Spencer had been dealt with many shocking revelations in his life. But this triumphed them all.
It felt like the world stopped spinning because even the Earth was frozen in shock.
Spencer's mouth ran dry as he stared at Nora. He dropped his remaining sashimi, causing it to crumble onto the ground,
Madeline was pregnant. Pregnant. As in she had a baby in her. Baby. Madeline was going to have a baby. A child. To raise. Forever. Oh god.
"H-How far along is she?" He choked.
"She just finished her first trimester..."
"Three months?! She has been pregnant for three months?! I spoke to her so many times in the past three months and she said nothing. I didn't think- wait. Oh god. Nora. Three months ago?"
Spencer's brain cogs came to a dramatic halt as he remembered something. Realisation slapped him in the face when he remembered what happened three months previous.
"Madeline and I slept together three months ago..."
Nora squeaked. "Maddie is going to kill me..."
Spencer covered his mouth and ran to the bathroom where he heaved his stomach's contents into the toilet bowl. There went the expensive sushi. Nora ran behind him and clamped her hand over her mouth.
"Oh, god. I'm so sorry, Spencer. I wasn't meant to tell you and- heurgh- I- heurgh." She quickly ran out of the room to stop herself from gagging. "Sorry!" She called out from outside the door. "I can't deal with the sound of people throwing up."
"Oh god," Spencer mumbled, trying to process what Nora told him. "Are you sure? Are you sure she's pregnant?"
"I think so."
"You think so?!"
"I mean I-I know so! I saw the baby. I went to an ultrasound appointment with her."
"You went to an ultrasound appointment with her?!"
"Yes!"
Spencer tried to stand up but he couldn't. Instead, he leaned back on the tile wall and tried to use the coldness to cool himself down.
"Nora, am I the father?" Spencer asked although he already knew the answer. Shakily standing up and flushing the toilet, Spencer staggered his way to the sink. Staring at his reflection in the mirror above the sink, Spencer realised how pale his face had gone.
"Maybe you should ask her."
He splashed water onto his face and rinsed his mouth. His hands curled around the edge of the sink to steady himself as the Madeline file cabinet in his mind exploded, spraying unresolved emotions everywhere. He slowly stumbled outside and turned to face Nora who was nervously biting her nails.
"Nora. Tell. Me. Now."
"I'm not meant to be the one telling you all this! Only her parents and I know."
"Spit it out!"
Nora buried her face in her hands and cursed. "Yes! You're the father, okay?"
Spencer was going to be a father. To a baby. Madeline's baby.
"Nora.... I'm going to be a father?"
She nodded slowly, nervously waiting for him to reveal his emotions.
"So you're telling me, for the last three months, Madeline has been pregnant with my child? Meanwhile, I was so busy whining over stupid issues! I'm the most selfish person ever!"
"She found out last month and told me on the day of her wedding so she hasn't been alone, if that's any consolation. I went with her to all of her appointments."
Spencer groaned and walked towards a chair. He could feel his legs turn to jelly beneath him. "She wanted to tell me...she texted me and said it was urgent we meet. And I blocked her! I blocked the mother of my child.... I'm a monster!"
Nora gently rubbed his back. "You didn't know, Spence."
"I should never have blocked her."
"You did what you had to do to stay with Amelie. What matters is what you do now that you know."
Spencer knew exactly what he had to do. He had to see her. He didn't even know what he was going to say to her. She didn't need him. Spencer knew how strong she was. But he needed her. He loved her and wanted to be there for her.
"Where is she? I need to see her."
Nora smiled and kissed the top of his head. "She's staying with her parents. Go get her tiger."
âââ
Spencer took a deep breath in as he raised his hand to knock on the door. In his other hand was a bouquet of pink and blue peonies. Did Madeline still like peonies? Her favourite flowers were hydrangeas but they weren't in season. Flowers were the least of his worries. Oh, god, he felt sick again. What if she didn't want him to be involved in his child's life? What if she hated him? What if-
"Spencer," Jamal said, opening the door. His face immediately twisted into a grimace. "Can I help you?"
"I need to see her. I need to see Madeline. I know."
"You know what?" Jamal spat, looking unimpressed.
Spencer sighed. "I know she's pregnant."
Jamal is rolled his eyes and refused to budge from the door. "You abandoned her-"
"I didn't know-"
"You ignored her calls. And now you want to see her? No."
"Sir-"
"Spencer, I think it would be best if you leave."
"No, no, please sir, I need to see her."
Spencer put his hands out to stop the door as Jamal tried to close it. Jamal glared at him but couldn't push hard at the door and gave up after a few seconds of resisting. It was then that Spencer noticed the cane in his hand. He remembered Madeline telling him something about her dad having MS. Spencer sighed and took a step back.
"Leave," Jamal ordered, pointing to the gate.
Spencer shook his head and looked at him desperately. "Sir... I love your daughter. And I know that without me she wasn't helpless and lost. She doesn't need me. She's so strong. But I love her so much. And I am ready to give her my all, to give my child my all. I'm definitely not ready to be a father but I'm ready to try. And right now I need to see her. I need her."
Jamal furrowed his eyebrows in deep thought before exhaling slowly. "She's not here-"
"Please-"
"Son, I swear she isn't here. She left a few hour ago. I don't know where she went." His eyes darted behind Spencer's shoulders and Spencer could hear the click-clack of heels approaching them. He whipped his head around, expecting Madeline but instead found Priya making her way to the door.
"Spencer? Oh, wow, I didn't expect to see you. How are you darling?" She drawled in her London accent.
"I'm overwhelmed...."
She pouted and patted his back. "You found out about the bun in the oven?"
"Yes...."
She smiled, flashing her brilliantly white teeth. Her index and middle finger walked over her baby bump as she let out a light laugh. "I still don't feel ready for our little boy and I'm due next week. When we found out, we all kind of freaked out. I was so scared...." She walked up to Jamal and wrapped her arm around him. "But Jam was my rock."
He smiled and kissed her. "Honey, do you know where Madeline is?"
Priya nodded. "I just met her for lunch. I think she has an ultrasound appointment. It's in Dr Ann's clinic. I can send you the address."
"Yes. Please."
Priya winked at him and took out her phone. As she searched for the address, Spencer zoned out. He tried to slow down his heart by breathing slowly. He didn't even know what he was going to say to Madeline. Would he take the risk and tell her he loved her one last time? Or would that just ruin everything?
He had no idea what type of father he was going to be. What if he turned out like his own father and his child ended up resenting him forever? What if Madeline didn't want him to get involved? What if Madeline hated him? What if-
"Spencer..." Jamal exhaled, clapping his hand down on Spencer's shoulder. "It's going to be okay."
âââ
The next chapter gave me life ð¥ºð¥ºð¥º
Hope y'all are keeping safe.