Chapter 42
Weeks have gone by in a flash. My wedding day was just around the corner and so was Bella and Edwards arrival. As for my pregnancy, I have been wearing shirts that are looser on me.
Alice was in the kitchen with Esme, helping her cook me lunch. I was on the couch feeling slightly uncomfortable. You know that feeling you get in your belly when you have gas; that's what I was feeling.
Jasper was outside with Emmett. They were play fighting. I could see them from the window where I sat. I like to think Jasper chose that spot so we could see one another.
"Here you go, Lori." Alice said as she walked in the room with my plate.
She went to hand me my plate when she let out a gasp and dropped the plate. The food went everywhere when the glass shattered. Luckily some food got on me.
All the other Cullens came running into the room. Concern were etched on each face. Jasper and Esme were by my side as they helped clean me off and picked up the pieces of the plate.
"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked I a hushed but serious voice.
"I can't see…" She muttered as she squinted her eyes.
"Can't see? Are you blind?" I asked as my eyebrows furrowed.
"No." She said and looked down at me. "I can't see Bella's future…or yours." Her face contorted into a frown. "It's like you have a blocker now. Same with Bella. Or when you two are with the wolves."
"You can't see her?" Jasper asked as he stood straight up.
His face looked so serious. It was intimidating.
"I can't. I don't know why." She kept looking at me. "Do you have plans to see the wolves?"
I shook my head. "No. I just have plans to be lazy here."
She bit her bottom lip. "Try to make a decision with Jasper. Do it mentally so I can try to see you."
"Okay." I agreed and then tried to think of something. That's then I thought of it. The day of my wedding, instead of a gift to buy for Jasper, I'm going to tell him the wonderful news of the baby. "Okay, I did."
Alice shut her eyes as she concentrated hard. "I can't see!" She said all flustered. "Am I broken? Esme…make a decision."
"Okay." Not a moment went by. Their minds worked so much faster than mine. "Done. Did you see?"
Alice spaced off and then let out a small smile. "That's a really nice gift."
"Okay, so your powers still work." Jasper spoke out and pointed at me. "What about Lori?"
"What about Bella too? Edward will-…" Esme began to say but was cut off by Carlisle's phone ringing.
He picked up the phone, but Alice took it from him. "Edward? Is Bella okay? Oh, hi Bella." There was a moment of Bella speaking before Alice spoke. "Yeah, he's right here."
"Are you okay, Bella?" Carlisle asked and waited for her to respond. "Shock? Edward? I've never heard of a vampire going into shock before." At that moment, Carlisle looked directly at me. His face looked serious and I had a feeling it had something to do with the baby. "Son, I'm going to need you to come home right away. Alice, book them a flight home. Stay safe." He ended the call and never took his eyes off of me.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Bella says she might be pregnant. She can't keep any food down." Carlisle said and looked at Jasper. "Her stomach is growing fast. Too fast. Edward said that it looks like she is three months along when they…are sure that isn't possible."
I placed my hand over my belly. "Carlisle…what does this mean?"
"I think it means you better say something now." He eyed Jasper and then looked at me. "Do you want to be alone?"
"What are you meaning?" Jasper asked in his authority voice. "Lori?"
"Yes." I told Carlisle.
"We'll be in the other room." He said and everyone left.
I turned to look at Jasper and his jaw was clenched tightly. "Jasper, for about a month or so…"
"You're pregnant." He said in a hiss.
"How did you-…"
"I just put two and two together. You cover yourself up now. You eat a lot. You smell different and the situation that had just happened…" His eyes went dark as his mood shifted. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because I knew you would get worried." I said in a panic.
"Of course I am worried! There is a monster inside of you!" He shouted and Carlisle immediately went to his son's side.
At the same time Carlisle and I spoke.
"Our baby isn't a monster!"
"Jasper, calm down. You're scaring her."
I saw Jasper change stances. He was Major right now, which meant he was very upset with this. "We don't know what that is. How is that possible?" Jasper was talking so fast that it was hard to keep up with him. "Get it out of her right now."
"Jasper, reason with us. Look at her. She has been fine for this long. This might be different than Bella's situation." He pointed to me. "Look at her, Son. She's glowing and healthy. Lori is not dying. You know I would have told you myself if that was happening."
Major looked at me and looked down at my belly. I was holding my stomach as if I was protecting it.
"Let me see." He ordered me.
I obliged and lifted my shirt up a bit to show my belly. You could easily tell I was indeed pregnant. I felt his cold touch on my stomach and his stance changed. Slowly he became Jasper again.
"When were you going to tell me?" He asked me.
"At our wedding. It was going to be a surprise wedding gift. I didn't know that this could have been a bad thing." I put my hand over his hand. "Let's go for a walk, Jazz."
He frowned slightly, but nodded. I watched him vanish and come back with a jacket.
"It's a little cold out. You'll need this."
I put it on and held his hand as we made our way to the door. I put my shoes on and walked out with him, hand in hand. We made it some distance away from the house before I spoke up.
"So, tell me what you're thinking right now."
"Well, since it seems like you're not dying…I'm better. As for Bella, I'm slightly worried for her." He moved so his arm was around me. "I'm sorry I overreacted back there. My mind immediately went to thinking you were dying."
"And I'm not. See? It's like a normal pregnancy. Although, it's growing faster in me." I held my finger up when he went to protest. "But, it's not killing me. It's like I have bad gas pains in my belly." I bit my bottom lip. "I think it's a boy."
Jasper smiled slightly at my words. "What makes you say that?"
"Because he's very wiggly in there. He can't stop moving around and it reminds me of how you are. You're always doing something."
"I hate staying still. I need to do something or it drives me insane."
"And he hasn't hurt me yet. He doesn't kick any bad parts of me. I heard that babies kick your ribs and stuff. He only nudges his hand or feet at my belly."
Jasper suddenly picked me up off the ground, carrying me like a bride. "Now I feel more protective over you." He growled out like it was a chore. "From now on, you're not allowed to walk or do anything unless I'm with you. I don't want you tripping or falling." He narrowed his eyes. "I actually want to take you back inside so you're not chilly." He turned around to head back to the house.
I let out a laugh. "Jasper, stop. I don't mind you carrying me, but I'm not going to the bathroom with you there."
Jasper tried to hide his amusement. "There is a child growing inside of you that might be half vampire and you're worried about peeing in from of me?"
"Oh my god. Shut up." I face palmed myself.
"out of curiosity, what do you want to name the child?"
I thought for a moment. "Well, if it's a girl…" I trailed off as I tried to think. "I like the name Lydia Elizabeth."
"That's a pretty name. Lydia Elizabeth Whitlock." He brought me closer to his chest and I laid my head on his shoulder.
"What about you? If it's a girl I mean."
"I like the name Kendra Leigh."
"Kendra Leigh Whitlock. That sounds better than my choice. I like it." I kissed his cheek. "Now what about a boy?"
"As for a boy…" He trailed off. "Jeramiah."
"Oh! I like that."
Jasper looked down at me. "What about you?"
"I was thinking Lucas. Lucas James Whitlock." I tilted my head from side to side as I sang the name.
"You're really happy about this."
"It's our baby, Jazz. You're going to be a dad and I'm going to witness fatherhood on you. You don't understand how excited I am to see you with a son or daughter. You teaching them how to ride a bike or teaching them how to play baseball."
Jasper stopped walking and looked at me with sudden realization. "I'm going to be a father…"
