When he came back, he jumped back into bed beside me like an eager beaver.
"Let's hope it sticks. It would be great if you were over it and could finish your paper this week, hand it in next week, and we could fly out to Bora Bora on next weekend. We could catch a plane on the 13th and be there for the next two weeks. How does that sound?"
"Shh," I said and held a finger up to his lips. "Don't jinx it. Let's wait and see how the rest of today goes, okay?"
He exhaled. "Okay."
We snuggled like that for about half an hour and of course, he couldn't help but get aroused by the feel of my body next to his. We hadn't had actual sex for weeks and other than my occasional helping him out with his not-so-little problem as I liked to call it, we were both almost celibate. I wanted to give him what he needed but I'd felt so sick for so long, that all I ever wanted to do when I felt somewhat less nauseated was to sleep.
He didn't press me for any help, but instead rolled out of bed and said he was going to have a shower. I knew that meant he would take care of business by himself, letting me stay in bed for a while longer.
We'd spoken about it, because I didn't want him to resent my lack of interest in sex and think it meant anything about how I felt about him. I had nothing to do with that. I couldn't wait -- mentally -- until I was back to normal and we could resume our sex life.
But while my morning sickness lasted, I just couldn't do it.
Besides, there was a part of me that was afraid it would cause a miscarriage. I knew it was crazy, and I didn't tell anyone about my fear -- not even Candace -- but I didn't want to do anything to threaten my pregnancy. Luke said he could wait until my nausea was over and I wanted him. I had to trust he really meant it.
So, while he had a shower and took care of business, I lay in bed and thought about how I felt, listening to my body to detect any sigh of nausea.
There was none.
When Luke finished and came back into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, I smiled.
"Feeling better?"
He lay back down beside me. "You know it. How are you feeling? That's the real question."
"I feel the same as before."
He held up his hand, with four of his fingers crossed, and smiled.
"The real test will be when I get up and have my own shower. If I don't make it out of the bathroom without heaving, I should be good for the day."
"I'll get dressed while you shower."
I sat up in bed and watched while Luke went to his chest of drawers and began searching for his clothes. I felt neutral, neither dizzy nor nauseated. So I stood up and walked to the bathroom door. So far, so good.
Then, I opened the shower door and turned on the water. Still good.
I stripped off my nightgown and stepped into the warm spray of the shower, enjoying it as it washed over me.
Still good...
I soaped up, washed my hair and body, then rinsed off.
Still surprisingly good.
The butterflies in my stomach returned, and for a moment, I was concerned, but they were only excitement at feeling like a normal human and not nausea.
I smiled and got out of the shower, wrapping myself in a thick towel, drying off my hair with another.
Thank God...
I wouldn't know for sure until after I was dressed and went downstairs, but maybe, just maybe, my morning sickness was done for good.
When I left the bathroom, Luke had already gone downstairs, so I went to my closet and chose my clothes for the day. What a novel idea -- getting dressed in actual clothes first thing instead of staying in my pajamas all day! I felt positively elated when I finished dressing and still didn't feel sick or tired.
I inhaled and smelled brewing coffee, and that was the test.