HER BABY’S DADDY

JANIS

The car tires ceased it’s rational movement as the car halted to a stop inside the hospital’s vicinity. My son’s wellbeing is everything to me, his health is important to me therefore I must bring him to the hospital every month for a checkup.

As Jerome’s mother I must make sure that he is fit on all aspects of his life.

I made a promise to be his mother and also his father, I said I wasn’t going to let him lack anything and that includes stable health. Although his father is no longer a mysterious Uber driver, he is now a rich populous business tycoon who will stop at nothing to take his child away from me. I’ll always stand by Jerome, guide him and protect him.

Come to think of it, Jax’s character has completely changed. Does money really change people?

He was so calm and sweet when he was an Uber driver but ever since he gained so much wealth he has become very arrogant, rude and stubborn.

I really hope Jax listens to mum and mellows down for the sake of Jerome. Things will never be the same if Jax takes Jerome away from me? What meaning would my life have now? Asides the company, I’d feel completely empty without Jerome.

I suddenly don’t remember how it feels to be without a son, Jerome has become a very big part of my life and my heart.

With Jerome in my hand we strode out of the car and ambled our way into the hospital. Taking Jerome outside suddenly felt like a huge risk particularly because of Jax’s ill minded threats to take his son by force.

As Jerome and I walked in the midst of the busy crowd at the hospital, my eyes meticulously examined every being. I wanted to make sure Jax wasn’t anywhere here.

We finally arrived at the Doctor’s office, after knocking his door he permitted our entry.

“Miss Janis….. Come in please” he obliged. His features were quite friendly and welcoming. He has always been nice to me, this was the exact hospital I birthed Jerome in, I thought it would be best if I brought him here every month for a monthly checkup

“Good morning doctor” I greeted politely.

“Good morning how are you doing?”

“I’m doing very well doctor”

“You’re here for the checkup right?”

“Yes doctor”

“Alright follow me” the doctor escorted us out of his office and into the children’s ward. He called on the attention of some nurses to assist him. I sat on an empty seat and watched the nurses attend to Jerome while I sat.

The minute Jerome’s eyes caught sight of the syringe, he started yelling and crying. The fact that he wasn’t yet used to it was still surprising.

“Mummy!”

“Mummy!” he cried and pleaded again and again as they forcefully held him down and took a sample of his blood.

He runs into my arms immediately they were done with taking the blood samples, it’s sweet how he sees me as his savior.

“We’ll run a few tests on his blood and we’ll get back to you….. Other test will still have to be done before you leave” The doctor said before ambling his way out of sight.

They handed Jerome a lollipop to calm his nerves. Nevertheless I was eager to finally round up the tests and drive Jerome back home.

I feel he isn’t safe anywhere but home, that would be the only place that Jax doesn’t have access to for now. Although I’m not aware of his full capabilities but I know he can’t just barge into the house and take Jerome forcefully.

The doctor came back and conducted a few other tests on Jerome before finally leaving to examine all the test taken.

I lingered on the results for more than 40 minutes before the doctor finally handed over the test results to me.

“Well we’ve examined everything and as usual Jerome is doing great but make sure you bring him back next month” the doctor reminded.

“That’s good news doctor…. I definitely will, thank you so much ” I shook hands with the doctor before leaving the ward.

It’s a blessing to see Jerome without a trace of any disease or illness, I wouldn’t want anything to harm him.

I clutched on to Jerome as we both sauntered out of the hospital.

Shit! Jax walked into the hospital with an old man, they seemed to be related in a way. I tiptoed and hide between people clustering together at the hospital.

God! I hope he doesn’t see Jerome and I, this was exactly my fear, my instincts read it to me that I might see Jax here.

But what exactly is he doing here with an old man. In my not-so-hidden spot I watched Jax speak to the hospital reception concerning the old man.

He stopped for a moment and began to scan the whole hall. Shit! what is he looking for, if he faces my direction I’m definitely going to be seen. His eyes continued to move round the hospital again and again.

Damn it! I need to run for my life, for my son’s life.

I can’t let him take Jerome away, not now. Although by the looks of it his attention is back to that of the old man and the reception.

Quietly I ambled my way towards the hospital door with my right hand clenched on to Jerome’s left hand.

“Janis! Janis!” Jax’s distant voice called out to me as I increased my steps towards the door.

A hand holds mine as the collision of time stops at my failing heartbeat. My heart sank as I turned to see Jax holding me so firmly.

His gaze left mine and went to Jerome beside me, I couldn’t help but carefully scan their features. Damn! I don’t even need a DNA test to see Jax in my son.

Jerome was like a carbon copy of Jax, he really is the father of Jerome. If they can’t be together with me included then they will never be together.

His straightened face morphed out a smile after several seconds he had his eyes on Jerome.

“Is that my son?” his husky voice echoed in my eardrum.

Oh no. Just what I’ve been avoiding all this while, he might just try to reach for him, carry Jerome in his arms and walk away just like that.

“No he is a relative of mine” I uttered before making another attempt to leave.

“Janis wait” he holds onto my hand one more time and gave me an intensive glare. His eyes bore into me like a knife penetrating deep into cotton. I was so frightened and terrified that he would take Jerome from me and I won’t be able to stop it.

“Tell me the truth, don’t lie to me” he says softly, he didn’t seem harsh and rude. His tonation was quite polite and friendly.

I looked around and noticed the numerous eyes that were fixed on us, this would be bad for both of us if reporters and paparazzi takes pictures of us.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

It would dig a hole on both of our companies.

People might begin to write articles and headlines about us if we spent any more time at the hospital. Jax already made a scene by yelling out my name and that’s what caused all eyes to veer towards our direction.

“This isn’t the right place for this” i said.

“Just….. let me speak to him”

“Okay” I permitted him. Atleast it wouldn’t hurt to see him converse with his son. Jax bent over and tried to carry Jerome in his arms but I stopped him.

He began to path Jerome on his head and play with him in the hospital, unconsciously a bright smile appeared on my lips as I watched Jerome laugh at his father. Jax kept making silly faces to get Jerome’s attention and it all worked.

I was more than delighted to see them happy with eachother, this is all I ever wanted. Two years ago when Jerome was born I had imagined a day like this, a day Jax would come and reunite with his son.

Nevertheless I never expected it to turn out this way and I didn’t think it would be at a hospital either. Jax signaled the hospital receptionist to attend to the old man he brought before giving Jerome his full attention.

I noticed the eyes on us had reduced drastically as Jax continued to play with Jerome, I was still uncomfortable.

A reporter might walk up to us and air everything on the news, someone might bring up their phone and takes videos of us.

I scoffed at Jax, irrespective of the fact that I was happy about their reunion I didn’t want Jax and I to be the headline of the day.

If we were in a more enclosed area Jax can spend as much time as he wants to with Jerome but not right now and not in public.

Jax ignored my scoffing and replied with a question. “What’s his name?”

I kept mute for a second, I wasn’t sure of why I didn’t respond to his question, a little part of me didn’t fully trust him yet. Probably because of his threat at the shareholders party.

He raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for the reply to his question.

“Jerome” I replied.

“That’s a nice name, I’m impressed” he smirks and turns to Jerome.

“Jerome” Jax cocked his head to one side and winks at Jerome.

Jerome giggles on hearing his name from Jax’s mouth, he was very happy. I was so surprised to see Jax very calm and polite.

This was the formal Jax I met two years ago not the arrogant man that spoke to me at the shareholders party.

“I need to leave, I don’t want to be seen by reporters or the media” I interrupted.

“Okay fine. Give me your number then” he requests plainly. His expression was unreadable.

Jax dug his hand in his pocket, pulled out his phone and handed it over to me to put my number in.

After collecting his phone I dialed my number and saved it, a malevolent smile appeared on his lips before he waved at Jerome and walked away.

I couldn’t help but admire his stature, that smile of his stuck to my brain like glue on paper, he has always been a dashing young man. With or without wealth he always appears handsome and breathtaking.

After he had gone I recovered from my trance and walked back to the car, I’m so happy that they met and their reunion didn’t cause me to shed tears.

I geared the engine and zoomed off, my mind couldn’t stop playing scenes of Jerome and Jax laughing and playing at the hospital.

I really hope he changes his mind about taking Jerome forcefully, if he doesn’t it would hurt me more than anything.