Chapter Thirteen
The next morning Sera woke up late. She was tired still and her body ached. Her head was dizzy and she couldn't get up from bed due to extreme exhaustion. She went to her en-suite to take a quick shower to feel better yet she didn't feel any better.
She lay down again and closed her eyes. When she woke up again, she could hear voices. Opening her eyes groggily, she heard granny's soothing voice,"Sera, you need to eat, dear," she said.
Sera tried to sit up, but couldn't. River came to her side and arranging her pillows properly, helped her sit up. River's mom, aunt Katherine, came in with a bowl of soup and fed her. Then she lay her and covered her.
Rhett came into the room. "Granny, aunty, let's call Dr Jenner. She needs proper care," said.
"Ok, call him, " agreed granny and Rhett went outside her room to call the doctor.
"How exactly are you feeling, Sera?" Asked River's mom.
"Very dizzy, exhausted," croaked Sera, weakly.
"Yesterday's journey became too much for her. Why did you both travel so far in this condition?" Asked granny.
"We had no choice granny. Her family was against it. They wanted her to abort the baby or else leave her hometown so as not to malign their name," informed River.
"What rubbish! What about the father of the child?" Asked River's mom.
"It's Zachary, mom. He's oblivious as always. He took advantage of her innocence, " said River and her mom gritted her teeth.
Rhett heard everything from the doorway. He felt Sera's pain. She really was innocent to fall for the likes of Zachary Reynor. He had met him once when he went to Vegas to meet his cousins, River's brothers.
He went into the room, "Doctor Jenner should be here in fifteen minutes," he announced and sat in a couch in the corner, quietly listening to their conversations.
Sera didn't feel uncomfortable in his presence at all. He seemed like family to her. There was a silent understanding between them. His kind attitude made her accept him as part of her family now. River's family was hers now.
"How did you meet Zachary?" Asked River's mom suspiciously.
"Actually mom it was my idea. We wanted a quick break from college and went there. We stayed at uncle Kennedy's apartment there," she confessed without elaborating upon the details.
"You girls are underage, do you realise that? Did you go to The Solitaire too?" Asked River's mom.
"Yes," said River quietly.
"You could have got arrested for underage drinking, " said her mom.
River sat looking down at her hands, "I'm sorry mom. I didn't think so far. It won't happen again," she said and her mom frowned at her.
The doorbell rang and Rhett got up and went to answer the door. He ushered a smiling lady gynaecologist probably in her late forties to the room.
"Howdy Dr Jenner, we want you to please check this girl here. She's River's friend, Sera," said River's mom.
"A very good afternoon to all of you. I need privacy please to check her. I'll summon you when I'm done," she said with a smile. Everyone left the room and the doctor closed the door.
After ten minutes, her door opened and everyone went back to the room. The doctor handed a prescription to Rhett. "You need to get these medicines and supplements, son," she instructed Rhett. Looking at granny and River's mom, the doctor said, "She's two weeks pregnant. Her body's too weak to be able to cope up with this pregnancy. Her haemoglobin levels are too low. I've taken the blood samples. I would need to do a blood test to check the exact figures. However, I would prescribe bed rest for the first five months. Here's a diet chart. Please adhere to it for the mother's as well as the baby's health," said the doctor, handing River a chart and they all nodded.
Rhett escorted her towards the door and then drove his motorcycle to get the medicines from the pharmacy at the marketplace.
Sera and River chatted while everyone went about their usual routine. Rhett came back after 30 minutes and handes Sera her medicines, instructing her how to take them timely.
"Thank you so much Rhett, " said Sera, sincerely. He didn't know her, yet he went out of his way to help her. He was much more caring than the father of her baby, himself.
"Don't. I mean, please don't thank me. Consider me your best friend just like River," he said, with a smile.
"Yes, definitely Rhett. I'm so glad that I have two besties now," said Sera and Rhett smiled at her.
When he left the room, River said, "He's the most genuine guy you'll ever find. If he considers you his friend he will lay down his life to uphold the friendship. It's not because he's my cousin that I'm saying this. Rhett used to love a woman named Adelaide who used to study with Rihanna. After her college, she found work in New York and left Fordsville forever. It's been nearly four years now, but Rhett still loves her. He refuses to move on. We just heard that Adelaide will be getting married soon. Rhett is devastated, but he doesn't show it," said River and Sera felt her heart ache for Rhett. He was so good.
Sera was feeling much better, so she went to the living room. Aunt Ruth, Rhett's mom, served her chicken sandwich and citrus salad. She loved the delicious tangy salad and asked for more. Granny smiled indulgently. "Good, you need to eat more," she said.
A tall man who looked like Rhett came in and kissed aunt Ruth and granny on the cheeks. "Evening, everyone. What's there for me? I'm starving," he said. His eyes fell upon Sera.
"Hey, you must be Sera. I've heard all about you since morning. I'm Rex, your best friend's twin and River's cousin," he said with a wink.
"Hello Rex," she greeted him. He sat beside her with his sandwiches. River too was served a sandwich.
"I'll again lose my figure with so much food," she grumbled.
Granny glared at her. "You've become too skinny for your own good," she said and River sat chewing her food. A tall girl with a svelte body and cowboy boots came rushing down the stairs.
She grinned at everyone,"Hi, I'm Rihanna. You must be Sera. Missed meeting you in the morning. Catch up later. I'm going to be late for my job," she said, rushing out with a sandwich in her hand.
"That girl's always in a rush. Why does she need to work now?" Grumbled granny.
"Let her be, ma. She won't listen," said aunt Ruth.
They finished their food and River took Sera for a stroll in the courtyard. Rhett and Rex joined them along with Ryder and Ryan. They sat for sometime in a log and stared at the distant mountains, looking beautiful in the lights of the setting sun.
"Does Zachary know about his baby?" Asked Rhett, looking at her.
"No," said Sera with a sad expression on her face.
"Shouldn't you tell him. He has a right to know, " he asked.
"He doesn't care Rhett. Last I met him at his house, he was busy making out with his fiancée, " she sighed.
"The basta*d. I'll box his ears if I see him," said Rex.
"You won't ever see him Rex," said River.
"I still love him and I don't regret my baby. I can live my entire lifetime with his memories and his baby," said Sera and Ryder heaved a deep sigh.
"Why do people who don't deserve get such true love?" Said Rex and they all agreed.
"You're not alone, Sera. We'll be with you every step of your life. We are family," said Ryan and they all hugged like a close family.
Sera couldn't have been more thankful to River because of whom she found such a supportive family. She could now give birth to her baby with ease and bring it up with everyone's help. She didn't feel so lonely anymore.
