She always knew that she would want childrensomeday. So why on earth, two years into their relationship, had they never talked about this?
Holly didn’t consider herself a shrinking violet, not by any means. And she certainly was in love with Nick. Maybe it was just because the opportunity for that talk never seemed to be there.
Just as their marriage conversation had more or less started, and stopped, that night in Vegas, expectations over where they were going, together, was never directly addressed, or more often than not revolved around what they (Nick) were going to buy, or where they (Nick) were going to live.
Putting her head in her hands, Holly sighed deeply and fought back the tears that were threatening to spill, based on sheer frustration and fear.
‘When did we stop communicating? Did we ever?’ she moaned.
Allowing a few tears to make trails down her cheeks, she looked up at the sink.
Nevertheless, things would change, starting today. No matter what the result, there would have to be more talking about big life events, and not just work.
Holly took a deep breath and stood up. She took two quick steps towards the sink and put both hands on the counter, as if steeling herself for what would come next. She closed her eyes ever so briefly and thought of how her life could change in the next couple of seconds.
Holly shifted her hands ever so slightly, and her charm bracelet dinged on the marble surface. She opened her eyes and looked down at the test.
It was positive.
37
Hours later, as she lay curled up on the bed she shared with Nick, she heard the front door open. Looking at the clock, she realised that she had been lying there thinking for hours. And in that time, she had come to a decision. But first, she had to tell Nick.
‘Babe?’ he called out. Immediately she could hear something in his voice. There was a jubilant edge to it. Few days passed without some new development or triumph at work. Nick was rarely in a bad mood; never did he come home angry at a boss, or frustrated with some new piece of corporate legislation. He loved what he did. But that might just be the problem. It was a one-track mindset, and it didn’t allow for any other life developments to take place. Nick’s job was the third person in the relationship.
So he might have news today, but this time, she did too.
‘Holly? Are you home? The front door was unlocked and … ’ Nick entered their bedroom and turned on a light. ‘Hey … what are you doing n the dark?’ A touch of concern entered his voice. ‘Are you OK?’
Holly turned to look at him, and it was as though she was seeing him for the first time. She noted his dark hair, and his eyes – two deep oceans of blue that still made her heart thump. His broad shoulders and muscular arms that were so good at holding her. His kind smile. All the things that had attracted her in the first place.
And now, he was the father of her child.
‘Holly? Hey, are you there?’ he said with a smile on his face. He waved a hand as if trying to get her attention.
‘Sorry, just spaced out for a moment. Listen, Nick … I need to talk to you … ’
Nick smiled and crossed the room in four quick steps. He sat on the bed next to her and held her hands. ‘Great, because I have something to say to you too. Today was a huge day, Holly, just huge—’
‘Really, can we just wait a second, I really need to talk to you … ’
It was as if he hadn’t heard her.
‘You will never believe what happened. I can barely still believe it myself. It’s going to change everything. It’s going to change our lives … ’
‘Well, I have something to say and I’m pretty sure it’s going to change our lives too… ’
It was as if Holly was invisible, or mute. ‘I mean, we thought there was a possibility of this happening, but never did we think in a million years it would happen so fast. I mean, a year and a half! A year and a half in business and now this… ’
Holly sighed heavily and clenched Nick’s hands with more force, practically digging her nails into his palm. He didn’t notice.
‘Nick,’ she said sharply.
‘We were bought by Yahoo!’
‘I’m pregnant.’
‘Yahoo! Can you believe … wait,whatdid you say?’ he said, his smile fading. He dropped her hands and placed his palm down, on his legs, as if trying to wipe off whatever she had just exposed him to.
