The Question (14 page)

When the meal was over, Gail excused herself. “Don’t forget about my appointment next week. You’ll get to find out the sex of the babies. I’m so excited for you.”

“We’ll be there,” Rashid assured her as he walked her to the door. He escorted her all the way to her vehicle and stood there until she was comfortably strapped inside. With a final wave, Gail pulled away from the house, Crystal’s cool behavior forgotten.

* * * *

Crystal waited until the last minute to show up at Dr. Hagan’s office. She wouldn’t have come at all but she knew there would be too many questions to answer had she given this appointment a miss. She walked into the waiting room just as the nurse called Gail’s name. Had she been in a better mood, the look of relief on Gail’s face would have amused her.

“There you are. I was starting to worry,” Gail told her.

“Just running a little late,” Crystal assured her as she watched Rashid help Gail to stand.

To Crystal, Gail appeared to be huge. She looked like she was hiding a beach ball under her shirt, and there were still three more months to go. They all paraded to the back. Rashid was visibly excited, if you knew the signs. This was all he could talk about last night and then again this morning until Crystal had to bite her tongue to keep from hollering, “Shut up already about those damned babies.” 

She watched in silence while they set up for the sonogram. When Dr. Hagan was ready, he called them closer. Pointing to the screen he said, “As I told you before, Gail is carrying twins. See this line right here? That means there are two different amniotic sacks, which means fertilization of two eggs.  What we have here is a set of fraternal twins, not identical. Now let’s see if we can see tell what sex the embryos are.”

Rashid moved closer to the bed, eyes glued to the screen. Crystal gave him room by moving further away. Now that she was here, she couldn’t help but be curious. After all, there was still the nursery to decorate and baby items to purchase.

“From the looks of things, I’d say this one right here was a boy. Now let’s see if the other one will cooperate and let us see what it is.”

Crystal watched the screen intently as she waited for the doctor’s verdict. How he could tell what anything was on the monitor was beyond her.

“I’m not a hundred percent sure since the baby’s in an awkward position, but it looks like we’ve got ourselves a mixed set—a girl and a boy.”

Rashid whooped, caught Crystal up in a bear hug and spun her around. “A son and a daughter. We are truly blessed by God.”  Then he leaned down and kissed Gail lightly on the cheek.  “Thank you for doing this for us.”

Dr. Hagan interrupted the celebration. “If you are going to take childbirth classes, now is the time to do so. I don’t know who’s going into the delivery room with Gail but it’s recommended that you be trained on what to expect.”

“Crystal is going to be my coach,” Gail informed the doctor.

“I would like to be there as well,” Rashid said to Gail.

Gail looked at Crystal, her eyes asking a question. “You might as well let him be in there with us. Otherwise he’ll drive the doctors and nurses crazy and get himself kicked out of the maternity ward.”

“Alright, you can be in there, Rashid.”

“And I shall take the classes with you as well. I, too, would like to know what to expect and how to be of assistance to you.”

“That’s an excellent idea. Why don’t the three of you go together? It will be a bonding experience. They even teach you how to care for your newborn once you bring them home from the hospital, very valuable information for new parents. I would take advantage of it. It will cut down on panicked calls to the pediatrician,” Dr. Hagan suggested mildly.

Crystal decided then and there that she would not be attending those classes. She was not sitting in a room full of pregnant women learning how to give birth if she wasn’t one of them. Rashid could be Gail’s partner. It was his children after all.  If anyone needed to know what to do, it was he.

She tuned out the rest of what Dr. Hagan was saying, only interrupting long enough to tell the group that she needed to return to work. As she left the building, she thought of the tender expression on Rashid’s face when he’d given Gail the kiss and was sorry she’d ever suggested this surrogacy business.

* * * *

After the sonogram, Crystal pushed harder than ever for Rashid to make love to her without protection. 

“Crystal, I do this for you.”

“I know but I don’t like them. I don’t like the way they feel. I prefer to feel you skin to skin.  Besides, we don’t need them. You know I’m on the Pill,” she whined.

“We do need them. It is the only way that I can guarantee that you do not get pregnant. While not one hundred percent foolproof, between these and the Pill, I know you will be safe,” he said firmly.

“I don’t want to be safe. I want to feel you, not latex when you’re in me. I’ve told you it’s unnecessary. If you insist on continuing to use them after knowing how I feel about it, then we just won’t be having sex.”  Crystal delivered her ultimatum, confident that Rashid would give in to her demands.

His face impassive, Rashid studied her until she began to feel like a piece of scum.  “If you feel this strongly about it, I will make an appointment with a specialist and schedule a vasectomy. It’s a simple procedure. With the twins, we’ll have one child of each sex. There will be the need for no more children.”

“No,” Crystal protested, horrified. “That’s not necessary. I don’t want you doing anything drastic.”

“Then for God’s sake, Crystal, what is it that you wish for me to do? You complain to all who would listen about the protection I use for your safety. You whine and make threats to me, withhold your body more than you share it, and when I come up with a viable solution to meet both of our needs, you reject it. What do you want from me? Let’s hear it in plain English for I tire of these games,” Rashid exploded.

Crystal took a step back, suddenly afraid. Rashid was well and truly angry, and she was at a loss. He’d put her on the spot with his demand and she couldn’t confess to him her real agenda. When she continued to stand there saying nothing with tears rolling down her face, Rashid heaved a big sigh. “I tire of this. Tomorrow I will call the doctor and make the appointment.  By the end of the week, it will be done.” His voice told her that his decision was final. There would be no persuading him otherwise.

Crystal burst into angry tears and left the room. Nothing was turning out as planned. This was all Gail’s fault. If she weren’t pregnant with twins, none of this would be happening.

Chapter Nine

Gail was halfway though her third trimester and the end nearly in sight. Rashid began working at home in the afternoons so he could be there to monitor her while she swam. He usually brought his laptop out by the pool and conducted business with clients, one eye on the computer, and the other on her. When she had enough of the pool, he joined her as she ate, many times eating with her.

Gail didn’t see or hear much from Crystal. She was working long hours, trying to finish the projects she was currently working ahead of schedule so that she would be free to stay home with the children when they were born. At first, Gail had been upset, accusing Crystal of abandoning her. Crystal had begged for forgiveness, saying that all the work she was doing now was for the benefit of the soon-to-be-born infants. Besides, Crystal argued, Gail had Rashid. One of them with her was really all she needed, wasn’t it? And of the two, as the babies’ father, it was more important that Rashid be there.

So Rashid accompanied Gail to all of her appointments, and it was Rashid who partnered her as her coach during the childbirth classes. Without Crystal as a buffer, Gail got to know Rashid as a person and good friend apart from her relationship with Crystal. She discovered he had a fascinating mind and was a financial genius. She now understood why Jason had gone to Rashid whenever he needed financial advice.

Underneath that reserved air was a very sharp wit. Contrary to what Crystal claimed, Gail discovered that Rashid did have a sense of humor, albeit a dry one that gently poked fun at things. Many times, if you weren’t paying close attention, much of his humor would float right over your head. In his own way, once he opened up, Rashid was a lot of fun to be around. She could see why Crystal married him.

While she was at work that Thursday, Rashid called. “Do not to go to the house after work. I will not be there to monitor you. Some urgent business matters have arisen, and I do not know how long I shall be. Promise me you will not swim alone.”

“I promise. I learned my lesson. I do not want a repeat of last time.”

“What will you do in my absence?”  She could hear the concern in his voice.

“Don’t worry, Rashid. I have plenty to do to keep me occupied. I’m getting so big that everything takes twice as long to accomplish and I’m getting behind.”

“I have offered to hire you some domestic help. I have even requested your return to our home so that we can be of assistance to you,” he reminded her.

“I know and I appreciate the offer. I wasn’t complaining. I was simply explaining that the hours I usually spend at your house can be put to use today in catching up on the things that have fallen behind, like laundry, household chores, etc.”  But the first thing she was going to do was take a nap.

“If you still would like to take your swim, I can call when I get home and you can come over then,” he generously offered.

“That’s alright. I plan to rest today. I’m not getting enough sleep. A nap sounds really good. When I leave work, I’m going to turn off the phones and lay down. Then I’ll do my chores.”

In the background, Gail could hear the murmur of men’s voices.  “I have to go. They are waiting for me. I will see you tomorrow, then. Take care and be sure to rest,” Rashid instructed.

“Yes, yes,” Gail agreed hurriedly. “Go! They’re waiting for you,” she reminded him and hung up the phone. Rashid, she’d recently discovered, was a worrywart.

Greg stopped by her cubicle shortly before scheduled to leave. “Headed for the pool?”

“Not today. Rashid has to stay in the office.”  Greg was aware of the incident in the pool and was in perfect agreement with Rashid that she not swim alone.

“Does this mean you’re free tonight?” His expression was hopeful. Although their relationship was still going strong, they hadn’t seen as much of each other because of his busy schedule.

“I’ll be home but I really need to get some rest. It’s getting harder and harder to sleep comfortably at night. I’m going home to take a nap and then catch up on my chores.”

“If you’re having trouble sleeping, I know something we can do that’s guaranteed to relax you into a good night’s sleep.”  As he spoke, he discreetly adjusted his pants, drawing her attention to his crotch.

Flirtatiously, Gail slowly licked her lips and winked. “I’m sure you do, and one day, I’ll take you up on that offer.”  By tactic agreement, they’d decided to wait until after she delivered to become lovers. Gail didn’t feel right having sex with one man while carrying the babies of another. As for Greg, he’d stated that when they did finally make love, he wanted her focus to be totally on him, not on if what they were doing was hurting the children.

“Are we still on for tomorrow?”

“Yes, just don’t come by too early. I may want to sleep in,” she warned him.

“That’s fine.” He helped her stand and walked with her to the elevator.  “Go home and get some rest. You look tired.”

“I will. The phones will be off, so don’t try to call.”

“I won’t. I’ll just see you in the morning. If you need anything, you call me.”

“Will do,” Gail told him as the elevator doors opened.

“Go on. I’ll take the stairs.”

Gail allowed the doors to close and headed home.

Late that night, Gail put up her Christmas tree, finished cleaning and decorating her apartment for the holidays, and was now debating on whether or not to shower before heading back to bed. Her concern was that the water would cause her to lose the lovely drowsiness she was experiencing. She did not want another sleepless night. Deciding to skip the shower, she was heading for her bedroom when someone pounded on the door.

Must be one of the neighbors, she thought, as she headed to answer its urgent summons. A glance out the peephole showed a wild looking Rashid standing at the door. In her rush, she fumbled with the locks.  Soon as she got it open, she had to jump to the side quickly to keep from being run over.

“Where is she? And why do you not answer your phones? I’ve been calling for hours,” he demanded.

“Where is who? And I told you the phones would be off while I slept. I must have forgotten to turn them back on.” She waddled slowly behind Rashid as he stalked further into the apartment.

“Where is my wife? I know you know where she is. She tells you everything.”  He turned to face her, his hands on his hips and a forbidding expression on his face.

“Crystal? I haven’t actually seen or talked to her since Thanksgiving Day. Every time I call, she’s busy. She isn’t home from work yet?” If that was the case, no wonder Rashid was upset. It was almost midnight. As far as she knew, Crystal never worked this late.