Page 22

S urtain “Sur”

I stirred in my sleep when the sound of coughing and vomiting filled my ears.

I’d been partially awake with the thought of our last therapy session on my mind.

I accepted the fact a long time ago that Lai didn’t want me sexually anymore, but to hear it out loud hit different.

There was a pain in my heart because of it.

The woman I’d loved and lusted after since high school no longer desired me the way I still did her.

My life had changed so much in this short time that I struggled to process my newfound emotions.

Groggily, I sat up and looked around. Lai was in the bed sound asleep, but Dom wasn’t.

I looked at the bathroom in our room. The door was closed, but the light was on.

I flipped the cover off me and slipped into my underwear, a tee, and pajama bottoms. Dom’s puking had ended as I walked to the door.

I now heard running water. I knocked then entered.

Dom brushed her teeth, but her eyes were red and tiny red bumps covered her face.

It was called petechiae, a condition that was caused from stress or straining when vomiting.

It had happened a lot to Dom lately. I’d never seen her look so ill. Dom spat in the sink.

“Baby, don’t come in here. It’s not good. I could be contagious. I don’t wanna get you sick.”

I kissed the back of her neck and cheek.

“Beautiful, I don’t care about that. You’re my baby. Take a seat on the toilet when you’re done,” I directed.

“Okay.”

I walked back into my room and removed my doctor’s bag from the closet.

Something in me told me Dom had more than a stomach bug.

That was even if she had one at all. Dom told us that the physician at an urgent care said she had a stomach bug.

I had mixed emotions about his diagnosis.

Dom had been sick for weeks now. Her stomach bug should’ve been gone or at least she should be recovering.

When I walked back into the bathroom, Dom sat on the toilet top, but her head rested in her lap.

“Hey, baby. Sit up for me, please.”

She did as I instructed. I removed my thermometer and took her temperature.

Dom’s temp was a hundred degrees. It was a low-grade fever.

I removed my mobile blood pressure machine.

As the balloon deflated, her numbers on the screen elevated until they stopped.

Dom’s pressure was a little elevated. Her vomiting a minute ago was more than likely the cause.

“Is everything okay, love?”

“Yes. You have a low-grade fever, and your blood pressure is slightly elevated, but it’s nothing to worry about. I do have to ask you, Dom, when was the last time you had your cycle?”

Her face scrunched and brows furrowed. Dom pulled her legs under her and stared off into space. When her eyes widened, I felt that the question I’d been pondering since our hotel stay was validated.

“I-I haven’t had my cycle in almost two months,” she admitted softly. Dom stared at the floor when she answered.

“Baby, look at me.” Dom’s head slowly rose. She gazed into my eyes. “Lately, you’ve been super nauseous, dizzy, and your breasts are sore. Not to mention, when I enter you, your pussy feels warmer than it ever has. I don’t wanna make you uncomfortable, but I believe you are pregnant with my baby.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she nodded.

“I suspected, but I didn’t want to entertain the thought.

It’s because I feared you might think I tried to trap you.

Plus, I didn’t want Lai to hurt me or take you away from me.

Sur, I’m not ready for a baby. I have nothing to offer a child.

My life is all over the place right now.

Not to mention, I got pregnant by a married man. Oh, God.”

She placed her hands over her face and sobbed.

I sat on the floor of the bathroom and allowed Dom to feel.

As wild and unorthodox as this situation may be, I was ecstatic.

Not only was I about to be a father, but the woman I truly loved carried my baby.

Life couldn’t get any better for me. I stood from the floor then pulled Dom into my arms. She stared at me with watery eyes. I wiped away her fresh set of tears.

“I know you’re scared right now. I am too, but I love you.

What would make you think that I wouldn’t love our child too?

It’s a unique situation to be in, but I want my baby.

Our baby. No one, not even Lai, can keep me away from you and our child.

We’re going to tell her now, but however she responds, just know I’ll be by your side every step of the way.

Lai asked you a few days ago to move in with us, and you said you’ll think about it. I’m begging you now.

“There’s no way I can comfortably stay here knowing you’re at home alone with our unborn child.

Lai and I have the means to provide for you both.

If you say yes, then fuck that apartment and job.

Come and live like a real princess. I know you’ve been on your own for a while now, but you don’t have to be any longer.

What do you say? Please say yes, baby. Trust me. I’ll handle the rest.”

Dom searched my eyes with her lips pursed to the side. She contemplated heavily. The vein in her forehead continued to spike. I could only imagine how she felt. Stability was what she wanted, and I could offer her that and more. All she had to say was yes. Dom nodded slowly.

My brows merged together. “Are you saying yes?”

She nodded again.

“Yes,” she quietly replied.

Before she could say anything else, I pulled Dom into my arms and held her tightly.

I beamed on the inside with excitement. I feared my elation might scare her, so I held it in for now.

Dom slightly shivered in my arms. My baby was scared shitless, but I had her back through it all. I kissed the top of her head.

“Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world. I’ve longed to be a dad, and you made my dream come true. Thank you for this gift.”

Dom sniffled. “Thank you for the love and security, Sur. I love you so much, baby.”

I grinned hard. Acceptance was the first step. I pulled away from her.

“You need to take a test so we can finalize what we already know.”

I removed a pregnancy test from my bag. I kept as many medical supplies on me as I could.

“Okay, love.” She took the test and followed the directions. Dom cleaned her hands as we waited patiently for the results.

This time, I sat on the toilet with her on my lap.

I kissed her arm and exposed shoulder. We were both nervous.

The silence around us was so thick. I could feel it coiling around me like a snake, but I wouldn’t let my fears or my anxious feelings get to me.

Time seemed to inch by like a snail until finally it was time.

Dom grabbed the stick and looked at it. She released a deep sigh then turned the stick for me to see. That pink plus sign seemed to glare at me like the red digits on a traditional alarm clock. My baby was pregnant with my baby. A lone tear escaped my eyes as I held her to my chest.

“I got you forever, baby. I promise you. Do you believe me?”

“Yes. I do, my love.”

“Good girl. Now, let’s wake up Lai.”

Dom was a little resistant, but I wouldn’t let anyone harm her. Dom followed me out of the bathroom with the pregnancy stick in her head. When we made it to our bed, I shook Lai until she sat up.

She wiped her eyes. Lai turned on the lamp on her side then squinted at us.

“What’s wrong, guys? Why do you both look so melancholy?”

I took a seat in front of her before I held on to her hands.

“I’m not sure how you’re going to take this, but you need to hear it from me first. I got Dom pregnant. We just took a test, and it’s positive. She also agreed to move in with us.” I turned and Dom handed me the test.

It was barely in my hand before Lai snatched it.

She stared at it for seconds. Her face played a series of emotions.

I had no idea what Lai was thinking, but I was in the position to catch her if she leaped at Dom.

Lai looked at me then at Dom. A small smile broke out on her face as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“We’re having a baby,” she voiced. Lai sniffled right after.

“Yeah. We’re having a baby,” I responded, slowly revealing some of my enthusiasm.

Lai crashed her lips against mine. She sobbed between our kisses and tight hug. Lai was really emotional. She pulled back and looked at Dom.

“Dom, you gave us the one thing I couldn’t.

Sur always wanted kids. I wanted them too, but I wasn’t able to have them.

In my twenties, I found out I had an abnormal uterus.

Kids were out of the question. I would lie to Sur and tell him I wasn’t ready for kids.

This furthers proves how much of a good man he is because he never pressed the issue. I’m so sorry, Sur.”

Lai hugged me tightly again.

“You deserve so much better than me,” she whispered in my ear.

Lai released me and proceeded to Dom. Her confession stung. I loved her and cared for her so much. How could Lai ever feel that way? They held each other tightly as Dom cried in Lai’s arms.

“I’m fully happy now. I thought you might hurt me when you found out,” Dom stated sadly.

“Shh. You don’t ever have to fear telling me anything.

I know I come off as a hard ass, but I will never hurt you, Dom.

Never. We can’t fault you for your pregnancy when none of us suggested protection.

We’re all in this together. You and our baby will be surrounded by nothing but unconditional love and security. Trust me, beautiful.”

Lai and Dom shared a few kisses. It warmed my heart to see all of us on the same page. What started off as poly fling morphed into something more serious and precious. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m going to make Dom a mug of peppermint tea with some crackers. I’ll be back shortly,” Lai announced.