Chapter Thirty-Four

Welcome to chapter thirty-four. This chapter begins as the secret romance between our matriach's son Felix and his second cousin Lexi is about to be blown out into the open.

These two young people had thought that they would be able to keep their secret romance from the judging eyes of their family. But now something had happened that would change their lives.

Lexi uttered those fateful words to Felix late one night after she was suspiciously ill. She was pregnant. Felix didn't say anything, just flashed that wicked grin of his, embraced the woman of his dreams and told her it would be ok. Eventually they both retired to their respective beds.

 Even though Felix had told her it would all be ok, Lexi wasn't sure. So she decided to take a chance in telling the woman that had raised her, Felix's mum and matriach of the family Petra. Lexi didn't say who the father was, but she did tell her she was expecting a baby.

After Petra returned to her writing for the day, Lexi told Felix about the quiet comment his mother replied with when she heard about the baby. It seemed that Petra was excited about her grandchild. She knew who the father was.

 

But the young couple wasn't as upset over the discovery as they thought they would be. Obviously they weren't going to be announcing their relationship just yet, but just knowing that Petra was ok with it, brought new smiles the expectant parents.

Felix decided he needed a job to support Lexi and the child, so joined the military. It would be tough in those first few months until he established himself, but supporting the mother of his child was more important.

Lexi's morning sickness was making her life difficult. Petra's calming ghostly figure was ever present making sure the young mum was alright.

Petra didn't tell her husband about the baby. She knew he'd be supportive, but she thought it would be better if he discovered it for himself, she would not be the one to betray confidences. And so Ziggy remained ignorant of the secret his household was hiding.

And so Petra was always discreete when talking to her son's secret girlfriend. And Lexi appreciated Petra's advice on the pregnancy, after all Petra had raised five children all up, including three of her own.

Her baby bump wasn't visible, yet. But Lexi knew it wouldn't be long before people found out she was pregnant. She still had no idea what she was going to say to them when people asked who the father was.

 Felix was working hard in preparation for climbing the military career. He had always enjoyed working out, and so this was no hard task for him.

Felix, like Lexi, appreciated Petra's knowledge on the subject of children. And after he had finished his afternoon workout, he and Petra would watch the baby channel on tv and discreetly talk about what to expect when the baby was born.

Lexi finally gave in and got herself some maternity clothes to fit her growing bump. Her worries about what to tell the world subsided as excitement over being a mother took over.

Petra loved visiting Esmeralda in her little shack next door. Esmeralda and Sam had recently been trying for a baby, and Petra waited with bated breath for her eldest daughter to announce she was pregnant. But alas, another visit with no baby news.

Ziggy was still unaware that his son was soon to be a father. He was surprised when Lexi said she was pregnant, but didn't ask who the father was when it became obvious that Lexi would not tell.

The days turned into weeks and the baby grew. And like the many other expectant mothers that had lived in this house for the past six generations, Lexi found that the calm atmosphere by the pool was her favourite place to unwind with Felix at the end of the day.

Felix was working hard at the military and even though the pay was minimal, he knew that one day soon his hard work was going to pay off and he'd be earning more.

It was an uneventful pregnancy for Lexi. The morning sickness hadn't lasted to long, and now that she was convinced that her family wouldn't disown her after they discovered the father, Lexi was happy and content to ride out the last few days before she became a mother.

One day a couple of days later Lexi felt labour begin.

Felix was on the way home from work, but they had decided that she was go to the hospital alone so no one knew who the father was until they were ready to tell. Petra was calm, Ziggy was decidedly not, and Lexi nervously rushed out to the waiting taxi.

Her taxi passed Felix on his way home and Lexi wished he was able to follow her so they could both  be there when their child was born.

Felix sat on the couch as soon as his mother told him that Lexi was heading to the hospital. He was so nervous for Lexi and the baby. He wished he could be with her.

Lexi appeared calm as she walked through the hospital car park, but she had never been more scared. She relied on Felix's calm and ghostly presence more than she realised and she was suddenly regretting their decision to keep him away so no one knew he was the father.

It wasn't long before his heart took over his mind and Felix raced out of the house. Petra just smiled at her son and the shocked Ziggy wondered how he could have missed the fact that Lexi's baby was also his son's.

But Ziggy loved his wife very much and so he took her lead and decided that love was more important, and so gave his blessing to the young couple. Petra and Ziggy waited with bated breath that night, together on the couch, for news on their first grandchild.

 In the early hours of the morning, just before the sun rose, Lexi and Felix emerged from the hospital carrying their little son. There was no hiding who little Benji's father was.

 As Lexi and Felix took their little boy into the family home they had no idea what would happen now. How would Ziggy react to this ghostly grandchild? How would the community react? Find out in chapter thirty five! Coming soon!