Chapter 3:
"One egg or two." she asked holding a couple of eggs above a sizzling frying pan.
"Surprise me…" Ryan smirked as he sitting behind her at the table in the kitchen, reading the morning paper.
"Two it is then." she giggled, carefully cracking the eggs into the pan, making sure no shell, fell through her hands.
"Having one yourself?" he said, muttering behind his paper.
"Na, I'm not really that hungry."
"But you better have something Gabriella, no use in skipping breakfast."
"I know, I don't usually, just feel a little queasy this morning. Maybe I ate too much last night."
"Well I hope that is the case and you're feeling ok for this afternoon."
Suddenly the phone rang. As he got up of his chair to answer it, Gabriella, grabbed a spatula and lifted his eggs onto a plate. Lifting the plate, she artistically placed two slices of butter toast adjacent to each other. It was always the little things for Gabriella. Putting just that little extra effort in even the smallest of task would always please him, and that's what she wanted. If he was happy, then she was happy. A bit one sided it might seem, but that was Gabriella for you, she was more independent than most women were, and in truth did have considerable power over him. However she just loved him too much, to mind.
"Who was that?" she asked, placing the plate in front of Ryan, who was returning to his chair.
"Someone asking for a driving lesson today." he sighed. That was the problem of being that kind of profession, your time was flexi so when business did come along, your hands were tied.
"And did you agree?" she said joining him at the table
"Na."
"Ryan." she scowled slapping his wrist. "Why not?"
"Cause this is our day together. I wanted to make this special."
"Yeah, but it'll only take an hour at the most, and any business is good business. I can wait, it's not like I'm going away."
"Yeah but this is your day off, we were going to do something for our anniversary." he mumbled chewing on a piece of toast
"Ryan, just call him back before it's too late. I still need to do some housework anyways."
"Couldn't that wait?"
"Na, I'd rather get it done now. Ironing and hovering and stuff."
"Are you sure you don't mind?"
"No, I told you. Not at all."
"Ok." he stood up and ventured towards the phone. Shaking her head, Gabriella cleared the table and began to wash up.
"What would he ever do without me?" she thought to herself, smiling as she looked outside to their garden. It was such a beautiful morning, so peaceful, so quiet. Gabriella loved to watch the birds play in the bird bath, she often watched them when she washed up.
"Well that's sorted then." Ryan hugging her from behind and kissing her cheek, "I better get going if I'm ever going to come back."
"No problem, have a good time." she turned around and kissed him.
"I'll try." he moaned
"Hehehehe, I'll make sure I'm ready by the time you get back, then we can do something."
"What were you thinking?" he grinned
"Oh I dunno," she began to run her fingers up his chest, "We could maybe go a walk somewhere in the country, find somewhere quiet, just the two of us."
"Perfect. I'll look forward to it. Goodbye honey." he kissed her again and left for the front door.
"Phew, some peace and quiet at last." she thought to herself. She wasn't trying to be nasty, in truth she really wasn't feeling herself at all today. Something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Her palms were sweaty, her head felt light as did her legs. Believing that ignorance was the best policy, she carried on with her first chore for the morning, general tidying.
"I wish Ryan wouldn't leave all this junk lying around." she moaned picking up his variety of car magazines, sweet wrappers and computer games and placing them where they really belonged.
"Oh why the hell did he leave these here." she spotted an old pair of socks lying on the floor. "I'll be having words with him, when he gets back, about this."
Bending over to pick them up, she suddenly began to feel faint. Her legs gave way and Gabriella struggled to gain keep her balance. She was fighting an impossible battle, with a thud she hit the ground.
"Mmmmm." she mumbled opening her eyes slowly. "Where am I?"
Her surroundings had completely changed, she was now staring up towards a sea green ceiling. This wasn't the living room. She jerked forward quickly trying to get up.
"Wooo! Wooo! Wooo! Calm down Gabby." came that familiar voice of Ryan's as he grabbed her shoulder. "It's ok you're just in hospital. Everything's alright, I'm here."
"Ryan, what happened?" she mumbled. "How did I get here?"
"You gave me such a fright. I came home from the driving lesson and found you knocked out on the living room floor. I was so worried Gabriella. I called the ambulance and they took you in here. You've been out cold for 4 hours." he looked pretty shaken up, "But thank god you're ok." he was now hugging her tight, not letting go.
"I don't remember anything after the fall. My legs just gave way." she closed her drowsy eyes as she snuggled into Ryan. "My head hurts."
"That because you probably hit it off the floor when you fell." Ryan smiled, stroking the bottom of her chin. "Well that's what the doctors think. They said you'd be fine, but I couldn't believe them. They said the same about dad, and look what happened. I couldn't bear to lose you."
"You haven't though." she smiled.
"I love you too much, without you, I don't know what would happen."
"I love you to." her lips met his, touching softly into a long lingering kiss. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
"Good."
"When can I leave?" she said trying to sit up further, but feeling her head sore. "Owww!"
"Try not to make any sudden movements my sweet. The doctors did some blood tests on you when you were a sleep to try and figure out what was wrong. They will be here to see you. Was only a matter of time they said before you awoke."
"Ryan, I'm sorry. I ruined today."
"No you didn't. You scared the shit out of me. At least now I know we'll be able to have the days like we planned.
"That's true." as they kissed again, a doctor came through the door of her ward and towards the bed. Dressed in his long white coat and stroking his very fine beard, he began reviewing Gabriella's patient notes, waiting until the couple had finished.
"Oh. Doctor." Ryan said turning around in shock. "Do you have the results of the tests?"
"I'm so glad you've woken up Mrs Evans." he said. "I'm Doctor Walsh, I've been the one carrying out the tests on you over the last few hours. Quite a scare you gave your husband."
"I know…" she smiled
"Well yes I have the results of your tests." He said opening the folder he had brought under his arms. "It appears you had a faint due to a lack of nourishment. Have you been skipping meals?"
"No not really." she said awkwardly
"Well you didn't have breakfast today." Ryan said staring at his wife.
"Ah well that would explain why your blood sugar levels were so low." the doctor smiled
"But doctor, I've skipped meals before and never had this. Why now?"
"Well Mr and Mrs Evan's this was what I was wanting to talk to you." he said with a monophonic tone, which slightly worried Gabriella. She looked over to Ryan, who could see the fear in her eyes, he responded by gripping her hand tighter, to signal he was here for her.
"What is it doctor, am I ill?" Gabriella said
"No, not exactly ill, Mrs Evans." Gabriella and Ryan both let out a sigh of relief.
"But by the results of the tests I need to ask, you some personal questions."
"Go on…" she sat up to feel more comfortable, with Ryan supporting her back."
"Have you missed your period?"
"No, I Haven't doctor." He raised his eye brow at her, "Just I think I'm a little late this month."
"Well that would explain the results then and your faint. You fainted Mrs Evans due to a lack of nourish for you and for your baby."
"My baby?" Gabriella said shocked.
"Yes." the doctor smiled, "It appears that you about a couple of months pregnant Mrs Evans."
"Pregnant." Ryan gulped, "Surely doctor that's a mistake?"
"No apparently it's not." he said "We doubled checked the results, your wife is pregnant sir."
Ryan's jaw dropped in disbelief, as Gabriella began to feel uncomfortable. This news had been completely unexpected. Gabriella Pregnant! They had always talked about having kids one day, but not so soon. Were they even ready?
"Listen, I don't think there is any reason to keep you over night, but Id advise that when you do get home, you get plenty of rest Mrs Evans. I'll leave you two to talk this over with each other, while I go get your check out forms. Will I also book you into the pregnancy clinic when I'm down at reception.
Gabriella was in silence, shocked at what she had just heard. The words just wouldn't sink in.
"Mrs Evans?" the doctor said again
"Yes, Sure that would be great Doctor." Ryan piped up, "Thank you so much for all you have done. Make sure to thank all of your team."
"No problem." the doctor made his way out of the side ward and down the hallway.
"Gabriella. Are you ok?" Ryan said now turning his attention back to his wife.
"Ryan I can't believe it." she whispered. "I can't believe I'm pregnant." Tears began to fall down her face. "How can this be?"
"I really don't know Gabby, I thought we were always so careful."
"We risked it once too often Ryan." she sobbed, making Ryan bring her closer to him. "Now look at us."
"Why so negative?"
"I just don't if I'm ready for children. We're both still so young."
"Yeah, but think of it this way." the news had sunken in better with Ryan than it had Gabriella, yet both of them still were in disbelief. "What happened today, just proves that life is too short. Even if we are young, I think we're responsible enough to have a baby."
"I just don't know."
"What are you saying? Don't you want this baby." Ryan stared at his wife, but she said nothing, instead opting to tilt her head back onto the pillow and close her eyes.
"Gabriella?" they sat in silence
"We better start clearing out the spare room when we get back." she sighed
"What?"
"Well we'll need it won't we?" she smiled.
"So you mean?"
"Yes!" her face lit up as she sat up and hugged Ryan, "Of course I want this baby."
"Oh Gabriella." they kissed again.
"Its so soon." said pulling away from the kiss. "But like you said we're responsible enough. You make enough with your job, especially with the extra shifts."
"Yeah."
"I guess I'll need to give up work, or at least until the baby is old enough to go to school, even so go part time."
"Hey, calm down honey. You're thinking way ahead of yourself here. Are you sure about all of this?"
"I am sure. This maybe earlier than I ever expected Ryan, that's why I guess I'm still a bit taken aback by it all. But this is all I've ever wanted. You and me, starting a family. I love you so much." she hugged him tight reassuring him, "Life is too short, and even though we've only been married for a year, we've been together for so much longer. Certainly long enough to start a family…and a family is what I want, with you, right here and now."
"I love you Gabriella. I love you so much." Ryan let out a soft moan as tears began to form in his eyes, he was nearly crying with joy.
"I love you to." she cried back. "I can't believe we'll have a little boy or girl to love." she began giggling, as tears also filled her eyes and began tumbling down her cheeks.
"A little boy or girl." Ryan said in amazement, the whole Idea of him being a dad, still hadn't sunken in. "You'll be a great mother Gabby. I know you will."
"Hmmm, I've had plenty of experience having to look after you." she teased, "Oh Ryan, I'm so excited."
"In the mean time you better start looking after yourself, don't be pulling anymore of these stunts. You are eating for two now."
"I will, I promise Ryan." she smiled feeling her stomach "But I won't need to worry as you'll always be here for me, for both of us, forever."
"I know Gabriella." he said laying soft kisses on her forehead. "I know."