CHAPTER 1
The rays from the sun came into the window making square shapes on the floor. The birds were chirping in the trees outside. The house was quiet. She just lay there thinking about last night. She glanced over at Hunter, who was sleeping like a baby. `Baby', she thought. When should she break the news to him? She didn't want to ruin his Christmas.
Her mind started racing. So much was happening at the same time. She had to deal with Tayt, being pregnant, and taking care of her experiment that spilled all over the lab room. That one stumped her, she had no idea what that was capable of doing. She slid out of bed very quietly, trying not to wake Hunter. In the bathroom, she showered, got dressed, and then headed downstairs to make breakfast.
No one was stirring about, so she wanted to be quiet. John's bedroom door was still shut. Coffee was the first thing she made when she entered the kitchen. When it was finished, she poured her a cup and walked out the back patio. She loved sitting outside with a coffee and listening to nature play. After her cup, she went back inside to start cooking. Eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and pancakes was on the menu. She loved cooking for the men in her life, it gave her great pleasure to watch them eat.
Noelle popped into her head. She hoped that everything was alright with her. And who got her pregnant? She said it wasn't Tim, so who could it be? Unless, she met someone and had a one night thing, without Tim knowing. "No", she thought out loud, "that's not like Noelle to do something like that". Something happened and she was determined to find out.
One by one, the men slowly made their way into the kitchen. Xyla poured each one a cup of coffee and placed it on the table. John was all smiles. He was in heaven with his daughter back home. To him, it was like she never left.
Hunter approached her and kissed the back of her neck and whispered, "Good morning Blondie."
She turned around and hugged his neck, "Morning handsome." They kissed then she turned back around and finished cooking. She filled the table with platters of food for them to eat. She sat with her coffee watching them eat.
"Sunshine, this is fabulous. Get you a plate and eat something," her dad bragged.
"No thanks daddy. I haven't been feeling real well, and I would hate to get sick if I eat something. Coffee is settling good for the moment, so I'll stick with that."
John paused for a second. His mind went to wandering. He was afraid of what he was thinking. He gave Xyla a look then went back to eating. Hunter made himself at home.
"Do you want me to go out and get you something else that might be lighter on your stomach?" Hunter asked.
"Well, for one, you don't know your way around," she said laughing. "And two, I can heat me some soup or something if I get hungry."
"I hate for you not to eat, your body needs energy even if you're not feeling well," Hunter reminded her.
"I know. I'll eat when I get ready, don't worry," reassuring him.
He didn't want to make her mad, so he said winking at her, "I'm sure you will," smiling then went back to eating.
John excused himself to the living room with a coffee. Hunter made himself another plate. Xyla just laughed at him. She then got up and went into the living room to see her dad. She kissed him on the head and asked if he was okay this morning, while kneeling on the floor in front of him.
"I'm fine. I'm worried about you. You're not feeling well? What's going on Sunshine?" he demanded some answers.
She put her head down. She didn't want to tell him. Her dad was all she had for family and the last thing she wanted to do was disappoint him.
"By your actions, I can almost guess what's wrong," he said picking her head up.
Silence was all she had. He figured he would help her out.
"You're pregnant my daughter," he finally said.
Her mouth dropped a mile long. "How do you know," she was flabbergasted.
"Honey, your mom had these same symptoms when she was pregnant with you. Does Hunter know?" taking a sip of coffee.
She shook her head no, "No, not yet. I don't know how to break the news to him. I guess, it's because I don't know how he's going to react," she said very concerned for his welfare.
John wanted to be honest with her, "Sunshine, you know I always wanted you with Tayt. He's a nice young man, and he has helped me a lot since you've been in America. Don't get me wrong, Hunter seems like a nice guy too. But, he's a stranger, he's not from around here, and doesn't know anything about us and us about him or his background. Of course, it's a little late now that you're pregnant. Hunter will be welcomed into the family, regardless of what I think is good for you or not. I will do anything to help you, I hope you know that."
She shook her head in agreement, "Yes, I know that. But I have a question. You're talking about Hunter as if he's a family pet or something. I'm going to marry this man and have his baby, you are going to have to accept him whether you like him or not," getting angry.
"I understand how you feel Sunshine, believe me I do. I just want you to understand how I feel. I'm trying to be honest with you," still sipping on his coffee.
"I can't believe we are having this conversation. If you cared about me and loved me like you say you do, then you will accept Hunter into this family as much as you love me," she started walking away.
As she got to the stairs to go up to her room, John called her to come back. She didn't pay any attention to him, but kept walking up the stairs.
Hunter finally came into the living room. He looked around and asked, "Where's Xyla?"
John didn't look at him, "She went upstairs. I don't know if she's getting sick."
Hunter went upstairs to see if she was okay. He found her in the bathroom, knelt down in front of the commode. He put her hair in his hands and rubbed it gently.
"So, you're carrying our baby?" he asked.
"You heard?" with tears in her eyes.
"I'm afraid so. It was kind of hard to avoid. When were you going to tell me?" he didn't know what emotion to show.
"I didn't want to ruin your Christmas. Are you mad?" she didn't know him well enough to know how he would react.
"I think I'm more mad that you didn't tell me," then he looked away from her and put his head in his hands. "How long have you known?" he asked looking at her.
"I took a pregnancy test the morning we left America. So, I just found out myself. Please don't be mad. This baby is both of us," trying her best to keep him from getting angry.
"So, you just found out?" he seemed calmer.
"Yes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you as soon as I knew. I guess I was just waiting for the right moment," she was crying now.
He pulled her to him and hugged her, rubbing her hair, and consoling her.
"Everything is going to be alright," he faced her to him, "we're in this together. Let's take it one step at a time. Wedding plans come first, then after that we will prepare to welcome the new addition to the Harmon family," he was smiling now, which made her smile.
Relief came over her. She just wanted to have a good Christmas with her dad and fiancé.
"Just give my dad some time to get used to you. He'll come around, it just takes him longer. He's older and set in his ways," she tried to made an excuse for them not to fight.
"I'm not worried about your dad. You're my family now, and that's all that matters. I will be very nice to your dad, he's a nice man and I have nothing against him, so you don't have to worry on my part," letting her know he holds no grudges. "He just loves his daughter and wants what he thinks is best for her, and that's something I'm going to do with my child," grabbing tissue and wiping the tears from her face. Then he kissed her and picked her up and brought her to her bed. They both smiled then started laughing.
He then walked over to her bedroom door, closed it and locked it. He met her back on the bed.
After about an hour, they both came down stairs. John had fallen asleep in his chair. They looked at him and laughed. She walked into the kitchen to clean up the mess from breakfast. Hunter made a coffee, grabbed his coat, and walked outside to sit on the back patio. He had a lot to process.
Xyla brought the phone and a blanket outside with her. She sat next to Hunter and dialed Noelle's number.
"Morning Xyla. How are you feeling today?" Noelle answered the phone.
"So, So. But the question is, how are you feeling? You never answered my question. If Tim isn't the father, who is?" Xyla looked at Hunter shrugging her shoulders with an I don't know expression on her face.
Xyla covered the phone and whispered to Hunter, "She always tells me everything. I don't know why this is such a secret."
Hunter asked, "Is that Noelle?"
Xyla shook her head yes.
"I just don't want to talk about it right now," Noelle started crying.
"Okay, that's it, we are meeting in 10 minutes. Hunter made plans to go to Oxford with my father today, so I am free. Be ready, because I'm coming over," she demanded and wasn't taking no for an answer.
She hung up the phone, "I'm going to get dressed. Then I'll wake my father to let him know that you're ready when he is. Please, try to have a good day with him. I know how impossible he can be, but I just want you to try. I don't want him to have any reason not to like you," she kissed him with confidence that he can win over her dad.
"Don't worry about me. I know how to win your dad over. We have a lot in common; you, Science, and his grandbaby," he said smiling.
They kissed, then she excused herself.
On her way out the door, she woke her dad.
"I'm spending the afternoon with Noelle while you and Hunter have your guy day. Please daddy, for me, try to be nice to him. He means a lot to me and I love you both," tears in her eyes.
"Don't cry Sunshine," wiping the tears from her face. "I promise we will have a productive day, so don't worry. You don't need to be getting yourself upset," kissing her, "I love you."
"I love you too daddy." she smiled trying to stop the tears.
She got in her car and headed to Noelle's place. She pulled into her driveway and honked the horn. Noelle came to the front door and let her in.
"Hey," Xyla said hugging her.
They sat on the couch. Noelle had already poured them some iced tea.
"So what's going on?" Xyla was very curious.
"Nothing," Noelle was very quick and short.
"I didn't come all the way here for you to zip your lip. What's going on that you're not telling me?" Xyla started to get firm with her friend.
"It's a long story," Noelle tried to change the subject.
"I have all day," Xyla insisted.
"Okay, okay," Noelle finally caved. "About a month or two ago, I went to check on Tayt. He got very angry and upset after you left. When I pulled in front of his house one night, a cab was pulling away. I didn't think anything about it," crying. Xyla grabbed a box of tissues from the coffee table and handed her one.
"I knocked on his door. It took him a little bit to answer, and when he did you could smell alcohol on his breath. I asked him if he was alright, and then went inside. He shut the door behind me and we sat on the couch. He was very distraught, his head in his hands, crying some. I asked him what was wrong. Then he looked at me, it was weird though, he looked at me as if I was someone else. He then proceeded to make advances towards me. The alcohol and anger he had built up inside him, caused him to be even stronger than usual," crying hysterically by this time.
Xyla was trying to calm her down, "Sh, it's okay. Talk slower so I can understand you."
"I couldn't pull away from him, and he didn't let up on his advances," staring at Xyla trying to keep the tears back but she couldn't.
Xyla put her hand over her mouth, "No! He didn't?"
Noelle shook her head yes, sobbing.
Xyla pulled her towards her chest and hugged her and rubbed her hair, and told her everything was going to be okay. She was so angry, she couldn't think straight.
"Does Tim know?" Xyla asked, knowing the answer already.
Noelle shook her head no. She got up and walked into the bathroom to wash her face. Xyla followed her.
"This is part your baby too, so we are going to love it and take care of it," Xyla didn't finish talking when Noelle interrupted her.
"I'm not keeping it," Noelle shot a look at her.
"What? Why?" Xyla was very upset with Noelle.
"I can't love a baby that has anything to do with him," she said very angry and bitter.
"It's not the baby's fault. It's your baby too," Xyla tried to convince her with an attitude.
"I don't want it," she had already made her decision.
Noelle's phone rang. They both stopped and looked at her phone. Noelle walked over to it and checked to see who it was, she looked at Xyla and showed her that it was Tayt.
CHAPTER 2
Olivia went to her grandparents' house a lot over Christmas break. This particular day when she went, there was an unexpected welcome from Gramps.
He opened the door and let her in. He was very upset, shaking, and scared.
"What's wrong Gramps?" Olivia asked.
He didn't know what to say. He pointed to the basement door. "She's down there," his voice was shaking.
"Who's down there? Gramie? Why?" she had a puzzled look on her face. She went to open the door, but Gramps stepped in front of her to block the door.
"It's not your Gramie. She changed into someone else."
"What are you talking about? What do you mean she changed? I want to see Gramie," Olivia demanded.
She moved her Gramps out of the way and opened the door. She hollered down the stairs, "Gramie! Gramie!" She started to walk down the stairs when she seen a shadow. "Gramie," she said softer. She could hear a weird breathing noise.
Gramie slowly made her way to the bottom of the stairs. Olivia screamed. Gramie was covered in blood, mucus, sores on her skin, some of her teeth were missing, her body was decaying, and her hair, tissue, and muscles were disintegrating.
"What the hell happened to her?!"
"I don't know honey. She was improving and doing great for these past few weeks and then she turned for the worse," he said with tears in his eyes.
Olivia was beside herself. She knew she was to blame. She gave her their medicine they created even though Xyla told them not to touch it till it was ready ... maybe it wasn't ready.
"Gramps leave her in the basement, I need to make a phone call then I'll be right back, okay?"
She gave her Gramps a hug and kiss and out the door she went.
The television caught Xyla's and Noelle's attention at the same time Xyla's phone rang.
"Hello," she said with a strange look on her face.
"Xyla, it's me Olivia," she said breathing real hard.
Xyla stood up from the couch, watching the television. "Yes Olivia, what can I do for you?" shocked at what she was watching on television.
Noelle was just as shocked as Xyla at what they were seeing. "What is that?" Noelle asked pointing at the people on the screen.
Xyla looked her way and shrugged her shoulders, not knowing herself. She wasn't even listening to Olivia who had been rattling on and on about her Gramie.
"Olivia, Olivia, calm down! I can't understand what you're saying," she just wanted to understand what she was trying to tell her.
"I took some of the medicine we made and gave it to my Gramie in the Nursing Home. Now my Gramps has her locked up in the basement! What do I do? We can't leave her like that!
What's wrong with her? What was in that stuff we made? What's going on?" Olivia just wouldn't stop.
"Okay, okay. Just stop for a second so I can think about what you're saying. Are you watching television Olivia?"
"No why?"
"Because there is a big, huge, serious problem going on in parts of the world," looking at Noelle. "Leave your Gramie in the basement until I can figure out what's going on. I will call you back as soon as possible, okay Olivia?"
"Okay, but hurry! We don't know what's happening or what to do!" Olivia was very hysterical.
They both hung up. Noelle turned up the volume on the television. The news was reporting that people were turning into Zombies, but that they had everything under control.
"Is this from your experiment?" Noelle shot a frightening look toward Xyla.
"I don't know," Xyla answered really scared. "I need to get home. Please think about what we talked about, this is just as much your baby as it is his, so please, please, don't do something you will regret," hugging her.
"I'll think about it, that's all I can promise you, okay?"
"That's all I want to hear. Everything's going to work out, I promise. Cheer up, we are having our baby's together," Xyla said smiling with confidence.
