Chapter thirty-eight: Aerial Tal
December 7th,
Kate was a million miles away.
Thomas had let her know in advance that Mr. Arnold and his daughter would be stopping by on business. She'd instantly deduced that he was old fashioned, so, she slipped into character of the submissive housewife. Thomas had instantly noticed and kept his hand on her knee. Mr. Arnold didn't approve of physical affection in public, but Thomas wanted to make it clear that she was cherished by him. They were the perfect couple. Kate was the charmer of the two, while Thomas was charismatic, his face occasionally betrayed that he was bored at social functions. Kate quickly managed to become rather popular amoungst people and they were regularly receiving callers. Kate returned most of them without Thomas accompanying her, but she was good at reading people, so she was able to smooth things over instantly.
Kate was starving. She wasn't sure if it was boredom but she polished off almost three of the cucumber sandwiches. Suddenly, she felt her stomach churning, threatening to expel the contents. She reaches for her tea and takes a huge gulp of her raspberry tea to quell her stomach, which seems to only fuel the rising bile. She takes several more large gulps, hoping to send her food back down. She wound up choking on the tea instead, to her mortification.
Thomas glanced at her, seeming to sense her discomfort. "Kate? You alright?" She can't answer him. Kate drops her tea, jumps up and heads towards the trashcan by the door. She drops to the ground just in time to vomit her sandwiches and tea inside. She groans as Thomas kneels beside her. After a few moments, her stomach gives her a break. Thomas offers her his handkerchief. "Here. I've got you."
"Thank you." She croaks, until her stomach decides to empty more of the contents. Kate groans as she retches spewing more tea and sandwich in the basket.
Tommy turned to Polly. "Call the maid please and send for the doctor."
"Thomas," she rasps as she wipes her mouth. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not." He picked her up and carried her back to the couch. She rolled her eyes as he set her down. He pressed a hand against her forehead and his eyes narrowed. "Poll, she feels like she has a fever."
"I'm fine."
"Shut up." Polly ordered as she felt her forehead. Polly removed Kate's gloves and undid a few of the buttons at her neck. "She is warm, so it's probably a slight fever."
She shakes her head. "No. I just got over influenza. I can't be sick again."
"Well, you've got something else now." Polly says. "Thomas, put that pillow behind her head."
Jodie runs in, causing Thomas to look up at her. "I need ice water; a damp cloth and I need her room prepared for when the doctor arrives."
"Thomas!" Her voice rose. "I am perfectly-
She began gagging again. She sits up as Thomas grabs the flower centerpiece, emptied it onto the ground and holds it up under her mouth as she spewed up the last bit of tea. "Tell me that when you're not vomiting."
Mr. Arnold and his daughter abruptly stand up. "We'll take our leave; don't bother to see us out. I hope you feel better soon Mrs. Shelby."
Kate waves, she can't answer them. "Forgive me if I don't see you off." Thomas states as he rubs her back as Jodie runs back in the room. "I'm staying with my wife."
"Understood Mr. Shelby." Mr. Arnold hurries out of the room, practically dragging his daughter out of the room. Merely mentioning influenza served to clear most people out of the room.
Jodie hurriedly places the cold cloth on her head. "Here you go Ms. Kate."
"Mrs. Shelby." Thomas said sharply.
She waved at him as she sat up. "Thank you Jodie." She shot Thomas the look. "She's a friend, I asked her to call me Kate."
Jodie hands her the glass of water. "Here you go."
She smiled and took a few sips. The cold water felt good as it swirled down her warm system. She exhaled and smiled. "Ok, I feel better. Maybe I was just dehydrated."
Thomas shook his head. "You're not well. You've been working too hard."
Jodie steps behind her and undoes the choker necklace, placing it on the table in front of her. "Here you go."
She chuckled. "Look at you three, don't be so concerned." She sighs as she puts her feet up on the couch. "I'm sure I'm fine."
"You've been vomiting for the last two mornings this week." Jodie pointed out gently, causing Thomas's eyes to narrow. "You should let the doctor make sure you're alright."
"What else has she been doing that I don't know about?" Thomas asked.
"Nothing!" She snaps before taking another sip of her water.
"Certain foods make her ill and she eats strange things, but she's American. Aside from that Sir, nothing." Jodie hesitates before asking. "Would it be impertinent for me to suggest that…she may be…with child?"
Kate gagged on her water and looked at Thomas. He shakes his head. "Definitely not possible. Please, go ready her room."
Jodie nods and hurries out of the room. "Are you sure?" Polly asks. "It is possible that she's pregnant, the way you two have been falling all over each other since Thanksgiving?"
"Positive." Kate adds. "We haven't even had relations, nor are we planning to just yet."
"After January first," Thomas adds in a lower voice to Polly. "ask us again and it may be that she's pregnant."
Polly frowns. "You have the date picked out?"
"His idea," Kate huffs. "not mine, but at least you know that it's virtually impossible for me to be pregnant."
Polly snorts. "You two are idiots."
Thomas rubs her leg. "Want to make that everything is good between us before starting a family."
Elton comes in the room. "The doctor happens to be visiting his mother in Birmingham today. His secretary got a hold of him and he is enroute. He should be here within 20 minutes."
"Honestly," Kate yawns. "all three of you are making a big deal out of nothing."
"Let me put it to you this way Kate," Thomas states as he takes a hold of her hand. "if you go down, the whole house goes down."
"Comforting." She juggled her glass of water in her hand, cleared her throat. "So, how'd the merger go? It sounded way more interesting than walking with that spoiled brat in the garden!"
"He mentioned earlier that was impressed with how I managed to keep 'my wife on a leash'." Kate rolls her eyes in annoyance. "So, he agreed to the merger."
"Funny." She exhaled. "I'm going to burn in Hell one day for all these lies I tell."
Thomas chuckles and brushes her hair back. "You're not going to Hell, I may, but you're definitely bound for Heaven."
"And if you're not there with me, what makes you think I'm won't be in Hell?" Kate takes his hand and toys with it for a bit. "Heaven, is where I'm with you."
Polly groans. "That doctor better get here soon before they make us all sick. Honestly, you two talk that way and Thomas still hasn't managed to get you into his bed. Never thought I'd meet a woman immune to his…charms."
Kate blushes. "Not immune, just waiting...a little longer."
"If you don't mind my asking," Polly states. "waiting for what?"
Kate glances at Thomas who looks to her for the answer. She inhales and closes her eyes. "The right moment."
Polly exhales as she places a damp cloth on Kate's head. "I think the moment's staring the two of you in the face, but we shall see. I'll go check on the children."
Jodie hurries back into the room. "Her room is ready for her."
Kate shakes her head. "I'll just stay here, I'm feeling much better."
Thomas gently pushes her back onto her back. "Jodie, make sure Mrs. Shelby stays here. I'm going to get some papers, don't let her off that couch."
"Yes, Mr. Shelby."
"Traitor." Kate mutters.
Jodie laughs. "Sorry Mrs. Shelby, but Mr. Shelby is much scarier than you. Now, just get some rest. The doctor will be here shortly and he'll make sure you're alright."
"You all worry too much!" Kate yawns. "There is nothing wrong with me!"
Lil'Sparrow7: Thank you again for the review! (Sorry about the delayed response, but fanfiction wasn't letting me read reviews again!)
