Page 125 of The Genius
“Don’t be silly. Mom has a perfectly healthy heart, she won’t die of shock.”
“If I tell her what you just told me to say, she will.” Rochelle hardened her jaw. “I once heard about a woman who got so shocked that she died.”
“That woman probably died of fear, which isn’t the same thing.” I began to explain. “What happens with fear is that if you get scared enough, the reaction can release too large a dose of adrenaline, which will numb the heart and cause it to stop beating.”
“I don’t need a lecture. Just know that if Mom’s heart stops beating, I’m blaming you.” Rochelle was pointing her finger at my face.
“Just tell her exactly what I told you.”
Rochelle was reluctant, and it took a bit more coaxing until she agreed and called our mother. I made sure I wouldn’t be in the picture but kept close enough to hear her say the words that I knew would make my mother react strongly.
“It’s done,” Rochelle said afterward. “Your plan is crazy, Shelly. I hope you know that.”
“It’ll work. Give her a few minutes and Mom will call me.”
“I don’t want to be here when she calls.”
“I understand.”
“Promise that you’ll be gentle with her,” Rochelle said and hurried away when our mother called me.
“Shelly, I just spoke to your sister,” my mom began as soon as her hologram appeared. “I’m shaken to my core. Look at my hands, do you see how much they’re trembling?”
“Yes, I can see that you’re upset.”
My mother’s face held a flustered expression, and she spoke at a fast pace. “Upset isn’t the word. You sat here in my kitchen and gave me a solemn promise, and then I learn that you’re throwing everything away. I won’t allow it.” It was very rare for a Motlander to raise their voice, and my mother was almost screaming.
“Mom, calm down.”
“No. Why would you quit your job at Advanced Technologies without consulting me about it? Do you have another job lined up?”
“No.”
“You are a genius, Shelly. And with that comes a responsibility. I refused to believe it when Rochelle told me you’re planning to take a break from working to spend more time with an Nman.An Nman, Shelly. How can you throw away your dreams like that?”
“Mom, his name is Marco and I love him. We’re having a child together.”
She gasped. “Rochelle told me, but it’s not true, is it?”
“It’s true, I’m pregnant.”
My mom looked like she was about to cry. “How did this happen?”
“Well, as women we release an egg about once a month and if we have unprotected sex with a fertile male, chances are that…”
My mom cut me off. “That’s not what I meant. How could you let this happen? You are a modern woman. You don’t need a man in your life. I’ve raised both you and Rochelle to be strong and independent women, so why would you do something this reckless? Where is this absurd attraction to Nmen coming from? You’re not one of those romantics without a speck of common sense. You’re too smart for this.”
When she ran out of air, I took my chance to get a word in. “Mom, the truth is that I’ve always been attracted to Marco. He was the other assistant teacher when I taught here at the school. You’ve seen him.”
“When?”
“Remember when we went on a week-long field trip to the Motherlands, and you came to meet us at that beach hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember the young man who climbed the flagpole?”
“Vaguely.”
