I thought back to when I first suspected I was pregnant.
My body was revolting, and I had too much to do. Weddings don’t plan themselves. I felt like I had the flu but had reason to believe that maybe something else was going on. I knew if I went and bought a test that it would be all over our small community in a matter of twenty minutes, and the last thing I needed was the attention. It just so happened that Rachel and Charles had come into town for Summerfest that weekend, so she grabbed a test for me while she was at the store. Keeping it from Luke had been a little tricky, but we had managed.
“So?” Rachel popped her head into the bathroom as I waited to see just how many lines popped up. When the second line started to show, I was overcome with emotion, so when Rachel stuck her head in the door, she wasn't sure if she should be happy or quietly somber with me. I nodded, and she ran into the bathroom pulling me into a tight hug. Her own protruding belly kept us from our normal tight embraces.
“If you have a girl, our kids can get married, and then we will be related for real.” She said through her tears.
“It's a little early to be planning that wedding.” I laughed at her.
“When are you going to tell Luke? I want to be here and see the look on his face.”
“I don't know, maybe I should wait a little longer.” Even though I wanted to wait and plan some elaborate way to tell him, he knew immediately I was hiding something from him.
“What’s wrong with you?” He asked me as we stood in the kitchen later that night.
“Nothing.” I smiled and turned back to the salad I was mixing. I felt his arms wrap around me and pull me against him.
“I don't believe you.” I turned in his arms and looked up into his blue eyes.
“I just haven't felt very good for the last week or so. I think I'm coming down with something.”
“
Maybe you should make an appointment to go to the doctor when we are in Portland early next week.”
“I think I might.” I reached up on my tip-toes and kissed him softly before turning back to the salad.
At dinner two nights later, I had worked up the nerve to tell him. I wanted to do one of those extravagant treasure hunts, but instead I ordered a pacifier and served it to him on a plate. When I sat the plate down in front of him, he looked down and then back at me and then down to the plate again.
“Are you, we are, when, you aren't kidding me, are you? Because that would be cruel.” His dark blue eyes were shining, and his smile was blinding. He stood and grabbed my face, kissing me hard then dropped to his knees in front of me, kissing my belly over and over.
“Hey little buddy. I don't know if you can hear me yet, but I can't wait to meet you.” His arms wrapped around my waist, his head laid on my belly, and he talked to a baby that we hadn't planned but wanted.
“I cannot believe how good that dress looks on you.” Cindy smiled at me when she walked in, shuffling in her own dress.
“I was worried that it would show my belly too much,” I admitted.
“You are going to tell Ryan today anyway, right?”
“We were planning to, yes.”
“I still can't believe that he is so oblivious to what is going on around him.” Cindy laughed.
“You are pretty distracting.” I raise my eyebrows and smile at her. “Especially in that dress,” I joked.
“I never thought that he and I would be a he and I for real.”
“The man loves you.” I reached out and hugged her.
“Well, he better. Because at this point, I’d fight him for custody of you and Luke,” she winked. “Now turn around,” she said. “I’ll help you tie that ribbon in the back, and then you can get mine. Because you’re on in thirty minutes.”
I smiled.
Thirty minutes later, I was watching Luke make me all weak in the knees in his tux as I walked toward him and took my place standing across from him.
He winked at me, and I winked back. He blew a kiss toward my belly, and I melted a little more for him.
“I love you.” I mouthed, and he did the same. Ryan shuffled nervously next to him and fiddled with his tie.