*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
????????????EPISODE 37????????????
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*?? MORE THAN FRIENDS ??*
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Ethan Junior’s POV
“You want to talk about it, man? You’ve been looking slumped for the entire morning,” my brother offered as I walked into his office to hand in a doc-ument.
I threw myself onto his couch, feeling defeated and lost.
“Is this about Zenia leaving?” he asked.
I nodded my head yes.
“You’re missing her, aren’t you?”
I nodded my head yes again.
“Tell me exactly, how can you break up with her when your heart still wants her? Is your ego that big?”
I eyed him. “I don’t know. She hurt me as well and she wanted to pla-y the victim role. Nah, I don’t think so.”
“Did she apologized?”
“Of course she apologized Evan.”
“See, that’s the problem right there with you younger generation. It’s like the word ‘sorry’ doesn’t mean anything or that it doesn’t exist in your vocabulary.
She apologized! You should have been the bigger man and accepted her apology and work things out with her. She’s a human being and at the top of that, she’s a woman. She’ll make mistakes and harsh judgement but it’s your job to ensure her that you’re willing to fight for her no matter what.
You gave up too easily, and that’s why you lost her. Now she’s in England with some other guy by her side.”
“Evan, what should I do? Should I go to England for her?”
“Don’t you dare. Just leave her alone EJ, if it’s meant to be then she’ll come back like how her sister came back to me. Give it some time.”
“Well what if she doesn’t come back?”
“Then move on with your life. And what’s that rumor going around about you and Madison? Is that true?”
“Not really.”
He narrowed his eyes and glared at me.
“I’m telling you the truth. She’s my friend and that’s it. That only hit the media because after my breakup with Zenia, Madison and I went to dinner and there was a group of paparazzi.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because mom insisted. I told her about the breakup and then Madison lost her mom so she insisted that we should go to the dinner and try to have some fun.”
“Nothing happened?”
“Nothing happened!” I semi-shouted.
“Okay.”
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Zenia’s POV
“Wow, your father’s place is amazing,” I complimented when Anton decided to give me a grand tour of his father’s mansion the next morning.
“I’m glad you like it. How was breakfast?”
“It was amazing too. Everything about this place is amazing.”
“Not as amazing as you,” Anton said softly. We rounded a corner and he pushed me gently up against a wall.
“You’re so beautiful. I’m so happy that you’re here,” he whispered in my ear. He tilted my head upwards so that I was looking into his ocean pair of eyes, his mouth slowly came towards me.
“No Anton,” I said and gently pushed him away.
“Oh, too soon?”
“Yeah.”
“Right, I’m so sorry. I’m such an idiot.”
“No you’re not. It’s just that I’m still processing and I don’t want to lead you on to something I may not be able to give back. Do you un-derstand?”
“Yeah, I un-derstand.”
“Thank you.”
I gave him a quick hu-g and I went back into my guest be-droom. I was still feeling sleepy and nauseated. The time difference was making me confused and the plane ride made me upset. I took the lights off, climbe-d into be-d and fell asleep.
~
At 4:00 pm, I woke and decided to call my sister.
“Zen! I was so worried when I hadn’t heard from you. How are you?”
” I’m fine Jasmine. You really nee-d to stop worrying so much. How’s Jevan and the other baby?”
“Jevan is being Jevan and the little one is doing great. I went for a checkup today and everything is going smoothly.”
“You’re what, like four months?”
“Four and a half exactly.”
“What’s the s-x?”
“No I’m not doing that. I want this one to be a surprise. Evan and I had already picked out names. Jase, if it’s a boy and Jada if it’s a girl.”
“Wow, you and Evan is such an incredible pair.”
“You miss him, don’t you?”
“Of course I miss the best brother in law ever.”
“I’m not talking about Evan, I’m talking about EJ. You know he came to the airport looking for you to try to stop you from leaving.”
My heart skipped several beats.
He came?
“I don’t want to talk about EJ right now. He ended us and moved on with Madison. ”
“Yeah but I think you was wrong. With all fairness, we saw that on television and you know how the media can make things look extra.”
I heaved a frustrated sigh.
“I’m sorry if I’m upsetting you but you did a smart thing by moving away Zenia.”
“Well why do I feel like I made the worst mistake of my life? You know I still love him and the fact that he came to the airport, I guess he wants more than our friendship.”
“Zenia, listen to me. Give it some time for the negatives to bl-owover. If you come back so soon and get back with him, the same thing is going to happen again and again.”
I un-derstood where she was coming from.
“Okay, I’ve got to go now. Jevan is asking for his diced fruits. Oh, do you wanna say hi to him?”
“Yes put him on.”
“Halo,” his tiny voice came throu-ghthe phone.
“Hi baby, how are you?”
“Fine.”
“Aunt Zena miss you so much. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“Otay.”
“He’s a year and six months old and he’s already so intelligent,” I said when Jasmine came back to the phone.
“Tell me about it. Emma told me that Evan formed perfect se-ntences at one year and one month old. It’s in Jevan’s DNA.”
We shared a jolly laugh.
“Well, take care of yourself over there and I’ll talk to you soon again. Goodnight. I love you girl.”
“I love you too big sister.”
The phone call ended and I began to tear up. I missed home. I missed Ashley and Alex’s drama, I miss my sister who was my acting guardian angel, I missed my awesome brother in law and his side of the family but most of all, I missed EJ.
I went throu-ghmy pictures again, I never had the courage of deleting his handsome face.
“Zenia, dinner is ready!” Anton called from outside the be-droom door.
“I’ll be right there!”
I washed my hands and went into the dinning room. Anton was already seated and I sat down opposite.
A plate of fried salmon fish cakes topped with mango salsa on a be-d of grilled goat cheese salad with a fluttering of mango coulis dressing and a cu-p of tea, awaited my mouth. The smell was heavenly and I hungrily devoured every bit of it.
“Wow, you really enjoyed your dinner.”
“That was very delicious. Your chefs are very good.”
“They received the best training in the world.”
“I wouldn’t doubt that.”
After dinner, we went to look at a movie. I snuggled up in the comfortable couch with Anton next to me.
“What shall we look at?” he asked
“I don’t….. ” My response was cut short from an eruption making it’s way up my che-st. I heaved off the couch and made a beeline to the nearest washroom.
Everything I had for dinner a moment ago, came up.
“Zenia, are you okay? My goodness, you’re looking suddenly pale.” Anton ru-bbe-d my shoulder as I vomited again.
“I think it was the salsa,” I said as I rinsed my mouth out, “In the morning, I’ll be fine again.”
“Okay, well no more salsa for you.”
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The following morning, I felt better. The sun was shinning, the birds were singing and I was in a happy mood.
I met Anton for breakfast.
“Today, I want to show you around the neighborhood, but lets have breakfast first, of course.”
“Okay.”
Breakfast was served but when the scent got into my nostrils, it caused another eruption. I ran into the bathroom again and once more, I vomited.
I felt weak afterwards and a fever came on instantly.
“I think I should take you to see the doctor, it could be food poisoning,” Anton said.
He help me to my feet, led me out the washroom and gra-bbe-d his car keys.
*THE HOLLEN SERIES 03*
????????????EPISODE 38????????????
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*?? MORE THAN FRIENDS ??*
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Zenia’s POV
I walked to Anton’s car with a teary face and a racing heart. No-one loves being or feeling sick. My stomach ached and felt like it was being tired in knots, I had a screaming headache that was worse than any hangover headache I ever had. I felt weak and drained.
“I’m sorry you’re going throu-ghthis. I’ll get you to the doctor and you’ll soon be better,” Anton kindly said and @$$isted me with fastening my seat belt.
My eyes were closed for the entire ride to the doctor’s office.
“Ah, Mr. Mc Calister. It’s nice to see you again,” a friendly female doctor greeted. She was beautiful with kind brown eyes and pixie cut brown hair.
“Hello Dr. Cheridan. This is my friend Zenia and I’m afraid she is in great nee-d of your medical care,” Anton informed. I was wrapped up against his shoulder.
“Oh dear. Come on Zenia, let’s get you to my MR.”
My legs reacted slowly so it appeared Anton was dragging me towards a wheelchair.
~
Once in the doctor’s office, she la-id me down on a gurney. Anton left to wait in the reception area in the hallway.
*
*
“Can you please tell me the symptoms you’re experiencing?” she kindly asked with her everlasting British accent.
“Vomiting.”
“Uh-huh. Go on.” She was moving around and her pacing made me nervous.
“Fever. Stomach pain. Dehydration. Nausea,” I counted.
“Okay. It does sound like food poisoning but before I go a step further, can you tell me when was your last period?”
“My period?” I asked alarmingly since I was startled by the question. I wrecked my br@in as I tried to recollect when was my last period.
Ever since the miscarriage, my period hadn’t been flowing normally as it should. My hor-mones, my cervix and my Fallopian tubes had been at constant battle with my other reproductive organs.
“I don’t know,” I answered her.
“Had you been experiencing difficulties with your period lately?”
I nodded my head yes. “Ever since my miscarriage.”
“Oh I see. I’m very sorry that you had to go throu-ghthat.”
I wanted to tell her that it is alright because it was all my fault but I kept quiet. I only met her and I had already told her about my miscarriage. Telling her how it occurred wasn’t her business.
“Okay Zenia, please lay back and lift your T-shirt. I’m going to conduct an ultrasound.”
“For what?” I almost snapped. I was suddenly angry at her. Her eyes grew at me and I quickly apologized.
“I’m not pregnant,” I said afterwards.
“Are you a born-again vir-gin?”
“No.” I felt belittled as I answered. A frown pla-ying on my face.
She smi-rked and applied the ultrasound gel to my stomach area. It was as cold as ice.
Using a transducer, she distributed the gel around while paying close attention to the sonogram across from us.
Within a few seconds, a picture appeared on the screen.
“Zenia, I’m pleased to tell you that you’re pregnant and it looks like you had been pregnant for a month now.”
“WHAT?”
“It’s right here in front of you. In your uterus, there’s the early development of the baby. See the tiny head?.”
I almost leap off the gurney but Doctor. Cheridan held onto my shoulders and gently la-id me back.
“Zenia, listen to me. I know it comes like a total surprise at first but getting worked up isn’t going to do you any good. This is the reason for your illness. You’re pregnant and you weren’t aware of it but everything is going to be alright. Just take a few moments to yourself and process.”
She printed a picture of the sonogram and handed it to me. “Congratulations.”
She wiped the gel of my stomach and fixed my tee while all the time, I was speechless and looking at the picture.
Pregnant?
I’m pregnant?
“I’m going to prescribe some pills to minimize the occurrence of your morning sickness. Also prenatal multivitamin for development, nutrition and growth for the baby’s sake.”
“And I do trust that you’re keeping the baby. You wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. The Mc. Calisters are good people and although Anton is young, he’ll make an excellent father,” she added.
“I don’t believe in ab-ortions,” I simply said.
“Excellent. Neither do I. I think it’s absolutely cruel and disgusting in the innocent cases.”
“I totally agree.”
“Okay Zenia, please remember to drink lots of fluids, especially water, eat healthy food, get enough rest but also be active.”
“Thank you and I would.”
*
*
She led me out the room and we met up with Anton in the halls. “Hey,” he pulled me into his arms, “Are you feeling any better?”
“She would be better and congratulations again.” Dr. Cheridan gave another sweet smile before leaving us.
“Congratulations for?” Anton asked. His eyebrows crea-sed together with questions and an unreadable expression on his face.
I la-id my head against his che-st. “I’m pregnant,” I said in a very low tone.
“You’re what?” he asked.
I looked up at his handsome face. “I’m pregnant.”
“Wow,” he said and ran his hand over his face. “Come on, lets get you home.”
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“I don’t know what to do now. I’ve left EJ and America to get a break and I can’t even get that because now I’m pregnant. Another life is inside of me again!”
“Zenia, please calm down.”
Anton and I were in my be-droom. I became frantic as the fact hit me that I was not dreaming.
I began packing.
“What are you doing?” Anton asked and held my hand to stop me.
“I’m leaving. I’m going back to America. You wouldn’t want me here now that I’m pregnant with EJ’s baby. The guy you can’t stand.”
“Zenia, sweetie. I don’t want you to leave. You know I like you so much even though you’re with a baby for another guy, that hasn’t changed my feelings for you and it wouldn’t.”
“Anton, you’re so sweet. I really don’t deserve your kindness.”
“Yes you do.” He planted a ki$$ on my forehead, “You don’t have to leave. You can have the baby here.”
I laughed lightly. “Oh you must not know who The Hollens are. If EJ finds out that I’m pregnant, you may just see his private helicopter on your lawn in the morning, waiting to take me back home.”
“Well don’t say anything to him or anyone else for that matter.”
I looked at him like if he just grew two heads.
Don’t say anything?
How can I keep this a secret from my sister even?
TO BE CONTINUED….