Page 94 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

Clearing his throat, he straightens his bowtie with a nervous hand and continues. “Y-yes...well...no one t-t-told me…if th-this…if a p-p-potential for ch-child r-r-rearing is what you w-w-want.”

My gaze narrows, patience long since gone. “Tell us, speak true, and pray you give us the right answer, mate, because I’m not telling you jack.”

The minx scoots closer, angling so her back is resting against my chest. The fingers of one hand twine with mine, pulling it over her tummy and holding it there so my arm is around her. I have no idea if she means to, as she’s still caught on everybollixed syllable stuttering out of the man’s lips. The contact of her body on mine, our hands linked over her belly where she might carry our baby makes me calm.

Yeah, it calms me.

That doesn’t do a bloody thing for the doc, though, as he’s just one big twitch. “It’s j-j-just… I’d rather n-not be k-k-k-killed, and I w-was w-wondering if I w-w-would be if I t-tell you that your w-w-wi… mate is, in fact, pregnant.”

I tilt my head and stare at him, my voice quiet and controlled. “Are you saying that she is?”

The small man takes a gigantic step backward. It seems he plans on running if need be, no matter how pointless the attempt would be. After he backs himself all the way into the hall, he seems to find something resembling a spine. He takes a deep breath and squares his shoulders, mustering as much dignity as he’s capable of.

“Y-yes, sir. The young lady is, in fact, pregnant.”

Sometimes in life when you see or hear something that makes you still. The entire world grinds to a halt.

This is one of those times.

I blink, maybe more than once, and I’m certain I’m still breathing. I’m utterly frozen, almost as if, even with the words - or maybe because of them - I’m still breathing. I’m utterly frozen, almost as if, even with the words - or maybe because of them - I’m hesitant to believe it. I don’t want it snatched away or some such whimsical rot.

She’s pregnant.

It’s not until she gasps, her free hand flying to her mouth, that I realize she’s as stunned as I. Her other hand squeezes my fingers just shy of painful and she presses our joined hands to her tummy as if we could already feel the tiny life there growing by touch alone. She turns her head to look at me and I see her soul shining like a beacon in her eyes.

I think that’s when it sinks in. I think that instant—seeing something in those blue depths I’d not seen before—is what convinces me it’s real.

My face shifts and my eyes glow as a huge smile spreads across my face.

We’re pregnant.

The world jump-starts again, and each one of my senses seems on full overdrive. I feel, see, and smell everything. I know the second the doctor breathes again and relaxes. I guess his sudden relief has something to do with the expressions on our faces. I almost feel his muscles unclench one by one and hear the blood rush back into his colorless face.

“So it's good news. Yes, I assure you she’s very pregnant.”

I nod my head once, all the while grinning like a sap of the first order. “Thanks, Doc,” I say. “Now get out.”

She chides me, almost as if it’s automatic. “Thank you, Marvin. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again.”

Dismissing the sod, I tighten an arm around my woman, all the love I feel for her seeping through my pores. Her arms wrap around my neck and she squeezes hard, her body turning to crush into me. She’s laughing, and so am I as she dusts kisses all over my face.

~We’re. Having. A BABY! ~

There’s a suspicious knot in my throat and my eyes are stinging and damp. Not that I’m tearing up, it’s just that she’s cutting off my air.

Yeah. That’s it.

She rubs her cheek on mine and I feel her heart expand until it seems to want to break out of both her chest and mine.

~I know, baby, ~she says in a soft, wispy voice.~I know. ~Pulling back a bit, she looks at me and her smile is soft and loving and gentle.~You’re a daddy. ~

Something about those words. Don’t know what, but it does something inside me when I hear them. It’s like I feel—I’m not sure. I can’t say that I’ve ever felt this way before. It’s more than happiness; I know happiness. This is more. It's a sublime joy. I wrap tightly around her and kiss her all over her face. I know my grin’s bordering on sodding goofy.~Christ, I love you. I’m a daddy. Or I will be. You’re the most beautiful, precious thing in my world and you’re carrying our child. ~

~I am.~She beams a smile at me, tilting her head for my kisses with a giggle.~I knew I was eating a lot.~She pauses a little and eyebrows rise as it seems a thought hits her.~He said very. Why didn’t we ask how much very was? ~

~Don’t know. Stopped on ‘she is’ , you know? Want I should call him back and pump him? ~

She smiles and rests her forehead on mine, shaking her head.~Not now. We’ll find out tomorrow, I suppose. ~Her eyes are alight with love and a glint of mischief when she adds,~Not important now. ~

---