15 UNSTEADY

Toby sat in his office, staring at the beautiful face that popped up on the screen of his phone, and contemplated answering. He barely got any sleep last night, he was groggy and miserable. He was as crossed as two sticks but couldn't stand to hurt Lexi so he chose to ignore her calls. 

His phone lit up again, he cleared his throat and answered with a gravel voice, "Grandma."

"Are you down in the dumps?" Elaine asked. 

"Grandma, I'm fine. Honestly!"

Elaine was very shrewd, she could always read people's moods, no matter the distance, and often alleviate their burdens. He and Ethan always believed she was a shaman in her previous life. 

"Hm… whatever makes you sleep sound tonight, dear boy," she said in a silky-smooth voice.

"How is your trip? Are you having fun with the girls?"

"It's all Gucci, the girls just want to lie on the beach though. Gia only gets excited when we're going shopping."

"Huh..." Toby left with his mouth opened, "Everything is what?"

"Gucci... the girls said it means good, okay."

"Ohh"

"Anyways, text my granddaughter's size and things she likes. That's all, take care," Elaine said and hung up the phone. 

Toby heard the dial tone and shook his head. His grandmother was the most energetic person he has ever known. She is aged but doesn't look a day over fifty years. She was clever, warm-hearted, and youthful.

A minute later a knock on his door interrupted his daydreaming. He thought it was probably one of the faculty teachers coming to welcome him back, "It's opened."

The head maid of the Phoenix mansion walked in with a bag in her hands. 

"Young Master, Madam told me to prepare this for you," she said and placed the bamboo steamer in front of him. 

"Thank you, Ah Lam."

The maid left quietly, and Toby left looking at the basket. She could tell he was in a sour mood even when he tried to conceal it, and she sent him comfort food. He opened the basket and saw the dim sum. 'Wait a minute! The house is an hour away, she sent it before the call. You're awesome, Elaine,' he mused.

"Thanks, Grandma. I will personally pick you up from the airport," he messaged Elaine with a heart emoji at the end.

He devoured the food, and he felt like his spirit gradually got better. Though he wasn't angry with Lexi anymore, he still wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine. This time her capriciousness was getting out of hand. Yes, he spoiled and loved her, but it doesn't mean that he doesn't have a bottom line. It doesn't mean that he has to concede all the days of his life when she doesn't willingly reach him halfway in certain situations. 

He ignored her calls for the rest of the day. Although he may seem petty for giving her the cold shoulder, to him, he was just giving her the privacy she requested of him. He was not the toy she can put away and play with to her convenience. He felt the need to be rebellious.

****

Ally followed the instruction of the GPS and parked in the car park of the Hospital. She turned off the engine, unstrapped Lucas, and put her personal belongings in the pocket of the diaper bag. She figured it would have been a hassle to walk with two bags and a chunky baby.

She held Lucas on her hip and the bag on the other shoulder, and she squinted her eyes at the building. This was the same hospital where she received treatment for her hands. It looked more like a hotel than a hospital. It was at least 15 stories high and on the building's front was the name 'Grand Meadow General Hospital' in gigantic gold metallic letters. 

If she hadn't read about the family business yesterday, she would have thought her family was just another pack of capitalists. For now, she just couldn't judge the chef by the looks of his food and she would have to taste every meal put forward to her to make a thorough assessment. 

Along with the location, her Uncle sent detailed instructions for her to follow. Of course, she was an adult, but it was a huge hospital and he was afraid she would get lost. Remembering she actually lost her way in this building a few nights ago, she pouted and adhered to his instructions.

She took the elevator to the 10th floor and walked to the central office. On the door of the office, she noticed the name sign 'Director Ronald Tan, MD; MBBS'. "Tan," she mumbled. She thought 'Isn't that Grandmother's name." She lifted her hands and was about to knock on the door when the door opened.

She saw a short, plump grey-haired man with gold-rimmed glasses on his chubby face standing at the door. He wore a white coat with his name embroidered on the chest and his stethoscope hung around his neck.

"Hello, I'm sorry. I didn't see your secretary at her desk. I'm A…"

"I know, you're Gabriel's girl," he said with a friendly smile.

Ally heard another voice say, "Ally, come in," and the Director opened the door wider. Upon entering the room, she saw Lexi sitting on the sofa. She walked in with obvious hesitation because she didn't want to intrude on their meeting, but they both seem to not mind. The doctor went out of the office briefly and came back. Ally sat next to Lexi with Lucas on her leg and the doctor sat opposite of them.

Barely a minute had passed and a young girl appeared, serving tea, and left quietly.

"I'm sorry to intrude on your meeting," Ally said apologetically.

The Director chuckled, "Nonsense. It's true what they say, foreigners apologize for no reason. You've already used two since arriving, you're left with six."

"Uncle is just teasing you," Lexi said and eyed the old man.

Ally didn't find his facetious remarks of someone's cultural upbringing funny. Who was she to judge someone for the way their parents taught them? People get carried away with what was deemed customs. Numerous times people associate certain things with culture instead of individuality. If you're impolite, you swear excessively or like now apologize unnecessarily, it's blamed on the environment you grew up in, and after studying she understood it was a universal issue. Of course, your environment is a factor but we shouldn't perceive it solely on that. The man opposite her didn't even realize his impoliteness, and Ally couldn't blame him.

"Damian told me you are looking for a Pediatrician for this little guy," the Director said.

"Yes," Ally responded politely.

"Okay, excuse me, let me make a call, and then we can head down."

Lexi was playing with Lucas's fingers but then looked up at Ally with apologetic eyes reading, 'Sorry about just now.'

Ally shook her head, telling her not to worry about it. "Are you here for the checkup?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"Are you waiting on Toby?"

"No, he has school today," Lexi stated.

"Ohh okay."

Loneliness kicks in most on the happiest of occasions and having no one to share the joy with. She knew at a moment like that Lexi would need someone beside her. Ally took out the bottle for Lucas and hesitated, "Umm...can I accompany you then?"

Lexi's eyes watered and she sniffed, "Yes, I'd love that."

They took the elevator to the Obstetric and Gynecology Department. The Director introduced them to a young female doctor and then he exited the room. Lexi's urine and blood samples were sent to the lab while the doctor read her medical history and indicated her to lie on the bed.

Ally stood close by with Lucas and clasped Lexi's hand as they waited for the doctor to read the files. Lexi had already changed into a hospital gown and lay nervously on the bed, praying for good news.

The results came back within fifteen minutes because of Lexi's VIP status. The doctor gave Lexi a general examination and then prepared the ultrasound machine. Lexi trembled when the doctor squeezed the gel on her barely visible pouch. 

The doctor moved around the device for a while and said, "This is a sneaky little one."

Lexi and Ally looked at the screen trying to figure out the image but then the doctor zoomed in and then they saw the little human.

"There is your little one, playing hide and seek," the doctor chuckled. "Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"

Lexi nodded, too emotional to reply. Then she heard the sound 'thump...thump...' and inexplicable emotion erupted within her. She laughed with tears in her eyes and looked at the image. She couldn't believe that tiny human was in her body. The heartbeat sounded like a beautiful ballad playing in her ears.

Ally took videos and pictures of this moment secretly from beside Lexi. She rubbed her head and said, "Congratulations Mummy."

Lexi nodded vigorously and said a barely audible, "Thank you."

After the examination, she changed into her clothes and sat opposite the doctor. 

"So there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that you are on medication that might be harmful to the baby. However, I've consulted your Oncologist and he's advised to continue with your treatment, which can be risky and the results are that the baby will have developmental problems," the doctor said.

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