Chapter 04 - Part of a plan

Theon

A series of notifications arrived on my cell phone. Samantha had sent me a few messages. I opened them up, there were some pictures of a blood test on Samantha M. Hurst's name, and an ultrasound. It was already possible to see a human form there, despite being small and misshapen, the little being already had arms, legs and a head.

My child.

I locked the phone's screen and put it in my pocket before hurrying home. I needed to resolve this at once.

I need to talk to Samantha. Maybe I should take advantage of Harper's trip to Denver tomorrow.

Harper... What will she think about this story? God, what a mess!

I walked into the house and went to the bathroom, a good shower would help me clear my head. As soon as I got out of the shower, I had managed to come up with an acceptable plan, I threw myself on the bed, taking out my cell phone to call my girlfriend.

"Hi Honey, did you forget something?"

“Harper, hi… I got a problem to take care of over the weekend, so I have to travel tomorrow.” I tried to be vague.

"A trip? Where?" she asked in surprise.

"Vegas. I have to go with Gregor" I thought of some excuse.

"Vegas!? You and Gregor have a problem to solve in Vegas? Are you serious, Theon?" she laughed.

"unfortunately yes" maybe I don't have a girlfriend for so long after all.

"Gregor's up to something, hasn't he?" she deduced.

I took a deep breath thinking of what to say. I didn't want to lie to her, but I also didn't want to tell her what was going on without talking to Samantha first.

“I'll be back Sunday morning.” I dodged the subject.

"Fine, I'll see you for lunch then," she sighed.

I hung up the phone before looking up my cousin's number in the address book. It was time to call in some favors.

" Are you more calm?" Gregor answered on the second ring.

“Pack your bags, we're going to Vegas,” I warned.

Gregor chuckled on the other side, as if I'd told him a good joke.

"Gregor, I'm serious, you're coming with me!"

"What's the fun?" I heard Agatha's voice in the background.

“Gregor, I already told Harper you're coming with me.” I tried another approach.

“Cousin, as much as I adore the city, you now that I have a lovely wife and I'm sure that she wouldn't agree to your plan.

"What plan?" Agatha questioned again.

“Weekend in Vegas,” he explained.

"No way! Have you gone crazy?" she raised her voice.

"You see?" Gregor snapped "there's nothing I can do, my friend."

"Put it on speakerphone." I rolled my eyes.

"Theon has been a month since you left Vegas, you already enjoyed a lot the week you stayed there, don't think that..."

"Agatha, I have a problem and I really need Gregor's help to solve it" I appealed "I swear to you it's not for fun."

"It's exactly because he had too much fun," Gregor chuckled in the background.

"What kind of trouble would you have in Vegas, Theon?"

“It's a big problem,” I dismiss.

"I wouldn't say big, it's still growing," my cousin joked, making me want to hit him in the head.

“Gregor."

“If you want her to release me, you'll have to reveal why, Adamos."

“What did you do?” Agatha asked suspiciously.

"I didn't do anything this time." I heard the smile in my cousin's voice.

“Okay Agatha, I rely on your description on this. Harper still doesn't know" I asked.

“Okay" She agreed.

“I met a girl in Vegas while traveling, we spent some time together.” I rubbed my throat a little uncomfortably.

"They spent the whole time together," Gregor corrected me.

“She called me today."

"Theon, do you really believe I'm going to support this!?" Agatha's voice rose, clearly irritated. "If you want to see this girl, you should at least have the decency to..."

“You misunderstood, Agatha,” Gregor interrupted his wife, “it's not that he wants to see her.

"So what is it?"

“She called me to say she's pregnant.” I sighed.

"And he's the father." Gregor seemed to be enjoying my misfortune.

“It's not that I want to go, but I need to sort this out. And I don't want to tell Harper something like this without being sure,” I explained. “I told her I was going with Gregor to solve a problem, so I need him to come with me.

“I…I don't know what to say, Theon,” she finally blurted out, “I'm shocked…"

"We'll be back Sunday morning," I assured him.

"Okay, I guess," she accepted a little uncertainly.

“I've already booked a flight, cousin,” Gregor warned. “We're leaving in the morning."

"Thanks Agatha, I'll stop by your house tomorrow, Gregor," I sighed in relief.

“Good luck and congratulations, Theon,” Agatha wished.

“Thanks.” I felt myself falter a little, I didn't think I'd hear anyone congratulate me on having a child so soon.

But at least Gregor is going with me, it's one less thing to deal with.