Nora
Helen was her usual cheerful, talkative self, and I was glad that she was doing her part of keeping the conversation going at dinner. I had a lot on my mind.
“No, Cici, you can’t have dessert yet, not till you eat all the peas,” I heard Felix say, interrupting my thoughts.
“Nora!” Cici turned to me, pleading, and I shook my head.
“Listen to your father, bug,” I said, and Helen sighed.
“It is so good to be here, at this table again. Brings back good memories of when I met you for the first time, dear,” Helen patted my hand, and I smiled at her.
She fell into conversation with Felix, about some new property she wanted to invest in Florida, and my mind drifted again. I stared at Felix as I ate, keeping an eye on Cici’s plate at the same time. This man only got more handsome with time.
In his late thirties now, Felix had some graying at his temples, and I thought that made him sexier. If it was even possible. His jaw was as strong as ever, his green eyes glittering and deep. I didn’t know how I’d gotten so lucky. Why he had chosen me to spend the rest of his life with.
Felix was a wonderful father, he was the best father he could be to Cici, and she was a happy child now. She was blossoming into a wonderful, thoughtful girl and she amazed me every day that she grew.
But then…it wasn’t just Felix, it was also my career. I was working full-time in the kitchen at Stone Hotel now. I had enrolled myself in Culinary School part-time, and Pedro was mentoring me. My life was busy; I was going places, I was content and satisfied with what I had…I didn’t know if I was ready, if there was time, if Felix would be happy. The news I was withholding from him was huge; it would change our lives.
“Nora?” I heard Felix’s voice and I snapped around to look at him. They were all staring at me, and I looked down and saw that I’d spilled a lot of gravy on my dress. I had the spoon in my hand but I wasn’t eating from it; instead, I was dropping all the food on my clothes.
“Are you okay?” Felix stood up from his chair, panicking that something was wrong. I gulped and shook my head.
“Yes, yeah, I’m fine,” I protested as he came over and crouched down beside my chair.
“If you’re not feeling well, you should go and lie down,” he said in a soft, gentle voice. When I looked into his eyes, I felt the tears bubble up. Why was I keeping this a secret from him? I could see how concerned he was, how upset, thinking that I was sick.
“Yes, he’s right, dear. You shouldn’t force yourself to stay,” I heard Helen say.
“Nora?” Cici chimed in, and I breathed in deeply.
“I’m pregnant. I’ve been pregnant for five weeks,” I exclaimed before I could stop myself. The words came pouring out of me and I heard Helen gasp, her knife clattered on her plate. Felix looked shocked too; his eyes grew wide as he stared at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asked, reaching for my hand on my lap. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.
“I didn’t know how you would take it…I didn’t know what…” I struggled with the words. He reached for me, pulling me by my neck to his chest. I could hear his heart beating as I pressed my cheek to him; his fingers were in my hair, and I felt safe there.
“Silly girl,” I heard him say and I looked up at him, still struggling to keep the tears at bay. He was smiling.
“Why would you think that I would be anything but happy with that news?” he asked.
“I’m going to have a brother?” Cici squealed.
“Or sister, sweetheart. We don’t know yet,” Helen replied. I could hear the joy in their voices as Felix held me.
“So, you’re not mad?” I whispered, and he kissed the tip of my nose lovingly.
“Why would I be mad, Nora? I love you; you’re my wife, we have a family together. I love being a father,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.
I hugged him tightly, relieved that I was just being foolish to overthink this. I should have known that he would be thrilled, just as happy as I was.
All the rest of it didn’t matter…my work and time…I could work around it. All that mattered was that Felix was going to be the father of my child, that Cici would have a sibling, that I was going to be a mother and we would continue being happy.
Felix kissed me then, a deep warm kiss that took my breath away. I could sense that he was trying to reassure me, he was trying to make me see how happy he was with that news.
He didn’t have to try hard. I could see it on his face, in the glitter of his eyes. The loud laugh he gave when he popped open a champagne bottle in celebration. I watched him as he hugged Cici tightly, unable to control his excitement. In the way he threw his arms around his mother and then came to kiss me again.
I knew then, what I had always known deep down, since that afternoon at the mall, that I could trust this man. That I should allow myself to love this man. I must have done something good in my life to deserve him and Cici, and this new gift that he was giving me.