“Mew.” She stares at her food bowl, pretending she hasn’t eaten in days.
“Nice try.” Impressed by her acting, I lean over and pat her furry head.
“Babe? You here?” At the sound of running water, I stroll past our wall of kitchen appliances to the bathroom.
“Don’t come in.” She retches, toilet water splashes, and when she flushes, I turn the handle but it’s locked. My heart races at the thought of her bein’ sick and all alone in the apartment.
“You okay, sugar?”
“No, no. Just…” She spews again.
“Hell, I got no problem breaking the lock. Ten, nine, eight…”
The door opens and my honey-pie flies into my arms, sobbing and laughing at the same time. I hold her tight, wondering what kind of drugs she’s on. Then, our cat jumps on the sink and paws a plastic stick until it drops to the floor. Picking it up, I read the plus sign. As realization seeps in, a grin starts in the pit of my stomach, breaks out of my chest, and explodes onto my face.
“Hot Damn!” I swing Sam out of the small space and around in circles.
“Nooo.” She runs back to the bathroom, drops to her knees, and pukes again.
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, babe.” Dashing in after, I hold her hair, smiling like a fool. Holy fuck. I’m going to be a dad.
When her stomach settles, I sit her on the john, and dab the corners of her mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just found out. Are you happy?” With a forehead full of wrinkles, she bites her lower lip and gazes up at my face.
Why would she think otherwise?“Hell no. I’m not happy. I’m fucking overjoyed. Aren’t you?” I cup her cheeks and as I force her teary eyes to mine, she sniffs.
“You said we should wait.”
“Yeah, but if the good Lord decides on better timing, who am I to argue?”
“I’m not sure He had so much to do with it.” Taking my hand, she walks me to the refrigerator, and opens it.
“What do you mean?”
“Remember how I went to the GYN and he changed my prescription. He might’ve mentioned we should use a condom and I may have forgotten. If you’re mad, I’ll understand.”
I laugh out loud, tuck her chin a little higher and wait for those big brown orbs to again find mine. “I swear on the bible, I have never been more pleased. We’re gonna have a baby, honey. Holy shit!”
I grab a beer, start to offer her one, and stop. My brain is about to explode with joy. “Would you like some milk? Juice? Water?”
“No thanks.” She pulls a slice of plain white bread from a plastic wrapper and munches on it. “I am dying for a cup of coffee, though.”
“I’ll go downstairs and get you one.” I hop up but fingertips on my forearm stop me.
“You don’t understand. I’m quitting caffeine. I’m on the wagon. Cold turkey.”
Wow, I got a lot to learn. “How about decaf?”
“What’s the point?”
“You could pretend.”
“Huh. I suppose. Yeah, sure. While you do that, I’ll jump in the shower and brush my teeth.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Uh-huh. After I puke, I usually feel fine.”
