It was the morning of his wedding day and Quinn was walking along the beach Kay and he had stumbled across quite by accident. He decided to come here before heading over to Arthur’s home where he was to get dressed and then head over to the church. It was a beautiful, sunny day in early April. The temperature was mild but a light jacket was still needed.
As he walked along the water’s edge, he remembered the last time he was here. He smiled as he recalled how he had chased Kay after she suddenly took off and caught her. And they rolled on the sand, laughing and then, they ended up making love. His eyes darkened at the memory. When she looked up at him with those big brown eyes of hers, it made his heart stop and he lost his head. Today, he was going to marry her and he couldn’t wait.
Shoving his hands deep in his pockets, he turned toward the ocean. Oh Kay, I hope that I will make you as happy as you have made me.
This couldn’t be happening–not today of all days. It was her wedding day and in a couple of hours she was going to be walking down the aisle. She tried not to panic and closed her eyes as she waited for the nausea to pass. Her mother was coming over in a little while to help her to get ready.
A couple of minutes later, she sat up first to make sure she was all right and then she climbed out of the bed. She went into the bathroom and before she brushed her teeth, she looked at herself in the mirror. Today, you are going to marry the man you adore. Excitement filled her and she began to hum as she brushed her teeth. She couldn’t wait to see him and exchange vows or to fly off to Turks and Caicos for their honeymoon.
As she stepped into the shower, she hoped and prayed that nothing would ruin today. Joanna, her soon to be sister-in-law was going to be at the wedding but she was determined that she wasn’t going to let her spoil her day. Since she found out about her relationship with Quinn, the older woman had made it no secret that she didn’t approve. Out of courtesy, though, Kay invited her to the wedding. Arthur, Quinn’s older brother promised to keep her in check. Quinn’s niece, Louisa, was one of her bridesmaids. It was going to be a glorious occasion, in spite of Joanna.
She had just finished taking her shower and put on her dressing-gown when the doorbell rang. It was her mother. “Hello Mom,” she said, hugging her. “You look great.” Her mother was wearing a salmon color skirt suit and her new haircut gave her an elegant look.
“Thanks, Honey. What about you? Today’s your big day. How are you feeling?”
“Mom, I’m been feeling nauseous lately,” she said to her when they went into the living-room and sat down on the sofa.
Her mother asked, “Have you noticed anything else?”
“Yes, I’ve been going to the bathroom more often, I feel more tired than usual and bloated. I usually feel this way when I have my period but the nausea is new.”
“Have you had your period?”
She shook her head. “It hasn’t come at all.” And then it dawned on her. “Oh, Mom, do you think I’m pregnant?”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” She went to the phone and dialed her other daughter’s number. “Joyce, this might sound like a strange request but could you stop by the drugstore and pick up a pregnancy test for Kay? I’ll explain when you get here. Thanks.”
Kay sighed. “I’m already nervous as it is,” she said. “What if I’m pregnant?”
“Then, you put off your honeymoon for a day or two and go and see the doctor. In the meantime, you need to snack often and drink lots of fluids. I will fix you something and you should take a couple of ginger sweets with you in case you feel the nausea coming on while you’re at the church or at the reception. Kay, you should have gone to see the doctor when these symptoms began.”
“I thought it was PMS and when I didn’t see any signs of my period, I thought it was late or that the cycle was changing. You’re right, though, I should have gone to a walk-in clinic. There’s one close to where I work.”
“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Joyce will bring the test and if you will soon find out whether or not you’re pregnant. Have you had anything to eat?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been too nervous and excited to eat anything.”
“Would you like me to scramble some eggs and–?”
She shook her head. “No, thanks, Mom. I don’t want to eat anything heavy right now. Maybe just two slices of toast with jam and some Ginger tea.”
“All right. I’ll be right back.”
Kay leaned back against the cushions, smiling as she heard her mother moving about in the kitchen. It took her back to when she was living at home and her mother was always busy in the kitchen while sat in the living-room watching TV or doing her homework. A few minutes later, she brought out a plate with two slices of whole wheat toast, spread with jam and a steaming cup of Ginger tea. She placed the cup on the coffee table and the plate on Kay’s lap. Kay wasn’t hungry but she forced herself to eat, taking her time. When she was done, she leaned over and put the plate on the coffee table and picked up the Ginger tea which she sipped. It was still hot and it hit the right spot.
“If it turns out that you’re pregnant, you need to keep hydrated and eat small frequent meals to help with the morning sickness.”
“Did you have morning sickness?”
“I did with Joyce but not with you.”
“I wonder if the same thing will happen with me. I have morning sickness with the first child but not with the others?”
“How many children do you and Quinn plan to have?”
“I think four is a nice even number.”
“Well, I suppose that’s all right. My mother had six and your Aunt Lynette had eight. I had two. If your father hadn’t passed away, it’s possible that we might have had more children. Anyway, when it comes to pregnancy, every woman’s experience is different. Joyce didn’t experience morning sickness in either pregnancy.”
“Lucky girl.”
Just then, the doorbell rang and her mother got up. “It’s Joyce.”
Kay’s heart leapt in her chest. She drained the cup and set it down on the table. I am about to find out if I’m pregnant or not. She rose to her feet just as her mother and sister joined her. Joyce went over and they hugged. “Thanks for picking this up for me,” she said to her when she handed her the box.
“Don’t mention it. This is the one that the pharmacist recommended.”
Kay looked at it. Clearblue. One line meant not pregnant and two meant pregnant. “Well, it’s time to find out if I’m going to have a baby or not.” She went into the bathroom, closed the door and followed the instructions on the box. When she was finished, she put back on her dressing-gown and waited.
When the time was up, she checked the display and her heart did a somersault. The word, pregnant seemed to jump out at her. As she stood there staring at it, she tried to figure out when it could have happened. Quinn and she had always be careful. Every time they made love, he wore protection. So when could they have had unprotected sex? Then, she remembered the afternoon on a secluded beach…
It was late in the afternoon and they decided to go there before heading back to his flat. They held hands as they walked along the water’s edge and then, she suddenly broke away from him and ran towards the rocks, laughing. He ran after her and caught her by the waist. They fell to the ground and rolled around in the sand, laughing and then he was looking down at her as she lay there with her arms pinned above her head. The laughter died away and their expressions became serious as they stared at each other. Then, he lowered his head and kissed her. She eagerly responded, her hands aching to be free so that she could bury her fingers in his hair.
For several minutes they exchanged passionate kisses and then, her hands were free as he drew back to drag his tee shirt over his head. She reached up and pulled him back down, her fingers gripping his hair as they kissed. They ended up making love behind the rock in the shade. Afterwards, they laid there for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, the gentle breeze caressing them and by the time they left the beach, the sun was setting.
The knock on the door jolted her back to the present and she opened it. Her mother and Joyce went in. “Well?”
Without saying a word, Kay showed them the result.
“Are you going to tell Quinn in the limo on the ride over to the reception?”
Kay shook her head. “No, Mom. I want to see a doctor first to confirm that I am pregnant before I tell him.”
“What about your doctor?” Joyce asked.
“Unfortunately, she’s on vacation. I’ll have to go to the walk-in clinic.”
“I can take you to Oxford Walk-in Clinic tomorrow morning,” Joyce offered.
“What do I say to Quinn?”
“Just tell him that I’m taking you shopping for clothes for your honeymoon.”
“I don’t want to lie to him–”
“You won’t be lying. After we’re through with the clinic, we’ll really go to the mall and pick up some things for your trip.”
“All right. Thanks, Joyce. Fortunately, Quinn and I are going on our honeymoon in a couple of days. So, I will know for sure by then and if it is confirmed that I’m pregnant, I will make sure to take whatever prenatal information I need with me.”
“Most doctors will recommend prenatal vitamins with Folic Acid which is very important because it has been shown to dramatically decrease the risk of neural tube defects like Spina Bifida. For both of my pregnancies, I used the Spring Valley Prenatal Multivitamin/Multimineral with Folic Acic.”
“I’ll make a note of that.”
“How are you feeling?” Her mother asked.
“Much better since I had the toast with jam and Ginger tea. I had better start getting ready.” She went into her bedroom and soon came back out wearing her wedding dress. It was a gorgeous off the shoulder full lace ballgown in soft apricot with ivory lace overlay, a sweetheart bust-line and long lace sleeves with a deep V back and a satin bow to finish the look. It was beautiful in its simplicity and it flattered her figure and complexion. Her dark curls looked stark against the veil which her mother now placed on her head and her makeup was subtle. Neutral eye shadow, little blush on the cheeks and peach/pink gloss lip gloss. The tear drop earrings added a touch of elegance and went perfectly with the lace.
“You look stunning,” Joyce remarked, giving her the look over before whipping out her iPhone to take pictures.
Kay’s mother looked at her, her face beaming. “You look picture perfect,” she said.
Kay smiled. “Thank you, both for making me feel beautiful.”
“Well, it’s time we head over to the church,” Joyce said, putting away her phone. “The car should be here any minute.”
Ten minutes later, they were heading down the lift to the lobby. The car was waiting outside and they got in the back. Kay and her mother sat next to each other while Joyce sat opposite them. And then, they were off to the church.
“Mom, do you have any last minute advice for me before I walk down the aisle?” Kay asked, her heart pounding as they approached front of the church.
“Yes. Take very good care of Quinn. That man worships the ground you walk on. Don’t let anything or anyone come between you.”
The limo stopped and the driver came around to hold the door open for them. Kay got out first and then her mother and sister. They went into the church and ten minutes later, Kay was walking down the aisle with her favorite uncle.
Kay’s face was radiant as she gazed up at Quinn, her heart almost bursting with the love she had for him.
Quinn looked at her, never imagining that it was possible to love her more than he already did.
They read the vows they had written for each other, bringing tears to a lot of eyes in the church. When they were pronounced husband and wife and kissed, everyone cheered, even Joanna. Before Kay walked down the aisle, she had gone to see her. Understandably, Kay stiffened when she saw her. “May I speak to you alone for a moment?” she asked and Kay nodded.
After her mother and sister left the room, Joanna cleared her throat. “Kay, I want to apologize for the way I’ve treated you and the things I’ve said. I guess I was being overprotective of Quinn. He and I had always been very close and after our parents died, I took care of him. I still think of him as my baby brother and sometimes treat him as such. All I want is for him to be happy and I can see clearly now that you make him happy. I guess I was jealous of you–jealous because you had done what other women failed to do–come between him and me.
“When I had expressed my disapproval of your relationship he told me that as much as he loved me he would never give you up. He said that you were the love of his life–a part of him that he couldn’t live without. I knew everything if I didn’t wise up and accept you, I would lose my brother. As I watched the two of you exchange your vows, I realized that I was watching two people who truly love each other and would do anything to make the other happy. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that for my brother. Kay, I don’t deserve it but I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive an ignorant woman.”
Tears sprang to Kay’s eyes. “You have my forgiveness and my gratitude for being a part of the happiest day of our lives.” She held out her arms and they hugged.
When Joanna drew back, there were tears in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered before she turned and quickly left the room. And now, she was throwing rice at the happy couple as they came down the stairs, laughing and holding hands before driving away in the limo to the reception. The wedding was a festive and joyous occasion. Everyone had a great time. Quinn and Kay were exhausted by the time it was over. They spent the night at her flat. He went home the following morning to pack for the honeymoon and get other things in order. He was going to return later to take her out for dinner and to spend the night. Their flight was in the morning.
Joyce came by later that morning to take Kay to the walk-in clinic. Kay tried to relax as she was examined and was thankful that she wasn’t experiencing any morning sickness. After she had taken the necessary tests, she got dressed and waited. Her heart skipped a beat when the doctor came into the room. “Congratulations,” he said, smiling. “You’re pregnant.”
After that everything was a blur. She vaguely remember walking into the waiting room to where Joyce was. One look at her face and Joyce was hugging her, excited. “I’m going to be an aunt,” she exclaimed as they walked out of the clinic. She took Kay to the mall as promised and afterwards, they had a bite to eat before they went back to Kay’s flat where they spent the rest of the afternoon.
Soon it was time to get ready for her dinner with Quinn. Kay went and showered while Joyce checked in at home to make sure hubby and the kids were okay. After she hung up she went into the room to check to check on Kay. She needed help with the zipper at the back of her dress and the necklace fastened.
Kay took up the mirror and help it up as she examined the necklace. It matched the dress perfectly and her makeup looked flawless. She turned to Joyce. “How do I look?”
Joyce smiled. “Radiant.” It was true. She had the glow of a newlywed and expectant mother.
Kay beamed. “Thanks to you.” She put the mirror down. “Quinn will be here any minute.”
Joyce hugged her. “Enjoy your first dinner as a married couple tonight and have a wonderful time in Turks and Caicos. I wish I could be there to see Quinn’s face when you tell him the news.”
“I can’t wait to see his face. He’ll be such a wonderful father. I will tell you all about it when we come back in two weeks.” She hugged her sister again and went back inside the living-room to wait for Quinn. After making sure she had her passport and candy just in case she felt nauseous on the flight she walked over to the window and looked out. She had lived in this flat for over ten years now and had been relatively happy there but she was looking forward to moving in with Quinn.
She smiled as she imagined getting up every morning and making breakfast for him. He was a great cook, much better than her but she looked forward to cooking for him. And when the baby came, she would have another mouth to feed. Nervousness and excitement filled her at the prospect of being a mother. If she was anything like her own mother who raised two daughters on her own after their father died when Kay was only six, then she had nothing to worry about. Besides, she had had lots of practice with her niece and nephew. She smiled as she imagined Quinn changing dirty diapers.
The doorbell startled her out of her reverie and she went quickly to answer the door. Quinn stood there, a broad smile on his face. His eyes traveled over her and admiration shone in them. “You look gorgeous,” he remarked before taking her in his arms and kissing her.
“You look gorgeous yourself,” she said when she drew back to gaze up at him. He was dressed in a charcoal grey suit with a black silk shirt and matching black tie.
He smiled. “Ready?”
“Yes. I just have to put on my jacket.”
On the ride over to the restaurant, they talked about the wedding and how smoothly everything went. She told him about Joanna and he was thrilled. “It’s about time she came around,” he remarked.
When they got to the restaurant, Kay excused herself and went to the washroom. “I didn’t remember to go before we left,” she said when she sat down. Quinn smiled but didn’t say anything. I wonder if I should tell him now or wait until we’re having dessert?
She decided to wait although all through the meal, she was just bursting to tell him.
His eyes widened when he saw her chowing down on the Ginger Chicken. “Wow, you must really be hungry.”
“I’m eating for two,” she blurted out. Darn. So much for waiting until dessert.
He stared at her as if he wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly. “I beg your pardon?”
She reached over and covered the hand closer to her. “I wanted to wait until we were having dessert before telling you that we’re going to have a baby.” A smile tugged at her lips when she saw the expression on his face.
“A baby?” he sounded and looked dazed. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes. Five weeks to be exact.”
His eyes were moist now. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, misting up herself. “I’m all right. I hope it’s a boy and that he’ll be just like you.”
His eyes darkened. “And I hope it’s a girl who will be beautiful just like her mother.” He squeezed her hand gently. “I love you.”
“And I love you. And now, I’m going to have some more of this delicious chicken and another helping of bread and of course, dessert.”
Quinn swallowed the lump in his throat and picked up his fork. He was going to be a father.
Sources: Wiki How; Parents; The Bump; House of Mooshki;
