“Yes, we can’t hear the fetus accurately when it is too small,” he says, “The most reliable method is the HCG blood test, but the urination test is the best in the absence of the equipment for the HCG.”
“Get someone to buy one,” Leonie commands.
“There’s no need,” David says, “I have a spare one.”
David opens the medical kit and takes the pregnancy test out. He offers it to Leilani. Leilani hesitates for a moment and then takes it.
“Come on, go to the toilet,” Leonie says, twisting her hands impatiently, “Why are you hesitating? Are you guilty of something perhaps?”
“Go already!” Mrs. Florence Bamford commands, desperate to know the truth.
Leilani tightens her fist around the stick. She recalls David’s assuring look and forces herself to calmly walk to the toilet. When she emerges from the bathroom, she passes the stick of David. He stares at it and his shoulders tense. Leonie strides across the room and tries to read the results.
“Two lines,” he said gravely, “That means that Mrs. Bamford is pregnant.”
Leonie’s face looks desperate and stricken. She takes a step back. Then she steps forward and grabs the test from him. Her look darkens when she sees the lines for herself. She knows it’s almost impossible to fool this kind of pregnancy test. Leilani is really pregnant.
“If Leilani is pregnant, everything will change,” Leonie thinks with panic, “Leilani will get priority again, and I’ll go back to being a nobody.”
Mrs. Florence Bamford’s hand begins to shake. It’s only a matter of time before her husband finds out and insists she treats Leilani with the utmost respect. Within minutes, a maid rushes in carrying a phone.
“Mrs. Florence Bamford, it’s your husband,” the maid announces.
It’s a brief conversation. After hanging up, Mrs. Florence Bamford gives Leilani a grudging look.
“Please, help Mrs. Bamford sit down,” she orders, “And ask the kitchen to prepare a pregnancy meal.”
Leilani can tell that Francis Bamford has already received the news. She knows this secures her priority within the household, and she smiles calmly at her former tormentors.
“I recall someone once said that a person’s clothes determine their station in life,” Leilani says cooly, “It appears that somehow, I’m in a maid’s uniform. According to you, that means I don’t have the right to sit down at the family table.”
“Leilani! I’ve offered you a choice here,” Mrs. Florence Bamford says with exasperation, “Don’t be foolish!”
“Dr. Walter, I heard that too much standing during the first months of pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage,” Leilani says archly, “Is that true?”
David smiles and nods. Once again, Leilani has found a way to irritate Mrs. Florence Bamford.
“It’s true,” he agrees.
“Well then, as I stand here, I’ll do some serious thinking,” Leilani says, “If I miscarry and Mr. Bamford asks who’s to blame, I’ll need to have an answer prepared.”
“How can I make you sit down?” Mrs. Florence Bamford asks desperately.
“I seem to remember someone kicked me in the back before,” Leilani says.
Maureen makes a terrified expression as her boss turns a cold eye on her.
“Mrs. Bamford, I was just—”
“Kneel and apologize to Mrs. Bamford,” Florence orders.
Maureen drops to her knees in front of Leilani.
“Mrs. Bamford, I’m so sorry,” Maureen pleads, “I shouldn’t have kicked you. Please show me mercy.”
“Dr. Walter, do you have any medication for any injury I may have sustained from the kick?” Leilani asks.
Leilani’s back does ache where Maureen kicked her. Maureen desperately grabs the hem of Leilani’s dress, and Leilani recoils in shock and disgust.
“Mrs. Bamford, it’s my fault,” Maureen whimpers, “I’m so very sorry. Please don’t tell Mr. Bamford.”
Maureen begins to slap herself across the face, discoloring her skin. The slapping noises distress Leilani. She pulls out a chair and sinks into it.
“That’s enough,” Leilani says, “I’ll sit down.”
Leonie’s face is inflamed with rage. She can’t abide by Leilani’s smug look. She looked worriedly at Mrs. Florence Bamford and wonders what the older woman feels. One call from her husband has seemingly changed her entire attitude toward Leilani.
The plate with the raw, bloody steak sits on the table in front of Leilani. Leilani frowns. Before she can say anything about the disgusting meal, Maureen rushes over and pulls the plate away.
“Mrs. Bamford, this isn’t for you,” Maureen says, “It was an honest mistake.”
“Oh, it’s not for me?” Leilani asks calmly, “Who is it for? It can’t be for nobody, can it?”
Maureen hesitates for a moment.
“No, it’s for me,” she said finally, “I like raw steak.”
She opens her mouth and takes a big bite of the raw steak. The red blood drips along her mouth and stains her chin. Leonie’s eyes widen in horror and sympathy.
“Leilani, don’t push it!” Leonie says.
“Who’s pushing it?” Leilani retorts, “I’m not the one who brought the mother of Waylen Bamford’s child a raw steak. If she had brought me a cooked steak, she’d be eating that right now. I’m just returning her gesture.”
“Leilani!” Leonie wails.
She wanted to use Mrs. Florence Bamford’s favor to further humiliated and torment Leilani, and she can’t believe that Leilani has completely foiled her plans. She begins to worry about her birthday celebration.
“Mrs. Florence Bamford has invited noble families and famous celebrities to help smooth my future as Waylen’s wife, but Leilani’s pregnancy will destroy everything,” Leonie thinks bitterly, “I can’t have that!”
Suddenly a spiteful idea occurs to Leonie; she sneers involuntarily but quickly composes her face. The maid brings Leilani a plate of wholesome food fit for a pregnant woman. Leilani looks at the food and frowns, her face sagging into her hands.
“I suddenly don’t have an appetite,” Leilani says.
“What a diva!” Mrs. Florence Bamford thinks bitterly.
She loathes Leilani, and she hates that she suddenly has to hide her hatred. She takes a deep breath and smiles politely at Leilani.
“What do you want to eat?” she asks.
Leilani tilts her head at Leonie and smiles.
“Miss Summers, I’ve been thinking about the fish soup you made for Waylen,” Leilani says sweetly.
Leonie suddenly gets up and slams her small palm onto the tabletop. The silverware and china shake and clink.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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