At four in the morning Alex found herself bent over the toilet in the small bathroom that the guests at the bed and breakfast shared. She wondered if the morning sickness could get any worse. She was determined to see her way through it though. She knew that it couldn't possibly last much longer.
She padded back to her bedroom and was surprised to see a pack of saltine crackers and a bottle of ginger ale sitting on the bedside table. She didn't have to wonder how they got there. There was a reason that she was a detective. She knew that Winnie had been up and probably heard her getting sick. That was how the crackers and ginger ale appeared.
She nibbled slowly on the crackers and drank the ginger ale slowly. After a few minutes, she felt a bit better. So, she put her feet on the floor and decided to get dressed and go downstairs.
She saw Winnie in the kitchen making breakfast. It was a simple meal. Fresh fruit, juice and english muffins. Alex was grateful that it wasn't eggs or bacon. She wasn't sure that her stomach could handle that kind of meal.
She stood at the counter and said softly, "Thank you for the crackers and ginger ale. It helped."
Winnie nodded and smiled, "It always helped me when I was pregnant and had morning sickness."
Alex looked at her hostess and asked, "How did you know?"
Winnie smiled, "I've been pregnant so many time that I lost count."
"This is my second pregnancy. The first time I was never sick. This time..."
This time everything was different. She was in love with the baby's father and she doubted that he wanted anything more to do with her or their unborn child.
Winnie noticed the tears that came to Alex's eyes and wondered what the story was behind them. She knew better than to pry and simply patted her on the shoulder. Alex gave her a watery smile and whispered, "I'm sorry..."
Winnie held up one of her hands and said, "There's nothing to be sorry for my dear. I remember my own pregnancies. My husband never knew what was going to make me cry."
Alex finished her breakfast and walked out onto the front porch. She was surprised at how cold it had gotten overnight. So, she went up to her room and grabbed a sweater. She'd decided that she was going to take a walk into town. She walked slowly and smiled at how quaint the town was. It hadn't changed very much in the twenty or so years since she'd been there last.
She found a antique shop and decided to go inside. She smiled at the bell that sounded when she opened the door. The owner popped his head out and told her, "Welcome! If you need anything please let me know."
Alex smiled, "I will thank you."
She walked through the store and found a few things that interested her. Nestled back in the back of the store was something that she fell in love with immediately. It was an antique baby cradle. It was made out of a cherry wood and was absolutely beautiful. It needed a little bit or work, but she would find someone to do it for her. She immediately knew that this was the cradle for her baby.
She found the owner of the shop and purchased the items. She arranged to have the cradle delivered to her home in New York.
She then visited the other shops in town and she couldn't help but fall in love all over again with this small town. She realized why her parents had come here during their summers. It was a beautiful little town.
Around lunchtime she found that she was starving. So, she stopped in one of the restaurants in town. She ordered chicken noodle soup and and a salad. She still didn't trust her stomach. She was in the middle of eating when she spotted a little family eating there also.
She couldn't help but watch them. The little girl couldn't have been more than six months old. The father was holding her so that her mother could eat. The father was making faces at her and the baby would laugh uncontrollably. It was beautiful to watch, but it also broke her heart. She knew that Bobby would be a wonderful father. If only he would have given it a chance.
She didn't realize that she was crying until the waitress asked, "Are you okay Miss?"
Alex nodded and told her, "I am."
The woman looked like she didn't quite believe her, but she left her check and Alex quickly paid the bill. She decided that she needed to go back to her room and sleep.
Bobby decided to call Alex's cell phone and see if she would answer. When it went to voicemail, he sighed and left a message for her. He whispered, "I'm sorry Eames. I reacted badly. I'm afraid... I... God I hate talking to these damn things. I need to see you in person. I need to talk to you. I... I love you sweetheart... I'm sorry for being an ass..."
Bobby knew that he wasn't making any sense, so he disconnected the call. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. He made a mess out of this whole thing. He should have just told her that he was scared. He had just gotten used to them being a them and then she tells him that they are going to be parents. That thought scared the hell out of him.
Days passed and he would go to Alex's house to check the mail. It was on the fourth day that he found the package from an antique shop in Maine. He knew that he shouldn't, but decided that he needed to know what it was. So, despite everything that told him not to, he opened the package.
He was stunned when he saw the tiny cradle inside. It was beautiful. It needed a bit of sanding and a coat or two of varnish, but he knew that he could do it. So, he decided that he would take the cradle with him and restore it. Alex would probably be mad at him, but he needed something to do with his hands. Needed a way to be close to her again.
He called her again that night and told her, "I'm taking the cradle. I can restore it and make it look beautiful. I just wish I could restore your faith in me. I need you to call me Eames. Please? I love you..."
Sometime during that call he realized that maybe she really didn't want anything to do with him. He sighed and wondered if they were done forever.
Alex however, felt her heart soften. Especially when he told her that he loved her. She still hurt over the way that he'd reacted when she had told him about the baby, but maybe, just maybe they needed to sit down and have a long talk. She realized that she might have overreacted in running away like she did.
So, she picked up the phone and called Bobby's cell phone. She was surprised when it went to voicemail. So, she left a simple message, "I love you to Bobby. I'm still hurt and need time to think things over. I'm glad that you are restoring the cradle. Goodbye..."
With that, she hung up the phone and turned to look at the picture on her bedside table. Then, she put her hand on her stomach and whispered to her unborn child, "Maybe we can work this out afterall. I do love your daddy... Even if he's a stubborn man. You deserve a chance to know him. He's a wonderful man and..."
She felt the tears starting again and she sighed and closed her eyes tight. Then, she kissed her fingers and then touched it to the picture of Bobby. Then she whispered, ""I love you..."
With that, she closed her eyes and fell asleep...
