with you."

He nodded dropping his gaze from me, "Yeah…you really should wait longer Serena. Most guys don't show their true colors until six months after you start dating."

"That's true…I guess I should have known better since I'm pregnant now." I said as I looked down at my belly.

"Don't blame yourself for that…you were raped remember?" he said.

I sighed and shook my head, "Actually…I have a small confession to make."

He raised an eyebrow, "Serena has secrets?"

I rolled my eyes, "More than you can handle…anyways, I wasn't raped…I just told you that to make you feel like an ass that night."

He chuckled, "Wow, well good job because I did feel like an ass."

"I learn from the best." I said with a wink.

He shook his head, "I guess you do. Anyways I came over here because I needed to ask you something."

"What's up?" I asked as I placed a hand on my belly.

He looked away from me for a moment and then sighed, "Did you know Tracy was seeing someone else?"

I closed my eyes for a second and then responded, "I just found that out when my mom came to see me."

"You swear?" he asked.

I nodded and looked away from him.

He leaned his head over to see my face. "You know something else don't you?"

I shook my head, "No."

He narrowed his eyes, "Come on Serena…I know you know something…just tell me please."

I sighed and got up from the canopy swing. "Mark I don't know anything."

He shook his head as I walked passed him and headed for the door, "What if I told you about who I saw Tracy with just a few short moments ago."

I froze in my spot, not turning around to face him. "Why would I care who you seen her with?"

He chuckled and got up from his seat. "Oh trust me you'll care…"

I shook my head and walked into my house trying to get away from him. Of course he just followed me…

"Serena come back here." He said as he chased me into my room. I tried to shut my door but he got his leg caught between the door and the frame. I sighed and let the door open knowing he was about to force the truth out of me.

"Mark please I don't want to talk about this!" I yelled.

"Why not Serena? I know you care about your sister but I'm willing to bet that you care for me even more." He said.

I shook my head and backed into the wall as he approached me. He then grabbed my hands and pinned them against the wall, staring deep into my eyes. The only thing that seemed to be separating us was my belly that was larger than ever.

"Serena…what more do you know. You're her sister so I know you know something." He said.

I sighed, "I only know what my mom told me!"

"You lie!" he said. "Serena, don't protect her!"

"Why not!" I yelled as tears filled my eyes, "I don't want to be in the middle of this!"

He growled and pressed my hands into the wall. "Well I've got news for you babygirl, you are in the middle of this…more than you think."

He released me and began walking out of my room leaving me wondering just what he meant by me being involved. "Mark…what are you talking about?"

He stopped and looked over his shoulder at me. "Why don't you ask Tracy and Phil…they are a lot closer than you think."

My heart shattered the moment I heard those words. "Wait a minute…Tracy and Phil have been-"

"-Screwing around? Yes." Mark said. "That's another reason I was so pissed when I found out about you two…"

I sighed, "B-but how did you find this out?"

He turned around and looked at me, "When you and your mom were talking Tracy and I got into an argument and she left. I decided to follow her just to see if I could catch the guy she's been sleeping with and I did…"

I shook my head feeling my heart beginning to break more and more, "There has to be some kind of mistake…."

His face softened as he approached me, "Serena I'm sorry…but there is no mistake. Just look at this."

I glanced down at his hand as he pulled out his cell phone and showed me a picture of Phil and my sister making love in his bed…the very same bed I slept in the night before. I instantly broke down into tears as Mark took his cell phone back. He then wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close to his body as I cried. I couldn't believe those two would actually do this to me…or even Mark. I knew I had to reveal the truth to him now…I just had to. He had a right to know the truth and I wasn't about to hold it out anymore.

"Mark…I do know more about my sister." I said as I pulled away from him and sat down on my bed.

He sat down next to me, waiting on what it was I needed to tell him. I was just about to tell him too when I felt something pop inside of my belly and pain surged through my entire body. I grabbed my belly and screamed in pain and agony.

"Serena what's wrong?" he asked.

I grabbed a hold of his arm and squeezed it as a gush of blood flowed from between my legs. "Oh God…Mark this has to wait I'm in labor!"

"Labor! But it's so early!"

I groaned, "I know but there's no time for this I need to get to the hospital!"

He nodded and helped me get to my feet. "Can you walk?"

I shook my head, "No…the baby is moving down the birth canal…"

"Say no more," he said before quickly whisking me into his arms and carrying me out to his truck. Once he got me inside the truck he hopped in the driver's side and quickly got the truck started.

"Keep your breathing going ok? We'll be there in no time." He said as we pulled out of the driveway.

I did as he said, groaning every now and then from the pain I was in. Tears were falling from my eyes as he raced through the streets of downtown Houston, fighting to get me to the hospital.

"Damn it!" he yelled when we got caught in traffic. "The hospital is just down the street!"

I closed my eyes and kept breathing, "So what are we going to do?"

He looked around and then pulled into a parking space. I watched him hop out the truck and then come over to my side and open the door.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

He looked down the street and then back at me, "Come on, I'm going to carry you."

"What?" I asked.

He sighed and quickly scooped me out of the truck. He then shut the door with his foot and ran down the street.

"Mark! Please stop!" I yelled. "I don't want you to drop me!"

He chuckled, "Don't worry Serena, I'm a lot stronger than you think, just hold onto me."

I did as he said and held onto him, damn near squeezing his neck to death. Within a few moments he got me to hospital and the sent me straight to the delivery room.

"Serena I'll be out here ok?" he asked.

I shook my head, "No! Come in here with me please!"

His face softened, "Are you sure?"

I nodded, "Please?"

He smiled softly and then grabbed a gown and a cap to wear. I had no clue what made me want him in that room with me, but having him there made things so much easier. He held my hand and patted my head with a cool wash cloth as the doctors coached me to push. Each time I pushed, Mark would whisper, "Good girl, good girl…you can do it Serena."

The pain was so unbearable, but somehow I was able to push long enough to hear the sweet sound of my son's cry. I started crying as they lifted him up and showed him to me. A smile formed on my face as I watched him cry, squeezing his little fist and kicking his feet. They then asked Mark to cut his umbilical cord and he did without hesitation. For some reason, seeing him do that for the baby, warmed my heart even more. Maybe it was because I knew he wouldn't be able to do this with my sister…

"What did you want to name him dear?" The nurse asked as they carried him to the side to wipe him off.

"Michael Dali." I said instantly.

Mark smiled at me, "That's a nice name"

I smiled, "You know what would be nicer?"

"What?" he asked.

I sat up slowly, "If you were his Godfather…"

He blinked at me several times, "Are you serious?"

I nodded, "Yes. You did give me a place to live and you have been a great friend lately…so why not?"

He smiled and nodded, "Ok…thanks Serena."

"You're welcome."

Once that was done, they took my son to the nursery to get looked at since he was a month and a half early. They then got me all cleaned up and sent me to my own private room. Mark got changed out of his hospital gown and then went to call my sister and my mother. While he was gone, I took that time to rest from the tough labor I went through. I was so happy now that my baby boy was in the world.