The meeting was interminable, and he was out the door the moment he could manage it. Linda only managed to get out a ‘good b’ before he was on his way to his car.
Damnit, he should have told Christine the truth when he found out. He was a fool. But he would make it up to her.
He found Christine in the living room. She was perched on the edge of the couch, her small frame tense and hunched. She seemed tense, even more so when she heard him enter the room.
“How are you?” he asked uncertainly.
“Okay.”
Her face was worryingly pale.
“Forgive me; I did not know what my mother did until it was too late.”
She looked at him for a couple of moments. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed otherwise.”
“But I should have told you.”
“You didn’t want to hurt my feelings,” she muttered tonelessly.
“No.” Never.
“I don’t blame you,” she continued in her uninterested monotone.
“I made arrangements to take the next five days away from work.”
“Oh?” She almost seemed interested as she raised her eyes to his.
He continued, determined to fix the problem. “We have not had a honeymoon yet; I thought it was about time we did. I’ve arranged for us to go skiing.” He would start by doing something he should have already done.
“Oh.” She looked dismayed.
Not the reaction he was hoping for, but better than an angry one.
“You said you wished to learn,” he reminded her of one of the first conversations they ever had. Not that they had actually had that many since. He had not been around enough to know his wife really.
Christine licked her lips. “I do remember, but I can’t go skiing.”
Disappointed and anger thundered through him. Was he too late to try? Had she already decided she wanted them to be as distant as his own parents? “I thought you did not blame me.”
Her lips quirked in amusement. “I don’t.”
“Then what is it?” he demanded impatiently. “Tell me what I…”
“I’m pregnant!” she blurted and then blushed, seemingly surprised by her own vehemence.
Harold blinked at her. “I thought you were taking the pill.”
Christine scowled. “It’s not one hundred percent, and besides, who knows what I’ve been swallowing for the last couple of months.”
Harold stared at her.
“I thought you’d be pleased,” she said quietly.
A pup. His pup. Their pup. Mine. “Are you pleased?”
Christine nodded, and then her face creased and tears burst forth.
Harold melted, rushing to her and gathering her in his arms. “Oh, my darling, this is wonderful news.”
“I know,” she sobbed. “I’m very happy.”
“I can tell.”
She giggled in between hiccups. “The agreement…”
“Fuck the agreement!” he snarled with enough rancor to hush her tears.
Christine looked at him in astonishment. He rarely swore.
“Harold?”
He swiped his thumb over her cheek, wiping away the tears. “I am glad we are having a pup – I could care less about the agreement right now. Aren’t you glad?”
“I am, of course, I am. I just…”
“What, my darling?” he crooned, pride and happiness swelling within him. He was having a pup with his beautiful mate – what could be better than that? Would could be bad about that?
“I just regret how happy this is going to make your grandmother.”
Harold threw back his head and laughed in relief.
*
Christine watched as Harold climbed into bed and carefully lay down beside her. His hand hovered over her before settling on her stomach.
“Jeez, I’m not made of freaking glass,” she complained.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, his eyes on her stomach. It was like he was expecting it to do something exciting all of a sudden – fat chance.
“You’ve never hurt me, and you can wipe that look off your face – I am not having nine months of you treating me like a fine piece of china.” An afternoon spent hurling into the toilet hadn’t exactly put her in a good mood.
Harold met her eyes. “You are very precious though.”
Christine gazed at him. “I am?”
“Of course.”
“Aww.” She snuggled against him.
He chuckled. “You both are.”
“I always wanted kids, but I don’t think I really knew it until I saw my niece, Brandy.”
“Then you are pleased?”
“Of course I am.” Just overcome with hormones, and worry about both of their families’ reactions.
“You don’t think it is too soon? Do you think we are ready?”
She hesitated. Honestly, she may have preferred longer for them to get to know one another, but it was a moot point.
“Maybe, but bubs here,” she patted her hand over his, “is gonna come whether we feel ready or not, and I’m not gonna waste time worrying about that. I think we should just be happy he is on his way.”
“Or she.”
“Or she,” she echoed quietly, uncertainly. She knew his family would very much hope for a boy, and she didn’t like to think about their reaction if bubs turned out to be a girl.
“Let’s go away for a few days,” he said.
“Really?”
“I told you I cleared my schedule.”
“Not skiing.”
“No, maybe one day. But for now – wherever you want.”
Yes, some time alone with her husband, time to get used to the idea of them having a baby, with no family members bringing them down – that was just what they needed.