Chapter 2

Merci Tony, pour la correction.

A panicking Koner wheeled Shanna to the emergency section.

“Her water broke.” He shouted at the nurse. “We need a doctor for my wife.”

“Please calm down, Sir.” The nurse replied with tact. She called two other nurses. “Please come with me, Sir. The other nurses will look after your wife. You will have some paperwork to do.”

In the delivery room, Shanna was pushing hard, forgetting all the pain crashing on her. The doctors and nurses were encouraging her to push again and again. Finally, she heard the cry of a baby. Suddenly she didn’t have any pain at all, she felt happy and proud.

“It’s a boy.” She heard one of the nurses exclaimed.

When the crying baby was placed on Shanna’s chest for the skin-to-skin bonding, he stopped crying immediately and tried to search for her breast. She was completely shocked. She didn’t utter a word. She glanced at the personnel and back to her baby. The doctors and nurses frowned by her reaction.

“You should talk to him, Mrs. Stone. He should recognize you and your voice.” One of the doctors said.

Shanna stroked his head and tears ran down her cheeks. She stared at the tiny face looking back at her. The little angel was blond with blue eyes. He also had a chin dimple. Koner and she were both dark haired with brown eyes and a plain chin. The baby was a spitting image of her ex, Rick.

“How could this be?” She asked herself and passed out.

Shanna woke up in a hospital room. She found Koner sitting next to her. She smiled, but he did not return the smile. She looked around and panicked. “Where is Shaun?”

“You collapsed after giving birth. They placed him in the nursery.” Koner turned his face to avoid her look. “It’s Rick’s son, not mine.”

“I really don’t know how all this happened, Koner. Believe me. I’m shocked like you. I always thought he was infertile.”

“He’s not.” Koner almost shouted. “You have the proof now.”

“I’m sorry, Koner.” Shanna pleaded. “It’s not my fault.”

“Is it mine? Should I have done a DNA test when he was still in your womb?

“Please Koner, calm down.”

“What will you do now?”

“What do you mean, Koner?”

“You know, us and the baby.”

“He’s an innocent life who came into our family. He didn’t ask to be Rick’s son.”

“You mean we will keep him and raise him as though nothing happened.”

“Yes, he is our baby, Koner. Both of us have been waiting eagerly for him to come into this world, and...”

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Stone.” Rick cut her in as he walked into the room. “As soon as I heard that a certain Mrs. Shanna Stone has delivered a beautiful baby boy, I made it an obligation to take a look at the baby and pay a visit to the mom.”

“What do you want Rick?” Asked an annoyed Shanna.

“After seeing the baby, I mean Shaun, I went to look at my face in the mirror.” Rick smirked. “Story short, I want you to know that I know Shaun is my son.”

“Please leave now.” Shanna ordered.

“I will, after telling both of you a few things, if you don’t mind. And don’t worry, I won’t seek for any paternity role.”

Shana felt relieved.

“What happened to us during the two years we were trying to have a child, happens to thousands of fertile couples. One of the main causes is known as Unexplained Infertility. I won’t go into scientific details; I just want to say that this is nature. A couple will conceive only at the right moment. And I think that our right moment was when we had this torrid sex in the bathroom. Or during my forced entry.” Rick laughed.

“You’ve said what you wanted to say, you can leave now.” Shanna pointed at the door.

“I have something to say to your husband and then I will be out of here.” Rick turned towards Koner. “The boy bears your last name, legally you are his father. I am sure you have been waiting for his coming with joy, and the nursery room has already been set up at your place. You have attended all the group exercise programs with your pregnant wife. You have spent sleepless nights with her when she was having her pain and did what a husband should do for his pregnant wife.”

“What is this all about?” Koner stared Rick with a fierce glare.

“I mean that, after all that you did, she delivered a baby who is not yours.”

“Please leave immediately or I will call the nurse.” Koner clenched his fist.

Rick walked to the door, stopped and turned around. “You have seduced a married woman, you had sex with her in her marital bed, made her divorce her husband to marry you and now I will ask you a question: Who is the cuckold between us?”

Koner raised from his chair with anger, but Shanna had the time to hold firmly his hand.

“Have a great day and a great future together.” Rick left.

Two weeks later, Shanna was expecting her colleagues from school. Koner was at home that day. The group of teachers arrived on the dot. They brought flowers, some presents for the baby and a cash gift to which all the personnel at the school had contributed.

They looked at the baby and praised his beauty. Mrs. Suzy Thompson, Shanna’s close friend at the school, approached her with a worried look.

“Shanna, I need to tell you something.”

“What?” asked a confused Shanna.

“I prefer to warn you now. When you will be back at work, you will hear a lot of things, some will talk behind your back.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s that the janitor told Mrs. Howard, the maths teacher, that your son’s father is your ex and not your actual husband. She then spread it all over the school. There has been lots of talk about you. Some even made some jokes on your husband.”

“My goodness!”

“See Shanna, I am your friend. I had to tell you.”

“Thank you, Suzy. These people, besides gossiping, they know nothing. I know how to handle them when I’ll be back. Don’t you worry.”

Half an hour later, Shanna’s colleagues were gone. She was feeding Shaun when Koner burst into the room.

“So, a janitor told the whole school that I am not the father.” He shouted. “And I am the joke of the town!”

“Please Koner, you are frightening the baby. Can we talk about this after I put Shaun down to sleep?”

Koner took his car key and left the house.

After Shanna had prepared dinner, she sat down by Shaun’s crib. She stroked the sleeping baby’s head while humming. “He is indeed very beautiful.” She thought. She then walked to the dining room, prepared the table and sat down waiting for her husband. She closed her eyes and pondered on the last two weeks. Koner has not touched her. He hardly spoke to her. He has been avoiding her. He would sleep on the edge of the bed with his back facing her.

The sound of the opening door awakened Shanna. While waiting for her husband, she had rested her head on the table and dozed off. Koner stumbled inside and had difficulties to lock the door.

“He’s drunk.” Shanna told herself. She watched him staggered to the staircase. He held the handrail firmly and climbed up step by step, careful not to topple over. Shanna stood up, took all the food and put them in the fridge. She drank a glass of water and walked up to their room. When she got upstairs, she noticed the guest room door was opened. She peeped inside and found Koner in deep sleep. She took a blanket and covered him, then walked to the nursery room to check on Shaun.

The following morning, when Shanna woke up, she went to check on Koner. He had already left for work. She made the bed with fresh sheets. She then went to see her son; he was sleeping in his crib like an angel.

In the evening, as soon as Koner came home, he went directly to the guest room. When he came down for dinner, Shanna asked him about his day at work.

“As usual.” Koner answered without looking at his wife.

“Today I was at the paediatrician for Shaun’s two weeks’ appointment.” Shanna tried to start a conversation. “Naty went with me. It’s recommended to have a person sitting at the back holding the baby instead of placing him in a baby’s seat or basket.”

Koner continued to eat, ignoring Shanna.

“The doctor said he is a healthy boy. He did some tests, and they were all perfect.”

“Pass me the salt.” Koner said, without raising his head.

“We have another appointment in two weeks.” Shanna handed him the salt.

“I have the DNA result. I wanted to be completely sure. I have ancestors who were blond with blue eyes, but YOUR son is not mine.”

A shocked Shanna stared at her husband.

“I will sleep in the guest room till we sort things out.”

Shanna was taken by surprise. She didn’t respond. They both finished their dinner without any word.

“Shaun will wake up in around ten minutes, will you please play a little bit with him till I finish cleaning here.” Shanna asked.

“No time.” Koner stood up and walked upstairs, leaving a bewildered Shanna at the table.

For the next doctor’s appointment, Shanna has informed Koner a couple of days before and had asked him if he could attend it with her. He said that he had a lot to do at work and could not take any time off. Again, she had to seek the help of Naty.

On her way to the doctor, she tried to think about the past four weeks since Shaun was born. Koner had changed completely. He became like a stranger. He kept himself in his corner. He had not even given her a kiss. At home he either kept himself busy or shut himself in his room. He had not taken Shaun in his arms yet. He had not looked at him. He has not helped Shanna at all to look after the baby.

After the appointment, Naty invited Shanna for a coffee. They decided to order at a drive-through since they did not want to bring the baby in a crowded area. Shanna then parked the car next to the coffee shop and both friends savoured their drink. Soon after her phone rang, it was Tamara.

“Hi gorgeous. Did Koner find another job?” Tamara asked.

“Not that I know of. He did not mention anything about a new job.” Shanna frowned. “What happened?”

“He emailed his resignation today, he quit with immediate effect.”

“What?” Shanna almost screamed. “I’ll call him immediately.”

She tried to call Koner several times, and he didn’t pick up. She left messages after messages.

“I have a bad feeling,” said a worried Shanna. “I need to drive home immediately.”

“Sit at the back, I will drive.” Naty offered.

When she reached home, Koner’s car was not in the garage. She rushed inside, letting Naty bringing Shaun to the house. In the living room she noticed two paintings missing from the wall. She ran upstairs. Half of the closet was empty. In the bathroom, Koner’s personal things were gone. She flopped down onto the bed with a sigh.

Naty walked into the room, carrying Shaun.

“He’s gone. He won’t come back.” Shanna wept. “He is not replying to my call.”

“I have his phone number, let me try.” Naty removed her phone and dialled. She listened with shocked. “The number is no more in service.” She informed Shanna.

Shanna held her face in her hands and cried. “What will I do now?”

“What will you do? It’s simple Shanna.” Naty sat beside her friend. “You have this little angel to look after and you have to get your life back together. The world did not end.”

“I know,” Shanna sobbed. “But alone?”

“We are here. Tamara and I will always be here for you and Shaun.” Naty called Tamara and informed her about the situation.

The same evening the three friends had a meeting at Shanna’s place.

“May be Koner has gone somewhere to think about your situation.” Naty tried to be optimist. “He will then come back afterwards.”

“Then he would not have quit his job,” Tamara added. “He would have taken an unpaid leave. And he should not have removed his name on the house lease.”

“I really don’t know what to think.” Shanna sobbed.

“Let’s think about the worst-case scenario.” Tamara continued. “He does not come back.”

Shanna and Naty looked at their friend with a worried face.

“Yes girls, we should consider this possibility.” Tamara scratched the head, trying to think. “The lease is paid till the end of this month; you will need to look for an apartment. Money will be tight. In two months, you are going back to work, you will need to send Shaun to a day-care centre. This will cost additional money. Plus, babies normally incur additional expenses.”

“What should I do?” asked a trembling Shanna. “I have used almost all the money I got from the divorce.”

“Richard Kenney.” Tamara answered.

“She’s right, Shanna,” Naty said. “Rick is the father of Shaun; he should contribute to some expenses and pay child support.”

“He was very pissed when I got him served. I don’t think he will lift a finger for me and Shaun.”

“Talk to him first.” Naty suggested. “If he refuses to help, you’ll need to take legal action. I’m sorry, there is no other way.”

“There are lots of things that you will need to give to charity.” Tamara looked around.

“We will help you moved out.” Naty promised.

Three weeks later, Shanna with Shaun in her arms entered Rick’s office at the hospital.

“What important things you need to discuss?” Rick spat out. “I have only ten minutes, speed up.”

“Koner has left...”

“What do you mean by Koner has left?”

“He quit his job and left the town. He could not accept that Shaun is not his.”

“Not my problem.” Rick shuffled some papers on his desk, without paying attention to Shanna.

She inhaled deeply. “Next week I am moving to a two-room apartment. When I’ll start to work, I will have to pay for day-care. And...”

“Have you come here to ask for money?” Rick pointed a finger to Shanna.

“He’s your son, you should at least contribute to some expenses.”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Rick threw away some papers with rage. “Are you two already divorced?”

“No, he’s gone.”

“Did he serve you with divorce paper.”

Shanna shook the head.

“So, both of you are still married?”

“Yes.” Shanna almost cried. She held her son close to her.

“Mrs. Stone!” Rick spoke with authority. “In this state, the legal father, the one whose name in on the birth certificate is responsible for child support, not the sperm donor.” Rick stood up and looked down on Shanna. “Go and look for your runaway husband. You cheated on me and left me for lover boy, now pay the consequences.”

“Look at him for Christ’s sake!” Shanna turned Shaun’s face towards Rick. “This is your son. You will have to take your responsibility.”

“Come on Mrs. Stone. Was I made aware that you were pregnant with my child? Has your pregnancy progress ever been shared with me? Have I ever been called to listen to his heartbeat while he was in your womb? Should I continue?”

“I don’t know how it happened, but it happened.” Shanna was irritated.

“If you get a divorce from lover boy and still come to me for child support, I will liquidate all my assets and leave the country. I will volunteer with Doctors Without Borders. You won’t receive a dime from me.”

“You can hate me for what I did to you, but don’t hate your son.”

“In my mind he is not my son. He can look like me, we can share the same DNA but he is yours, not mine. It was a good thing that you left me.”

“What? I have not come here to know if it was a good thing or not. I have come here for financial support for your son.”

“But still, I want you to know. Since you’ve gone, I have been with all types of women: young, old, same age like me. Of different ethnicities and background, of different skin colour, of different sizes. I have participated in threesomes, I had anal sex and I love it. One thing that you have always refused me because it’s dirty sex for you.”

Shanna held her baby tight and tried to stand up.

“Wait, I have not finished. I avoided fucking married women; I am not an asshole like the asshole who ran away. I wanted also to tell you that I have fucked women who are way better than you in bed.”

Shanna stood up with Shaun in one hand, she took her bag with the other. “I hope you get all types of STDs which will rot your dick.” She walked to the door.

“I always use protection.” Rick shouted at her back. “Do you know why? Because I don’t want to put another bastard in this world.”

Shanna stopped and stood still. She then turned around. “That was uncalled for.” She left the office.

Two weeks later Shanna was in her new apartment. A small one with two bedrooms. Her two friends and their husbands had helped her moving in. She had donated almost all her furniture and other personal items to Goodwill. She was ironing and Shaun was playing in his baby box in the living room when the doorbell rang. She opened to Ray and Carol, Rick’s parent. Their visit surprised her.

“May we come in?” Ray asked.

“Sure.” Shanna invited them inside and closed the door behind them.

“Oh my God!” Both exclaimed with joy when they saw Shaun. They turned towards Shanna with glittering eyes.

“Yes, you can.” Shanna told them before they asked.

Carol took her grandson in her arms. “He looks just like Richard at his age.”

“He is definitely my grandson,” said a proud Ray. “See our chin dimple. It is in the family. Give him to me. Let me hold him.”

“Wait, later.” Carol turned her body away from her husband as if to protect a precious thing and didn’t want to share it.

“Oh, before I forget.” Ray removed a bulky envelope from his pocket and handed it to Shanna. “A small gift.”

By the touch, Shanna knew what it contained. She didn’t open it, she just kept it on a shelf. “Thank you, both of you.”

“Carol, you need to give to Shanna the other things.”

“Ok, hold him a little bit. When I’m finished, I take him back.”

Carol opened her bag and removed some clothing she bought for her grandson. “They will be a little bit loose, but babies grow rapidly.”

“Thank you, Carol. These will help a lot.”

“I have also brought some veggie Lasagna, which you and Rick were fond of. This time I prepared it with five different types of cheese.”

“Mmmm, my mouth is watering.” Shanna wet her lips.

“I have also brought some canned foods, for some easy cooking when you have time restrictions.”

“Oh Carol, you should not have taken all this trouble.”

“It was a pleasure.” Carol turned to see Ray lying on the wooden floor holding Shaun up in the air. He started to babble. “Ray is like a kid who just got a candy bar.”

“How did you know Carol?” Shanna pointed at Shaun.

“Come, let’s sit down.” Both women sat on the only couch in the living room. “A couple of months ago Rick did mention that you were pregnant. It never occurred to us that you were carrying his baby.”

“I didn’t know either.” Shanna said. “We have been trying for two years and finally I thought that he was infertile. When I found out that I was pregnant, I thought that it was Koner’s seed which was growing inside me.”

“So, last Saturday Rick came to visit and announced that we were grandparents.” Carol continued. “We were taken aback by the news. Ray thought he impregnated a woman out of wedlock. When he told us the whole story, I was very furious with him.”

“I was not happy at all that he announced Shaun’s arrival more than a month after his birth.” Ray added. “There was an argument between us. I raised my voice, he raised his. He then left in a fury.”

“I was afraid they would start fighting, boxing each other.” Carol sorrowed.

“I am sorry, really sorry.” Shanna was remorseful. “I didn’t know how you would take it. I cheated on your son, divorced him to marry my lover.” She started crying.

“Don’t cry. Crying will never resolve any issue.” Carol stroked Shanna’s back.

“You will have to look ahead; the past is already gone. Think about your and Shaun’s future.” Ray advised.

“How did you know where to find us? Rick doesn’t know where I live.”

“We live in a small town and I asked around.” Ray answered. “It was not that difficult.”

“Ok, give me my grandson now, Ray. It’s my turn.” Carol ordered.

“One thing I would like to ask you Shanna.” Ray was serious. “We would like to be part of our grandchild’s life. You will surely remarry one day and have other kids. Please don’t shut us out.”

“Of course not! He is very lucky to have both of you as grandparents.”

“I suppose you will leave him in a day-care once you start working.” Carol asked.

“Yes, I have no other option.” Shanna replied.

“We live midway from here to your school. Why don’t you let us babysit him during the day?”

“This is a good idea.” Ray rejoiced.

“I don’t want Shaun to be a burden for both of you.”

“Never,” Ray exclaimed. “He’s my blood, it will be an honour to look after him.” Ray stroked Shaun’s head. “As you are aware, I sold my business years ago and retired early. I have invested all our money and we are living graciously with the income. Doing nothing everyday has become monotonous and now I want to be kept busy, to look after my grandchild.”

“In a day-care, the person who will look after our baby is an employee.” Carol said. “That person is only doing a job to get a salary at the end of the month. But with us, it will be different. We will do it for love.”

“Yes.” Tears ran down Shanna’s face. Her ex-in-laws looking after Shaun would be a great relief. She didn’t need to look after a second job. And most important, her son would be in good hands.

Ray walked to the nursery room and started to take some pictures from his cell phone.

“What are you doing, Ray?” Carol asked.

“I want to transform one of our rooms exactly like this one, with the same type of crib and toys. I don’t want the prince to feel uncomfortable, like a stranger in our house.”

“Bring him to our home when you are free.” Carol suggested to Shanna. “He can get acquainted till you drop him when you’ll start working.”

“I will.” Shanna promised.

That evening Shanna had a group skype video chat with her two friends. She informed them about Ray and Carol’s proposal.

“The idea is good,” Naty started. “You won’t need a second job, but how will you handle Rick when he visits his parents?”

“Carol told me not to worry about him. She knows that if I don’t feel secure at their place, I will stop having them babysit Shaun.”

“What if they want to get close to Shaun and then snatch him from you?” Tamara asked.

“They will never do such things. I know them.”

“Do you trust them?” Tamara continued.

“Yes.”

“What if they start to impose on you? What if down the road you don’t have your say anymore? What if they bring up your son the way they want to? What if they make you depend heavily on them?” Naty asked.

“See my friends, I have not started to leave Shaun there yet, I can’t reply to your questions. As far as I know, they are good people. I am a grown-up woman and I will always protect my son. The day I feel that his life is in jeopardy, I will take decisions that need to be taken.”

“Ray has given you five grand as a gift.” Tamara said. “I advise you don’t spend the money. Save the maximum you can from your salary. Once Shaun becomes less dependent, leave Ray and Carol and look for a kindergarten.”

“I will need to think about it.”

True to his words, Ray has transformed a spare bedroom to look exactly like Shaun’s nursery room. Shanna started to drop the baby in the morning and picked him up in the afternoon. She had a lot to face against some teachers and the janitor. She knew they talked behind her back and even made jokes on her but she didn’t care at all. Her only concern was her job and her son. Every afternoon, Carol would prepare her dinner to take home, so that she would have some time to relax after a tedious day at work. Carol had told Rick that they were babysitting Shaun and he has not visited since then.

One month later, when she was about to leave with Shaun, Ray called her into his study room.

“Shanna, I have an important question. Shaun just turned four months and it’s been three months since your husband left both of you. What will you do if he comes back to you?”

“What do you mean. Ray?” Shanna frowned.

“I mean will you take him back?”

Shanna turned to look through the window and pondered. Ray gave her all the time she needed before answering. He did not want to push her in her decision.

“No.” Shanna answered.

“No?”

“I won’t take him back after what he did.”

“If he pleads, begs and asks for forgiveness? You were both in love and happy together. Won’t you forgive him and be a couple again?”

“I may forgive him but I won’t take him back.”

“Why?”

“He won’t be a good father to Shaun. I know it. In fact, I am waiting for a year to file for abandonment.”

Ray smiled and removed a big envelope from a drawer. He removed some document and handed them over to Shanna.

Shanna frowned as she took them. She could read Dissolution of Marriage in big print on the first page.

“What ... What is this?” An astonished Shanna asked Ray.

“I hired a P.I. to track down Koner. He is in Los Angeles and he is living with a woman.”

Shanna was not affected by the news. Koner formed part of her past now. She didn’t want to know who he was fucking either.

“Please sign where my lawyer has put the arrow stickers.” Ray continued. “I will have him served by the end of this week and will see that he signs the divorce document the day he receives it.”

“If he doesn’t?”

“He will, trust me.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I have dug into his past, not everything is clean. I will use these dirty things as leverage.”

“What dirty things?”

“Better you don’t know, it’s all in the past now. It’s a good thing that he left both of you. Else, some day you would have to visit him in prison. Shaun would grow up with a jailed father. And there is also a great possibility that he would be bullied at school.”

“My Goodness!”

“Here is a pen. There is no asset to divide and he already took half of your bank savings when he left, the divorce will be a walk in the park.” Ray left the study room while Shanna went through the documents and started signing them.

Sometimes Carol would ask Shanna to overnight at her place and have dinner together as a family. She always accepted. She kept some clothes and personal things in a spare bedroom which would become hers. Sometimes she would spend the whole weekend at Ray and Carol’s. They would always plan and would take Shaun to the park, lake or to their cottage.

One Saturday Carol approached Shanna with a pensive face. “Rick will be here in half an hour. He will need to check on Ray.”

“What happened?” Shanna was anxious.

“Nothing serious. He regularly checks on his father. Blood pressure, weight, the joints, ears and I don’t know what.” Carol inhaled. “You two can be around and meet him or you stay in your room with Shaun till he leaves. It’s your choice.”

“We better stay in my room. The last time we met he was verbally aggressive to me.”

“I know, you told me. As soon as you hear the sound of his car, you take Shaun and go upstairs to your room.”

Shanna spent almost an hour in the bedroom with Shaun. She played with him, quietly sang a couple of songs, talked to him telling him how she spent her days at school. Shaun listened, babbled and laughed. She then took him in her arms and walked to the window, showing him the sky, clouds, birds, trees. Suddenly she saw Rick walked down the driveway to his car.

“Shaun, look, it’s daddy. Daaaddyy.”

Shaun looked down at Rick walking and back at his mom, then down again. He started to jump in Shanna’s arms.

“You are excited to see your daddy?” Shanna kissed him on his forehead.

Naty and Tamara had been pleading with Shanna to go out, to meet people, to have a life, but she always refused. One day Tamara told Shanna that an old friend of her husband, Paul, has just moved back in town. His wife died two years ago with cancer and he has no children.

“Are you playing matchmaker, Tammy?” Shanna asked her friend.

“Koner is gone. It’s time you saw someone, come out of your shell and build a future. Paul is a good man. He is a bank manager and has already bought a home a couple of days after he moved in.”

“Does he know about my life? Does he know that I cheated on my first husband, divorced him to marry my lover and gave birth to the son of my ex. My second husband left and I am in the process of divorcing his ass. Two divorces in almost a year!”

“Yes, he knows, we have told him everything. He still wants to meet you.”

“I don’t know. I have to think about it.”

“Sure, think about it. Why don’t you only talk to him in the meantime, nothing more. You can start over the phone, no need to meet in person. Just to know a little bit about each other. If at the beginning itself you see that he is not a good match for you, just tell him and walk out. He is a nice guy and he’ll understand.”