Sophie's life after her night out was never the same again. For the first time in her adult life, she suddenly became very sick. Her plans of living a carefree life came abruptly to an end. She could not understand what was wrong with her .
For two weeks she was constantly sick . Her beauty began to fade rapidly. Her parents did not understand what was wrong with her and they never imagined that what they feared most had happened.
Their family's doctor was quickly consulted and blood tests were carried out. The final results were brought in.
"There is nothing to worry about Mr Gale.Young Miss is pregnant." The good doctor said smiling jovially."
Patrick and Julia looked at each other, disappointment masking their old faces.
"Thanks Dr.Thomas, they will see you out." Patrick told the elderly doctor who had been Sophie's doctor since she was born.
" Before I go, sir, I would like to advise that you bring Young Miss to the hospital quickly. She needs to be monitored for the next two months. The test result shows a high level of estrogen in her blood which points to multiple births. That's why she is having such a hard time. Please bring her quickly" Dr Thomas left with a maid showing him out.
"What I was afraid of most, has happened to us, Julia. See why I was over protecting her? Now what do we do? Did she by any chance tell you who she went out with?"
Patrick asked his wife , curious.
" I have no idea.You know we are never close. She never tells me anything '' Julia said, trembling, afraid of her husband's wrath.
"Of course.Why would she tell you anything Julia? Have you ever acted like a mother? Just one child we were able to have, after so many troubles, you couldn't couldn't even take care of her. You alwaysYou always had your head into the woods. Just one child , Julia. I am always out there , trying to build an empire and here you are ,everything is ruined."
"I hope you both are happy now. I just hope she is able to tell us the person the person she slept with or that man's life would be completely ruined too.""
Shaking his head, Patrick Gale went up to give his daughter the happy news.
"Princess Sophie, are you there?" Patrick called out to Sophie in a sarcastic tone.
Sophie heard her father's familiar voice and thought , "Here we go again. Even when I am sick they cannot allow me some peace."
Patrick poked his face through the door and saw Sophie lying by her side feeling utterly miserable.
"Here my darling daughter, you won a medal, you got what you always wished for You are pregnant! I am going to be a grandpa !"
"What? Pregnant? How?" Sophie stammered, sitting up on the bed and snatching the papers from her father's hands.
"I can't be pregnant for goodness sake! It is not possible." Sophie argued repeatedly.
"Really? You did not sleep with a man?" Patrick asked calmly.
"Yes but…" Sophie stammered. Her father's calmness was frightening her.
"Okay, that answers my question. Now be a good girl and call up the man quickly and tell him the good news." Patrick continued calmly.
Sophie went completely quiet. "I said, call up the man, damn it! I don't have all day. I have an empire to run." Patrick roared, making Sophie flinch visibly.
" I dont have his cell phone number, father…" Sophie murmured, shame feeling her every bone. Patrick looked at his daughter, praying for patience.
"Okay, you don't have his number, give me a name, I will look him up quickly." He urged her.
Sophie looked at her father in horror. "I don't know his name either."
God give me patience, Patrick prayed silently. "If you don't have his name , surely you must know where lives or works, at least give me his address, I will search for him."
"I know nothing about the man, father, I was drunk and…." Sophie continued to stammer out her responses, feeling very afraid indeed, her father was too calm. What was going on?
"Were you raped Sophie?" Patrick Gale asked quietly hoping she would say yes so he wouldn't have to worry.
"No father." Sophie answered quietly.
"So what you are saying is, you were willing."
"Yes father, I am sorry, I know how this might look…" Patrick looked up at his daughter with blood shot eyes.
"You know nothing, Sophie. You have just ruined an innocent man's life , you have no idea…"
While father and daughter had been talking, Julia came into the room, leaning on the door. She was weeping silently. Her deep sobs wracked her fragile flame. Julia Gale had been a beautiful woman but the toil of being called barren had led her to a lot of things which had all culminated into today's event.
"Mom, what is he talking about? How have I ruined someone's life? It's my own life that is about to be ruined."
Sophie said petulantly. "You young lady, had your life in your hands, you wanted what you did but the innocent man had no idea what he was getting into when he slept with you." Patrick yelled beyond angry now. What foolish person sleeps with a man without even knowing his name? Has he really raised a fool?
"What do you mean Father? What is wrong with me and what are you not telling me?"
"It is too late now, you will pack your bags and leave his house, everything you know. Since you didn't like the way I was raising you, you have taken your life into your own hands. What about fending for yourself and your baby or will it be babies?"
Patrick spoke without a care. raising his brow and looking meaningfully at his daughter's covered body with disdain. He has had enough of this girl's insolence. Although he loved her, he would not condone what she has done and the shame , she needed to be taught a lesson.
" I will be going out now but I don't want to see you anywhere in this house, or the offices. Go live your life on your own terms. Your father will no longer suffocate you, you are free now, breath Sophie, take all the breath you need." Patrick threw back her own hurtful words back at her. Lets see how she takes it. He thought.
"And you woman, if I ever hear you say a word concerning this matter to me, you will follow her and I don't bloody care what happens." Patrick turned and yelled at his wife who had continued sobbing throughout the father - daughter duo exchange.
With a final look at the two women, Patrick Gale stormed out , banging the door so hard that the women flinched in fear.
Julia stepped into the room and moved close to he daughter. "Oh Sophie, what have you done? I always told you it was for the best and you never understood." she said anguish written all over her once pretty face.She went closer to hug and comfort her daughter but Sophie avoided her arms.
"What just happened mom, what did he mean I ruined an innocent man's life? Tell me." Sophie asked her mother in a flat tone,
"Sophie, there is a lot you need to know about yourself. You are not a normal child, you never were.That is why we tried so much to shield you." What do you mean? Sophie asked, feeling more puzzled.
Julia looked at the ceiling and began the story of how it all came to be. Their quest for a child and the various places they had gone for help, all the hospitals that failed and how they had finally gone for a vacation in far away Scottish Isles and met an ancient priest who had perform some rituals on them telling them they would bear a child but that child can never sleep with any other man except her her husband.
Sophie listened, shocked. "So what happens to a man I sleep with?" She asked breathlessly.
"He can never sleep with any other woman again until the day he dies. The priest made us promise to keep you away until you got married and that is what we were trying to do but you wouldn't listen , you had to rebel. Perhaps it was our fault, we should have told you everything and prepared you, but now it's too late…" Julia concluded, crying openly now.
Sophia listened to her mother, feeling sorry for herself, her parents and the man whose life perhaps she had ruined.
"I am sorry mom, forgive me." She hugged her mother for the first time in a long while, feel very sad. What was she to do now? Where will she go?
"Father means what he said, doesn't he? She asked her mother .
Julia nodded."He always means what he says. Don't worry, let's get you out of here before he comes back." Sophie nodded grateful for once for her mother. Looking at her bustling around two hours later with the help of a weeping Winnie, she wished she had been a better daughter and hoped there would be a second chance for her to rectify all her mistakes
Three hours later, Sophie was onboard a flight to London where she would move over to Scotland, to meet her mother's friend who hopefully can help her through this trying period.
With a vintage view from her window seat, she looked over the city of New York , which had grown very tiny as the plane ascended, thinking of that long ago night and the man who had given her such pleasure, now the father of her child.
Where are you? How do we meet again? I am sorry if I ruined your life. Though with her limited knowledge of what a man thinks, she had, however, read widely enough to know that a man's pride lies in his potency.
Please forgive me. She pleaded silently to the unknown man , forgive me and if by a stroke of luck we do meet again, perhaps, you will get to meet your child and maybe, all the pain would not have been in vain…