Taking a huge bite, I was reveling in the strawberry wonderfulness when I heard Alex giggle. Realizing I'd moaned out loud while chewing, the heat in my chest flushed my cheeks. Aidan chuckled next to me.
"Leave her alone." Rachel scolded both of them. "She’s allowed to be like that. You have no idea what it’s like."
"Yeah." I said, smacking Aidan’s arm playfully for emphasis. Then I reached out for my orange juice.
He put his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry." He grinned and continued to eat his cereal.
"So, Rachel…"
"Yes, sir?" She looked up from the counter she was wiping.
"Do you know how to make chow mien noodles?"
"I believe I have an Asian recipe book around here somewhere." She began looking around some cabinets.
"It's okay, Rachel." I said quickly. "Don’t worry about it. I can take care of it." I smiled, apologetically.
She waved me off and went back to looking around.
"Whatever the pregnant woman wants, she gets."
"I couldn’t agree more." Aidan's lips pressed against my temple. "I’ll check in on you later."
"You don’t have to do that. I'm not an invalid."
"Just humor me, okay? Those are my babies you've got in there."
"Okay, okay." I said. "That doesn’t mean I have to like it." I stuck my tongue out.
He laughed, grabbed his briefcase and left. I huffed.
"Oh, honey, let him take care of you. It’s the least he can do since he can’t be the pregnant one." She laughed. "And trust me, I would never want to deal with a pregnant Aidan." She shook her head, laughing harder.
"That bad, huh?" I giggled.
"Just wait for the first time you experience him when he’s sick." She laughed louder, "he is so whiney." I laughed louder when even Alex concurred with a nod of his head.
After breakfast, I returned to the bedroom to get dressed for the day. On my way to the closet, I noticed the message light on my phone flashing. Picking it up, I saw a missed call and voicemail from Viola.
"Lilli, I plan to visit the children's home this afternoon. Give me a call if you would like to join me?"
I called her back immediately, hoping I didn't miss her. I was relieved when she answered and said she be by in about an hour. Hanging up, I hurried to clean myself up and get dressed.
While waiting for Viola, I received my first phone call from Aidan.
"You’ve been gone for barely two hours and you’re already calling me?" I answered.
"Can you blame me for wanting to make sure you're okay?"
"I’m at the house, Aidan. What the hell is going to happen that you wouldn’t get a call from someone like, Rachael or Jay?" I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see the gesture.
"Look, I still can't believe your back home. Maybe I just need some reassurance you’re really here. That you aren't still lying in a hospital bed or worse."
His words were sweet and I was being a bitch. Taking a deep breath, I calm my hormonally intensified emotions. "I’m here, I'm fine. Okay?"
"Okay." He mumbled. "I love you." The words fell effortlessly, as if he'd always ended our phone calls with the sentiment. Not knowing how to respond, I stayed very quiet.
"I’ll see you tonight." He said abruptly, hanging up before I could process how those three words made me feel.
Viola arrived and I slipped into my coat before heading to her waiting car.
"Good morning." She smiled as I climbed in with her.
"Morning." I replied.
"Feeling good?"
I nodded.
"Good, I wasn’t sure if you would feel like going with me today after all of your traveling yesterday." She patted my leg as we drove away from the house.
"Listen, I know shopping isn’t your thing and that you are a little down about things. However, we're all going shopping on Friday. I am taking you and Elora out to buy some things." She smiled so warmly I couldn’t, wouldn’t, dare to refuse her.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"Lilli, dear, I know things are crazy right now and everything that has been happening seems to be taking a toll on you, but I want you to know we all love you and are simply trying to make things easier, better, happier for you." She pulled me into a tight embrace. Tears slipped over my cheeks.
"Oh, Viola, why can’t I be a normal pregnant woman who is excited and glowing?” Close to sobbing, the sadness in Viola’s eyes only made me feel worse. Very abruptly, her eyes hardened into a determined stare.
"You sure as hell are a normal pregnant woman, Lilli!" She sighed. "I know that this situation is crazier than all hell, but everything you are feeling is normal given everything that has happened. Don’t you see that? How do you think any woman would react?" Her arms held firmly as she started rocking us.
Wiping at my tear soaked face, I sniffled. "I guess."
"It’s not a guess. It’s the truth." She said firmly. "It will all come to you in time. Believe me, it will."