«Jacey... I’m pregnant with our child,» she murmurs with a radiant smile, taking my hand in hers and pressing it to her belly.
Tears of joy stream from her eyes like rivers, and her eyes shine with happiness.
«O-Our child...» I repeat weakly, my voice trembling.
Veronica... is she really carrying my child in her womb? Is that really possible? I’m a vampire, she’s human... I had never imagined our two species could conceive. I should ask soone who could confirm it with certainty, and unfortunately only John cos to mind... even though the thought of his answer terrifies .
If the answer were no... it would an the baby isn’t mine. And if that were the case... what should I do? Pretend I don’t know she’s pregnant with another man’s child? Ask for a DNA test? Veronica wouldn’t take that well. But I can’t exactly raise a child knowing it isn’t mine...
Raising a child...
If it weren’t mine, it would piss off. But if it was...?
Fuck, I’m only eighteen... am I really ready to beco a father? What a ssed-up situation... And yet Veronica has always taken birth control — not that I ever really paid attention, convinced that a child between a human and a vampire was impossible.
«Jacey... please, say sothing...» she sobs. She holds tighter, while the joy on her face slowly fades, probably freaked out by my silence. Her tears aren’t tears of happiness anymore.
What should I tell her, exactly? I don’t even know myself. But I definitely can’t stay silent...
«I thought you were taking birth control...» I murmur, trying to stay calm. «Anyway... how far along are you?»
«Yes, I was taking it, and I kept taking it until I found out I was pregnant...» She clings to even tighter, as if she feared I might abandon her, run away and leave her alone. «It all started on my first day in Ashiya... that evening we had a work dinner at a Japanese restaurant. I ate sushi and, halfway through the evening, I started feeling sick. I got hit with nausea and vomiting, and I imdiately thought it was food poisoning. But when they took to the hospital and did the tests... it turned out I was three weeks pregnant. You know, birth control is effective but not infallible, and it’s funny that I’m saying it, considering I used exactly the ones produced by us at Seiryu Biotech — I guess I’ll have to call an extraordinary eting with the researchers to express doubts about the effectiveness of our drugs...» Veronica lets out a faint smile. «Jokes aside, besides the doctors who examined , whom I asked for absolute confidentiality, you’re the only one who knows. I know you’re still young, and that the last thing you’d want right now is to beco a father, so I’d understand if you told you don’t feel ready. I’ll do anything you ask , even give up the baby, but please, Jacey... say sothing...»
Now Veronica is a ss of tears, so much so that I struggle to understand her words even though she’s trying hard to get them out. And seeing her like this... it really breaks my heart. She was happy when she told , she probably expected a different reaction from ...
«Do you... want to beco a mother? I an, the mother of a child of your blood, not an adopted one,» I ask her.
She shakes her head frantically, so much that the tears splash everywhere.
«That doesn’t matter. I... I just want to be happy with you, Jacey! Your happiness is my happiness!»
«That’s not what I asked you,» I reply firmly.
Veronica nods slightly.
«I’d be lying if I said no...» she sobs, finding a bit of calm again. «Because of my job, I never had ti or the chance to be with n — I didn’t even have a private life outside of work, let alone find the love of my life. And yet, deep down I always wanted to beco a mother. That’s why I adopted you. But now... now you are the only love. I feel ready to finally beco a mother, to give birth to the blood of my blood — the blood of our blood — conceived with the only man I have ever loved and will ever love. That’s why I said what I want doesn’t matter, because if it depended only on I wouldn’t hesitate for an instant to bring this baby into the world. But I’m not so selfish as to ignore your feelings...»
After hearing her open up like that — more than she ever has before — I’d be a real bastard to ask her to give up what could be her last chance at motherhood, having already passed forty. She says her happiness is my happiness, but the sa goes for . And seeing her happy is the only thing that truly matters.
From the day she adopted , she has always worked herself to exhaustion, making endless sacrifices, brutal hours, giving up her life outside of work just to make sure I never lacked anything. And now it’s my turn. It’s my turn to do everything possible to make her the happiest woman in the world. And besides, I’m sure I’ll get used soon to having a little brat running around the house.
I cover her hands with mine and look her straight in the eyes.
«Veronica, I want you to promise one thing.»
She wipes her cheeks and nods quickly.
«Promise ... that you’ll take a long break from work and that we’ll raise this child together. I don’t want babysitters in the house.»
«J-Jacey...» Tears start flowing again, tears of happiness again. She throws herself into my arms, holding with all the strength she has. «I promise, Jacey. I promise. Actually, I’ll do more — I’ll resign. With the savings of almost twenty years of career and the severance pay, we’ll be able to live in luxury for the rest of our lives. I don’t want to miss a single mont of our child’s growth! I can’t wait to breastfeed him, change his dirty diapers and sing him lullabies to make him fall asleep. I’ll prepare lots of nutritious baby food and, when he’s a bit older, I’ll read him books and draw with him. I’ve wanted all of this so much, Jacey, you can’t even imagine. And knowing you’ll be by my side makes the happiest woman in the world. I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful father. A caring and loving father — the best father who has ever existed. We’ll be a family, Jacey. The most beautiful family in the world!»
Listening to her words, I can’t help but smile softly. They’re sincere and co straight from her heart. It’s obvious that Veronica wants to be a mother more than anything else in the world. And I will always stay by her side.
I know what it ans to grow up without parents, and I would never allow, for any reason, that the blood of my blood goes through the sa hell. I will always be by their side and I’ll do everything to be a man and a father Veronica and my son can be proud of.
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