Part 3: Sunrise Sunset
Chapter 30
221B 1/2 Baker Street
The day after the wedding began with clouds rolling in and new snow fell to the ground. Christmas Eve was just five days away, but Mrs. Judson had already decorated the front door and living room with garland, red ribbons and a little Christmas tree with tinsel and candles.
"Maybe I should invest in those...what are those? Electric lights?" Basil asks Olivia and she nods. He then begins to look around his bookshelves, but he mostly had chemistry books and a few photo albums containing family photographs.
"Now I know I have it," Basil said and Olivia was a bit curious.
"What are you looking for?" she asks.
"That Charles Dickens book, A Christmas Carol. Thought we start a new tradition by reading at least the first part on Christmas Eve and finishing the rest the next day," her husband answers and Olivia loved the sound of it.
Before she could say a word, a wave of nausea hits her and she feels the bile rise in her throat. She rushes to the toilet and Basil turns around to see her run to the bathroom. She makes it to the toilet just in time and vomits into the bowl. She did recall that she hated vomiting, it was so nasty to taste.
"Darling, are you all right?" she hears Basil behind her, but she retches again. She sees some of the food she ate from last night and spits the last of it out. She pulls on the chain and the vomit goes down the drain.
Olivia had broken out a sweat and leans against the cool bath tub. "Let me get Dawson," Basil insists and leaves. He returns with the doctor, who insists he examine Olivia in the bedroom. Basil helps Olivia to her feet and helps her to their bed.
"Basil, do you mind stepping out?" Dawson asks his partner, but a look of surprise forms on the detective's face.
"It's okay Elliott," Olivia said weakly.
"I'll have Mrs. Judson make you some tea," Basil replies and leaves the room. Dawson checks Olivia's temperature, it was normal, and he takes out his stethoscope. He listens to her heartbeat, normal.
"Olivia, I must ask you, did you and Basil perform any sexual activities, and I do mean unprotected?" Dawson asks. Olivia maintains a sick look, but deep down, she was afraid that Dawson would suspect that they conceived before their marriage.
"No," she replies. He then places the stethoscope over her abdomen, but Olivia wasn't sure when a baby's heart would start beating.
"Hmmmmm, nothing but your stomach at work," Dawson said and Olivia did feel relieved. She wanted to tell everyone at the proper time, so she thought Christmas Eve would be a good day to tell.
Mrs. Judson brings in a tray of cheese crumpets and tea. "Oh my word love, you do look awful," the housekeeper said and pours her a cup. Olivia takes a few sips and then settles in bed again.
"Dawson, what is wrong with her?" Basil asks, but the doctor begins to think.
"Well, it could be something she ate last night or it's the flu, not sure though," he replies and adds, "Maybe I should find some new medical books."
"I suggest you do," Mrs. Judson said, "I don't want the Missus be sick on Christmas."
Basil and Dr. Dawson dress in warm clothes and coats, it was dreadfully cold outside. "Do you need anything Olivia?" Basil asks. She thinks for a few minutes, she was having cravings for something sweet and maybe savory.
"Can you get something like chocolate and maybe...ham or bacon?" she asks.
"We will go to the market for you," Basil replies and he and Dawson leave, but Mrs. Judson gives them a basket to carry the items. Basil looks back at the house before he and Dawson go.
Inside, Mrs. Judson makes Olivia comfortable in bed and the young woman mouse was about to fall asleep. "Olivia dear?" Mrs. Judson asks and she looks at the housekeeper, "Now I made those two leave because I know for a fact that you don't have the flu or anything like that."
Olivia wasn't sure how to answer, but Mrs. Judson continues, "Now I had six children and I do recognize the symptoms of child bearing."
"Six?" Olivia replies.
"Yes, the Judson's are a big family and very soon, one of my daughters will take over the Basil household. Now, it's all right, you can tell me. I won't tell your husband and I'll try to keep Dawson quiet, but you need to tell Mr. Basil soon, otherwise it's gonna create a big mess," Mrs. Judson said with a bit of a smile.
Olivia takes a deep breath and replies, "Elliott and I had intercourse on the 28th. I wanted to have his baby as I thought I would lose him to another illness or some dangerous criminal will kill him. So yes, we did conceive."
Mrs. Judson pats her mistress' shoulder with a smile. "Very soon we'll have little ones crawling around these halls, very much like when Mr. Basil and his sisters were those many years ago. His brother was already up and about when I first started," she said with a sniffle, but gains her composure.
"I was hoping to tell Elliott at Christmas, but I'm thinking Christmas Eve is the earliest," Olivia said and Mrs. Judson scratches her chin. "Oh but what about the food I asked Elliott?" Olivia asks.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it," the housekeeper said and gathers Basil's clothes from the floor. "I should warn you, the first time is the hardest," she adds and goes to clean some laundry.
Olivia settles down in bed, she did feel weak from vomiting earlier, and she falls asleep.
Hours later, Basil and Dawson return home, with some wrapped gifts and some food. Olivia was sitting in Basil's chair and she looks up to see him, struggling to balance some boxes.
"Hello darling, are you feeling better?" he asks his new wife.
"A little," she replies, but before they could speak another word, Mrs. Judson takes the basket of food from Basil.
"Uh...Mrs. Judson, that's for-" Mrs. Judson pulls him in the kitchen.
"Don't worry Mr. Basil, the chocolates were supposed to be gift for you from the Missus," she whispers, but Basil was confused. He never liked eating sweet stuff since he was very small.
"I'll take this off your hands and I'll get what you want, say it's from Olivia," Mrs. Judson adds.
"And what of the bacon?" he asks, but Mrs. Judson chuckles.
"I'll prepare it for Christmas morning, I think the Missus was confused. It can happen after you vomit," she replies and Basil begins to think. Olivia did seem out of sorts after she vomited in the toilet earlier.
"She hasn't been sick since we were out right?" he asks and Mrs. Judson shakes her head.
"It's stress Mr. Basil. Don't worry, it'll go away. The first few days of marriage tend to be worrisome, at least for the women from what I understand, but with it being Christmas, I think she has a lot on her mind," the housekeeper replies and places the bacon in the ice box.
Basil leaves the kitchen, but Mrs. Judson takes the chocolates and hides them in the pocket of her apron. She would deliver them to Olivia once the two male mice were out.
Basil then resumes his search for The Christmas Carol, but Olivia shows it to him. "I found it in your side table, when did you get it?" she asks.
"Bought it last year. Was really intrigued when I first read it and I had to read it three times," he answers and Olivia smiles.
"I love the story about it. A miserly old fellow, who might've been a lost cause, but seeks redemption at the end," she replies and he nods.
"Listen, I should find something for you," Basil said, but Olivia shakes her head.
"Spending my first Christmas with you is all I ever wanted," she replies and places her head on his shoulder and he rubs her back. They settle by a warm fire and watch the sun shine until it descended upon the horizon.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Days passed, but they were hard for Olivia as she struggled with the nausea and exhaustion she was experiencing. Her cravings increased, she was now hungry for meat and Mrs. Judson cooked all the bacon for her and she also finished the chocolates. Mrs. Judson did prepare her some meals that would help Olivia, but she could only cook them when Basil and Dawson were out.
The housekeeper also hid some of Dawson's medical journals, which he would need to figure out Olivia's symptoms. Dawson gave up as he had no clue where they were.
Basil on the other hand was just eager to make Olivia comfortable. He was always worried with his new wife, especially when he left her at home.
Now it was Christmas Eve, the shops were bustling with gift buyers and Basil never noticed such activities on this holiday. He was sent out by Mrs. Judson to buy more bacon and quail eggs for tomorrow's breakfast.
They did run into Karl and his family, who were still staying at the hotel since arriving for the wedding. They decided to stay and partake in the Christmas festivities. They invited them for tea and to listen to Basil's thoughts on Olivia's sickness.
Lottie begins to process the information of the symptoms, but something inside her told not to say anything. "Give it more time," she suggests and Basil accepts this.
At home, Olivia lights the candles on the tree and looks out the window to see some snow falling. She had figured out a plan, she would have everyone exchange one gift after the reading of the first part of The Christmas Carol and that was when she would explain what was really wrong with her.
Basil and Dawson return home late that afternoon. They were covered in snow, but it was easy to brush off. Basil reveals a canary that was prepared for tomorrow's dinner.
"Really don't know how we could eat a turkey, have ever seen how big they are?" Basil asks Olivia, who chuckles.
After eating a simple supper of potatoes and haddock, they gathered around the fireplace and Basil begins to tell the famous tale of The Christmas Carol.
"Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt about whatever about that." The three listen to Basil as he reads from the book. Olivia thought Basil should've been an actor on the stage and he would've performed everything without a flaw. Of course, he was sort of like an actor, but that was when he wore a disguise.
However, she struggles to keep her eyes open, but she fights the fatigue. It was then that Mrs. Judson stops Basil after reading the part of Marley's ghost. "I think we should read the rest tomorrow," the housekeeper insists and Olivia realizes it was time.
She gives Mrs. Judson a few new kitchen mittens that she stitched a while back. The housekeeper was delighted in how soft they felt.
Mrs. Judson then gives Dawson a stack of books, all wrapped and once he ripped the wrapping paper off, he saw it was his medical books. "What in the...I was looking for these," the doctor said.
"Sorry Doctor, but I hid those for a reason. Now the Missus has something to share for her husband," Mrs. Judson replies and Basil was ready to accept some sweet treat from Olivia, except she didn't give him a wrapped gift.
"Elliott, you saw me being sick and all, but do you know the reason why?" Olivia asks, but Basil was confused. He thought she had the flu, at least, according to Dawson, but he never gave an official diagnosis.
Olivia leans into his ear and whispers, "Think back on the night of your birthday, when I said I wanted a baby with you." Then, Basil's mind begins to process of what she said. They did perform with no protection and he did think it was always 50-50, but what if this was the good 50 percent?
"Olivia, are you saying?" he asks and a smile forms on her face.
"I'm pregnant," she simply replies. Basil's mind stops ticking and he places a hand on her cheek, a shocked expression forms on his face.
"Darling, are you serious?" he asks, his voice had a hint of excitement. Olivia looks to Mrs. Judson, who gives a nod.
"Aunt Sophie also suspected too on the day of the wedding. Elliott, I wanted to tell you when the time was right, but I had to be sure. That's why I wanted to wait until I got morning sickness and you did see me a few times at the toilet. That is if Dawson thinks it's something else, although I believe Aunt Sophie and Mrs. Judson," Olivia explains and the two look at Dawson. He processes this information and a look of shock forms on his face.
"All symptoms point to pregnancy, but why keep it secret?" he asks.
"We didn't think you would be all right of us not conceiving on the night of the wedding. At least, I didn't think so, seeing that you still believe in the old ways," Olivia replies, but Dawson chuckles at this.
"Oh my dear Olivia. I think I know why you wanted to have a baby. After treating Basil with that viral infection, I figured you wanted to carry his legacy," the doctor replies and smiles.
Basil turns back to Olivia and holds her tight in his arms. "Olivia, this is the best Christmas gift! But when are you due?!" he exclaims and lifts her off her feet.
"I'm thinking late July or possibly early August," she replies and he plasters her face with kisses before kissing her lips.
"Oh I so excited, I'm think I'm-" "Don't you even think about it!" Mrs. Judson shouts at him.
"I was only kidding!" Basil replies with a laugh and kisses Olivia, again. Then he begins to sputter some words, "Boy...no...girl. Definitely want a girl."
"Elliott, you want a girl?" Olivia asks.
"Of course, I want her to look like you," Basil replies, but Olivia blushes.
"I was hoping for a boy, so he would look like you," she said, but they decided to wait until the very end. Dawson hugs both of them and Mrs. Judson kisses Olivia's cheek and looks to Basil.
"But Mr. Basil," Mrs. Judson said and he looks at his housekeeper, "I did tell the Missus that the first one is the hardest. She will experience mood swings, severe dehydration and all sorts of things. I want you to be there for her, as you are her husband now."
Basil takes in the information and places a protective arm around Olivia. "I will," he said and she nuzzles her nose against his neck.
The four of them then quiet down for the night. Basil and Olivia settle in bed, but Basil then rubs Olivia's abdomen. "I'm still thinking it's a girl," he whispers to his wife, who chuckles.
"Why? So you can spoil her like me?" she asks, but Basil gives a shrug.
"Maybe I will, I wonder if I'll spoil her like your father did to you," he replies and she smiles at this. They then settle down to sleep, but Basil had a big smile on his face that Olivia notices when she peeks one eye open. She gives one last smile before succumbing to sleep.
From the author: So Basil and Olivia are expecting! But the big question is is what is the baby's gender? You're just going to have to wait and see.
See you soon!
