Chapter 55

~~ LILY ~~

Michael and I had been together for twenty-five days and I couldn’t be any happier.  I loved him and although we hadn’t exchanged those words, I felt that he loved me.  Sometimes I’d catch him looking at me with so much love on his face, but when he caught me looking he would grin and say something wicked.

Most mornings I’d wake up in his arms.  On the mornings he wasn’t there, I’d wake up to the smell of coffee as he walked back through the door.  I told Michael on numerous occasions that he didn’t have to make me coffee in bed every morning, but he insisted that I was his woman to take care of.

I’d yet to wake before him so I could return the favor, although more than once I showed him my appreciation when we showered, which was hot.  He had a fabulous body that I couldn’t keep my hands off.  He insisted his toned abs were because he liked to play rugby with his brothers.

Michael had gotten over his jealousy of seeing me socialize with Lucien.  I think he realized that Lucien really did treat me like a little sister, which was good, because Lucien had fast become my best friend, apart from Michael, that was.

“Ms. Redmond?”

I jumped up.  “Yes.”  I’d forgotten for a few minutes that I was sitting in the doctor’s office.  I’d told Michael I was going shopping for his mother’s birthday present while he was in a meeting across town.  What I didn’t want him to know yet, was that I was five days late for my menstrual cycle.  I’d never once in my life been late.  Always four weeks to the day.

“Please take a seat, Ms Redmond. I’m Doctor Julia Forrester.  How can I help you today?”

I took a deep breath.  “I think I might be pregnant,” I blurted out.

She smiled.  “I see.  Well, we better do a pregnancy test.”  She stood up and passed me a white stick.  “Do you know what to do with this?”

“I pee on the stick.”

“Yes.  The bathroom is just out of my door and to your right.  Once you’ve finished just pop the lid back on and come back in here”

“Okay.”

On wobbly legs I walked to the bathroom and then got down to business.  A large part of me was excited about the fact that I might be carrying Michael’s child, but a small part of me was terrified that if I was, Michael wouldn’t be happy. I couldn’t imagine that, but since we hadn’t talked about children, I honestly had no idea how he would feel about being a father.

When I was with David, the thought of children never crossed my mind because I knew David couldn’t have any. But now the possibility that I might be able to have a child to start building the family that I always secretly craved, filled me with joy.

I looked down at the stick.  Positive. Oh boy.  I must have been sitting in the bathroom for longer than five minutes, because the nurse knocked on the door to see if I was all right.

With my clothes straightened, I nervously made my way back to the doctor’s office.

The doctor took one look at me, removed the stick from my hand and ushered me to the bed on the opposite side of the room.

“Lie down, Lily. Is it okay to call you Lily?”

I just nodded my head.

“Can you lift your top and open your trousers.”  I did as she asked and lay there while the doctor fussed around me.  Then I felt something cold on my stomach.  I turned my head and the doctor pointed out a blob on the screen.

“That’s your baby Lily.”  I started to cry.  “Would you like me to print a picture out so you can show the father?”  I just nodded my head again, I couldn’t find my voice.  I was going to have Michael’s baby.  I couldn’t wait to tell him.  He loved me.  I knew he did.  Perhaps if I told him first he would find the courage to tell me.  Is that what the problem was, he was frightened to tell me?  I hoped that’s all it was.

I left the doctor’s office with a prescription for prenatal vitamins and a smile on my lips.  Was I happy that I was pregnant?  Yes.  I was bursting with happiness.  Was I terrified of telling Michael that I was pregnant with his child?  Yes.  We’d never discussed children.  Not once when we made love did we use anything.  I’d never thought about going back on the pill and Michael didn’t once use a condom.

The office wasn’t too far so I decided to walk, then I could stop in a boutique to actually buy his mother a birthday present.  I thought about how happy Pippa would be to finally have a grandchild, which she had confided in me she really wanted, although a shadow had crossed her face when she’d admitted that.  She’d had enough of her sons being ‘man whores’, her words.  I laughed when she’d said that and commented that they couldn’t be that bad.  It was then her turn to laugh and said they were worse.

I hadn’t really known what to say to that, so I’d changed the subject.

I was pregnant.  I was pregnant.  Perhaps if I said it enough times it would feel real.  I couldn’t wait to have a huge stomach with our child inside.  To go shopping with Michael for everything the baby would need.

I stood outside the boutique and pushed my way through the door. I started to browse through the display of jewelry, to select something for Pippa.