Page 43 of Always
The last thing I want to do this morning is leave my sleeping wife alone in bed. The air is crisp even inside the mansion and as I rub small circles over her navel, and caress the soft swell of her stomach, there is a deep excitement I can feel in the marrow of my bones.
The changes in her may be microscopic to some, even Jonas and Damon, but it’s primal to me. A need to protect her so fully, I don’t want to leave her side, and I know once we confirm my suspicions, they won’t want to, either. She’s been sick on an off for the past few weeks, sure, a few weeks ago we all had the flu, but her symptoms have lingered. Her stomach, although barely, is protruding in a way that makes me… feral. Her usual light pink nipples are just a shade darker, and they call to me to suck. To help her prepare for what is to come. Except she’s lost weight due to the vomiting.
There are times I believe in an alternate universe, I may be a werewolf with the way I feel around her lately. She moans in her sleep, a tell-tale sign she’s beginning to stir. I reach over to my nightstand and grab my phone, sending a message to both of my TA’s to remind them I will not be in today. No, today, aftershe does her now-routine morning vomit, I’m taking her to see an OBGYN. I’ve had this appointment made for the past week, knowing another round of Tamiflu wasn’t the thing that was going to make this better.
Once I put my phone back on the nightstand, I turn over and place my hand where it was- above her womb- where one of our children is currently growing. Where I not only want more information butneedmore information on how to keep her safe. I need to know all of the things to ensure my wife is the healthiest she can be, especially with all of the vomiting she’s been doing.
Fatherhood begins with caring for the mother during pregnancy. I want to be highly involved in raising our children.
She moans again, turning over to face me, taking her precious time to wake up fully. She’s not a morning person, has never been, probably, and now with what I know has to be a baby, she’s even more reluctant to face the day. I’m still quite impressed I’ve noticed the changes before Damon has. Although Jonas has kept bragging that he’s for sure the first to put a baby in her- twins, even. That doesn’t matter to me. I’ll admit even though envy does flare a bit, it wanes, because it will be my child as well. Any childthat comes from her shall be raised in a happy home, loved and protected and cared for by so many. No child raised in this home will ever feel unwanted, unloved, nor alone.
It gives me such peace of mind to know this. That my child will one day be loved and catered to by Damon and Jonas just as I will love their children. And there is a safety in that that I do love.
Raven hums, eyes fluttering open. A whimper escapes her lips and then she’s springing out of bed like I knew she would, running to my ensuite. I follow behind her as I’ve done for the past two weeks and hold her hair back. I’m honestly a little worried about it all. She doesn’t just puke in the mornings;it’s any little smell that rubs her wrong that has her going to the nearest bathroom or sink at any time of day.
She groans into the commode and retches one final time. I help her up; she brushes her teeth- it’s all routine at this point. When she rinses out the toothpaste, the flavor of it also making her gag, she turns over to lean on the counter, eyes watery. I raise my brows at her. “You ready to admit you’re probably pregnant?”
I wipe under her eyes then her brows where small beads of sweat are misted.
Raven nods. “I f-feel s-so s-sick.” Then she makes the sign fordizzy.
I frown. “I know. I’m not a doctor, but that’s why I made you an appointment with one. We can get all of the information we need and proceed from there. Okay?”
She lifts her hands.But if I am pregnant, I don't want to do a sonogram unless Jonas and Damon are with us. I don’t want to take that away from them.
“I understand. How about we just get the proof we need, whatever brochures they send us home with, and go from there? You aren’t alone in this, Raven. You have us.”
This makes her sniff loudly before crashing herself into my chest, seeking a hug. I wrap my arms around her and tug her a little closer, placing a kiss on her sweaty temple. “C’mon Angel. Get dressed. I’ll drive us.”
The waiting area for Dr. Dupin is large and lavish, something I am finally happy about the money I’m now making and being married to a billionaire- we can afford the best medical care. I don’t care about myself, but for her, I want and need theabsolute best for my wife. The reflection of the lights above us shine in the white and gold tiles at our feet. The chairs we sit on are cushioned wonderfully and not the leather chairs one usually finds in a waiting area. No, these are a type of fabric I don't even know the name for.
Raven shivers beside me and sits up suddenly. Fuck. I grab the nearest waste bin and hold it. Again, I’m rubbing at her back when a nurse comes to retrieve us and takes the bin away.He doesn’t grimace or make a face at her, simply hands it off to a tech who frowns at my wife with a tilted head and concern on her young face.
We follow him to one of the backrooms where he takes her blood. They ask for urine and all the things. When the door opens again, it’s Dr. Dupin. Her dark hair is up in a bun, chocolate eyes crinkled as she’s smiling but frowns as soon as she’s sitting before us.
“So, Raven, how are you feeling?”
Raven lifts her hands and signs to me, and I interpret for Dr. Dupin.I’m sick all the time. I can’t keep anything down for more than a few hours. I wake up dizzy and I feel as though I’m dying. Even water won't stay down.Her eyes become glassy but the tears don’t spill over.I just want to sit up without getting sick.
Dupin frowns. “Well, your HCG levels are showing that you’re about nine weeks pregnant. Which means your due date is in about thirty-one weeks, a late March baby or an early April baby, depending on if you’d like to induce or wait for it to happen naturally. We can go over your birth plan as we go along. But, you are close to your second trimester, and yeah, it’s around this time the symptoms start to show. Now, it sounds like you may have hyperemesis…”
She keeps talking, and I take it all in, hanging onto every word, feeling a little terrible that I didn't invite Damon andJonas to join us for this but they’re both busy. Jonas especially with the NFL and having to be at practice so early, Damon with his own practice, and his clientele list growing with more highbrow names due to Sabrina, Verity Huntington, and Jonas spreading the word about how amazing of a therapist Damon is.
We set up another appointment with the sonographer for next week, but on the way home, Raven asks me to stop by a baby boutique and I oblige my wife. She grabs three tiny little onesies with green shamrocks that say,“Baby’s first St. Paddy’s day!”and two gift bags. We wander around the store a little longer and while she shops, I grab all the books I think I will need, then grab two extra copies of each. If we’re doing this, then we’re doing this right.
I don’t put it past Jonas to read the material quickly, as he was a good student and averaged a 3.8 GPA at RMU. Once she’s ready and has what she thinks she’ll need, including items that help with the all-day-sickness. We then stop by the grocery store and pick a few more items. Once we’re home, I have her take a nap, hiding the gifts for our partners in my study. While she sleeps, I make Damon’s mother’s coq au vin recipe she showed me how to make the last time we were in Paris visiting, wanting this to be perfect, not just for them, but for our wife.
Because this is it.
Everything I have ever wanted, and she’s blessing me with forever.
My Siren.
My Angel.
My wife.
Chapter Twenty-One
