AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, guys! The song referenced in this chapter is "You'll be in my heart" by Phil Collins.
xxxxx
Toucan Island was more magical the second time around. It must've been because I was so in love. On the ride back, the dreaded Winter season I hate so much was waiting for us. As was our new home, and little Chloe.
Chloe was in school being it was midmorning when we arrived back home. Owen brought our stuff back inside while I checked on the animals. Cain had come by and tended to the animals because when I peeked inside the barn and coop, the food bins and water troughs were filled to the brim.
"All the animal products Cain collected are stored in the kitchen fridge." Owen told me when he peered inside the coop. "Kathy put it away."
"Must be a lot in there. It's been a week."
Leaving the animals on their own, I stepped back outside. They were all fine and happy. I didn't have any loose ends to address.
"Home, sweet home." Owen picked me up and carried me over the threshold, just as smitten with our new abode as the day we went and paid for it to be built. "Welcome back."
"I'm happy to be back, even if it's cold."
"Spring will be back before you know it."
Our home looked so pretty. Back in the city, big homes were a fortune. I couldn't have afforded property like this there. It wouldn't have been as nice, anyways. This scenery couldn't be beat. This life couldn't be beat.
Owen brought me up to the master bedroom. On my nightstand was one of Kathy's hair scrunchies, next to a small stack of story books she been read to Chloe the past nights.
"Chloe was sleeping in here with Kathy." Owen chuckled as he laid me down. "She must have been lonely."
"Your little sister is really the sweetest little kid I've ever met. If we're blessed with a daughter, I'd love for her to be like Chloe."
Owen sat by me. Envisioning a daughter like Chloe, he stroked my thigh.
"As much as I love Chloe, I would want our daughter to be like you." he confessed. "I'd love a sweet, gentle little girl."
"Did your energetic sister burn you out?"
"No. It's just, I already raised a Chloe. She came from my Mom. This baby would come from you."
Eyeing my stomach with high hopes, Owen kept his touch on my thigh soft and loving. He knew I was due for my period in a few days. It would be the longest three days of his life. Worse than a kid counting down the days until Christmas.
He bought me at-home pregnancy tests from the store before our wedding. They were sitting in the bathroom cabinet.
"...could you test now?" he asked, sliding his hand up towards my stomach.
"It might not be accurate; It's best to wait until you've missed your period." I explained to him. "If I am pregnant, I could get a false negative if I test too soon."
Logically, Owen understood the concept. However, like I said, this grown man had his heart set on knowing as soon as possible.
"Wouldn't hurt to try."
"And, if I come out of there with a negative?" I challenged him, knowing how disappointed he'd be.
"Then you can test again tomorrow."
I shook my head at him. My eager husband.
"Three days. You only have to wait three days. Can you do that?"
"You're asking a lot, but..."
Rather than risk having his expectations crushed for the next few days with potentially false negative test results, Owen agreed to let nature take its course and wait.
"I need buckwheat and Winter flower seeds." I said against Owen's lips as he leaned down to kiss me. "Could we go get some tomorrow?"
"Anything for my wife."
Xxxxx
The abundance of eggs and milk that collected during my honeymoon could have shipped for a nice lump sum to help get my funds back up after the wedding expenses, but I wouldn't have fresh crops for a bit so I held on to them.
"Excited to have French toast for dinner?" I asked the little girl latched to my legs while I whisked milk, egg, cinnamon and honey in a bowl.
"I like everything you make!"
"Aw, Chloe."
Taking it easy, we were having a breakfast-for-dinner type night. Whipping up some French toast and omelets was easy, and convenient. No need to do a grocery run since we already had all the stuff at home.
"Were you behaved for Kathy, Kiddo?" Owen asked.
"You know damn well my lil' pumpkin was an angel." Kathy countered like the question was ludicrous.
"I gotta ask. What kind of big brother would I be if I didn't ask?"
"Silly questions you're askin'."
I cut up a loaf of bread in to thick slices, dipping them in to the sweet egg and milk mixture. Chloe watched me arrange them on a baking sheet and sprinkle them with extra cinnamon and sugar for good measure.
"Kathy, you staying to eat?" I asked, popping the toast in the oven to start the omelets.
"Another silly question! You and Owen must've gone soft spending all that time out on Toucan Island."
The word "soft" was taken out of context on Owen's end. Chloe's presence kept him behaved, so he didn't jump to make a dirty joke. Kathy rolled her eyes at the suspicious way Owen "pft"ed.
"Owen, I swear..." she threatened without meaning it.
"What are you attacking me for? I didn't say anything."
"Mhm...Angela, Sugah. You sure you don't need a hand in there?"
I declined Kathy's help but she insisted she help.
"No use doin' all the work when I'm right here. Let me whisk up the eggs for you."
I started washing the stuff I dirtied. Kathy cooked the omelets, happy to ease the workload for me. Cooking this wasn't laborious, but her heart was in the right place.
French toast and cheese omelets went over well with everyone. Chloe went to bed, this being Kathy's last night as appointed babysitter. The woman was almost sad, but knew without a doubt she wasn't any less welcome to come by.
"You can come see your pumpkin at your leisure." Drying a pan, Owen assured her. "You're not intruding."
"It's a lonely pumpkin patch you've got here with just one. When's the next one comin' along?"
"Soon, we're hoping. Very soon."
Chloe was Owen's world. Kathy loved that little girl to the moon and back. I adored her. The possibility of a new baby coming along made us each happy in our own ways, but we hadn't yet considered how she may react to no longer being the only little one in her brother's world.
"Lil' Chloe excited to be an aunty?"
"We haven't asked." Owen confessed. "Truthfully, I didn't think to ask. Chloe was so excited for the wedding, I guess I just assumed she'd be happy if we had a baby."
An avid lover of all things living, people and animals, there was great reason to suspect a baby would be welcomed by Chloe. None of us stressed it. It wasn't like a baby would come along and shove her out of the picture. Chloe was just as big my priority as she was Owen's. I'd NEVER jeopardize her relationship with her brother.
"When you two find out that pumpkin's on its way, I best better be the first to know! If y'all wanna tell Ramsey and Chloe first, I'll understand...but I'm first in line, otherwise!"
"Sure thing, Kathy." I promised her.
Owen said we were waiting a few days to test for a pregnancy and Kathy used one finger to sweep a piece of hair behind my ear.
"That's three more days to get the job done if it ain't already." She advised us, twinkle in her green eyes. "Y'all better keep busy."
"If it hasn't happened by now, I don't think it'll happen in the next three days."
"All it takes is that one time...it's somethin' to consider."
xxxxx
The day following our honeymoon was relaxed. We eased back in to work, focusing on getting the crops planted before Owen dove in to the orders waiting for him at the shop. Mira was kind enough to write them all down for him.
Working in the snow and wasn't a tea party. Bundled up tight, I worked the field with Owen, wanting to get out of the cold.
"Congratulations to the newlyweds!" Hannah toddled over with a covered basket.
Hannah's joyful proclamation was accompanied by Renee hurrying over to hug me. Her little baby bump pressed in to me.
"Thank you! Wow, your baby's coming along."
"I'm due in Spring! We're so excited!" She gushed a little. "Toby and I loved the basket you gave us for our wedding! I begged Mom to help me return the favor."
As a gift, I'd given them a basket with mason jars of fresh honey and some crops. Hannah held the basket meant for me with a doting grin to her daughter
"She didn't have to beg hard. Here, these are for you!"
Pulling back the cloth on the blanket, Hannah revealed two yellow ducklings.
"These babies are for me? You shouldn't have."
"They'll be so happy to grow up here."
"This is so thoughtful. Thank you! Chloe will be is excited to name them."
Tucking them away in the coop to stay warm, I expressed my gratitude for their generosity. I have ducklings!
"Their eggs sell for a little more." Hannah told me, encouraging me to ship them. "They'll be grown and leaving them in the coop before you know it."
Renee had an appointment at the clinic, going on her way with her mother. She was due for an ultrasound. Toby would be leaving work to meet them there.
"Can't wait until I get to bring you to the clinic for your check-ups and ultra sounds." Owen told me.
"Fingers crossed." I encouraged him.
Before the wedding, the idea of a baby still sat with me unsurely. I was welcoming it now that Owen couldn't contain his enthusiasm for fatherhood. He was always so optimistic and happy...but, he just beamed at the thought of his child. It was contagious.
Going back inside, I shivered, reluctant to take off my boots and coat. Owen hung his up on the coatrack, reaching out to take mine.
"It's so cold." I took it off, crossing my arms to try and warm myself.
"I'll turn the heat up, Baby."
Upstairs, I dug out some warm pajamas to change in to while Owen adjusted the thermostat. Winter...ugh. It was pretty as a post card outside, but I couldn't appreciate it much beyond that. At least Owen's grandfather loved buckwheat, my field was planted with lots of it.
"I'll get it." Owen called up the stairs when the doorbell went off.
Covered up, I put on my slippers and went to see who our visitor was. It was Simon and Barbara.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Love birds! We wanted to come drop this off since we heard you're back home." Barbara gestured for her husband to present the gift.
"Every household can use a nice waffle iron! We heard from the Inn a certain little girl loves their waffles."
"Chloe is going to be through the roof. This is great, you know? Can't thank you enough."
For the rest of the day we had townspeople stopping by to drop off our wedding presents. Dale sent Bo to give us a bird house. Hayden sent Kathy over to bring us two bottles of liquor. Gill brought us a basket of fresh bread from the Inn on behalf of his Father.
Candance and Julius gifted us a warm. crimson bedspread. Calvin and Phoebe gifted us a beautiful vase they got on their most recent travels. Ozzy and Paolo brought a bucket of freshly caught and cleaned squid to cook with.
Jin delivered us a box of energy and cold medicines to stock our medicine cabinet. Mira sent silver earrings to match my wedding ring. Lastly, but not least, Ruth came by with her son to give us vegetables to stock our fridge.
"I can't begin to tell you how much it warms my heart how far you've come." Ruth praised me. "Just yesterday you were picking strawberries in our field, with a little suitcase in our spare room."
"How time flies."
"That Kasey is a nice farmhand, but I miss your company. At least Kasey gives Craig a run for his money...you should have seen those two this morning. Craig just had to open that gaping mouth of his."
Rolling her eyes at her husband's behavior, Ruth advised me to keep Kasey in mind if I ever needed a hand around the farm.
"That boy has the potential to be a farmer, he's good. He won't get far if he stays with us." She said. "We don't have enough work to keep him busy."
Kasey had asked if I needed help, not that I told Ruth. She and Taylor left and that was the end of our visitors for the day.
"Ruth had some good information."
"What information?"
"When you are pregnant, at some point you'll be too far along to do all this. I can't run the shop and help with the fields every day. Kasey's going to come in handy."
xxxxx
The next morning, Owen had to get to the shop early because Dale called late the night before about a broken Axe. He needed it repaired fast to stay on the quota for lumber collection. I got Chloe ready for school myself and walked her down to townhall. We had a slow morning, bogged down by the dim, dark, cold morning that accompanied Winter.
The walk back, the pregnancy tests in my bathroom ate up my thoughts. One more day, and I'd know if Owen's biggest dream would be granted. I couldn't shake the curiosity away, myself. The thought that I could be pregnant felt odd, almost surreal...but deep in my gut, I knew it was very much likely.
I went for the tool shed to start the day, trying to piece together how a baby would change our lives. When I was done, Owen would be taking his break within the hour. I went inside to start putting something together for us to eat. I peeled and chopped vegetables for a stew, putting the pot on the stove.
"This will take about an hour." I mused to myself, walking away to let it cook.
Going for a much needed bathroom break, I couldn't quiet the curiosity pertaining to the pregnancy tests under the bathroom sink. For the Hell of it, because I didn't see the harm in testing a day early, I tore open a box and pulled out the test sealed in plastic to quiet my racing mind.
"Here goes nothing..." I whispered.
Recapped, the test and laid it facedown on the bathroom sink as I sat looking at the bathroom wall clock. It was the longest three minutes of my life, thus far. When time was finally up, I was scared to flip it over and read it.
"...I'm pregnant."
Two pink lines on the white plastic stick stared up at me. The second line was faint, but it was there. I couldn't wait to tell Owen when he got in. But, there were more pressing matters when he walked through the door. Chloe was in his arms, pale and tired looking.
"Jin says Chloe's got a fever." Owen explained, seeing how taken back I was to see the child so out of sorts. "Gill had Eli walk her over to the clinic when she fell asleep during class."
That wasn't like Chloe to doze off during school. She really must not be feeling well.
"Big brother, I don't feel so good." She complained. "I wanna go to bed."
"Let's get a little food in you and then we'll lay you down for a nap."
Jin already have Chloe some fever reducer while she was at the clinic, so Owen was more concerned with getting her to eat while her appetite was still there. I ladled bowls of stew, keeping my good news to myself. This wasn't the time to make my announcement.
After eating, Owen tucked her in to bed for a nap. He had to get back to work.
"Do you have anything else you need to do, today?" He asked me, hesitantly. "Like outside the house, around town?"
"...not that I know of, why?"
"It would put me at ease if someone is here with her. I hate to ask you this, but do you think you could stay home this week? I've got orders backed up at the Shop."
Owen offered to set Chloe up in her old room at the shop if I couldn't commit to staying home with her. But, we both knew if he did that, he'd be going upstairs too often to focus on his work. It would defeat the purpose.
"You know I'd do anything for Chloe. Of course, I'll stay home with her." I assured him. "I have the farm, but its easier for me to walk away from the field or barn for a minute, than it is for you to walk away from a furnace or hot tool."
Once metal was smelted down, or a tool was heated up, you had to work with the materials fast. There was no putting it down at the drop of hat if a tiny voice called down for juice or apple sauce. It wouldn't be the end of the world, but Owen didn't want to stick Chloe in her old bedroom and put her needs second to his work.
"Thank you, so much. I'll make it up to you."
"Owen, you don't have to make anything up to me. When I married you, I made a commitment to being here for her too. I love Chloe."
"I know you do. I just don't want you to feel like you're being saddled with her."
I leaned up to kiss him and he bent to meet me the rest of the way.
"Pretty impossible." I gave him back a pat. "Go, get back to work. We'll be waiting here for you, tonight."
xxxxx
Owen getting back on the old grind would push our finances back in the right direction, fast. Spring was next season, which meant a lot of people were having their tools upgraded in preparation. Some were ordering new cast iron pans, pots and skillets to cook with. Or, parts for their furnaces and fireplaces.
Business was good, picking up lightning fast. It worked out that the farm slowed down in Winter because there was no way in Hell that he would have been able to keep up with all that, and take care of Chloe the way she needed. She had my undivided attention most of the day, then her brother's when he got home at night.
Keeping Chloe's fever down was a full-time job. We would take turns getting up to go check her temperature and give her medicine throughout the night. Chloe took up so much of Owen's attention being sick that he forgot about the big count down after our honeymoon.
I didn't take it personally. His little sister was running a fever, that was a lot more important. My pregnancy would still be there when she got better.
The flu was nasty and unforgiving. Chloe's throat was hurting her, and her sinuses were worse. Stuffed up, the pressure in her face was enough to keep her awake the night Owen didn't come home for Dinner. To the point of tears.
I held her, on the verge of tears myself. Chloe was miserable. It was late, Owen was still at the shop. I felt helpless, there wasn't anything I could do to soothe her discomfort.
We were alone. We both just wanted to sleep. I couldn't leave her alone to suffer by herself in the dark.
"Come stop your crying, it will be alright. Just take my hand, hold it tight." I sang to Chloe in my arms, just a nightlight off in the corner. "I will protect you from all around you. I will be here. Don't you cry."
I turned up Chloe's humidifier up and paced around the room with her.
"For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm...This bond between us can't be broken... I will be here. Don't you cry."
I sang as a last resort, grasping at straws to find some way to comfort her. When it worked, it was more grateful than surprised.
"'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart." Stroking her soft, downy hair, I kissed the top of her head. "From this day on, now, and forever more."
Chloe calmed down, her soft sobs dying out. She sniveled
"You'll be in my heart. No matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart, always."
I put Chloe back in bed, fixing the covers around her. I tested her forehead with the back of my hand to be safe although I'd taken her temperature before.
"Here's your puppy." I tucked her plush dog in bed. "If you need anything, I'll be right down the hall. Okay? Goodnight, Chloe."
"Goodnight, Angela. I love you."
Feeling the tears coming up, I choked them back.
"I love you, too. Sweet dreams, Chloe."
In the hallway, Owen was waiting.
"Did you just get home?" I asked, startled to see him because I hadn't heard him coming up the stairs.
"Few minutes ago." He smiled. "I sang her that song after Mom and Dad's funeral. Did she ever tell you?"
"No, she didn't."
"It puts her right at ease. What can I do to put you at ease?"
Owen was the one doing hard, manual labor all day. I stayed home with a sick child. Why did I look more tired than he did?
"Wanna go to bed?" I answered his question with another question.
xxxxx
Owen's alarm clock rung, waking us both up. He turned it off but didn't get out of bed. He didn't show any sign that he was going to.
"...don't you have work? Or am I losing track of the calendar?"
"I'm taking the day off to help you with Chloe." He told me. "We'll catch up on some sleep, and I'll take care of her today."
"I can take care of her."
"I know. You've done great. That's why you deserve a break."
Better rested, I felt less overwhelmed that day, and still helped with Chloe. She spent most of the day napping and watching cartoons in bed. Poor thing didn't have the strength or energy to color, read, or do anything of the things she loved.
The quietness of the house without Chloe up and about was relaxing this time. We all needed a quiet, slow day. As long as we knew that she was okay, we didn't mind the silence. Kathy came over to visit us, perturbed.
"...Where's my lil pumpkin? Graveyards are noisier than this house."
"Chloe's under the weather. And frankly, we're all exhausted." Owen explained, pouring a glass of grape juice to bring up to her room.
"That flu bug is makin' its way around town. Paolo's sick, Maya's sick, Luna and Candance are sick. Don't think it's stoppin' there."
"She's getting better. Slowly."
Taking the juice from Owen, Kathy brought it upstairs for him. We didn't know if Chloe was awake, or not. We were doing our best to keep drinks available to her so she'd stay hydrated. She was asleep when Kathy went to see her.
"How about you two go get a bite to eat, or take a nice walk to the Hot Springs or somethin'. I can hold down the fort for a bit. Looks like you two have been runnin' yourselves to the ground."
"...do we look that tired?"
"Leave the pumpkin with me. No use burning yourselves out this soon. "
I was apprehensive of going to the hot springs in Winter because I'd have to take my clothes off in the cold. But, the heat wafting up from the waters kept the secluded little area warm. I got in with Owen, enjoying the hot water.
"This never gets old." I sighed. "This is better in Winter."
"It's even better on this side." Owen suggested, inviting me closer.
Moving over, I sat myself next to Owen.
"Just a little closer..." He coaxed, bringing me in to his lap. "
I relaxed on top of him, lazily tracing over one shoulder. Owen kissed the hand there.
"I have the feeling you've got something on your mind. Good things, I hope."
This time of year, there were no crickets chirping to accompany the night. Just the faint sound of the waterfall in the distance. I laid my head on Owen's chest, listening to his heart.
"I missed you this week." I confessed. "I had you all to myself for a week, then we come back home and everything piled up like dominos."
"Nothing we can't handle. I missed you too though. More than you realize." He confessed back. "I should have warned you Winter's a busy time of year for a blacksmith."
"I'll be super busy in Spring. We're even, I'd say."
The weeding, the tilling, the planting, and the watering...once the snow all melted, I'd be starting that field from scratch. Hiring Kasey was sounding better, and better. I'd be willing to shell out some cash for the help getting a head start.
"I'll be back home like usual, from now on." Owen assured me. "The urgent orders are done. Everything else has to be done before the season ends."
"That makes me happy."
"You make me happy."
Alone and far away from the stress we'd been blindsided with, I felt free to enlighten Owen to our new arrival.
"Wanna be happier?"
"What are you offering?"
"Not sure yet. It'll be either a boy and a girl, I can tell you that."
Processing what I said to him, Owen was stunned quiet.
"You're gonna be a dad." I giggled. "I was waiting to tell you."
"When you didn't say anything before, I assumed it was because you weren't pregnant."
"I'm pregnant. I have the test to prove it."
xxxxx
We waited until Chloe was feeling better to tell anyone else about the pregnancy. Including her. Chloe squealed and ran around at the news that she was going to be an aunt, making herself dizzy.
"Take it easy, Kiddo. You're not totally better, yet." Owen admonished her, but with equal enthusiasm.
"But, Angela's having a baby!"
"It's pretty exciting, isn't it?"
"You have to buy a crib!"
She was right. We did need to buy a crib. We needed to set the whole nursery up, actually. Owen had planned to go with me to buy everything we'd need, but I pointed out we didn't even know what we were having yet.
"Shouldn't we wait until we at least know what colors to get?"
"We could get a gender-neutral color, like yellow."
"I kind of have my heart set on a pink or blue nursery...if we're going to do this, I want to do it right."
Owen took doing things "correctly" to the extreme. We just conceived, and he was already pushing me to eat more vegetables, move less, and get more sleep. I hadn't even had my first check up at the clinic. He pestered me about that, too.
"Are we telling your grandfather the good news while we're there?"
"I was thinking we'd wait until the first ultrasound. Show it to him."
"Works for me."
Irene greeted us when we walked in and up to her counter. Just as she asked us what we were coming in for, Luke was coming out with Dr. Jin.
"See how it feels the next week, or so. Don't overdo it." He advised the carpenter to give his healed hand some more time. "Wouldn't want to have to put a cast back on...Oh, it's the newlyweds. All is alright, I hope?"
"We're great, Jin. Couldn't be better." Owen answered, Luke's presence of no bother to him. "Angela needs a checkup, is all."
"A check up? You aren't due for a checkup until Spring, Angela."
I smiled, torn between the good news and the awkward situation. Luke took a look at me, Owen, and then walked out with a brief promise to Dr. Jin that he'd be back in a week.
"I recently found out I'm pregnant." Once Luke was gone, I eased up. "That's why I need a checkup."
The clinic staff were thrilled for us, ushering us towards the back to give me a basic exam and run some blood tests. I was scheduled for my first ultrasound in Spring.
"Looks like you're the bill of health." Jin concluded. "You'll need lots of fresh produce and rest, but otherwise carry on how you normally would for now. Nothing too strenuous."
"I'm going to be seeing if Kasey's willing to work with me starting this Spring."
"I suggest you get all the help you can. If all goes smoothly, you'll be due late Summer or early Fall."
xxxxx
"You wait out here. I'll go see if Kasey's around."
Since we could hear Craig hollering inside the seed shop, Owen didn't feel comfortable having me go inside. I took the path up to Brownie Ranch to wait for him at Hannah and Cain's. It smelled like chocolate and something sweet baking.
"It's mighty cold out there, ain't it?" At the counter with Renee Kathy blew on mug of hot chocolate. "You should have some of this."
"It smells heavenly. I wouldn't say no to a mug of that."
Renee was coming back from the kitchen with what was her second mug.
"Angela, right on time! Mom's about to pull the pound cake out of the oven. You can have it with some hot chocolate."
Dipping a chunk of my cake in to the hot drink, I thanked the ranch women for their hospitality. As the days were going by, Renee's growing bundle of joy was more apparent through her clothes. Hannah touched the baby bump, fondly.
"Renee, are you sure you don't want the doctor to tell you what the baby is?"
"Toby and I want it to be a surprise." Through a bite of pound cake, she whined. "You and daddy have to wait until Spring, like us."
"Didn't hurt to try."
Renee and Toby were holding off on a gender reveal until the baby was born. Her parents were disappointed, but respected her decision.
"Angela?" Owen came in through the shop door. "Good news. Kasey's excited to work with you this Spring."
"He is? That's a relief."
"Everything's going to go fine. You'll have all the help you need."
Intrigued at Owen's announcement, Kathy asked what we needed Kasey's help for this Spring.
"Angela's fields, mostly. We're going to need him all next year, actually."
"Everythin' alright? What's she growin' that takes that much help?"
"A baby."
When Chloe squealed at home, it was cute. When this room full of women erupted in squeals, I winced. But, only slightly. They were so loud.
"You're having a baby, too? Yay, they'll grow up together!"
"I never thought of that, you're right." I genuinely welcomed the thought. "They'll be friends."
"It made me sad that my baby wasn't going to have anyone their age to grow up with. I'm so happy!"
While Renee and Kathy squeezed me from either side, I turned pink from all the attention. Hannah's husband was clueless to what was going on when he came in from tending to the animals. Naturally, he wanted to be let in on the good news.
"This island's going to have two new residents come next year." Hannah told. "Isn't that wonderful? Our grandbaby's going to have a friend to grow up with."
xxxxxx
Becoming pregnant made me delicate in Owen's eyes. Overnight, he deemed everything too heavy for me to lift. Errands were too far for me to walk. Towards the end of Winter, it was annoying. Especially on his days off because he could monitor me all day.
"Owen!" I reached for the laundry detergent he was keeping out of reach. "Give me!"
"This jug is brand new. It's full and heavy!"
"Give me!"
This wasn't something to get mad over, but I was losing my patience. If he was already trying to put restrictions on me now, what would be heavily pregnant be like? I ultimately lost the battle in the laundry room. I could sneak in there and fold everything once it was washed and dried. By then, Owen would be leaving to pick up Chloe.
I took the basket of clean laundry to the bedroom, standing as I folded everything and put it away piece by piece. Owen had something to say about me carrying the basket up the stairs when he saw me putting the clothes away when he was back.
"Owen." I put a finger up to stop him. "Look. I love you. I appreciate where you heart is, but I can't live in a bubble."
"I want what's best for you and the baby."
"I wouldn't do anything I thought would hurt the baby. Let's not make this a problem, ok?"
Avoiding an argument that didn't need to happen, Owen dropped the issue. He knew he was being over protective. It was within my right, and perfectly safe, for me to do chores around the house. Jin said so.
"Am I being that bad?"
"Yes."
Coming in from behind me, Owen put his hands on my shoulders. He slid them down my outer arms.
"I'm just so excited, you know?" He apologized. "You and this baby mean the world to me."
"We're doing fine. Don't stress about it, it's stressing me out."
"Think you could tolerate me enough to go stargazing tomorrow night?"
The Starry Night Festival was tomorrow.
"You don't think it's too cold out there for me and the baby?" I shot him a teasing look from over my shoulder. "Hm?"
"I think we'll bundle you up good with a scarf, hat, some gloves."
"That could be arranged."
Starry Night was a romantic festival, so Chloe would be staying home with Kathy for a couple of hours since she didn't have a date to go with. Making buckwheat noodles for Dinner, I delivered them to Ramsey with Owen before Stargazing.
"Do all the couples come here?" I asked on the way to Gelato Mountain.
"Traditionally, it's the tree up at the Ranch. But, we all spread out around the Island. Plenty of places to see the stars. No need to crowd the hill."
Owen dusted the snow off a log for us to sit down by the base of the mountain. Our breathes came out in white puffs, floating up and disappearing in the cold air.
"It's always so cold on nights like these. Why don't you get a little closer? Otherwise, you'll catch a cold."
Humoring him, I slid over closer until our sides were pressed together. I leaned my head on him, holding my arms around myself to keep warm.
"The years almost over." I sighed, almost sad to see it go. "Feels like time slipped right through my fingers."
"Time well spent." Owen put his arm around me. "I wish Mom could have met you."
Ruminating in his thoughts, Owen shook his head.
"When I was a kid, my mom used to tell me the stars are our ancestors. I'm not the most sentimental guy there ever was, but I still believe her."
"Which one do you think she is?"
"I never could pick."
In the sky, all the stars glimmered. I could see why Owen couldn't choose. He stared long and hard.
"Wouldn't mind a sign, Mom." He joked under his breath. "All I need is one."
I gasped a little when a shooting star lit up the sky. It was a flash of light streaking across an inky black canvas. Owen shed a tear, which I wiped away with my gloved hand.
"She's with you every day. You and Chloe. I will be, too. So will this little one as soon as they get here."
xxxxx