Paula turned to Skylar as soon as Gian had driven off leaving the two of them standing by her car. She folded her hands on her chest and turned to glare at her.
"Now tell me everything. What's complicated in your relationship with him, that you can't tell him you're not interested" Paula asked Skylar as she walked around to her white Benz, getting into the driver's side while she waited for Skylar to make herself comfortable beside her.
"I never told him that I wanted to date him. Hell, I didn't even accept to date him. He just assumes and acts on that. Everything seems like a dream to me. One minute, Gian is on the floor kneeling and pleading with me to date him and another, I'm being bundled off into the car to God's knows where" Skylar laments as she puts her head in between her hands in shock. she couldn't believe how it had come to this...
"He knelt to ask you to be his girlfriend?" Paula asked in shock as a smile broke out on her face.
Skylar turned to watch her in shock as she nodded, providing gesture answers to her question. She couldn't believe what was there to smile about. As far as she knew, she had gotten herself into a big mess and needed to get herself out of it fast before Vino assumed wrongly about her.
"Damn! I never knew he was so romantic. And so handsome. Ain't you a lucky woman, Skylar? All the handsome and rich, single billionaires all fall for you" Paula called to her friend with a teasing smile on her lips.
"tcth___ What a friend you are, Paula Ernesto? Here I am, dying and you are there laughing over my complicated relationship" Skylar called to her feigning annoyance as she turned to gaze out of the tinted window.
"I'm sorry, it just that lot of girls would kill to be in your position right now but here you are____ anyway let's forget that, about our last conversation"
Skylar's head immediately turned to look at Paula, shocked at her statement "Conversation? What was that? Course the last conversation we had was you reminding me that I was pregnant" Skylar replied rolling her eyes at her so-called friend.
"I'm sorry girl, I just wanted to make my point known to you. I didn't want to remind you of your predicament" Paula replied with a sad face as she pats Skylar on her shoulder to drive in her point.
"It's alright. I understand," Skylar replied, her hands going to her stomach. It's been two days now and she still can't get used to the fact that a life is growing inside her.
She could still remember last night, she had slept and dreamed that she had lost this baby just as she had done with her first. Her fears sent her to her phone as she called her mother immediately. She was so scared that she couldn't bring herself to tell her mom the real reason she had called but knowing her mom, she will be dying to know her answers and she planned to tell her today before it's too late.
"So, Vino had agreed to the vacation. It's slated for this weekend. We are going to have two weeks of fun and_____"
"Wait a minute. I didn't hear you. Vino did what?" Skylar asked in shock, even though she was spaced out she could still hear her words of Vino accepting for them to go on a vacation but what she couldn't understand was why?
I mean after the way he had treated her and demanded that her salary be cut if she's caught slacking from her duties, why then will he agree to go on a two weeks' vacation to God's knows where.
"He did. Ernesto persuades him and he was willing especially when he finds out that your new boyfriend will be attending"
"Wait a minute. You told him about Gian and I dating? Oh my God! I can't believe you, Paula. Why will you do that?" Skylar screamed in anger, her hands already going to the door about to open it.
She was so angry right now. She never expected Paula to betray her that way. And to think that she was trying to keep this away from him but only for her to tell him? What a friend she is... Skylar mustered to herself as she stepped out of the car, her hands shaking as she took out her phone from her bag to put a call through to Vino. It rang continuously before it stopped.
Skylar saw Paula getting out of the car and coming towards her where she stood on the sideway pacing to and fro with the phone placed on her ear redialling Vino's number.
She pretended to ignore Paula who stood in front of her, her hands clenched by her side "Please, pick up, Vino. please, baby" Skylar mustered into the phone forcing the tears from her eyes as she turned to glare at Paula who had refused to say a word.
"You know what? I'm so angry with you right now but I'll let it go for now" Paula called gently to Skylar as she made to walk towards her but Skylar responded by taking two steps back.
Paula threw her hands up in the air frustrated with everything "I didn't tell Vino about you two. He saw you himself"
That seemed to get Skylar's hands freezing on her phone as she turned to stare at Paula, with a shaky voice she voiced out her question "He___s_aw__us?"
"Yes, he did. He was the one who told me and Ernesto about you both when we went to tell him about the vacation" Paula explained as she stepped closer to pull Skylar into a hug since she was already crying.
"Skylar. I could never do that to you. I could never betray you that way. It's Okay, we'll find a way to work this out" Paula called comfortingly to her as she pulled her gently to the car and buckled her in.
She got in beside her and took the steering wheels before turning to Skylar who was already calm and trying to wipe her face with the face towel "I know a good coffee shop nearby. Let's go there to talk" Paula told her with a comforting smile on her lips as she put the car in reverse and pulled out of the sidewalk.
"Actually, I would like it if you could take me to my mom. I don't think I could handle being out again, today" Skylar called gently to Paula forcing a gentle smile on her lips as she apologized to her.
"Your mom?" Paula questioned softly, she wanted to protest but saw that Skylar's mind was made up and not changing any time soon. She decided to let it go "Okay. your mom's place it is. But you'll have to guide me. I don't know there"
"Sure. Go straight and turn left by the first interception" Skylar told her before relaxing on the seat, her eyes closing in faint tiredness...
Paula finally pulled over at a small brick house with a white picket fence. It was hard finding here since Skylar had fallen asleep on the ride here. She didn't have the heart to wake her but she had phoned her mother who had directed her here.
Speaking of mother, Paula saw a petite woman rushing out from the house as she came scrambling down the floor to where she had parked the car. Paula quickly got out and went to meet her.
"Mrs. Evans, I'm sorry I______"
"Where is she?" Mrs. Evans asked, cutting her off as she ran past her to the car where she saw Skylar still asleep.
"What did you do to my daughter? Who are you?" Mrs. Evans turned angrily to glare at Paula as she charged off to her and dragged her by her clothes.
"I'll swear if anything should happen to my daughter, I'll have you arrested"
"Relax, Mrs. Evans. I didn't do anything to her. She's just resting and will be fine later. I just brought her home. We are friends"
"Don't expect that I'll believe that nonsense. My daughter does not have any friends and ______"
"Mom, what are you doing to Paula, let her go. We are friends" Skylar called to her mom, who was already rushing out of the car immediately she saw Paula locked in her mom's grasp.
"Finally," Paula sighed heavily as Mrs. Evans released her. Paula immediately rushed to her car, scared of having another face-off with Skylar's mom.
"Paula waits, please don't leave" Skylar rushed after her, begging her with her eyes not to go as her mom watched them with curious eyes.
"What do you mean I shouldn't leave? Don't you see what she did to me earlier? Only God knows what she will do if I stay" Paula refused as she shook her head trying to get into her car but Skylar refused to let her go.
"Please. My mom isn't like that, she's only scared because I phone her last night____ during the midnight"
"Midnight? But why?" Paula asked, her curiosity piqued as she turned to watch Skylar expecting her to go on.
"Because I had a bad dream last night. I want to tell her about the baby. I'm scared that she might grow angry with me. please, stay"
"Okay, fine but you are telling me about your nightmare later. Deal?" Paula said, forcing a smile on her face.
"Deal" Skylar replied as both she and Paula followed her mother into the house.
****
"Huh, Mom. I need to tell you something" Skylar told her mom who was sitting opposite them as she sipped her coffee silently observing them after Skylar had made the introduction...
"Sure, honey. Go ahead" Mrs. Evans replied urging her daughter on as she turned to smile at her.
"Okay, Mom. It's just that, mom. I___I'm ____'' Skylar closed her eyes as she clenched and unclenched her fist as she couldn't help being scared. What will her mom think of her? Will she hate her?
"She's pregnant, Mrs. Evans. What Skylar was trying to tell you Mrs. Evans is that she pregnant with Vino's child"
"Is this true, honey. Was this the reason why you called last night? Are you having nightmares again?"
Skylar turned to glare at Paula who ignored her stare but rather sipped her tea lightly but Skylar was a bit relieved that someone else had come to her rescue. Left to her, she didn't think she would be able to say anything to her mother
"Yes, mom. I'm sorry, I let you down. I know you're angry with me but______" Skylar sobbed loudly as she shields her teary eyes with her hands. She was so ashamed of herself. She couldn't even look her mother in the eyes because she felt she had let her down?
"Shush, honey. This isn't your fault. You didn't plan for this, nobody did, Okay" Mrs. Evans told her as she went to wrap her hands around her pulling her into a hug.
"Are you not angry with me?" Skylar asked her mother after some time she had calmed down in her mother's embrace.
"Angry? Why should I be?" Mrs. Evans asked her daughter, shocked as she pretended that she didn't know right from the first day.
"I thought you'll be. I mean I failed you, I ended up with a man who is just like dad. I thought you'd hate me if you find out"
"No, Skylar. I'm never going to do that. I will love you and my grandchild more. Moreover, Vino isn't like your father. He loves you so much. Everyone could see that except you"
"I'm glad we agree on one thing Mrs. Evans" Paula called with a smile to Mrs. Evans who laughed out loud.
Skylar nodded, as she turned away from them laughing. She couldn't believe that everyone still thinks that Vino loves her. Well after today, he won't be doing that anymore. He had made it clear to her.
Have you told him?" Mrs. Evans asked her daughter as she watched her with hooded eyes.
"No, not yet" Skylar replied, shaking her head as she turned away from her mother's ever-knowing eyes.
Mrs. Evans nodded with understanding before turning to Paula with a smile on her face "Come on, Paula. Come help me set the dining while we talk about the good old days in Spain" Mrs. Evans called to Paula who was happy to oblige as they went off to the kitchen.
Skylar smiles at their retreating back glad that her mom and Paula were able to get along even though she wasn't lucky in the love department.