Chapter 1

Nada’s POV

“Mrs George, you’re going into labor in three days.” I was alerted as soon as the doctor was done checking me up. “But the pregnancy will be a little bit complicated, this is your first time and you’re giving birth to triplets.” 

My heart jumped upon hearing this. From the start, they had told me it was fibroids until early into my late trimester. I didn’t want to believe it, neither did my husband, Harvey. 

Prior to how complicated it was, the status of the foetus couldn’t be detected. It was strange but I still had to keep up the faith. It’s my first issue after four years of marriage. Harvey has really been a loving and doting husband, never abusing me for once on not giving him a baby. I really wanted this to work out so I can give him happiness. 

I knew how he wanted to be a dad so soon. 

“There are only two options for you, to ease your birth complications. Having sex with your husband or getting him to sign for a Caesarian section in three days time.” 

“So he needs to be available, lest your life would be in danger.” 

I jerked up at the doctor’s words, eyes flared. I gripped my heart. 

“Is it that serious?” 

“No, no.” The doctor tried to calm me but I knew he was trying to kill my anxiety. “It’s nothing so critical, you can get your husband to be here, right?” 

I nodded. “If only that, I can. Sure.” 

He’s a cop and as per personnel welfare, no matter the operation he is, he would take a leave to be with me whenever I’m in labor. He always promised me this. Getting a leave is just a step away. So I quickly sent a text to alert him on time. 

“Honey, I went for a check up today and according to what the doctor said, I’ll be due in three days. I really need you here. He will need you here.” 

He wasn’t online. Maybe, in an operation. 

I know for sure when he’s done, he will check his phone and reply to my messages. 

And of course he did, an hour later. He replied with an excited emoji. “Why wouldn’t I be present on my wife's most special day?” I grinned, bubbling with excitement. 

The day that seemed to bring anxiety turned out to be the very day I was waiting for. It would be my most special day with my husband by my side. 

On the morning of the third day, he left for work early to take permission to leave. I was at the hospital, excited, waiting for my labor to start. 

I waited for longer than he could get a quick work leave but he wasn’t here and labor signs were already beginning to show. My heart began to beep, my eyes stared endlessly on the door but after thirty minutes and he wasn’t here, I sensed something was wrong. 

“Please call your husband, you will soon go into labor.” The doctor came in to tell me. 

Quickly, I pulled my phone from my bag on the bedside table. I dialed his number and tapped on the call button. His phone rang the first time, then ended. I called again, it rang. No answer. The third. It didn’t ring at all, rather it was a bot answering me. 

“Sorry, the person you’re trying to call is busy, try again later.” 

I dropped the phone, hitting my forehead with frustration. “Is this the promise he made to me to be here before my labor starts?” 

I decided to call again. 

“Sorry, you are barred from calling this number.” I froze. My eyes went pale with shock as I stared at the doctor. Everything turned blurry, it seemed like I was traveling through time. My heart beeped heavily. 

“Don’t worry baby, I’ll take an emergency leave as soon as I get to the office to be with you.” His promise flashed across my mind but here I was, in my most critical moment and he wasn’t here to fulfill his promise. 

I’d thought something had gone wrong but hearing these responses showed clearly that he didn’t want to be disturbed. I've been living with my husband, Harvey for the past four years. I knew all his attitudes and what each one meant. I could even write a book about him if asked to. But he rarely puts his phone on flight mode unless he’s in a very serious operation. Aside from this, he has always been so sweet and affectionate. 

I decided to call his colleague in the force, Alisa, who is also his best friend. I remembered he once told me if ever I couldn’t reach him, I should reach out to Alisa, she will certainly tell me where he is. I’d never been in a condition to do this until today. 

I dialed her name, tapping it. The call went and she picked. 

“Hi Alisa, where’s my husband? I’ve been trying to reach out to him but to no avail.” I hastily said, no time for pleasantries. 

“I’m—I’m actually going to be in labor soon. I need him with me here at the hospital.” I was panting but I managed to speak. 

Silence. 

I didn’t hear a word from her. My heartbeat only increased. Each second of silence made me believe something might have happened to him. 

“He’s at the hospital. He’s not with his phone. I’m with his phone, that’s why you can’t reach him.” 

“Which hospital? What? I said that something is wrong.” 

Hell no! 

I screamed hard. Before I could even ask which hospital he is, she had cut the call. My walls were crumbling. I began to regret blaming him for not being here with me, rather I was filled with pity and shock. The tears I’d wanted to fight off were not coming down in streams. 

“No! Not this time, not this time.” I jumped off the bed, racing out in shock. I forgot I was a woman about to go into labor. The love I had for him let me do this. It was all about him, no longer me. 

I had in mind to run out of the hospital premises, go over to the roadside, stop a taxi and call Alisa again. If she doesn’t pick up, I’ll tell the cab driver to take me to the police headquarters where he works. There I will know the hospital he has been rushed to. 

“If I have to give birth, I can give birth at the hospital where my husband is, so he gets to see his babies.” I lip synched. At the moment, my brain failed to function properly. All I wanted was to see Harvey. 

Before the doctor could even stop me, I’d already rushed out, barefoot racing across the hospital corridor heading towards the entrance. 

At the sharp curve about to turn, I bumped into someone. 

“Oh, so sorry. So sorry.” I uttered about to run past when a familiar cologne hit me, the cologne my husband uses. It reminded me of him. Slowly I raised my eyes to see who it was that would remind me of my husband at such a critical moment. 

“Harvey?” I rang out in shock. I grabbed his arms. “I thought you were—“ Words finished up in my mouth. He gave a look of utmost shock. Suddenly, the sadness on my face paved the way for a radiant smile and I was about to hug him when he suddenly pushed my hands off him. 

I gasped. 

“What?” 

“I never thought you would pull up this act just to make me believe you.” I cocked my head in confusion. “You claimed you were due today and according to what Alisa said would soon go into labor—“ Then he panted.

“Where are you running away to, barefooted. Were you trying to come here, steal people’s babies and tell me it’s yours.”

He hit his forehead, shaking his head. 

“You know, I always knew from the beginning, that you faked the report. Fibroids can never turn to triplets.” 

While staring in shock, hard to grab what was going on, Alisa stormed forward, grabbing my husband’s wrist. She stuck her index finger on my forehead. 

“You ungrateful woman, my best friend always treated you right even when you couldn’t give him a baby for four good years. Rather than tell him the truth, you decided to play tricks and bring in someone else’s babies to him.”

“What the hell, what do you—“ 

“You know, I’m glad I had Alisa here as a backup. She’s going to give me the baby you never could. I’m going in there to donate my sperm to her for an injection. I don’t need your petty, stranger father babies.” 

Saying this, he pushed me off, grabbing Alisa by the waist and walking past. 

Am I dreaming?