'Eat some lettuce' is a family joke- starting when I tackled my older brother to the ground almost three years ago. Its brought up regularly, and I thought, hey! If my brothers can say that to me, Ben and Nathan can say that to Rachel. Read and review, please!
Rhyleigh xoxox
It had started as a typical Rafter barbecue. Dave argued with his boys over who got to man the tongs (Ben and Nathan stood across the yard, screaming at each other, while Jake cheerfully picked up the utensils and turned the sausages over, Carbo chattering incessantly), Ted diligently sliced vegetables, while Rachel and Julie made conversation over salad. Coby and Carbo were offering around chips, while Chel and Retta played with little Ruby on a blanket on the grass.
"So, how's married life treating you, darling?" Julie wanted to know, admiring her daughter's wedding band as the sun reflected off it.
"Amazing", Rachel beamed. She had Jake and tied the knot ("Finally!" Ben had said dramatically) only a few months prior, and the two were still in their 'honeymoon' stage.
A knowing smile crossed Julie's face, and she put a hand on her daughter's arm. "How far along are you?" she said in a soft voice.
Rachel looked at her questioningly. "Wha- I- Mum, I'm not pregnant!"
Julie's smile only grew. "So, you haven't told Jake yet?"
"I'm not pregnant", Rachel said seriously.
Julie simply pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Maybe I better hit the gym more", Rachel fretted, abandoning her mother and the salad and heading outside. "Nathan!"
"What?" Nathan grumbled (having lost the argument over the barbecue with Jake, he had been degraded to setting the table).
"Do you think I need to work out more?"
"Absolutely". Nathan set down a knife and looked at his sister. "Eat some lettuce".
Rachel looked down at her abdomen and frowned. "Nathan!"
He simply shrugged, setting down another knife.
"Ben", she tried again, moving on to the next brother (who was given the duties of setting drinks on the table). "Do you think I need to lose some weight?"
"Eat some lettuce", Ben suggested, quoting their younger brother exactly, and earning a slap across the shoulder from his sister. "Rachel!"
"This is gonna be a story to tell our kid one day", Jake laughed, as he entwined his fingers with his wife's. "One day, in the future…"
"How soon in the future?" Rachel wanted to know.
"I don't know… um…"
"How about nine months in the future?" she checked, as they neared the Rafter home once more.
Jake stopped in his tracks, looking at his wife with shock written in his eyes. Rachel as grinning, as she put one hand on her flat tummy.
"Seriously? You're pregnant?" he asked, the goofy grin that Rachel loved so much spreading across his face.
"Yep". Rachel nodded. "I was going to tell you tonight, but Mum asked me about it this afternoon… majorly awkward so I played it dumb and pretended I had no idea where she came up with that idea-"
"You're having a baby!" Jake whooped, wrapping his arms around his wife and spinning her around. "You're gonna be a mum- I'm gonna be a dad!" a dawning of realization crossed his face, and Rachel laughed.
"We're gonna be the best parents", she murmured against his neck, pressing a gentle kiss to his chin. Setting her to the ground, Jake took her hand once more, leading her into her childhood home. Rachel, unable to wipe the beam off her face, rested her hand on her abdomen- she had been fighting the urge to do that for two days.
"You told him then?" Julie noted, wrapping her arms around her daughter.
Rachel could only smile. "Yep".