Its Wednesday morning: I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Today, I will get started on Jennifer’s case. Michael is once again in a foul mood. I hope he isn’t going to make me to skip out on work again today. I think he’s mad we couldn’t get into to see a doctor until Friday. Hopefully, he will snap out of the funk he is in. I put on the same suit as before and was ready and waiting for Michael. Once in the kitchen I make coffee and toast, because once again I was feeling the joys of morning sickness. Oh, the joys of pregnancy. After finishing my coffee and toast, I began to get frustrated that Michael still had not come downstairs for us to go to the office. Losing my patience, I went upstairs and knocked on his office door. “Michael, we need to get going, I have Jennifer coming into the office in a little over an hour and I really need to finish reviewing her file.” I said. He shouted, “I will be down in a minute, I was just checking my emails.” Pissed I stomp off to go back downstairs, when the sudden urge to vomit hit me. I ran barely making it to the bathroom and spend the next several minutes vomiting. Michael could hear me getting sick and immediately came to check on me. “Are you sure you can handle going to work if you are feeling this way?” he asked looking concerned. “Yeah, I think you are right, I just want to get though the visit with Jennifer and then I will come back home.” I said. “Sounds good, I don’t want to go at all,” he said smiling smugly knowing he won this little battle.
The drive to work was quick and painless. But I felt a little concerned on what the backlash was going to be regarding that lady from work seeing me buying pregnancy tests at the pharmacy. Over thinking everything always overcomplicates and destroys every relationship I’ve ever been in and I am not going to let that happen with Michael: he is everything to me. So boldly with possessiveness I reached over and grabbed Michael’s hand as we walked through the parking structure, surprising Michael and made him smile from the inside out. He new what I was doing was really hard for me to do, but he was proud that I was doing it. My heart is beating so loud that I can hardly hear the beeping as the passed each floor and was fighting the urge to run. Michael squeezed my hand re-assuring me, than led me through the office entrance. As soon as we exited the elevator the entire office went quiet and the entire staff stopped what they were doing and stared at us with their mouths open. It was very uncomfortable having everyone know that Michael and I are together, but yet it also feels great not having to hide anymore. I could feel Michael’s happiness radiating off of him it made me feel confident and at peace with my decision. Who cares what these people think, as long as we are happy. I entered my office and my jaw dropped it was filled with flowers, cards, and even balloons; telling me to get well and welcome back. Wow, I was so surprised these must have come from Jarred and Michael, because I am pretty sure everyone else hates me. I sat down and started to open some of the cards and I was absolutely amazed: just about everyone from the office gave me something. Maybe I was wrong to judge them without even getting to know them. Soon there was a knock at my door and Jarred entered. “Hi, Jarred, what can I do for you,” I said. He paused briefly trying to formulate what he wanted to say. “Sorry to interrupt you, I just have a couple of items to run by you, do you have a second?” he asked. “Sure” I replied. “The first thing is the court documents regarding Jennifer’s case are here and then I need to talk to you regarding your relationship with Michael.” My jaw dropped open and I had all the color drain from my face. What the hell is this about now? “Ok” I said feeling a little unsure. “It’s nothing bad, but since your and Michael’s relationship is now public there are a couple of policies I have the uncomfortable duty of getting to discuss with you. Whenever two staff member’s date there is a contract that has to be signed to protect the firm against sexual harassment lawsuits, the other is a confidentiality clause regarding personal and business information being shared,” he said with total embarrassment written all over his face. I smiled and said, “Just give them to me I have no problem signing them. I have no intention of hurting the firm no matter what happens with Michael. Also I completely understand the legality of the confidentiality clause as well.” Jarred was suddenly at ease. I signed the documents quickly. As soon as I gave them to him he quickly got up to leave, but suddenly turning to face me as if sensing I needed to ask him something. “Can I talk to you about something personal?” I asked. “Sure, what can I do for you?” he said smiling. “Do you know what is going on with me right now?” I asked. Hesitantly he said, “What part: the marriage, pregnancy or parental issues?” “That pretty much answers all my questions,” I said feeling completely exposed. “You’re not mad are you? Michael and I have been best friends for many years, whenever he needs me I am always there for him. Because of this there are no secrets between us. Is there anything I can help you with today or get for you?” he asked. “No I am fine but thank you,” I replied. Jarred promptly left my office and I was alone with my overactive imagination. I really don’t know how to feel about everything. I am not mad that Jarred knows everything about me, Michael has to have someone besides me, and I am happy he has Jarred. I just wish he would run stuff by me occasionally.
The morning is rushing by and soon Jennifer will be here for our meeting. I finished going over all the documents and had a ton of questions for her. Jarred knocked telling me my client was here, I asked him to get Michael because we were working on this case together and so he did. In seconds the door between our offices opened and Michael was with me. He always manages to take my breath away every time I look in his eyes. We briefly kissed and walked to the lobby together to get our client. On the other side of the lobby was Jennifer waiting anxiously smiling. I walked to her and shook her hand, as did Michael. Before we could take her to our office she wanted to introduce her mother to us. “Susan, Michael: I would like to introduce my mother to you,” she said. We stopped to face her. “Mom, I would like to introduce you to my lawyers Michael Sellers and Susan Travis, Susan and Michael this is my mother Jasmine Travis-Jones,” said Jennifer. It was like everything suddenly came crashing down on my head and tore my stomach right out of my body. Standing right in front of me was my biological mother. “Please excuse me,” I said and ran. Once in my office I immediately started to vomit and then cry. I cannot believe this is happening. Suddenly there was a light knock on my door. It was a women’s voice, “Suzie, is it really you? Please open the door, I am begging you, PLEASE I BEG YOU, open the door,” she said. “Just a minute,” I said still crying. Then there was another knock at the door, knowing it was Michael I reached over and unlocked the door. He entered cautiously. “Susan, are you ok? Please talk to me,” he said. I just sat there crying and shaking uncontrollably. He reached for me pulling me onto his lap as I cried uncontrollably. Tenderly Michael held me for a long time while I cried holding on to him. Michael pulled away and said, “Susan, they are in my office waiting for you. I need you to get it together and go to my office.” “I, I don’t know that I can do this,” I said as I started to cry some more. “I am going to go back to my office to check on them, while I am gone I need to pull yourself together and come into my office. Can you do this, for me please?” he asked. I shook my head yes and he left. I washed my face and tried to get my emotions in check. I walked out of the bathroom and entered Michael’s office. Sitting there was Jennifer and Jasmine my mother and half sister. I can’t believe this is really happening. “I am sorry for how I just behaved, I don’t know what to say,” I said fighting hard not to cry again and not looking directly at them. But then I looked up at them, they were both crying as hard as I was, suddenly I lost all control. I turned around as to bolt from the office but before I could move an inch there was Michael placing his arms around me and not letting me leave. “Susan, you can’t run away from this, Jennifer needs our help and they are the only family you have in this world. How do you think they are feeling right now?” he said. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it this is too much, I don’t know how to feel right now,” I said. Before I knew my mother was standing next to me and she placed her hand on my shoulder, and suddenly the world went black.
