Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 206: Parasitic Infection

Chapter 206: Parasitic Infection

Marcella was busy for the next few weeks.

Just like Marcella asked her, Natalie wrote letters to every major publication about the abuse she faced by Coach Rourke. She tried to contact local news channels to see if anyone would listen to her.

A month passed. No one replied. Natalie did get a death threat from Rourke.

As expected!

Marcella asked Natalie to file a complaint against Rourke and apply for a restraining order. Natalie followed Marcella’s plan to the T. She didn’t reveal the fact that she had met Marcella previously and had her backing.

The cops talked to Natalie giving her hope that they would do something, but in fact, nothing was mobilized.

Even good cops couldn’t do anything against the power of the district attorney. Natalie didn’t get any pressure from the cops to take back her complaint and they promised her that everything would get resolved soon. But they did nothing.

In a way, that was worse. The cops weren’t protecting her and sided with her abuser and yet she was led to believe that she was safe.

After six weeks, Natalie took the next step—talking to Randy’s paper. In a couple of days, Natalie’s story was printed and distributed all over the state.

The day the news was published, Marcella was in the garden taking care of the blooms. The gardener said that moles were attacking the carrot patch and Marcella discussed with him what could be done.

Tony had an off day after working the weekends. He was sitting on the porch with a bottle of beer. Although he was having the newspaper in his hand, his eyes were on Marcella.

She was showing; at least, that was what he thought.

He should know. He was sleeping with her every night without fail. He kissed her everywhere and he noticed the changes in her body. She had become sensitive at certain parts and her belly was getting fatter. Not squishy fat but...

She must be pregnant.

He talked to her about it one time with great hesitation as he knew it was a very sensitive topic for her. They were in a place to talk about anything and everything openly but he was hesitant to talk about this matter.

He gathered his courage to talk about it once. She ignored his concern saying that her period must be late. He didn’t know whether she believed herself saying that or not. It looked like she was trying not to believe anything.

’I went for horse riding! I can’t be pregnant!’ That is what she said.

It made Tony worry whether she had gone to the other extreme—disillusionment. Has she given up?

He saw some changes in her though. She ate healthy food; she added more vegetables and fruits to her meals. She stopped consuming alcohol. Even her wine consumption had become almost zero.

He tried to ask her if they could go to a doctor. She didn’t want to talk to him about it. He didn’t think that she was even thinking about it much. She kept herself busy with other work. Even if she didn’t have other work, she was busy cooking and taking care of Joey.

He kept an eye on her without being a nuisance. After all, what difference would it make if she knew that she was pregnant? Nothing much. She was already taking care of herself.

Tony saw her wiping the perspiration on her forehead. She didn’t have to stand in the sun like that. He went to the kitchen to make fresh lemonade and brought it to her.

When he got to the porch, she was walking to the porch. Seeing him, her face bloomed.

"Drink up," Tony offered her the glass of lemonade.

"You’re an angel, Tony," she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his lips.

With the glass in her hand, she sat on the rocking chair on the porch. She rubbed her belly. "I feel bloated," she looked at him. "Am I getting fat?"

Tony let out a deep breath. What can he say to that?

"There is something, Tony..." she rubbed her belly. "I can feel it. Something is... I think it’s a parasitical infection. Some parasite must be living inside me. I can feel my insides getting pulled..."

"Does it hurt?" Tony asked. He thought it was pregnancy but what if it was something else?

"No. It doesn’t hurt but... this pulling feeling as if my abdomen is..." she squinted her eyes. "...expanding to host the parasite..."

She stared at the lemonade glass for some time. She then finished the glass. Tony got the glass from her hand.

"Birdie, shall we talk to a doctor?" he asked.

"Tony, I think I am pregnant," she said.

"You think?" Tony raised his brows. "Come on," he helped her up. "We are going to the doctor."

He didn’t want to sit and listen to his wife anymore. Whatever it was, he wanted to rip off the band-aid. Marcella didn’t protest and listened to him. She didn’t want to think about it till then. After all the disappointments she faced, she didn’t want to be disappointed once more. But she might actually be pregnant. Or not. She didn’t have an ounce of morning sickness.

They went to the doctor’s office and did all the tests they asked her to do. The doctor looked at her weirdly when she answered all the questions he asked. When she inquired about the possibility of a parasitic infection, the doctor looked at her as if he was reconsidering his decision to practice medicine.

She didn’t mind that. Maybe she was a fool but she wanted to be open to the doctor.

Tony was chewing on his fingernails. She hit his arm to stop him. "Why are you nervous?" Marcella asked. She should be the nervous one. Oddly, she was as calm as a cucumber.

Tony shook his head. He was terrified. She casually talked about parasites and infections and his heart was beating on his throat.

What if she was sick?

The doctor called them to his office and Marcella went in. Tony walked behind her holding her back.

"It’ll be fine," Marcella told Tony. He was stressed.

Tony held her hand tightly as they sat in front of the doctor.

"You were right, Mrs. Crawford," the doctor said. "You do have a parasite."

Tony forgot to breath.

What?