Expecting
by Natalie Potts
Donna had used up more sick days in the last six months than she had previously used in her entire career. As she sat in the park, soaking up the sun, she unconsciously rubbed her swollen belly; it would be a hard habit to break once it returned to normal. ‘Just one more month,’ she thought with a smile, ‘then maternity leave starts.’
She hadn’t admitted to anyone at work when John left her six months ago. For all they knew she was going home and playing happy families each night, decorating the nursery and picking baby names that might keep both sets of parents happy. But John had no idea. When he walked out he meant it, he hadn’t laid eyes on her through this entire ordeal. She was doing it alone.
“Donna?”
She hadn’t heard the woman coming up behind her, which was quite amazing given her size. The baby she was carrying must have stolen the woman’s ability to breathe normally months ago.
“Cheryl?” Donna asked needlessly. Cheryl smiled and sat down, clearly grateful to be off her feet. “Thanks for meeting me in your lunch break,” Donna said. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, just a bit tired. Well, you know how it is.” The woman indicated Donna’s belly.
“I’m sorry,” Donna ventured, “but are you really only seven months along? I don’t mean any offense, but you look enormous!”
“It’s my third, so my body just relaxed straight into it,” the woman said, smiling. Obviously she mistook Donna’s anxiety for concern. “The last two kids had a lot of amniotic fluid so I suspect this one will come surfing out as well.”
Donna hated hearing about things she thought people should keep private, she got enough of it in pre-birthing class. She forced a smile. “I’m sorry to be brief, but I just want to make sure you read the terms of employment that I sent.”
“Of course, but I would need assurance that my baby would be okay the whole time.” The woman rubbed her belly as if trying to calm the child who couldn’t possibly know what they were negotiating. Some women wore their guilt so openly.
“Well, before we can talk further, I need you to sign this non-disclosure contract. It is not very long, so please read it carefully.”
Cheryl’s eye glided over the page so quickly that Donna wondered if the woman was actually taking any of it in.
“It just states that regardless of the outcome of our discussion today, you will not disclose the nature of the deal with anyone else.” Donna wanted to be sure that the woman knew where she stood.
“Oh, okay,” Cheryl breathed out heavily as she leaned over to sign the paper.
“I’m really sorry to do this,” Donna said without any real regret, “but I’ll need to see some ID as well, to make sure you are who you say you are.” And to make sure the signature was legitimate, but Donna didn’t add that. She had seen enough Daffy Duck signatures come through her office to know that she couldn’t take the risk.
Cheryl obliged without appearing to take offense.
“Okay,” Donna said, glancing around the park to make sure they were out of earshot. “I need to borrow your baby for exactly three hours. There is every chance that it will be less, but our agreement will be for three separate hours.” So far she wasn’t saying anything Cheryl didn’t already know. “I will take your baby to my office, alone, but I will give you a live feed video link so you may supervise the entire visit, I’ll also give you a number where you can contact me at any time.”
“And for this I get $5,000?” Cheryl suddenly seemed less like the mother earth than she had been before.
“$500 up front on signing the contract, and a further $1,500 after each visit.”
“Okay, that sounds alright but... I have to know why you need my baby.” She looked at Donna’s swollen belly. “Why should I agree to this when you don’t want to use your own child?”
Donna lifted the disclosure agreement that the woman had just signed as a reminder. “If you disclose anything I am about to tell you, this document says you are up for $10 million in damages, payable to me.” She quickly hid the agreement in her bag. “The reason I need your baby, Cheryl, is because my baby is nothing more than papier-mâché and a pillow.” Cheryl’s red face went instantly white. “I have watched as all the other women my age have had their paid maternity leave ‘baby-holidays’, some of them multiple times, while I pulled double-shifts and worked my arse off for nothing. Now it’s my turn, and I’m not going to miss out just because I can’t find a man who wants to take some responsibility.”
Cheryl moved her jaw as if she was trying to speak, but no sound came out.
“So do we have a deal?” Donna prompted.
“Can... Can I have some time to think about it?”
“You have until tomorrow. I’m taking the afternoon off for an ultrasound, so you can call me then. In fact, if you can give me one of your ultrasound shots I’ll give you an extra $200.”
The disgusted look on Cheryl’s face dropped for a moment, replaced by a hungry expression of desperation. It would be the easiest money she ever made and Donna knew it.
“I’ll let you know by lunch time,” Cheryl said.
“Well don’t keep me waiting,” Donna said, standing up and groaning out of habit. “A woman in my condition shouldn’t be stressed.”
“No,” Cheryl agreed. “No she shouldn’t.”
- - -
Natalie has worked in everything from Air Traffic Control to Zoology but has always loved writing. She is a member of Melbourne’s SuperNOVA Writers Group and recently published her first young adult novel. For more info go to www.nataliejepotts.com
by Natalie Potts
Donna had used up more sick days in the last six months than she had previously used in her entire career. As she sat in the park, soaking up the sun, she unconsciously rubbed her swollen belly; it would be a hard habit to break once it returned to normal. ‘Just one more month,’ she thought with a smile, ‘then maternity leave starts.’
She hadn’t admitted to anyone at work when John left her six months ago. For all they knew she was going home and playing happy families each night, decorating the nursery and picking baby names that might keep both sets of parents happy. But John had no idea. When he walked out he meant it, he hadn’t laid eyes on her through this entire ordeal. She was doing it alone.
“Donna?”
She hadn’t heard the woman coming up behind her, which was quite amazing given her size. The baby she was carrying must have stolen the woman’s ability to breathe normally months ago.
“Cheryl?” Donna asked needlessly. Cheryl smiled and sat down, clearly grateful to be off her feet. “Thanks for meeting me in your lunch break,” Donna said. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, just a bit tired. Well, you know how it is.” The woman indicated Donna’s belly.
“I’m sorry,” Donna ventured, “but are you really only seven months along? I don’t mean any offense, but you look enormous!”
“It’s my third, so my body just relaxed straight into it,” the woman said, smiling. Obviously she mistook Donna’s anxiety for concern. “The last two kids had a lot of amniotic fluid so I suspect this one will come surfing out as well.”
Donna hated hearing about things she thought people should keep private, she got enough of it in pre-birthing class. She forced a smile. “I’m sorry to be brief, but I just want to make sure you read the terms of employment that I sent.”
“Of course, but I would need assurance that my baby would be okay the whole time.” The woman rubbed her belly as if trying to calm the child who couldn’t possibly know what they were negotiating. Some women wore their guilt so openly.
“Well, before we can talk further, I need you to sign this non-disclosure contract. It is not very long, so please read it carefully.”
Cheryl’s eye glided over the page so quickly that Donna wondered if the woman was actually taking any of it in.
“It just states that regardless of the outcome of our discussion today, you will not disclose the nature of the deal with anyone else.” Donna wanted to be sure that the woman knew where she stood.
“Oh, okay,” Cheryl breathed out heavily as she leaned over to sign the paper.
“I’m really sorry to do this,” Donna said without any real regret, “but I’ll need to see some ID as well, to make sure you are who you say you are.” And to make sure the signature was legitimate, but Donna didn’t add that. She had seen enough Daffy Duck signatures come through her office to know that she couldn’t take the risk.
Cheryl obliged without appearing to take offense.
“Okay,” Donna said, glancing around the park to make sure they were out of earshot. “I need to borrow your baby for exactly three hours. There is every chance that it will be less, but our agreement will be for three separate hours.” So far she wasn’t saying anything Cheryl didn’t already know. “I will take your baby to my office, alone, but I will give you a live feed video link so you may supervise the entire visit, I’ll also give you a number where you can contact me at any time.”
“And for this I get $5,000?” Cheryl suddenly seemed less like the mother earth than she had been before.
“$500 up front on signing the contract, and a further $1,500 after each visit.”
“Okay, that sounds alright but... I have to know why you need my baby.” She looked at Donna’s swollen belly. “Why should I agree to this when you don’t want to use your own child?”
Donna lifted the disclosure agreement that the woman had just signed as a reminder. “If you disclose anything I am about to tell you, this document says you are up for $10 million in damages, payable to me.” She quickly hid the agreement in her bag. “The reason I need your baby, Cheryl, is because my baby is nothing more than papier-mâché and a pillow.” Cheryl’s red face went instantly white. “I have watched as all the other women my age have had their paid maternity leave ‘baby-holidays’, some of them multiple times, while I pulled double-shifts and worked my arse off for nothing. Now it’s my turn, and I’m not going to miss out just because I can’t find a man who wants to take some responsibility.”
Cheryl moved her jaw as if she was trying to speak, but no sound came out.
“So do we have a deal?” Donna prompted.
“Can... Can I have some time to think about it?”
“You have until tomorrow. I’m taking the afternoon off for an ultrasound, so you can call me then. In fact, if you can give me one of your ultrasound shots I’ll give you an extra $200.”
The disgusted look on Cheryl’s face dropped for a moment, replaced by a hungry expression of desperation. It would be the easiest money she ever made and Donna knew it.
“I’ll let you know by lunch time,” Cheryl said.
“Well don’t keep me waiting,” Donna said, standing up and groaning out of habit. “A woman in my condition shouldn’t be stressed.”
“No,” Cheryl agreed. “No she shouldn’t.”
- - -
Natalie has worked in everything from Air Traffic Control to Zoology but has always loved writing. She is a member of Melbourne’s SuperNOVA Writers Group and recently published her first young adult novel. For more info go to www.nataliejepotts.com
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