"Why don't you two ever call before you come here?" Aaron expressed his disapproval of his parents' lack of calling to inform him about their arrival. "Well, what's the use of it being a surprise if we call to inform you? Why, are we not welcomed to your home?" His mother retorted. "What? Oh no, don't say that please. Of course, you are welcomed to our house… we are thrilled to have you here. Aaron is just joking, right honey?" Elena came in to cease fire between mother and son, giving Aaron a stern look with her last statement. "Of course, I am. Our house is your house, welcome." Aaron said sarcastically, giving out a smirk. "I will go and see if your room is ready, please. Feel at home while you wait." Elena said and made way to the top floor, Aaron behind her heels. "Why on earth are you pampering them?" He asked when they entered the room the maid was preparing. "Because this is the first time my in laws have come to our home since we got married. I don't want to be on their bad side; everything must be perfect." Elena responded, feeling a bit dizzy. "This is not a perfect wife test Elena, and if it is, you have passed. Don't indulge them please." Aaron commented, not noticing her changed demeanor. "Aaron, I don't want to make an issue out of this. How would you feel if Ellen treated us the way you treat your parents?" She questioned, getting agitated and dizzier. "Ellen will not treat us that way because we won't…Elena!" Aaron started his rebuttal, but rushed to catch his falling wife in mid-sentence. Carrying her, he took her to their room where he began acting out his profession. The maid who was laying the bed in the room for his parents, rushed to inform the rest of the family, what just happened to the lady of the house. "Ma'am, sir. Madam has fainted suddenly." She reported amidst panting. "What? Where is she?" Jessica asked in anxiety. "The master has taken her to their room please." She answered, rushing to Ellen's room when the old people went upstairs to Aaron's room. "Come in." Ellen gave permission when she heard a knock on her door. "Ellen, your mom just fainted. She's in their room with your dad and grandparents." She reported to Ellen as well, who had told the servants to address her by her name and not with a title. "My mom? What happened to her?" Ellen asked alarmed, getting up with speed to her parents' room. "What happened to mom?!" Ellen queried the moment she barged into the room. "Ellen dear, calm down. Your father is attending to her." Jessica tried to calm the anxious girl, extending her hand for her to take. Ellen sat by her grandma, as her father did his best to resuscitate her blacked-out mother. "Mom!" Ellen exclaimed, jumping to her mother's side when her eyes finally flattered open. "Mom, are you okay?" Ellen asked, almost in tears. "Elena, talk to me. How are you feeling?" Aaron consulted with a worried expression. "I'm fine love, I just feel…" Elena began after sitting up, but rushed to the washroom mid-sentence as her dinner came back to her throat. "Sweetheart, are you okay?" Aaron asked after she was done emptying her stomach of every morsel of food she had the whole day. Elena rinsed her mouth and went back to bed without answering him. Ellen's tears were pouring now as she was scared about what could be wrong with her mother. Aaron settled by her side to check her pulse again and her eyes. "It seems you don't have enough blood in your system. I will have to conduct more tests to be sure of a diagnosis. We're going to the hospital tomorrow God willing, are we clear?" Aaron said and asked with a stern voice that made it seem like a commandment, and not a question. "Yes sir. Ama, I'm fine. I'm sure it's something I ate today, or that I'm anemic like your father just said. Don't worry, okay. I'm sorry I put you all in an apprehensive mood." Elena answered and assured her daughter, drawing her in for a hug. "Okay, that's good. I'm going to prepare some soup for you. Stay in bed and have some rest. Tomorrow God willing, Aaron will conduct the necessary tests to know what happened. You need to be mindful of what you eat or drink these days, all of you." Jessica said with counsel and left to the kitchen with her husband. "Dad, can I come to the hospital with you tomorrow?" Ellen asked, still fear-stricken. "Don't worry honey, I'll let you know what happens okay. As long as I'm here taking care of her with God on our side, your mom will be perfectly fine. Now go and have some rest, I have to make her rest too." Aaron answered with assurance and a smile, giving her a good night kiss. Ellen kissed and hugged her mother goodnight as well before leaving for her room. "Don't you ever scare me like that." Aaron warned with concern, cuddling his wife. "Aaron, do you remember the last time this happened?" Elena asked with her eyes glistening. Aaron gasped in realization as he kissed his wife. "Everything is going to be fine Elena, I promise you." He said amidst his kisses.
***
Elena waited anxiously in Aaron's office as he went to get her lab results. "I have the results with me now." Aaron announced as he made his way into the office. Elena's heart somersaulted when she heard her husband's voice. "What does it say?" She asked, after calming her nerves with a deep breath. "It says here that… (dramatic pause) we've been blessed with another baby!" Aaron finally revealed after raising her pressure with suspense, and she almost fell. "Elena, are you okay?" He rushed to her side with a question. "I, um, I'm pregnant?" She asked, as if she didn't hear him well. "No, we're pregnant." An excited Aaron answered, cupping her in a hug. "But I don't know if I want another child. The last time I was pregnant I …" Elena began, but stopped mid-sentence as she remembered her miscarriage, and what caused it. Aaron, seeing the pain in her eyes, took her hand in comfort, and, "I know honey, I know. I can never make up for that pain I caused you, but I promise you it's going to be different this time, Elena. I'm going to be there, every step of the way, and so will our daughter, who will be happy to hear she's going to be a big sister." Aaron assured the woman who seemed so fragile in his arms at that point. "Okay. We're pregnant!" She finally relented and exclaimed in excitement, eager to tell her daughter the news.
Ellen was back home with her grandparents who wouldn't stop quizzing her. She loved books and knowledge, but those old people were really boring her to death with series of questions. It was as if she was sitting in front of an educational board of directors. "Okay, let's ask social questions now. Who are your friends? Are you one of those girls displaying themselves on social media?" Jessica switched the questioning pattern. "Come on Jess, look at her. Does our granddaughter look like a rotten apple to you? She's such a good girl." Ben defended her. "I have few friends grandma, and no, I am not one of those girls." Ellen answered, fighting the boredom in her voice. She loved that her grandparents were intellectuals and wanted to spend time with her, but this was just too much. Wow, was she really the one shunning the company of intellectuals? She had really changed from the girl she once was. *ring*, "I'm sorry, but I have to take this please." Saved by the call, Ellen made an escape before either of them had the chance to speak. "Do you think she will come back?" Jessica asked. "No, not when you're quizzing her like she applied for a scholarship in your school, and you're interviewing her." Ben responded sarcastically. "But I just want to spend some time with my granddaughter. She's very brilliant, so we can bond this way." Jessica replied with a glum. "I understand, but we can do other things for fun. We must let her warmup to us, not think of us as G.E.S." Ben said, giving her a side hug. "Now that she's gone, I can't help but wonder what's going on at the hospital. She was a great distraction you know." Jessica pointed out, and Ben nodded.