Chapter 9 illness

The guys heard that he still wasn't feeling well so they came over on Thursday morning to visit him and Diane buzzed the gate open for them and a few minutes later they entered the kitchen with pizza and KFC and she went back to making a fruit salad for Gabriel "What's up Diane?" Justin asks setting the things he was carrying on the counter. "Hi, guys." Diane greeted them sadly. "What's wrong?" Mike asks. "Gabriel is still sick and I don't know what's wrong with him. He couldn't even sleep properly last night." She sniffles and wiped away the tear that was running down her cheek.

"The doctors couldn't find out what's wrong with him?" Justin asks. "No, and whatever it is, it's getting worst." Before she could finish her sentence Mike and Marlon ran from the kitchen and up the stairs. They enter the master bedroom and saw Gabriel lying across the bed. "Hey Prince, what's going on with you?" Mike asks.

He sat up slowly and looks at his friends. "I wish I knew." He replied running his hands over his face. "Okay let us try and figure it out. What are your symptoms?" Mike asks. "Well I'm dizzy, nauseated and I can't seem to stop vomiting. The dizziness and the vomiting are only sometimes but the nausea just doesn't quit." "You sound like a pregnant woman," Marlon said laughing. "Holy crap basket waits a second that's it. Marlon; you said it as a joke but that's exactly what's wrong with him. Except he's not the one that's pregnant, Diane is." Mike adds.

"Who wants pizza?" Justin asks as he and Diane enter the room. Gabriel bolt from the bed and ran towards the bathroom. "Man I really wish you hadn't mention food." He said as he closes the bathroom door. "Diane is what?" Diane asks Mike. As she watches her husband runs to the bathroom for the hundredth time. "Mike smiled as he turns towards her. "You're pregnant and because the bond between you and Gabriel is so strong he's drawing the sickness from you." "No way, that's not even possible, and for your information, I'm not pregnant because I had my menstruation a week ago." She said rolling he eyes. "Besides the doctor said that it may take a while for me to get pregnant so…"

"Listen to me, I know that it may seem weird that prince would be drawing your symptoms from you, and even though this kind of thing is rear it is possible; and I don't give a flying bat what the doctor says; I'm not asking you if you're pregnant Diane I'm telling you that you are," Mike said firmly. "I already have a child Mike, so I think I would know if I was pregnant," Diane said annoyed because she really wanted to have Gabriel's baby but the fact that her menstruation came right on schedule said that she wasn't and she wishes more than anything that she was.

"Not if prince is the one feeling the symptoms and not you. The symptoms that prince is feeling right now are the same symptoms that usually tell a woman that she is pregnant." "How can you be so sure?" Diane asks. "I'm a hundred percent sure that you're pregnant because of two things, first the exact same thing happened to my brother-in-law, he also draws the symptoms from my Sister, and secondly the last time I heard the two of you were going to start a family and I'm willing to bet your appetite has also increased over the last few weeks." "That doesn't prove anything I've always had a large appetite." "Yeah, okay whatever but tell me, do you by any chance have a pregnancy test in this house?" Mike asks with a wide grin on his face.

"Um yes my Sister did buy me one the other day but because I was seeing my menstruation I didn't bother to use it." "Well, I think it's time you do," Justin suggests. Diane put the bowl of fruit on the bed, grabs the pregnancy test from her bedside draw and ran from the room.

A few minutes later Gabriel came out of the bathroom and sat on the bed. "What does Diane been pregnant have to do with how sick I feel?" He groans and lays flat on his back. "It has everything to do with it because you're drawing her sickness away from her," Mike answered. "Is that even possible?" "As I told Diane before, it's rare but very possible." "Pregnant ladies usually feel sick in the mornings but they're okay for the rest of the day, I'm sick for practically the whole day." He said with another groan. "Well from what I heard this kind of sickness usually affects men differently," Mike said shaking his head in sympathy for his friend. "Well, I pray to God you're right because I've been to three different doctors and none of them can tell me what's wrong with me. Speaking of Diane, where's she?" Gabriel asks. "She went to take her pregnancy test," Justin answered. "And I can bet you a thousand dollars right now that it's positive," Mike adds. A few minutes later Diane comes running back into the room. "Mike is right! I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant! I can't believe that I'm the one that's making my baby boy sick. Oh baby I'm so sorry." She said lying next to him and began kissing his cheeks and neck.

"Oh boy, okay we'll go and wait for you downstairs," Justin said pushing his two friends out the door. Mike stops at the door and turns. "Listen prince; get dress and I'll take you to the doctor that my Brother-in-law went to okay." "Alright, I'll be there in a few minutes," Gabriel said as he pulled his wife closer to him. "Congrats man." Mike smiles and closed the door behind him. "I'm sorry I made you sick baby boy." She whispers against his lips. " It's okay baby girl, I mean, now that I know what is causing my sickness, I'm very glad it happened to me and not you and I'm absolutely thrilled by the fact that you're having my baby."

"No wonder my perfume was making you dizzy, pregnant ladies are usually affected by certain smells." "Trust the both of us to create a baby and then conveniently forgetting about it. It never once crosses my mind that you could be pregnant and you never once suspect that you were?"

"Not really because when I was pregnant with Jasmine I started vomiting from I was four weeks; so in a way, I was kind of waiting for a sign or something to indicate to me that I was pregnant not to mention I had my period last week and then you got sick and it kind of just slipped my mind." "Now that I know what the problem is I can take care of it and get back to making mad passionate love to you." He whispered softly while nibbling on her bottom lip and moving his hands seductively over her body.

"Okay here's the plan, you go with Mike to the doctor, get your medication, and later when you're feeling a little better we'll celebrate properly. I would go with you but Jasmine is here and the gardener is on his way." "That's alright I'll go deal with this, I'll be back soon" He gave her a long sensual kiss, then after freshening up he left the house. As soon as Gabriel and his friends left Diane called her sisters and tell them the good news, needless to say, they were all very happy for her.

Gabriel took her to the doctor on Friday for a check-up and indeed found out she is seven weeks pregnant. She was assigned a male doctor but he insists on getting a female because he didn't want another man touching his wife. They were told to return in one week at which time she would be eight weeks and could begin her antenatal care. Her doctor's name was Mrs. Nelson, after her examination he took her and Jasmine home where they both sat Jasmine down and told her that she was going to be a big sister. They had expected her to pout but she seemed very happy that she was going to have a little brother or sister.

She woke up around nine-thirty Saturday morning and judging from Gabriel's performance at five am that morning his sex drive was definitely back to normal. The medication that the doctor gave him was working great. When she entered the kitchen he was making breakfast, she walked over to Jasmine and hugs her tightly and Jasmine kisses her on her cheek; she then went over and kiss him on his cheek too.

"Morning baby." He greets her and removes an omelet from the frying pan. "Mmm that smells good and I'm starving," Diane said licking her lips. "Well, you're eating for two so dig in." He said handing her a plate. "Mommy I'm going to be a wonderful big sister. I'm going to teach my little brother or sister a lot of things, like how to pray and how to be kind and a lot of other great stuff that you have thought me." Jasmine said with her mouth full. "That's great honey I think he or she is going to love you and look to you for help with a lot of stuff," Diane said heaping a little of everything on her plate. "I'm so excited; I can't wait for him or her to be born, but in the meanwhile, I think I'll go play video games. Can I daddy?" "Sure after we pray and don't forget to put away all those toys I saw on your floor before you go play." He instructed. "Okay, daddy." She said taking up the Bible and handing it to him. He chooses the 23 Psalm and they read it together after which they pray, she was then allowed to leave but as she got up to do so he grabs her and tickles her which had her giggling; he then let her go and she shirked as she ran from the kitchen. "Love you, mom and dad." She said running up the stairs. "Love you too pumpkin." He laughs and shakes his head at her. "So, tomorrow is Alex's big day huh?" Diane asks with her mouth full.

He took a deep breath as he sat next to her. "Yeah, but I wish he didn't wait until he was crippled to give his life to God, even though he didn't know he was going to end up like this when he turned his back on God.. I begged him to be careful Diane, I tried so hard to save him but I couldn't." He sighs heavily. "You know, I met Alex my very first day of high school, he was always so full of life, so energetic and it breaks my heart to see him sitting in that wheelchair."

"I'm so sorry it ended like this baby." She said massaging his fingers. "This whole situation is so ironic, I was a horrible person compare to Alex. He tried to find love, he would talk to one girl for a whole month sometimes even longer and I would always tease him about it. I was never with one girl long enough to even remember their names and he was the one who always told me that I was cold and unloving." He took a sip of his coffee and let the warm liquid seeps through his system.

"You see, the thing is Alex's parents never wanted him, they called him the mistake that never should have happened, all he wanted was love, but what I liked most about him was that as hard as his life was he was determined to get an education and make something of himself. He was the one who insisted that I go to church that night." He snorts. "I would have rather gone skydiving than go to church but because of him, I went. We had so many plans for our future, I was supposed to be the best man at his wedding and he was supposed to be the Godfather for my first child if and when I had any."

He got up and walks over to the kitchen sink and Diane wasted no time in following him. "It's okay baby you can let it all out, I'm here for you." She whispers as she caresses his cheek with her fingers while kissing him softly on his lips. As sad as he felt he couldn't help smiling down at her. "You know I keep asking myself why these things keep happening to me, I mean I've lost my brother, my parents and I've lost my best friend but still in spite of everything that I've lost God has been good to me, and as disgusting as I was, he was still looking out for me. He could have killed me a hundred times over but he didn't." He chuckled. "Instead he had reunited me with my aunt; he has given me a beautiful wife with a very large family, which has now become my family. He has given me a church family even though some of them could do with a good beating but the most unbelievable part of this whole situation is that God loves me." He said with a nervous chuckle.

"He has pulled me close to him and he forgave me for every bad thing I've ever done. He has given my life a whole new meaning and now he is going to bless me with a child. Baby, I'm so grateful to God for all he has done for me and I will spend the rest of my life serving him and showing him just how much I appreciate his blessings." He said trying to fight back his tears. "I love your passion for God Gabriel and I'm also very grateful to him for bringing you into my life." She whispers against his lips. "I will admit, I've lost a lot in my life baby girl but thanks to God I've also gained a lot."

It was two-thirty pm on Sunday afternoon and Diane was sitting in church, the service had just ended and Jasmine was running around with her little friends, she was packing her bible, her hymnal and the books Jasmine was playing with, in her bag when Brother Michael came and sat down beside her. "So I hear congratulations are in order. Is it true that you're expecting?" He asks in a cynical tone.

"Yes, it is." She answered without looking at him. "Pulling out all the stops to hold onto your rich man huh?" He sneers in disgust. "We're starting a family Brother Michael that's what people do when they get married." She said rolling her eyes. "For months I begged you to be my wife and if you had, that baby would have been mine but because I'm not rich or have a big house on the hill, you didn't want me." He snorts in disgust.

"I didn't marry Gabriel for what he has; I marry him for who he is. You see the difference between you and Gabriel is that when people look at him they see a rich, intimidating, arrogant self-centered person but the truth is that Gabriel is a sweet, caring, loving, generous, passionate guy, but you on the other hand, when people look at you they see a hard-working, religious, God-fearing man who dresses well and is very respectable but the truth is that you're a malicious, envious, judgmental and covetous person. A person who hears the words of God but does not practice what it says, actually you and Sister Mitchell would make a perfect couple because the both of you only come to church to warm the benches." Before Brother Michael could answer she took up her bags and walked away.

Gabriel helped Alex into the vehicle he had hired to take him to the church, he said goodbye to Alex and watched as the vehicle drive away. Gabriel turned and nearly ran into Brother Michael. Who was standing right behind him? "So I hear you're going to be a father again." The look on Gabriel's face clearly told Brother Michael that he didn't want to be bothered right now but Michael tried his best to ignore it.

"You're really good at being a father to children that don't belong to you; aren't you?" Brother Michael sneered. "What is that suppose to mean?" Gabriel asks coldly. "What it means Brother Maxwell is that we all know that Jasmine isn't yours and neither is your wife's unborn child." Before he could answer Michael turns and walk away from him with a mischievous grin on his face.

Gabriel took a few deep breaths as he tried to control his temper, it took him a little while but he finally got it under control enough to walk towards his wife who was putting the bags in the car and fastening Jasmine's safety belt. "Are you ready?" The question came out a lot sharper than he had intended it to and he smiled to cover his annoyance. "Yes, I am. Is Alex gone?" "Yeah, he is." "Are you okay baby boy? You seem a little rattled." He should have known he couldn't hide anything from her. "I'm alright; let's just go home." He mumbles but as they drive home she looks over at him and smiles. "Baby boy." "Yeah." "You're doing it again." "What am I doing?" He asks his hands tightening on the steering wheel.

"Keeping things to yourself instead of sharing them with me." She said softly. He groans and breathes out heavily. "I'm sorry baby girl, it's not intentional but there's a lot on my mind right now." "Like what?" "Well there's the situation with Alex, not to mention Brother Michael just love pushing my buttons and I'm afraid that one day he's going to push me too far. And then there's today's message." He groans tiredly. "I mean; I've learned that you have to be born again in order to enter heaven but I always thought that if you were a good person and you die God would have mercy on you. My parents were good people, they were kind, warm, and loving but my father was a licensed firearm holder." He stops and bit his lips and she massages his shoulder gently as she tried to comfort him.

"My parents traveled the world and so did my brother and me, but I never saw them go to church, so I guess the bottom line is I don't think they made it into heaven." He finished sadly. "Well at the end of the day it's really God who decides who make it in and who doesn't but then again if you look at it another way they were old enough to know right from wrong and I'm sure that at some point in your lives you all heard about God." "Yes we did, we all heard about God; we just didn't think we needed to serve him." "You all made a choice not to serve God, you got a chance to redeem your self but they didn't, that's the choice they made and unfortunately they died before they had a chance to change their minds."

"I guess that's the consequence we have to pay for choosing the wrong road. I've never told you this before but after my parent's death I actually contemplated killing myself." He said sadly. "I had a handful of sleeping pills in one hand and a glass of alcohol in the other." He snorts and shakes his head.

"Now I'm very glad I didn't go through with it, thanks to Alex. He was really my rock at that point. He came in the room and saw what I was about to do and knock them out of my hand: after that, I shut down for about two months and he was literally my shadow from then on"

He smiled as he looks at Jasmine sleeping in the back seat. "I guess all that running around finally caught up with our little princess." He laughs. "I guess it did." Diane agreed. 'My aim right now baby is to spend my life loving the family that God has given me and to tell everyone just how important it is to serve God." "You're already doing a very good job of that baby boy, not only are you feeding people with food but you're also feeding them with the word of God and that's a very wonderful thing."