The Guard To My Sanctuary - Chapter 22: Chapter 22

I ran to the toilet almost tripping on a pair of shoes I had left on the floor and spilled my guts out. I had been throwing up violently for three days. I knew morning sickness sucked for everyone but it was almost unbearable for me. I felt like my body was trying to regurgitate sand everytime I had to run to the bathroom. Suffice to say I was not enjoying my first month of pregnancy and was scared that this would be the norm for the duration. I was experiencing the worst insomnia I had ever had to deal with in my life. I was tired all the time it was like I couldn't get enough sleep no matter how long I lay in bed. I had to eat so much because my metabolism made it hard for me to gain the weight that I needed to and I was always dehydrated despite drinking around a gallon and a half. I went from hating Marco's Dominican ass to becoming a complete baby and not wanting him to leave me due to the mood swings. I was really feeling out of control of my body in ways that reminded me of the way I felt when I was trapped in Trenton.
"You shouldn't be causing me problems yet you're barely a clump of cells, why are you causing Daddy so many problems. We are going to have to figure something out because this is not going to work for me and it's best that you learn now that what I say goes," I spoke to my fetus. I got up and brushed my teeth then walked out to my room and stripped out of my clothes and changed into a pair of sweats and a graphic t-shirt. Walking downstairs I laughed at a stupid joke I thought of when I noticed I didn't have any shoes on.
"Barefoot and pregnant."
"What are you laughing at like that," my dad asked coming in from outside his phone in his hand.
"Nothing," I said walking to the kitchen not wanting to give him any fuel for his corny jokes.
"Yeah right, how are you feeling," he said putting his hand up to my forehead in a concerned manner.
"I'm fine Daddy," I said moving away from his touch.
"Alright just checking, I don't want you to hurt yourself or the baby," he said and sat down on the couch.
"I promise you I'm fine just a little tired, if something was wrong I would tell you, or Marco would tell you," I told him while in between a yawn.
"Elm I need to ask you a favor, you know how you said you wanted me to get back to dating, right," he asked me obviously about to ask a favor.
"Yes I remember," I responded sensing a questioning tone.
"Well how would you feel about meeting her tonight for dinner," he asked me with his head still turned to the television that he had turned on.
"I'd be very happy to meet her," I said honestly. I wanted him to be happy and healthy as much as he wanted the same for me.
"Great because I just invited her over around eight also I need you to do me a favor," he said to me.
"Yeah, sure," I said inquisitively knowing I was about to be put to work.
"Well could you cook dinner for tonight, it will just be the three of us. Pine and Alder already met her but I wanted her to get to know you in a low threat environment," he asked me knowing I would do it. I had always been the type of person to do or give without asking for much in return.
"Sure that's not a problem," I told him. I wanted to stay and talk more but my gut had another idea. I briskly walked upstairs to my room shutting the door and went directly to my bathroom where I threw up again. When I was done I flushed and just sat there waiting for myself to calm down. I was starting to feel that something was off but wasn't sure what exactly was going on. I was so tired all I could do was swish a cap full of mouth wash around in my mouth and walked to my bed. I checked my phone and responded to text from my brothers, Uncle, Thalia, and Marco before setting an alarm for five so I could take a much-needed nap. When my alarm went off I jumped up not feeling much better than I had before I went to sleep. Yawning I  crawled out of my bed and walked downstairs to find myself alone in the house which confused me because I was never left home alone. Then I heard the sound of metal clinking together so I walked to the back deck and saw my dad lifting weights.
"Seriously," I said looking at him sitting on the bench working his arms with dumbells.
"What," he asked not taking his focus off of the weights in his hand. He hated when people stared at him during a workout.
"How much more muscle do you need to gain," I asked seriously I was starting to think he had an addiction
"Boy isn't you supposed to be making dinner, what are we having and remember you can't have anything hella spicy, or tuna," he said to me disregarding my question completely.
"Well since you handcuffed me I guess I'll make some chicken pasta and bake a red velvet layer cheesecake I saw on the Food Network," I said. I watched a lot of cooking shows since I was usually inside the house. I picked up a few skills along the way but wasn't at the point of freestyle cooking, as long as there was a guide of some sort I was good.
"Sounds good, I'm going to shower and get ready," he said and placed his weights on the ground and getting up following me inside. I walked into the kitchen and got to work first finding the recipes online then getting the ingredients. I felt a little woozy halfway through cooking the pasta but I soldiered on all the way till the cake was in the oven. I then rushed upstairs since it took me longer than I thought to run up and shower, brush my teeth and do something with my hair. I grabbed some jeans and a sweater knit almost skin tone sweater which was a variation of my usual uniform. After I put the articles of clothing on I marched downstairs feeling really tired. I grabbed a bottle of water as I made my way into the kitchen and downed it then got the cake out the oven and place it in the refrigerator to cool. My Dad came down wearing jeans a t-shirt and a cardigan just as the doorbell rung.
"She's here," my Dad said with a big smile on his face. I was happy that he was that excited so I smiled as big as he did despite the urge to sleep that was pulling at me. I really wanted him to have his own life after worrying about me for so long. He walked to the door while I carried the platter to the table for us. Then went back to grab the bottle of wine for my Dad and his girlfriend and another bottle of water for myself, I got some grapefruit flavored tonic water to jazz my meal up a little since I couldn't have anything good. I heard the voice of my Father and someone vaguely familiar but I couldn't pinpoint it even as the voices got closer.
"Cindy Ngung," I said looking at the lawyer that gave me about my money and explained my trust to me.
"Daddy your dating the lawyer. You guys acted as if you've never seen each other," I said baffled. I wondered why they pretended like they didn't know one another when we had all first met.
"Sorry, we actually hadn't spoken in months when she came into the office so she acted like I didn't know her and I played along," he said.
"Oh well it's nice to meet you while being honest," Cindy said with a smile. She was really pretty she looked around my daddy's age and had well-kempt hair and wore somewhat conservative makeup. I could see why my father was attracted to her and hoped her personality was just as pleasant as her appearance
"Nice to meet you as well," I said and gave her a warm genuine smile. Looking closer at her she was quite stunning.
"Almost forgot to tell you congratulations on your pregnancy. I thought your Father was playing with me when he told me the news," she laughed kindly.
"I'm not surprised or aware that we were telling people. How about you come and eat Cindy," I said directing her and my Dad to the table. We all sat down and grabbed a plate I was starting to feel really tired but didn't want to ruin the night especially not when it had just started. I gave my father the eye, not that I was upset at him but that I really wanted to keep it between the family and though he was close to her she still remained a stranger.
"So where are you from," I asked in a softer voice than normal.
"I'm Vietnamese and Han Chinese," she answered me.
"That's nice but I meant like what state are you from," I said forcing a smile even though I was in pain. My Dad laughed even though what I said wasn't that funny. I imagined he was the same way with my mom as a young man.
"Oh, I'm sorry I'm so used to people asking about my ethnicity. I'm from Bend, Oregon," she said with a smile. We made small talk for about thirty minutes until we were all done eating and it was time for dessert. She was smart, in both a well read and street smart way. I enjoyed talking to her and was thankful that my dad had chosen somebody with a good personality to be involved with I would have hated if she was vile and rude. As I walked to the refrigerator to grab the cheesecake and to bring back to the table I began to feel really off. Halfway there this piercing headache hit me and I lost control of the cake and fell to the floor. I looked at the splattered remains of my hard work right in front of me. The pan collided with the ground with a loud clang that echoed through the air around us. Seconds later my Dad was at my side the loverboy look in his face replaced with one of concern.
"Elm what's wrong with you darling, what happened," he said looking at me. I heard the click of Cindy's heels coming into the room. I could feel my body begin to tingle as pain radiated from my abdomen. I felt fear that I was about to lose the baby and the room was spinning. My eyes couldn't focus on anything for too long as my dad ran over and grabbed my shoulder to try and pull me to my feet. The ground under me felt cool to the touch and I thanked the lord that we kept the house at a nice and chilly temperature.
"Call Dr.Nisbalm and tell him to meet us at the hospital something isn't right. Then call Marco and tell him to come... Daddy, it hurts so much," I started to cry. I felt him pick me up in his big arms and start moving after that it was all a blur. I could only remember my dad sounding frantic while Cindy kicked off her heels and began moving. Soon shapes lost their structure and the world became a mosaic of colorful blurs and then I lost consciousness.