“Fuck,” Alison said feelingly. Bryson, one of the servers, gave her a look of inquiry but she waved him off. Samara wasn’t going to like this one bit. She wondered if university deans read TMZ. Today was the first day of mediation and Samara had been nervous enough. To call her with this news might just pull her over the edge. Alison decided to wait until she saw her at home.
“No.” Samara said out loud as she drew up outside their apartment. “No. No. No. No. No. No!” she said as she caught sight of the man lounging casually outside their door. She considered putting pedal to the metal and just flooring it the hell out of there but he was standing at her doorway, to her house. There was nowhere to run. She turned into the driveway and parked, alighting from the vehicle as the pain in her stomach sharpened.
“Hi Dad,” she said.
“Hey Sammy. How you doing?”
“Don’t call me that,” Samara said wondering if she could just push past him and rush into the house.
Chris spread out his hands in contrived apology, “Sorry. Force of habit. How you been girl? It's been a minute.”
“I’ve been fine without you in my life. So how about we just continue that way?” she said trying to inch around him without him noticing.
“Ouch. That hurt,” her father said wincing theatrically. “I’m here to help you my girl.”
Samara stared at him, “Help me?”
“Yeah. You know with your…problem,” as he said the last word his eyes drifted down to her stomach. Samara tensed. How had he known? Did Alison tell him?!?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said stiffly.
“I’m talking about your pregnancy and your rich baby daddy. Good one by the way. I thought you got away from the fam because you hated hustling…just goes to show huh?”
“THIS IS NOT A HUSTLE!” Samara found herself shouting.
“Sure it isn’t. Whatever you need to tell yourself. Either way, I’m here to provide guidance.”
“I don’t need your kind of guidance Dad. Please go away.” This time Samara did push past him.
“Whoa! What’s with all the aggression little girl?” Chris asked.
“I need you to leave old man. Now!” Samara shouted, slamming the door in his face.
“Ookay,” Chris said quietly before he made his way to the ‘borrowed’ Subaru he was driving. This was just step one; he would get her to see things his way in the end.
Samara sighed in relief as she walked through the front door, releasing Bear from her leash so she could run into the house. Samara had quickly come to love Bear, and she enjoyed playing, cuddling, and overall spending time with the energetic puppy. Especially on days like these where everything seemed to just weigh on her.
She’d called Alison as soon as she was in the house, demanding answers about her dad and her sister had told her about the TMZ article. It wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened; but it was damned close. She didn’t know if she should just fess up to Professor Zhang now or ignore the whole thing and hope for the best.
Samara set the leash down on the little table in the entrance, walking into the living room she collapsed on the couch. A nap was just what she needed right now. A good, long nap. Samara closed her eyes, letting sleep quickly over come her.
Samara's eyes shot open, quickly rolling off the couch she made her way as fast as her pregnant body would let her to the bathroom, hand clasped over her mouth. Dropping to her knees in front of the toilet Samara threw up the contents of her stomach.
Once she was done, she shakily stood up, rinsing her mouth and splashing some cold water on her face. It was strange, she didn't really have morning sickness anymore, but for the past few days she had suddenly been getting sick more, as well as it felt like the energy was just being drained from her, more so than it had been before. She just didn't feel good overall, she was just constantly tired, and weak. No matter how much she slept, she just woke up tired. She figured it was just from the pregnancy, lots of expecting parents had a rough patch in their pregnancy, she had read about it. Just one point in your pregnancy that seemed to take more out of you than any other part. Sighing Samara walked out of the bathroom, heading to the kitchen to start making supper.
The next day Samara woke up to morning sickness. Once she stood up to rinse her mouth out she had to suddenly grasp the bathroom counter as a wave of dizziness overtook her. Taking deep breaths, she sat down on the toilet seat, waiting for the dizziness to pass; once it had, Samara stood up, rinsed out her mouth, and made her way downstairs to make herself some breakfast, do some work, then take Bear out for a walk.