Chapter 23

I was in and out of consciousness for at least two days. The only way I could tell time anymore was the kind of food being delivered to my cell. I had counted two breakfasts so far—both left uneaten.

The second day, I’d tried a bit of chicken noodle soup they’d shoved through the little flap at the bottom of the door, but it came right back up. After that, I decided to test the old wives tale about ‘starving a fever’.

Even drinking water elicited heavy vomiting sessions but for the baby I forced myself to have at least two handfuls a day.

Three times a day the medic would come in to administer needles which I presumed contained antibiotics.

By the fourth day, I began to feel a little better. I could keep food down and that was the most important thing.

The little person inside me needed sustenance. Maybe it was the illness, but I was sure that I could feel her, sense her. It was like we had a connection, not only by blood, but with our minds as well.

I’d never been close to anyone who’d been pregnant before, so I wasn’t sure if this was a common occurrence. Some magazine articles I’d read alluded to the fact that mother’s had a natural and deep bond with their unborn babies, but this felt like more than the average connection.

I knew her. I felt her being, her life force.

On the fifth day, Keanu came to visit.

“How are you feeling?” His voice was gentle as he sat beside me on the cot and rubbed my leg just above the knee.

“Better.” My voice had an obvious harsh tone as I glared at him. Why was the first time he’d come to see me since I’d been sick? Sighing, he sensed my disappointment with him. Leaning toward me, he whispered softly. “I wasn’t allowed to come before.”

Guilt immediately rippled through me and I felt my expression soften as I looked into his eyes and touched his hand. I guessed by his last statement that they had found out about our little discussion in the closet.

We sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, caressing one another’s hands. I examined his handsome face.

If all this hadn’t happened, we’d be planning a life together.

No sooner had I thought the words, I felt a gentle prodding from within my womb. She agreed with me.

“Keanu! The baby just kicked!” Pulling his hand and placing it on my stomach, I smiled as I waited for her to move again. Keanu’s eyes were bright and he wore a silly grin as he too, waited. After a few seconds, we both felt a soft tapping.

Elated, we laughed as we threw our arms around one another and hugged. Tears welled in my eyes as I bathed in the sensation of loving human contact. His large arms wrapped around me were so soothing, so warm. Nuzzling my cheek into his shoulder, I forgot for a moment where I was and how I’d gotten here. The memory of his kiss haunted me as I closed my eyes and inhaled the delicious scent that lingered in his shirt.

His body tensed suddenly and he glanced at the corner of my cell where the surveillance bug lie embedded. My instincts of mistrust took over and I tried to pull away. He continued to hold me even though I attempted to move.

I turned to look at him, still struggling to get away. Holding me tight with his right arm, he raised his left hand to my face. Caressing my cheek with the back of his fingers, his hand then trailed to the nape of my neck. The warmth of his skin on mine almost made me cry with happiness.

Gently pulling my face to his, he wet his lips as he brought my mouth to his. Running my hands through his black wavy curls, months of fear, anxiety and loneliness suddenly released from my body.

As a moan escaped me, Keanu quickly raised his pointer finger to his lips. Grinning, he laid me back onto the cot and reached for the zipper of my white jumpsuit. Beginning at the soft indent below my neck, he slowly pulled the cold metal zipper down the center of my body. Ending just below my navel, he held the material open and leaned in to kiss my body.

Pausing as though showing homage to the baby inside me, he placed a single tender kiss on the swelling contour of my lower abdomen.

Focusing his attention on me, he carefully pulled the jumpsuit down the length of my body and then off completely. Peeling his own clothes from his body, my eyes drank in the sheer beauty of the man.

Climbing onto the cot and positioning over me, he continued to kiss my stomach. With his tongue trailing up my torso, he stopped and lightly kissed the birthmark between my breasts. Looking down at him, he gave me a teasing glance as he moved slightly to the right.

Licking and kissing every curve and contour of my body, he finally made his way back up to my lips. Passion and lust intermingled as we gave into our desires. Our bodies moved together, gently and lovingly.

Afterward, holding one another and basking in the glow of blissful satisfaction, I could have sworn I felt the baby smile in approval.

***

Watching Keanu get dressed, I struggled to keep my eyes from welling with tears. Now that I’d had a taste of the outside world again, I felt like a little kid that had just dropped their ice cream cone in the dirt.

“Cassia, I have to go. They’ll already be suspicious.” His soft brown eyes pleaded with me as he tucked his shirt into his pants.

“I know. I’m sorry.” I averted my eyes to the floor.

Sighing, he moved to the cot where I was sitting and knelt on the floor beside me.

“Don’t be sorry for anything. You’ve done nothing wrong.” He rubbed my hand as he spoke. “All this…bullshit, you don’t deserve this.” Anger tinged his voice as he stood again.

Running his fingers through his hair, he paused for moment. Sighing, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Walking briskly towards me, he took my hand and placed it firmly in my palm.

Lifting my chin and kissing me, he turned and moved to the door. Knocking for the guard to let him out, he gave me one last cryptic look.

After he’d gone, I looked down at the note in my hand. Fear swelled inside me as I unfolded it.

Was it a good-bye letter? Had he come to see me one last time? To say good-bye to the baby?

I couldn’t bear to read it.