Beautifully Broken

(Chapter Thirty Seven: The Element of Surprise)

Olivia groaned and opened her eyes as her cell phone rang a third time. The baby was due in ten days and those ten days could not pass quickly enough. Lately she was so uncomfortable between the stress and worry of getting settled into their new place, adjusting to her new doctor before Mia arrived, and the aches and pains that came along with being big pregnant that she was unable to sleep at night. Olivia tried to catch little naps on the sofa while Elliot was away at work during the day and so they could spend every possible moment together in the evenings when he came home.

"Hello," she said with a yawn.

"Hey baby," he said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. Tired and sore, but fine."

"Did I wake you? You sound tired."

"I was taking a nap, but it's alright."

"How did your appointment go this morning?"

"Good."

"I'm sorry I couldn't get off work to go with you. I really wanted to be there."

"I know you did. The doctor said everything looks good. I am not dilating yet and but I'm thinning out."

"Baby, I don't know what that means."

Olivia laughed.

"After I thin out, I dilate. Dilating means my cervix is opening to let the baby come out. Some women stay dilated a little for days before they actually go into labor."

"But we're getting close?"

"Progressing. But there is still no telling how long it could take. He said that everything looks good and Mia is into position and ready to go. The rest is up to my body."

"But you only have a few days left, right?"

"I have ten days until my due date. But that is just an estimate of when the baby could come. Some women carry past their due date. The doctor said today that if labor doesn't start naturally by four days after my due date, he will admit me and induce."

"Still, we know at the longest it will be two more weeks. So we can kind of count down," he said trying to make her feel better about the situation.

"True."

"How do you like your new doctor?"

"He's alright. It's kind of strange though, I have always had a female gynecologist. He was very professional, but it is still kind of weird."

"He is the only OBGYN near base. But if you would rather have a female doctor I can ask around and find someone."

"I think it will be alright. I really don't want to have to change doctors again this close to delivery. I'm a little anxious about this whole thing anyway, changing doctors again now will only make me more nervous."

"Okay. Listen, Juarez and his wife Melissa have invited us to go out with them tonight for dinner. I thought it might be nice for us to be able to hang out with another couple. I told him I had to talk to you and I would get back to them. But I really think we should go."

"El, I am just so tired. I don't know if I am going to feel like going anywhere. And Juarez gets to spend all day with you. Forgive me for being stingy, but I would like to spend the evening with my husband."

"Liv, honey, I thought this would be a good way for you to get to meet someone. Melissa is really nice. She is about your age and they have two little boys at home. If might be nice to have a friend to do mommy things with while I'm away at work. I know ho lonely this move has been for you."

I know what you're trying to do, El. And I think it is very sweet, I do. But I am just so tired lately, I would really rather not make any plans. I sit around all day looking forward to you coming home in the evening and cuddling up next to you on the sofa. I just don't feel much like going out and meeting new people right now. Can you ask them if we can reschedule? Maybe for sometime after the baby comes and I am feeling a little more like myself?"

"No problem," Elliot said trying to understand where she was coming from. "Listen sweetheart, I love you, but I have to get back to work right now. I'll be home in a few hours."

"I love you, too."

Three and a half hours later Elliot entered the front door of their apartment. He hung his keys on the hook and slipped off his jacket.

"Liv, baby, I'm home," he called through the apartment.

"I'm back here," she called as he smelled the air in the apartment.

"Whatever you are cooking, smells amazing!"

"It's chicken," she said as she appeared from the nursery. "Fried chicken, salad, corn and mashed potatoes."

"Homemade?"

"Of course," she replied with a smile as she stood on her tip toes to kiss him.

"That is my favorite."

"I know."

"And you set the table with candles."

"This is my little way of saying I'm sorry. I know you are just trying to help me adjust to live here and I practically snapped at you on the phone."

"You haven't been feeling well, I know that. You are nine months pregnant and I should have been a little more considerate of your condition."

"El, you didn't do anything wrong," she said kissing him again. "I was thinking maybe we could plan something, ahead of time. Make plans in advance to go to dinner with some of your friends from work. I have been so tired and moody and so full of anxiety lately. I know if it is bothering me, it has to be bothering you."

"When would you like to make plans?"

"Maybe some evening next week? Why don't you ask around and mention the idea. I am up for any night, I would just prefer to know in advance so we can plan it. Things are less stressful when I know about them in advance. I was just really not feeling well today."

"It's alright," he said kissing her. "I would rather keep you all to myself anyway. And this incredible home cooked meal has to be better than any restaurant around here. That was a great surprise."

"That is only half the surprise," she said moving to the kitchen to pull a pineapple upside down cake from the oven."

"Oh yeah," Elliot said with a nod as she smiled.

"I knew you would like this part."

"I like all of it."

"We should eat before it gets cold," she said pulling him by the hand to the table where she poured him a glass of iced tea.

"You made biscuits, too?"

Olivia smiled.

"You are the best wife ever!"

She laughed.

"Much better than your last wife right?" she asked sarcastically.

Elliot laughed.

"You are my one and only love. My one and only wife. There will never be anyone else for me."

"Aww, good answer," she placing her napkin in her lap as she took a bite of her potatoes. "So, how was your day dear?"

"It was okay. This has been the best part by far. How was yours?"

"Well, I had the appointment. Then I came home and took a nap, was super rude to my wonderful husband over the phone, then I felt super bad about it and called the cab to take me to the market to get the things for his favorite meal. The best way I could think of to make it up to him….well, second best way," she said with a smile. "And sex isn't likely to happen right now. Then I came home and cleaned house. And I worked on the nursery while I was making dinner."

"How is that coming along?"

"It looks much better since you painted it. I got all of her clothes washed and put away and I got the little butterfly decals put up on the wall. All that's left is to hang the mobile and deliver the baby."

"Those decals are removable, right?"

"Why? I thought you liked the butterflies?"

"I do."

"Don't worry, they just peel right off. The next tenants won't ever know they were there."

Elliot smiled.

"Good. Because I have a little surprise, too."

He reached into his pocket and laid a set of keys on the table.

Olivia smiled.

"You got the keys for the demo home?" she asked in an excited voice. "So the houses should be ready soon?"

"They are looking to open them up to the community in about a month. I pulled a few strings."

"Can we go check it out after dinner?"

"I thought you didn't feel like going anywhere tonight?"

"El…"

"Of course we can."

"Sweet," she said as she dipped a chunk of her chicken breast into her mashed potatoes and tossed it into her mouth.

"I swear, you make the best fried chicken in the world."

Olivia smiled.

"I'm glad you like it."

After dinner, Elliot cleared the table and took out the trash. He washed the dinner dishes and cleaned up the kitchen after insisting Olivia get off her feet and rest for a little while.

When he had finished cleaning up, he escorted his wife to the car and drove them to the new community.

"These are all so nice," Olivia said looking at all of the homes around them as she stepped out of the car.

Elliot held her hand in his as he opened the front door and turned on the light inside.

"This is beautiful," she gasped as she looked around them.

"Liv, this it the foyer. The rest of the house is through here."

"It's still beautiful."

Elliot showed her around the house as they talked about what would go where things would go and what would look best where.

"So ours will be set up just like this one, right?" Olivia asked.

"Yep. Did you notice it has a besiegement?"

"I did," she said with a smile. "And the only plans I have for that are the washer and dryer. I was thinking the rest could be your man cave."

"Really? And we can put a TV down there?"

"What ever you want," she laughed. "I love this place. How much longer do you think it will be before we can move in?"

"I was thinking we could start this weekend," he said as Olivia turned around to look at him.

"What? Ours is ready?"

"Baby, welcome home," Elliot said tossing her the keys.

"This one is ours?"

"It is. I went in to ask them for the keys to look at a model. They know about our special circumstances," he said smoothing her hands over her belly, "and they said that the carpet and paint are not finished on the homes in the back, but if we were interested we could go ahead and move into one of the models."

"Everything is finished?"

"Brand new and in perfect condition. There is a fenced back yard and a two car garage."

"Oh El, I am so excited."

"I wanted to try to get us out of the other place before the baby came. I have to work tomorrow morning, but I took the afternoon off. I have a couple of buddies from work that are gonna help us get moved in this weekend. The first thing I want to do is get the nursery set up, so it is ready for when finally Mia does arrive."

"Elliot, you are the most wonderful husband and father in the world," she said throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him again.

"Let's get home. It's getting late and we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Elliot, we are home," she said with a smile.

"Yes baby, we are."

Olivia spent most of the next morning packing all of the small stuff back into boxes. Around noon she began to watch out the window in anticipation for her husband to come home. She picked up her cell phone and dialed his number.

"Hey Liv," Elliot said as he answered.

"Hey, I just made cheeseburgers and fries for lunch. How much longer do you think you'll be?"

"I shouldn't be too awful long."

Just then the doorbell rang.

"Someone is here," Olivia said. "I wonder who that could be."

"A couple of the guys are supposed to come over and help with the move. Let them in and I'll be home in a few minutes."

"How many guys, El. I hope I have enough food for everyone."

Elliot laughed.

"My wife the hostess. Just give them a beer baby, I'll be home as soon as I can."

"Alright. I love you."

"Love you too, sweetheart. Bye."

Olivia hung up the phone and checked her hair in the mirror as she made her way to the door.

"Just a second," she said as the doorbell rang once more.

She pulled the door open and stood face to face with a dark haired woman she hadn't seen in over a year and a half.

"Courtney?"

"Surprise," Courtney said with a smile.

"Oh my God! What are you doing here?"

"Look at your belly! You look beautiful," Courtney said wrapping her arms around Olivia's neck to hug her.

"I have missed you so much," Olivia said softly as she began to cry.

Courtney laughed.

"I'm here now. You don't have to cry."

"Ahh, it's the hormones. I have been an emotional train wreck for the last nine months. And poor Elliot has taken it like a champ. Come on in," Olivia said holding the door for her dearest friend. "Elliot should actually be home any time, we are moving today. Wait until he finds out you're here."

"Actually," Courtney said as she paused for a moment, "Elliot will be back in just a minute. He dropped me off then drove around the block for the surprise."

"I should have known he was responsible," she said softly wiping a tear from her cheek.

"Here he is," Courtney said as Elliot pulled into the drive way.

"You," Olivia pointed as she began to cry once more.

"Were you surprised?"

"Definitely. I thought you had to work?"

"I had to find a way to get out of the house to pick Court up at the airport without you suspecting. She and I have been planning this for weeks. Courtney would have killed me if I ruined the surprise."

"You're right I would have."

"How long can you stay?"

"I took some much needed vacation time. I had been saving it up forever and decided now is as good a time as any to use it."

"So you will be here when the baby comes?"

"Do you honestly think I would miss the birth of my first niece?"

Olivia smiled.

"You are the best-best friend ever!"

"I know, right?"

Courtney laughed.

"Well, I hope you guys are hungry. Lunch is ready."

"I'm starving," Courtney replied. "I do not eat airplane food. I'm not that brave."

Olivia laughed.

"What are we having?" Courtney asked hanging her jacket on the hook beside Elliot's.

"Cheeseburgers," Olivia replied pulling it from the oven.

"Liv makes the best cheeseburgers."

"Well, look at you all domesticated," Courtney said with a smile.

"I know. Two years ago I could barely cook at all. But I have been in homemaker mode this entire pregnancy. I looked up a bunch of recipes on the internet that I wanted to try to cook, of course I changed a few things here and there to my liking and now…."

"Now you're Martha Stewart," Courtney joked.

"I prefer Rachel Ray," Olivia corrected her. "I watch her show for new recipes all of the time. Rachel Ray, Bobby Flay and Paula Deen."

"I don't know who inspired it," Elliot said as Olivia sat a stack of plates on the table, "but I love it. I don't deny I have gained a bit of weight since we got married. It's a good thing I have to stay in shape for work," he said rubbing his hand over his six pack.

"Court, I cannot wait to show you the new house. It is beautiful. And I am so excited that we will be all moved in before Mia arrives."

"Mia?" Courtney asked with a smile. "That is beautiful."

"When was the last time I talked to you? It has been so long."

"Umm, you had just found out the baby was a girl."

"I have tried to call you, but I always get voicemail."

"I'm sorry, Liv. I….have had a rough time the last several months. And I didn't do so well at taking calls….or returning them. But I will tell you more about that later. How do you like living in San Diego?"

"The weather is nice. It has been unusually cool the last couple of days, but it is usually really nice. And it's quiet. Here on base anyway. I have not really ventured out into the city."

"Really? You weren't dying to go shopping at all of the old places we shopped before?"

"I have been busy trying to get things settled here. I had to find a new doctor and we just finished unpacking here, now it is time to move again."

"But this house it our home. For at least a year anyway, then we'll head back to our real home in Manhattan."

"Very true," Olivia agreed. "But this is the perfect place to bring our new baby home to."

After lunch, Courtney helped Olivia pack up the rest of the clothes and personal belongings from the apartment. Some of the guys from Elliot's work arrived and moved all of the big furniture to the new house, as Courtney and Olivia packed up the dishes in the kitchen. Then drove over to the new house as well.

"This place is such a mess," Olivia said as Courtney carried the last box into the new place.

"I'll help you. We will have this set up in no time. Right now, lets just work on your room so you guys have a place to sleep."

"Good thinking. Then we'll have to dig out the sofa and fine the box with all of the bedding so you have a place to sleep."

"I've got that covered," Elliot said leading Olivia down the hallway and opening the door to the extra bedroom to reveal a bed and a dresser. "I had the furniture rental place deliver it this morning. I knew she was coming, remember?"

Olivia smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you too," he said kissing her tenderly. "Why don't you go in there and help Courtney unpack her things. I will find the bedding and get these boxes organized a little better, then I say we call it a night a little early tonight. It has been a long day for us all. Right now you should get off your feet for a little while."

"Yes dear," Olivia mocked as she followed Courtney down the hall.