Laura rolled over in bed, feeling her stomach turning. She let out a small groan as she clutched a hand across her middle. An arm wrapped itself around her and she felt warm breath on her neck. Her stomach turned again and she rolled out of bed and made it to the bathroom just in time to empty her stomach.
Blink heard Laura run to the bathroom and start throwing up. It was the third time this week it had happened and he was starting to wonder if Laura was coming down with something. Standing up, he followed his wife into the bathroom to see her washing her face. She caught his eye in the mirror and turned to face him.
"Dat's da third time dis week you've been ill foirst thing in da mornin."
Laura nodded her head. "I know. I must have gotten the flu, but I can't imagine where from."
"Ise think it's more den the flu. Ise want youse ta see da doctor."
Laura shook her head as hard as she dared. "I don't need a doctor."
Blink cradled her face in his hands. "Please, Laura. Ise'm askin youse ta see him. Ise don't want youse ta get sick and almost die, like Ally did ta Race."
Laura pulled back in surprise. "I'm not that sick. Really I'm not. Besides, most days the sickness leaves before dinner. Which is good; otherwise I'd never be able to cook."
"Laura, please. Ise want youse ta see da doctor." Blink begged Laura, his good eye pleading with her. "Ise will go wit youse if youse want."
She finally consented with another nod. "Okay. If it happens again, I promise I will see the doctor." With that, she kissed Blink and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Five minutes later, the smell of cooking eggs sent her running for the bathroom again.
"Today was the fourth time week that it happened," Laura told the doctor. "It comes in the morning and most days it leaves mid-afternoon."
"She's been feelin ill most every mornin for bout a month now," Blink jumped in. "Every time she cooks with eggs or mushrooms, too." Laura shot Blink a look that he ignored, taking her hand and squeezing it instead.
"How have your cycles been? Do they come every month?"
Laura blushed a deep red, ducking her head and nodding. "Except last month. I...I missed..." She left the sentence unfinished, the two men in the room completing it for her together.
"You missed last month?" The doctor sounded matter-of-fact; Blink sounded alarmed and worried. Laura squeezed his hand as the doctor went over the facts.
"You missed your cycles last month, you've been feeling ill in the morning the same amount of time but do not have the flu, and certain foods upset your stomach. Correct?" The couple nodded, a mixture of fear and hope on their faces. "No need to worry. You're in the family way."
Blink stared at the doctor, confused. Laura gasped, putting a hand to her mouth. A single tear rolled down her cheek and Blink wiped it away. "Why are youse cryin?"
"We...we're...I'm..." Laura smiled and put a hand over her stomach. The doctor silently slipped out of the room. "I'm with child. Blink, you're going to be a papa!"
