Chapter Twenty-One

"Oh no, I don't believe this, maybe its stress. After all, the past few weeks have been a nightmare." She tosses the paper on the coffee table and picks up her cup of tea.

Stop procrastinating Alex. You're never late. Get dressed and go to the store.

She changes her clothes and is in the car within ten minutes. She drives the five minutes to the pharmacy and parks the car. She walks slowly into the store. She feels a little weird buying this item but she picks up the first one she sees and walks directly to the cashier. The teenager behind the counter rings up the sale and puts it in a bag.

He looked at me as if I was nuts. No it's just my imagination, what would he care.

She drives the five minutes back to Bobby's house and takes the item into the bathroom, opens the package, and read the instructions.

For best results use with first morning's………..Oh damn I bought the wrong one.

"Shit!"

I'll take it back, forget that I'm not going back there, I'll just have to wait.

The next few hours seemed to take forever. Bobby comes home and she immediately asks him if they could go out for dinner. He agrees but takes a quick shower first.

I'll tell him during dinner.

While he is in the shower, she thinks of the words to tell him, and then she wonders.

What if I'm not?

Wait, I'm going to wait. I want to be sure.

Early the Next Morning

Alex gets up before six am and goes into the bathroom. A few minutes later, she is sure.

She sits in the bathroom for a few minutes while the reality sinks in. Slowly a smile crosses her face. "I knew it, my God, I knew it."

She gets back in the bed and movement of the bed wakes him. He turns on his side to put his arm around her but all he grabs are her legs. She is sitting up in the bed. "Where were you?"

"I was in the bathroom." He looks up at her face. "What? Is there a bug in the bathroom again?"

"No." He waits for her to lie down but she does not. He rolls back over to his side of the bed.

"Bobby."

"Yeah," he says after a yawn. "What?"

Silence, she is searching for the right words but there are only two words to say.

He sits up and nudges her on the arm. "Do I have to say it again, what is it? What is the matter?"

"Bobby." She grabs his hand but looks straight ahead. "I'm……………..pregnant."

Nothing, not a word comes from him. "Bobby." She looks over at him. "Did you hear what I said?" Not exactly, the words she expected from him. "That's impossible, we've been using protection." She tugs on his arm and looks over at him. "Yes that's true we have…………but not the first two times."

"Yes we….Oh….That's right, oh man." He pauses. "How long have you known?"

"Since yesterday morning."

"Why didn't you say anything last night?"

"I was going to tell you during dinner then I decided to wait until I was sure, I didn't want to get my, our hopes up."

He stays quiet, too quiet for her, "You're upset?"

He puts his arm around her. "No not at all I was just thinking." He suddenly starts to laugh.

Alex pushes him. "What the hell are you laughing about?"

Bobby holds her hand up to his lips and kisses her hand. "We just told your parents about us on Saturday and now we have to tell them this, talk about doing things backward."

Alex smiles and starts to giggle, "I see what you mean."

Bobby pulls her closer and she lays her head on his chest. "There is a God." He says as he lightly squeezes her.

"Yes there is."

"This is cool, very cool. I have never heard those words before from any woman and I must say I like the way it sounds."

"Me too, I was a little nervous at first, especially after your first reaction but I am so happy about this I truly am."

"So am I, so what do we do now?"

She sits up. "First I'm going to take a shower, get some breakfast then go to work."

"You're funny, you know what I mean."

"I will call my doctor this morning and make an appointment."

Bobby reaches for her and kisses her lightly on the lips. "I love you Alex."

She extends her arms and hugs him, "I love you Bobby."

Later That Morning

As she descends the stairs, the smell of coffee fills the air. "Oh that smells good."

He pours her a cup as she sits at the table. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." He sits down next to her. She raises the mug to her lips. "Wait!" She gets startled. "What?"

"Maybe you shouldn't drink coffee."

"What are you talking about?"

"Caffeine, the caffeine in coffee is harmful to the baby."

"Oh boy, I forgot who I was getting involved with, Bobby relax one cup of coffee is not harmful."

"I know that, but you usually have two or three."

"Bobby I promise only one cup, alright."

"I'm sorry I have no right to tell you what to do."

She pats his arm. "If you keep quiet and don't voice your opinion through this I would think that something is wrong. Don't you change who you are, because it makes me know how much you care. I love you for that, remember I may argue with you but please don't change."

"Ok." He takes a sip of coffee. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Cereal, are their cheerios left?"

"Yes."

Doctor Marcia Paulson's Office

After lunch Alex calls the doctor, she has an opening tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM. She takes it.

"Congratulations Alex," says Doctor Marcia Paulson. "I see that though it might not have been planned you are very happy about this, aren't you?"

"Oh yes I am, I am thrilled."

"So when do I get to meet him. I'm sorry maybe I am assuming too much."

"No there is a he and Bobby would have come today but he had a doctors' appointment this afternoon."

"Bobby, your partner, Bobby?"

"Yes."

"That's wonderful I wish you both the best." She turns to write some notes in a file and then hands Alex a slip of paper. "Here is your prescription for your vitamins, please make an appointment for four weeks from today and if you have any discomfort or any questions please don't hesitate to call. Again Alex congratulations. See you in a month."

"Bye doctor and thank you."

As she walks out of the office and down the hall, she calls Bobby on her cell. "Hello."

"Hi, it's me. It's definite."

That Evening

"Bobby."

"Yeah, I'm up here."

"What are you doing?" She says as she ascends the stairs.

"I'm cleaning up the bathroom."

"Paint, is that paint I smell?"

"Yeah, I painted the bathroom."

"Looks very nice, I like the color." She gives him a puzzled look.

"I was bored I had to do something, tomorrow I think I'll paint the kitchen."

She starts to laugh. "What?" He says. "A silly thought just went through my mind. You don't need a ladder, do you?"

"No. I don't, one advantage of being tall. How did everything go at the doctor?"

"Everything is fine I just picked up my vitamins or as my sister use to call them horse pills." She opens the bottle and takes one out. "See the size of these things."

"Anything else you have to or shouldn't do?"

"At this time no." She grabs his arm and pulls him close. "I'm fine, don't worry. I've been through this before, remember, I know what I can and cannot do, ok."

"I know that but I haven't, so if I am being annoying just tell me and I'll shut up." He pauses. "Look who I'm telling to…………..." He laughs and she smiles. "Bobby, remember what I said this morning." He nods.

"Go get changed, I have to finish cleaning up this mess."

Bobby descends the stairs and Alex is on the phone. "Yes Mom, you and Dad, Friday night we'll pick you up at seven, ok see you then. Goodbye."

"I take it we're going out to dinner with your parents Friday."

"Yeah I thought it would be nice."

"Tell them in public, so they won't start a scene."

"Oh stop it. We're not teenagers."

"I know that but………..It was a very irresponsible thing for us to do."

"All right it was, I know that but it happened. Are you starting to have regrets?"

"No." He takes a hold of her hand. "It's just that…………….There are only a few people in this world that I respect and your Dad is one of them. I just hope he doesn't lose his respect for me."

She pulls his arm, he bends down, and she kisses him on the lips, "I wouldn't worry about that trust me."

Friday Night

"Is there something that the two of you want to tell us?"

"John, what makes you say that?"

"He's too quiet." John says as he points at Bobby. "Besides I'm pretty good at reading people."

Bobby shakes his head and smiles, "You can tell them. It's alright with me."

"Mom, Dad." They look at her, Bobby included. "You guys don't have to stare, it's nothing bad, it's wonderful as a matter of fact." She pauses. "Then what is taking you so long in telling us?" John asks.

"I'm, we're going to have a baby, I'm six weeks pregnant." John stands up first and reaches for his daughter. Alex takes his hands and she stands, he hugs her. "That is good news, after everything that has happened." He turns to Bobby and extends his hand, "Bobby, I'm happy for you I really am."

"Thank you sir I really appreciate that."

"Thanks, Dad." Alex says.

Sara starts to move. "No Mom don't get up." Alex bends down and kisses her Mom.

"Oh that is so wonderful." Sara starts to tear up and so does Alex. "I am so happy for the both of you. Come here." Sara waves to Bobby. He bends down and Sara kisses his cheek. He grabs a hold of her hands and returns the kiss.

"Have you told your sister about this?"

"No Mom the only other person who knows is my doctor and we aren't telling anyone else until we tell Bobby's Mom."

Sunday Afternoon

Carmel Ridge

"I hope she doesn't have a heart attack over this, for a while I think she thought I was gay." Alex starts to laugh.

"I'm not kidding."

"I guess she doesn't know that you flirt with every female suspect and witness we have ever questioned."

"I don't do that."

She hits his arm. "Well may be not all of them but quite a few."

Bobby knocks on the door. "Be right there." The door opens. "Hi, Mom."

"Hi Bobby, Alex how are you both?"

"We're good, how are you and why are you still in your nightgown?"

"I was just going to take my shower, would you excuse me for a few minutes?"

"Sure go ahead."

Frances Goren emerges from the bathroom and she is dressed in a pair of black pants and a white blouse. "Is that new?" Bobby asks.

"Yes, they took a few of us into town the other day and I bought some new clothes."

"You look nice."

"Thank you."

She puts on some jewelry and turns to face them. "What's the matter, has something happened?"

"You could say that." Bobby looks to Alex. "It's your turn."

"Mom I, we have something to tell you."

"Should I sit down, is it bad news?"

"You can sit if you want but it's not bad news it's good news. We think so anyway. Alex is…………." Alex cuts him off. "See it's not that easy to say, is it?"

"Alright, alright, Alex and I are gonna have a baby."

France sits down and just stares at them. "Mom did you hear what I said?"

"Yes I heard you, I'm gonna be a grandma." She looks out the window. "Hopefully I'll be a better grandma than I was a mother."

"Stop that!" She keeps looking out the window. "It's true Bobby."

"No it's not and I'm not in the mood for this shit." She refuses to look at him. "If this is to be your mood for the rest of the afternoon, we're leaving."

Frances turns her head to face her son. "Mom are you done, are you done feeling sorry for yourself?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." She shakes her head and exhales as she gets up from the chair. "I am very happy for the both of you." She walks over to Alex first and she extends her arms, they embrace. "Thank you." Alex says.

Frances breaks the hug and slowly walks over to her son. "Bobby." She takes his hand. "I'm sorry, I was thinking about myself." She taps his cheek. "I love you and I am so happy for you. You will let me visit the baby, right."

"Mom, what is this all about?" Frances returns to the chair and sits down.

Bobby looks to his Mom and then at Alex. His mind is racing. "Damn."

Alex says. "What?"

"It's my brother's birthday today." He kneels down in front of her and takes her hand. "Mom I can't help you with that, I'm sorry. He's a big boy and he's not my responsibility." She looks away from him. Bobby quickly stands up and turns toward Alex. "Come on Alex, let's go."

"Bobby please don't leave. No more today I promise."

He stops and turns around. "Alright. Let's go, I'm hungry." She takes his hands as he leads her to the door. "We can go somewhere else besides Rose's today."

He holds the door open for Alex and Frances. "It's alright Mom, we like it there."

TBC