Her Father's Expectations by Chevel Grant (classic children's novels .TXT) 📕

The next day Carly drove Reina to the doctor who was happy to see her. She even gave her a hug. "How are they?" the doctor asked. "Happy and kicking" Reina replied. "That's good!" the doctor said as she ushered them into her office. "Are they healthy, doc?" Reina asked. The doctor nodded. "Their heart beats are strong" the doctor told her. "Great my twins are probably hulk" Reina said. The doctor laughed at the joke. "At your last checkup, Demetrius Vassaliadas had asked what was wrong with you" the doctor told her. Reina stiffened. "Don't worry Reina I didn't tell him anything" she winked. "Christmas is near" Carly said. I nodded. "Planning anything special?" the doctor asked. Reina shook her head. "I will be staying with my family. Carly will be staying with us" I smiled. "You will make a wonderful mom, Reina" the doctor told her. "And you have family to back you" Carly hugged her. "I know" Reina told her. She and Reina were walking out of the doctor's when Cybil entered looking... well... pregnant.
Carly stood in front of Reina to hide her pregnancy. "Maybe you should go out through the back entrance" the doctor offered. "Thank you" Reina told her. Carly ushered Reina through the back entrance. They were met at the car by the bodyguard. "I saw Mr. Vassaliadas entering the doctor's office" the bodyguard told her. Of course he was. Who could blame him? Cybil was carrying his child -Reina thought. "Can we make a stop at the Vassaliadas's home before you take us back to the college?" I asked. "I am under strict orders to take you to and from the clinic. Mr. Cortes said no where else". "Please" I begged. He sighed and consented.
Reina pulled on her hoodie when the car stopped in front of the house. "Does she know?" Carly asked. I shook my head. Gertrude opened the door and looked at Reina. She gasped when she saw that Reina was pregnant. She hugged her. She pulled away to get a better look at Reina. Tears welled up in Reina's eyes as she nodded, answering Gertrude's unspoken question. Gertrude clamped her hand over mouth, she started crying. Reina hugged her.
They were sitting in the living room when Gertrude asked "Does he know?". I shook my head. "Jesús Cristo! Reina Elizabetha Cortes! How can you not tell him?!" Gertrude asked.
"I... he is marrying Cybil Carter. He is doing right by her, I think it's fair that he doesn't know" Reina told her. "I see where you are coming from, hija but Demetrius has a right to know" Gertrude told her. "Has a right to know what?" Antonio asked as he came into the room. Reina ran and hugged him. "Reina, sweetheart" he looked down and Antonio gasped. She nodded. He touched her tummy and smiled. "Who is the father?" he asked. Reina looked away from him. "Sweetheart, must you be so thick headed?" Gertrude scolded.
Realization hit Antonio like a wrecking ball. "I am going to kill him!" he shouted. "Join the list" Carly joked. Reina shook her head. "I-I wanted to see you both before I went back to the campus. Mama, papa I am so sorry I-I didn't tell you" Reina felt tears fall silently down her cheek.
Antonio wiped them away. "No need to apologize, Reina" he told her. She sighed. "I want to stay longer but... I have to get back. Exams are coming up before the holiday break" I told them. They hugged me. "Don't tell him" I told them both. "But-"We won't" Antonio told her, cutting his wife off.
Demetrius was just arriving at his parents' house when he saw what looked like one of Lorenzo's car, drive off. He got out and looked at the plate. He sighed. It had to be Reina. He felt like such a coward for not calling and telling her about the wedding but he knew that if he did it would break his heart to give her up. "Was that Reina?" he asked his mother. She nodded but did not elaborate. "Why was she here?" he pressed. "Demetrius, she just came to visit before she went back to the campus" his father told him. Cybil pulled on his jacket and he looked down at her. Cybil had told him that his parents made her feel uncomfortable, again he had thought of Reina.
The way she could charm his father into smiling and laughing at her jokes. "Ah, Cybil" his mother said. "Hello" Cybil said being too formal. "Demetrius, leave the women to talk. I want to have a word with you" Antonio told him. "Antonio..." his mother started. "I won't" he replied. They walked to the backyard.
"A man had priorities" his father started. Demetrius nodded. "Is that why you are marrying, Cybil?" his father asked. "Yes father. I have to own up to my actions. You taught me well" Demetrius told him. "Yes i did..." his father said. "Reina loved you" his father told him. Demetrius would have taken a million kicks to the stomach than hear what his father just said. "W-what?" Demetrius asked. His father nodded.
"She loved you, a lot. I had suspected but it was your mother who clued me in" he said. Demetrius's heart was breaking. "She never said..." Demetrius started. "Women never do, son. It's their actions that speak for them" his father explained.
"She probably hates me right now". His father shook his head. "Far, from it. Reina isn't the type to hate someone and you should know that. But... Demetrius, Reina is a sweet girl, loving, kind, honest. A better match than that Cybil Carter you want to marry" his father said. "I know, father" Demetrius couldn't look his father in the eye. His father walked off leaving Demetrius to his thoughts.
Antonio walked back to the house to see his wife standing over a crying Cybil. "What happened?" Antonio asked. "I-I fell" Cybil cried even more. Demetrius came and when Cybil saw him she cried even louder. Gertrude stood over her shaking her head. "What happened?" Demetrius asked. "I-I fell. Take me home, Demetrius" Cybil cried. "Crying is not good for the baby, Cybil" Demetrius told her. She stopped immediately. "Take me home" she repeated. "Go to the car" Demetrius told her. She nodded and walked out the door. Demetrius ran his hand through his hair. Gertrude was still shaking her head. "I know. She is... hard to handle" Demetrius said. "Go to her, Demetrius. Pregnant women tend to be emotional" his father said. Demetrius nodded and left.
Demetrius got in the car. "Drive" he told the driver. For the rest of the ride to his mansion Demetrius was deep in thought... about Reina.

Exams started the week after for Reina and she was now five months pregnant. She felt happy, feeling like she had passed all her exams. "One more day left to go" Reina smiled. "Hi Reina" Riven Payne said as he approached her. Riven was a guy in Reina's class and kind of her guy best friend. He saw past her being thee Reina Cortes to the girl underneath. The happy, kind, fun, ever joking girl who was nice to hang out with. "Oh hey Riven" she replied. "What are you planning for the Christmas holidays?" he asked her. As if the cold started getting to her she pulled her coat closer. "Spending time with my family. You?" she asked. "Oh... I'll just be renting a hotel room. I don't have enough money to buy a plane ticket home" he told her. "I could pay for it" Reina offered. It was just like Reina, always wanting to help. He shook his head. "No, I'll just rent the hotel room" he replied. "That is not an option! Would you like to come and stay with my family?" she asked. Riven looked shocked. "I-if it would be alright" he told her. She hugged him and gave him a dazzling smile. "It's fine! The will be picking Carly and I up as soon as our last exam is finished tomorrow. Is that enough time to get your things ready?" I asked. "It's fine, Reina. Thank you" he hugged her one last time. She smiled at him. "I have to go, Riven. Gotta go study for those last two exams. Bye" she told him as she walked off.

The next day after the last exam Carly hugged Reina. They were excited to go home for the holidays. They said Merry Christmas to everyone as they left. "Ah, Ms. Cortes. Merry Christmas" Charles, the chauffeur, told her. She hugged him. "Merry Christmas to you too, Charles" Reina told him. "This is my friend, Riven Payne" Reina introduced them. Riven said hello to the driver as he got in.
Riven had expected a mansion of some sort but it was just another two story house. "We aren't going to my father's mansion because he doesn't celebrate Christmas so I usually stay here. I call this home" Reina told Riven. He smiled at her.
"Merry Christmas, hija!" Gertrude told her as she opened the door. "Merry Christmas" they all replied. "This is Riven, mama. I told you about him over the phone" Reina told Gertrude. "It's nice to meet- Gertrude immediately pulled Riven in for a hug. This was definitely home -Reina thought.
"Go put your things upstairs. I am making hot cocoa" Gertrude told them. They went upstairs and Reina showed Riven the guest room. "Thanks Reina" he hugged her. Riven was as tall as Demetrius, maybe Demetrius was a few inches taller though he was almost as perfectly built as Demetrius too but he still wasn't no Demetrius Vassaliadas. "You're welcome" Reina told him as she left him to unpack.
The door bell rang. "I'll get it!" Reina said as she went downstairs. There standing on the porch was none other than her big brother, Lorenzo. She was secretly hoping it was Demetrius though. "Lorenzo!" she said as she threw her arms around him. The babies kicked as Reina hugged her older brother. Lorenzo had felt the solid kick too. "Wow" he breathed as he touched her abdomen. "They missed you too" Reina smiled. "I can see that. How were the exams?" he asked as he closed the door behind him. "Wonderful! College life is great! I just wish I could see you more!" Reina told him. "I have been busy, forgive me sister" he said as he kissed her hair. "Hey Reina. I was wondering if New York had any place where we could..." Riven paused when he saw the man hugging Reina. "Reina? Who is this?" Lorenzo asked.