Chapter 8: when love dies

The pregnancy changed something in Cody he became a better version of himself, he minimized the power he gave his mother and sisters, he spent more time with his wife and his dad. He figured he was going to be a dad and so he’d need all the tips he could get from his father.

Nina had rehired new staff for the house who were predominantly male. When Cody stepped out with his dad. Nina assembled the staff and happily announced to them.

“This weekend is master Cody’s 30th birthday” I want you guys to help me come up with a surprise birthday party for him, you have 6 days to pull this off”

Cara who was just coming in overheard all the plans and smiled mischievously to herself. She wasn’t particularly a fan of Nina, to her Nina was the one who came between Annalise and Cody.

“Always acting like a saint” she muttered to herself. She was young but Cody used to take her to meet Annalise who thought her how to dance and party. Annalise was full of life, she knew how to make things happen. Cara had always wanted to be like her and she believed her brother would have been happy if he had been allowed to marry her. She had still been in touch with Annalise, every once in a while but no one knew about it. Annalise had reached out to Cara the week before and asked what they were doing for Cody’s 30th birthday, she felt it’d be great if she sent him a gift but didn’t know what he’d like.

“It’s been so long, he might have changed I don’t think I’d know what he likes anymore” Annalise said to Cara during the phone call.

“I know the perfect gift” Cara said happily.

She had come to over to her brother’s place to start executing the plan only to meet Nina also planning a birthday party for him.

When the staff had dispersed she smiled at Nina who was now noticing her. She started to scrutinize her with her eye.

“Hello Cara, why are you there come sit down”

Cara took her steps still examining her carefully. She sat down gracefully and Nina sat facing her.

“I thought Cody was home, don’t tell me he went to work on a holiday” Cara asked.

“He stepped out with dad” Nina answered, Cara nodded.

“You look different, are you pregnant?” She asked. Nina blushed.

“Yes I am, about three months”

“And you never bothered to inform us… ouch” Cara answered.

“I want to do that on Cody’s birthday at the party, when all of us are gathered” she explained, Cara rolled her eyes. Always trying to make it about herself she thought.

“I see, mummy will be so happy to hear about this”

“No, you can’t tell her yet” Nina interjected.

Cara was boiling within her, this pregnancy was going to mess with her surprise gift for Cody, she had little time to make a decision on either to abort mission or go on ahead with it.

“No problem, let me call Cody I have important news for him”

She stepped out and called Cody.

“Hello Cara! It’s been a while” Cody answered in excitement.

“Well, since you stopped looking for me, I’ve decided to look for you and guess what, I walked in right into the moment your wife was planning a surprise for you… isn’t that thoughtful of her?” Cara revealed to him.

“Is she out of bed? Who told her to get out of bed… goddamn it Nina” Cody ranted.

“Calm down, why should she be in bed?”

“She’s not well, plus she just had a blood transfusion” Cody yelled.

“Wow is it that bad?”

“Cara, thank you for informing me, I’m on my way home”

When Cody hang up Cara smiled to herself. Her plan was going better than she thought.

After days of misunderstandings and arguments the party came off as scheduled, Cody wasn’t pleased in the least as Nina went about exchanging pleasantries with guests but he wore a charming smile and followed her around. When it was time to cut the cake the crowd began to sing the birthday song, suddenly Cody’s eyes caught something familiar and became distracted for a minute. Everyone’s voice became an echo in his ears, he stared blankly at Nina who seemed to be telling him to make a wish.

He closed his eyes and opened them few minutes later and scanned the crowd. He began to breath heavily. When everyone was back to partying he stepped out and bumped into Cara. Who smiled.

“Happy birthday Cody, I have a surprise for you, come with me” she grabbed his arm and dragged him along. Cara being the last born of the family shared a special bond with her big brother. He followed her with no questions asked. She drove him to a beach and dragged him out of the car.

“This better be a big surprise” he said and lifted his head only to see what had distracted him at the party earlier, it was Annalise, she was dazzling now more than ever even more beautiful than the last time he saw her, which was the night before he got married to Nina.

He froze in shock. Annalise stood far away at the shore but he could still make her out.

“She’s waiting for you, go to her” Cara urged.

He staggered towards her with tears dropping from his eyes. “Annalise” he sobbed and picked up his pace she also run to him. Cody hugged her tightly.

“Annalise” he sobbed

“Cody” she responded.

“Is this a dream Anna? I don’t want to wake up then”

“It’s me Cody, I have a gift for you”

“All I want is you Anna” he sobbed and Annalise sobbed with him.

****************

Back at the party Nina noticed that Cody had gone missing and she had a bad feeling about it. She started frantically searching for him. Her mother stopped her.

“Young lady, you know you’re supposed to be in bed but now look at you going up and down the stairs” mrs. Story yelled.

“I can’t find Cody mum”

“It doesn’t mean you should go up and down the stairs, Cody is not a child” Cecily and Mrs. Whyte met them on the Corridor upstairs and stopped to talk.

“Mrs. Whyte have you seen Cody?” Nina questioned.

“He stepped out with Cara” Cecily answered.

“Where to?” She asked again.

Cecily shrugged “no idea, they always do their thing”

“In which direction did they go?” Nina asked running down the stairs.

“Stop it Nina, you’ll harm your baby!” Mrs. Story yelled.

“Baby?” Mrs. Whyte raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Before anyone could say another word she tripped and rolled down the stairs, they all rushed to her side, blood trickles down her legs and onto the tiles, her mother’s screams became distant as she slipped into unconsciousness.