Blessings
Chapter: 8
Rob awoke to the echoing sound of the shower in the background. Laura had left the door to the bathroom open. Probably on accident but he was going to take it as an invitation to join her. Between his hours at work and her hours at the studio their alone time had been few and far between. Hopefully that was about to change.
The rush of air as he opened the shower door was cool against her warm skin. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her against him. Laura relaxed in his arms. "I see you got my invitation."
"So this was a setup then, huh?"
"Sort of."
Rob's hands trailed down her body. "What's this?" he asked, stopping at her slightly rounded mid section.
"That's our baby."
He turned her around to face him. "I know we've both been working a lot lately but have we really been spending that much time apart?" he looked down at her abdomen. "I mean the last time I joined you in the shower there was nothing here and now, here, today...you're very noticeably pregnant." this bothered Rob. "We need to spend more time together, especially now."
"Rob." she silenced him. "It's a recent development, darling." she tried to assure him. "I can assure you that this wasn't here last night. I just sort of popped. And besides it may be noticeable to you and me, standing here wet and naked, but I seriously doubt anyone else will notice."
He just shook his head.
"Darling." she whispered. "Are we going to stand here and talk? You're kind of ruining the ambiance for me."
Rob wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "I can assure you it wasn't my intention." he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her neck.
She lulled her head back, granting him more access. And exhaled a sigh of satisfaction. "That's more like it."
Laura poured herself another cup of tea. "I don't remember being this big so soon with Rich."
'Because you weren't." Millie said. "Your body remembers pregnancy and things stretch out quicker the second time around. Even more the third time."
"Yeah, Mill, but it's been seventeen years." she pointed out. "You would think my body would forget. I mean I've forgotten most of what it was like to be pregnant."
"I rather recall you having the perfect pregnancy with Rich." she picked up her cup of tea. 'No morning sickness, no swelling." she took a sip. "I do remember some rather odd cravings though."
Laura smiled, thinking back. 'I put hot sauce on everything."
"You're telling me!"
'Richard hates spicy food."
"You blame him?" she chuckled. 'Poor kid got his fill in the nine months you carried him."
'I can't believe he's graduating and then off to college this summer." a small smile tugged at her lips. "It feels like just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital."
"Time flies when you're having fun." Millie reached for another muffin. "Let's just hope that Rob doesn't think you got the wrong baby again."
"Well I have the perfect solution for that." she told her. 'I'm going to have him in the room with me when he's born."
"Are you sure about that, Laura?" she took a bite of her cookie. "You're not afraid of him fainting?"
Laura laughed. "Rob usually does great under pressure." she said. "At least I hope so."
"So you haven't told him about being in the delivery room yet?"
"No." she answered. "I don't want to spring it on him. I want to kind of ease him into ut.'
'Good Luck!"
/
Rob tossed his robe over the bench at the end of the bed, pulled back the blankets and then eased himself inside. Very careful not to wake his sleeping wife.
Too late though. Because as soon as he looked over he was met with two big brown eyes. "Sorry, honey, I didn't mean to wake you." he whispered. "Just close your eyes and go back to sleep." he reached for the lamp to turn it off.
'No, it's okay Rob." she sat up in bed. 'I actually wanted to talk to you about something."
"Now?"
"If you don't mind."
Rob sat up. "What's on your mind?"
'Well Millie and I were talking this afternoon..." she started.
'Oh, boy." he kidded, smiling. "This can't be good."
"Now, Rob." she almost defensive. "It's noting like that."
"Oh?" he questioned. "Then please continue."
Laura's smile was soft. Warm. Sort of innocent. She wanted to ease him into it after all. Because honestly she wasn't sure how he would feel. "It's about the baby."
"Little Lauren." he had already decided fate would give them a daughter because they already had a son.
"You know it could be another boy, right?"
"Yeah, but it's not." he said with full confidence. "It's most definitely a girl."
"Well we'll see about that." she replied. 'But you know things are different now than they were when Richard was born. A lot different."
Rob nodded, sensing where her conversation was leading. "Yes." he scooted back down in the bed. "You can count on me." he assured her. "I'm going to be right there with you. Holding your hand, cheering you on."
"Really?"
"Yes of course." he said. "What do you think I am? Some sort of coward? I can totally handle the delivery room."
tbc...
