Love, Sorrows and Surprises
Chapter 7
What?!
Roy sat in the office with his chin on clasped hands. The team were out and about with Riza, giving him time to space out and try puzzle over what was wrong with Riza. Of course, it was not right to pry, but he could not help it. She was just acting so strange! Normally, she would have aimed a gun at Prick Walters, but she just stood there. His thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of his best friend.
"Hello, Roy. Wait, Roy? Have you had a woman in here?!" Maes asked, alarmed. Roy looked up. Roy looked up, alarmed.
"No, I haven't Maes. What makes you say that?" He asked.
"Well, jeez, the lip marks on your cheek!" He replied. Roy raised his eyebrows, stood up and found a mirror. Lo and behold.
"What? But..." He said. "Riza's wearing lipstick?!"
"Riza? Wait, are you two-?!" Maes started.
"No, no. I helped her out earlier with some prick called Rick, and she kissed my cheek...She's been acting funny lately...I want to get to the bottom of it," he said.
"Sounds interesting. How about you come to mine for dinner tonight and we'll brainstorm ideas. I am in the investigations division, you know," Maes said.
"Thanks, Maes. I'll see you at eight O'clock sharp," Roy said.
At eight O'clock, Roy arrived at the Hughes' house and was welcomed with warm smiles. Maes and Roy sat down in the lounge discussing the issue.
"Okay, so give me all of the things that have worried you about Riza over the last few months," Maes said. Roy started explaining about her strange behaviour, how she would usually get mad and not kiss him on the cheek. Not to mention the brief illness.
"Hmmm..." Maes said. Gracia came in with Elycia, who ran up to Roy and hugged him.
"Goodnight, Uncie Roy," she said.
"Goodnight, Elycia," he smiled. Gracia took Elycia and tucked her in for the night. She cam back out and sat next to Maes.
"Incidentally, Roy, Gracia's coming along really nicely. Look, our recent scans," Maes said, handing him the baby scans. Maes and Gracia were expecting another child and, of course, Maes was extremely excited. (Just imagine: Roy was going to be seeing double the amount of pictures once the baby was born).
Roy sat there staring at the scans. Something was trying to come through in his mind.
"Roy? Is there something the matter?" Maes asked.
"Not as such...when I was trying to reassure Riza that she was not fat; I, for some reason, touched her stomach, but..." Roy puzzled. Gracia smiled and stood up, walking over to Roy.
"Did her stomach feel like mine, Roy?" She asked, placing his hand on her stomach. Roy's eyes widened.
"Riza's...pregnant?! And her illness...morning sickness. Emotional. Unusual behaviour...it all makes sense. Maes blinked in surprise.
"Wow...I didn't realise she had a boyfriend," Maes said.
"I don't know, but that Theodore has been getting awfully close to her lately," Roy said, fists clenching.
"Doesn't she call him 'sir' and all that?" Maes asked.
"Yeah," Roy replied.
"Then they can't be going out. You don't call your boyfriend or someone you slept with 'sir.' You would have thought they'd be past formalities. Well, unless it was a onetime flint or an accident of some kind," Maes said. Roy inwardly sighed; it was almost as if Maes were making a dig at him. He was not, however, since Roy had told no one about his having slept with Riza.
"Yeah, maybe," he replied. "Anyway, thanks for dinner, I'd best be off."
"Alright, Roy. See you tomorrow," Maes said.