“Okay, Marian, you can do this,” I tell myself. “Five, four, three, two, one.” I glance at the results glass and blink several times. My hand flies to cover my mouth in disbelief.
“Oh, my goodness,” I shout.
The washroom door bursts open, and Kimberly rushes in. “Is it positive?”
I’m too overcome by emotion to answer. Instead, I show her the test results. She jumps up and down and grabs my hands. Laughing, we do a little jig around the washroom.
“Can you believe it?” I ask her when the news has sunk in. “I’m going to be a mommy.”
“You’ll be a wonderful mom,” she says, and my eyes fill up.
I wipe away my tears. “I have to tell Declan.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you to it. Congratulations again, Marian.”
Smiles crease my face. “Thanks.”
I can fly at this very moment. I rest one hand on my belly and use the other to call Declan. I can’t stand still, and I bounce on my heels. When Declan answers, I force myself not to blurt out my news. We exchange pleasantries.
“What are you doing at this very moment so that I can picture you,” he says, giving me the opening I need.
“I’m in the washroom at work,” I tell him. “Holding a pregnancy test.”
There’s silence from the other end. “Are we?”
It’s adorable how nervous he is to hear my answer. I let out a laugh of pure joy in response. “We are. We’re pregnant.”
“Fuck me,” Declan says.
“Well, that was part of it,” I tease.
“I’m coming to get you,” Declan says. We’re going for an early lunch to celebrate.”
“Now?” I glance at the time. It’s eleven in the morning.
“Yes, now. How many times does a man get the news that he’s going to be a dad?”
My jaw is starting to ache from all the smiling I’m doing. “You have a point there.”
We hang up after a few minutes, and after one more pat of my belly, I return to the office.
“Congratulations,” Eric calls from his desk. “I heard the good news.”
“Are there no secrets around here?” I ask, but I’m smiling.
I must be the luckiest woman in the whole world. I’m married to the most awesome man, and I’m pregnant with his baby. What more could a woman wish for?
I reply to a few more emails, and I manage to clear my inbox. When Declan arrives, I’m ready and standing outside enjoying the warmth of the sun. I spot Declan’s car a mile away and his smile as soon as I can make out his face through the windscreen.
We must look like two idiots grinning at each other. Declan brings the car to a stop, and I hurry to the passenger side and enter. Declan immediately cups my face and kisses me noisily on the mouth. His manly scent is stronger today, and I make appreciative noises as his spicy, woodsy scent wafts up my nose. Then Declan does the sweetest thing. He snaps open his seatbelt and bends to kiss my stomach, clothes and all.
“Hello, little one,” he says to my stomach. “Your parents can’t wait to meet you, but no rush, take care in there and know that you’re already loved.”
Tears gush out of my eyes. What’s wrong with me? Every little thing today is making me burst into tears.
“Happy tears?” Declan asks as he wipes away my tears with the back of his hand.
“Yes,” I tell him, my voice shaky. “I can’t believe that it’s finally happened.”
“I know, me neither,” Declan says. “I’m going to be a dad,” he shouts, and I laugh.
“People will think you’re crazy,” I tell him happily.
“I don’t care,” Declan says before he coasts the car onto the road.
“Where are we going?” I ask when I notice that we’re headed towards Santa Monica.
“Only the best beachside restaurant,” Declan says.
“Awesome,” I say and settle back into my seat. I muse over how much I’ve changed in the last few months. If you had told me to take off for the day without planning for it, I would have said not. From the space that I’m standing in now, I can look back and see how empty my life had been. It had been all about work and nothing else. Declan came into my life to rescue me from myself. To bring life and love and now, a baby. I’m so happy that for a moment, fear creeps in. Is it possible to feel this happy?
“If you had a choice,” Declan says, cutting into my thoughts. “What would you prefer, a boy or a girl?”
I look at Declan, and the answer comes to me. “I want a little boy who looks just like you,” I tell him.
“That’s funny,” he says. “Because I want a little girl with gorgeous emerald green eyes, rosy skin, and a perfect face.”
I blush. “Thank you.” Declan knows the right things to say to make me feel six feet tall.