However, nothing was present. With a deep sigh, she felt the baby’s subtle kicks inside and her palm automatically moved to rest on her round abdomen.
Elina’s thoughts strayed to the time they had organized this journey. Even though her due date was so near, she was determined to go.
“It will be our final opportunity for some time,” she had informed Mark, dismissing his cautious objections.
“All right? Has he returned yet? The tense silence was broken abruptly by Laura’s voice coming from the other room.
Elina tried to maintain her composure by clenching her jaw. “No,” she returned the call. “Not just yet.” After a moment of staring at her phone, she moaned in exasperation and hit Mark’s number. He responded almost immediately.
With a tight voice, she said, “Hey.” “Where are you?”
“I was stranded at work,” Mark said. After that, I got stuck in traffic. This place is not good. I’ll be home in at least an additional hour and a half.
Elina’s heart began to race. What does that signify, then? Are we now departing in the middle of the night?
“I’ve been considering,” Mark said cautiously. “Perhaps Mom and you could go out without me. Later, I’ll go there with you.
Elina’s eyes were wide with shock. “Are you for real now? You and your mother spent four hours in a car? By yourself? She lowered her voice and snarled into the phone.
Mark let out a sigh. “I am aware that it is not perfect. But when you arrive, my sister and your parents will be there to greet you. It won’t be too horrible.
Elina let out a slow breath. “I can’t make it through this.”
Mark attempted to soothe her by saying, “You’ll be fine.” “A snowfall is on its way. You ought to go immediately.
“All right,” she responded in a cold tone.
“I’m grateful. “I love you,” he whispered.
Still furious, Elina answered, “Love you too,” and hung up.
Elina took a deep breath to regain her balance before entering the living room. Laura was sitting on the couch, staring at her phone.
“Mark is going to be late,” Elina stated confidently. “He advised us to depart without him.”
Laura’s face was strained as she looked up. “What took place? Is my son in pain?
Elina tried to remain patient and shook her head. “No. He’s all right. Simply stalled in traffic.
Laura sighed loudly and set her phone down. She remarked, “Well, I’m not sure how I’ll handle spending four hours in a car with a cheater.” “But I’ll put up with it if that’s what Mark wants.”
Elina forced a grin while clenching her fists. “Let’s simply leave.”
Laura and Elina embarked on their adventure. Light snowfall had begun, blanketing the road’s margins in white.
As though both women were too scared to speak and disturb the delicate calm, there was a heavy quiet inside the automobile.
Laura sat up straight in the passenger seat, staring out at the scenery.
Sensing the unsaid tension that had been since their first encounter, Elina gave her a quick glance. Since Elina became pregnant, Laura’s dislike has only increased.
“Where are you heading?” As Elina turned the car, Laura inquired fiercely.
With a tense voice, Elina said, “The GPS says to go this way.”
Laura gave a headshake. We have been visiting this cottage for about thirty years. I am aware that this is incorrect.
Elina tightened her hold on the steering wheel. Her patience ebbing, she yelled, “Then tell me, where should I go?”
With quick motions, Laura grabbed the phone and redirected the GPS. She firmly said, “There,” while extending the phone.
Despite her seething fury, Elina turned the car around and sighed without saying anything.
Her doctor’s advice to remain composed and not to worry kept repeating in her head. She touched her belly with a protecting hand.
Years of hope, fertility treatments, and patience had culminated in this baby. Now she could not take any chances.
Ahead of them lay the new road, deserted and unsettling. The white blanket covering the tiny road grew thicker as the snowfall accelerated.
Elina looked at the clock on the dashboard. With a hint of uneasiness, she said, “We haven’t seen another car for thirty minutes.”
“Are you certain that this is the proper approach?” Elina’s voice was tight as she asked.
Laura grinned. With a sarcastic tone, she remarked, “I think I can manage directions if I can tell my husband apart from another man.”
Elina lost her patience. Abruptly, she halted the vehicle and looked at Laura. With an angry voice, she yelled, “Do you really think I’m carrying a child that isn’t Mark’s?!”
Laura gently returned her look. “I’m 99 percent certain. I’ll be requesting a DNA test after the kid is born because of this,” she said.
“How could you possibly believe that?” Elina’s annoyance boiled over as she asked.
Laura folded her arms. “I didn’t like you right away. Then you vanished after Mark had surgery. “You abandoned him completely,” she stated accusingly.
Elina’s jaw dropped. “He got his appendix removed! “I had a crucial work trip!” she retorted.
Shortly after that, you declared your pregnancy. Don’t you think it’s convenient? Laura raised an eyebrow in response.
Elina murmured, “You don’t know anything,” shook her head, and started the car again.
They came to a small road that was so covered with snow that it was nearly impossible to distinguish between the fields and the route.
When Elina realized they couldn’t go any farther, her heart fell. The radio crackled, alerting everyone to the impending snowstorm and urging them to avoid the roads.
With shaking hands, Elina put the automobile in reverse, but the tires spun pointlessly.
She felt the pressure of the situation weighing down on her, so frustrated that she lowered her head onto the steering wheel.
“What’s going on? Why don’t we move? Laura asked impatiently, her voice piercing.
Elina slapped the driving wheel with her hands. Since we’re stranded! “Thanks to your excellent instructions!” she exclaimed.
Elina cried out before Laura could react because she was experiencing a sudden, intense ache in her abdomen.
“What’s the matter? Is your jerkish child attempting to come out right now? Laura lost her temper.
Elina jerked her head in her direction. She yelled, “Don’t you dare talk about my baby like that.” “You have no knowledge of who I am. You only accuse me of being unfaithful!
“What else should I be thinking? Laura hissed, “You’re always around men.”
Considering that I am an engineer! That’s what I do! Elina screamed and gripped her stomach as yet another ache ripped through her. Then she looked down and froze. “My water broke just now,” she muttered.
Laura’s face went white. “We must travel to a medical facility. How do we proceed? Her voice rising in panic, she questioned.
“I can’t leave us here!” Elina sobbed. She reached for her phone and texted Mark where they were, but the service abruptly died.
Laura abruptly remarked, “Settle into the back seat.”
“Why?” Elina looked at her suspiciously and questioned.
Laura remarked in a firm voice, “I’m going to deliver your baby.”
Elina gave a headshake. “Not at all!”
For thirty years, I worked as a nurse-midwife. Have you thought of something better? Laura gave a forceful response.
As another contraction came on, Elina groaned and sighed.
“Your labor is going very quickly,” Laura said coolly.
“Tell me something I’m not aware of!” Elina tightened her teeth and snapped.
Elina slid into the back seat and moaned as the anguish seized her every time she moved. She clutched her tummy and leaned back, her eyes wide with horror as she gazed at Laura.
Laura evaluated her right away. She stated matter-of-factly, “You’ll probably deliver in about thirty minutes.”
With tears running down her cheeks, Elina shook her head. “This is not what I want! You are not what I desire! Mark should be here! Her voice trembled with grief and hatred as she sobbed.
Laura’s face became stern. “Mark, you don’t deserve him. She remarked icily, “He deserves someone better than you.
Elina’s anger blazed in her eyes. She gasped, “Are you serious right now?!” as another contraction struck. “Are you even curious about my true location at the time of Mark’s appendectomy?”
Laura’s voice was cold as she answered, “With some man, I’m sure.”
“No!” Elina’s voice cracked as she screamed. “I was undergoing IVF! I had no viable eggs! This child is entirely Mark’s biological property and not mine at all! Another wave of pain swept through her, and she gasped.
Laura froze as the words took hold of her. Her voice grew softer for the first time as she mumbled, “I… I didn’t know.”
“You obviously didn’t know!” Elina’s eyes blazed as she bounded back. “Your only concern is coming up with new ways to make fun of me! Mark kept it from you because he knew your charges would ruin me!
Laura’s tone was protective as she said, “You should’ve just told me.”
“Just told you?” With a tone full of irony, Elina yelled. What do you think would have happened? I’ve heard you accuse me of cheating, claim that I’m unworthy of Mark, and say that he could have done better all this time. Do you believe I’m unaware of that? He had the option of picking someone else, someone who could bear him a child. However, he didn’t. I was his choice. And I’m really fortunate that he did!
Laura lowered her head as her features softened. “I apologize, Elina. I’ve treated you horribly. She stated in a forceful yet gentle tone, “But we need to talk later — you need to push now.”
With tears running down her cheeks, Elina nodded. As Laura guided her through the delivery, she gripped the seat and bore down. A baby’s cry filled the car after what seemed like an eternity.
With haste, Laura wrapped the small infant in her scarf and gave him to Elina. “Congratulations. It’s a boy,” she whispered.
With tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks, Elina cradled her son. With affection in her voice, she said, “He’s perfect.”
Laura’s lips quivered as she gazed at the infant. With tears in her eyes, she remarked, “He looks exactly like Mark did when he was born.”
All of a sudden, they heard something outside. Looking out, Laura noticed a tow vehicle coming, its headlights piercing the storm. Mark sat with a worried expression on his face in the passenger seat.
Mark leaped out of the truck as it came to a stop and ran to the automobile. “Are you alright? His voice trembled as he said, “What happened?”
Laura broke her voice and grinned. She pointed to a car and remarked, “You’re a father now.”
His breath caught at what he saw, Mark swung the door open. Elina’s face was beaming with happiness and tiredness as she sat holding their small boy.
Mark leaned forward and held them both in his arms without saying anything. He gave Elina a gentle forehead kiss. “You’re incredible,” he said in a passionate whisper.
About The Author
