Here it is, the last chapter!
Thank you all for your support but a special thanks to Vane84 for leaving a review on each chapter. It helped me write and without you, this story wouldn't count 31 chapters!
Chapter 31 :
It was a wonderful day of June. Eight years after my wedding, I am finally where I've always wanted to be. The hot sun is beating on us, making me doubt if the trail of sweat I am feeling on my back is from the weather, from my nerves or the morning sicknesses that won't seem to leave me away in the first months.
It has been the case for baby number one and baby number two. However, even if I feel miserable, I cherish every wave of nausea I get.
My eldest daughter might be 5, I was pregnant before her. Unfortunately, I miscarried 6 months after our wedding. I was only a few weeks along but it almost destroyed Tobias and I. We still had difficulties to overcome and that was the last straw. It went as far as we hired lawyers. We still loved each other but our pain was too great to stay together. It's hard to admit but Evelyn saved us. She talked about the benefits of therapy and she was right. We didn't know how to grieve together so we were advised to do separately without divorcing. Tobias stayed with his parents and me, in our house. Two weeks later, we fell in each other's arms again, ready to grieve together. And we did. It took us three years to start again for another baby but we wanted to be truly ready before trying again. I knew almost instantly when I was pregnant the second time because I was soon sick. The first time, I only knew because I didn't have my period and took a test. I had no way to know. I wasn't sick, my hormones weren't all over the place.
But both times after that, there was no doubt. And it seems the third time is no different. Thankfully, I'm sitting down, the cap I'm wearing is sheltering me from the sun a bit, I thought of taking something to vent myself with and brought a bottle of water. I'm just hoping the sickness will leave me alone for the hour I have to be here.
One glance on my left makes me smile. Tobias is sitting with other families. He has his hands full with our two-year old son always trying to run away from us and our five-year-old daughter who cannot sit still. I'm happy Evelyn and Marcus are both here too to help him.
I watch as our little girl climbs on her father's lap to get a good look at me. Once she sees me, her smile widens. She makes big gesture with her arms to make sure I see her as Tobias struggles to make sure she doesn't fall.
"Daddy, look! Mommy is here! Mommy!" She screams.
The entire assembly chuckles and even the man speaking on the stage stops for a second, his eyes turning toward the person- or rather the little person- interrupting the ceremony. I'm sure I turned red but still wave at my daughter. I get a few amused glances around me then my neighbour whispers at me.
"You've got yourself some fans."
I smile at her then at my family.
"Yes, I wouldn't be there without them."
She gives me a knowing look then we focus back on the man lecturing. He only speaks for five more minutes before he starts calling everyone in an alphabetical order. I almost cannot sit still before I will burst with excitement.
As the letter 'P' approaches, I notice Tobias speaking to our daughter. There, now it is my turn.
"Doctor Beatrice Prior."
I walk up proudly to the stage to get the diploma I worked so hard to obtain. Breathe Tris, one foot in front of the other. Don't fall. When my shoe hits the first step of the stage, my fans make themselves known. And once again, we only hear her.
"Yay, Mommy! I'm here! Mommy! Mommyyyyyy!"
I chuckle again as I go to retrieve my diploma from my teachers. I shake hands and take a picture, always followed by clapping and the voice of my daughter. For a second, I take a glance at the sky and smile with tears in my eyes.
"This one's for you, Caleb." I think.
When I leave the stage and I'm not the center of attention anymore, I look up at them all. I proudly show them my diploma then decide to join them.
However, it seems that Tobias had the same idea because he's already hallway down when I decide to come up. So I wait. He left the kids to come down with their grandparents, so he gets to be the first to get to me. That may sound a bit selfish, but it is thanks to him that I am here today. Sure, his parents paid but he was there everyday and every night to help me study, make me dinner when I didn't have time to cook and force me to sleep when I was too deep in my work but also very pregnant.
That's why when he is just a few meters away, I run in his arms.
"You did it, Love. I'm so damn proud of you."
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
He peppers my face with kisses before he lands on my lips. We only pull apart when our daughter makes herself known.
"Mommy!"
I give my rolled diploma to Tobias and take her in my arms.
"I missed you so much." I say.
"Daddy said I have to scream loud."
"You made a really good job with that."
She accepts the praise with a big smile and hugs me tightly. As I rub her back, I notice my in laws in front of me.
"Congratulation, Tris."
I caress my son's cheek quickly then smile at them both.
"Thank you so much. I wouldn't have made it without you both."
"You proved yourself more than once. We never doubted you."
With my clingy daughter still in my arms, I hug my mother-in-law with one arm then my father in law.
Never would I have thought ten years ago that I would be hugging them. Apparently having two grandkids change people.
We decide to quickly leave as we are awaited at the restaurant by my grandmother. She couldn't come for the ceremony as it was too long and under the sun. She couldn't stay so long at her age.
I immediately run to her to hug her tightly. She is crying but only pride shines in her eyes.
"Let me look at you! Doctor Beatrice Prior! Your parents would be so proud of you. Your brother would be so proud of you."
We all eventually sit at the table. Of course, most of the attention is set on a little blond girl who cannot stay still between her father and me.
"Sweetheart, please sit. Your plate is coming soon."
"I'm hungry, mama."
"I know. It won't be long."
The ceremony lasted a bit longer than it was supposed too so I understand she is hungry. My grandmother already ordered for her because she knows my little girl is not patient when it comes to food and her brother is no different, that's why his food is already warmed up when we arrive. I pick a piece of bread and tear a bit apart for her. It should help the wait as Tobias is already feeding the youngest before he throws a tantrum.
A waiter approaches with her plate and she doesn't wait to dig in after saying thank you. The waiter smiles at her then looks at all of us.
He asks us if we wanted to drink something before ordering.
"Give us a bottle of your best Champagne." Marcus says. "We do have some celebration to make."
Tobias glances at me with a frown. We wanted to way a bit more but it seems they'll have to know now.
I catch the waiter before he leaves.
"I'm sorry, but it will be some lemonade for me please."
He nods his head.
When I turn my head, I'm met with startled looks that soon turn to understanding.
"Are you pregnant?" Evelyn asks softly.
"We wanted to wait a bit because I'm not done with the first trimester yet but yes. We are having another baby." I announce.
And with that, another round of tears begins. Our little girl doesn't understand what is happening so she just asks.
"You know that mommy is pregnant."
"Oh yeah." She answers like it wasn't a big deal and her French fries are more interesting.
I know she is happy about it but it's not news for her and what's not new is boring.
We are served with our drinks and quickly order our food because as far as I'm concerned, I am starving.
"So Tris." Evelyn begins. "Do you have an idea on where you want to work?"
"I'm not sure but the memorial where I made my internship is willing to give me a job. I think I'll take it. It's not far from home. Unless I get more options."
After all this time, I can state that I know Evelyn Eaton and her question wasn't an innocent question.
"Mom, what did you do?" Tobias jumps in with a frown.
With one hand, he is making sure our son doesn't make a mess but his eyes are on his mother.
"I didn't do anything. I just talked to the chief of the hospital and well, they'd be happy to hire you."
"Thank you, Evelyn but I don't think I can. You've done so much for me already. I can't use your name to help me get a job."
"To be honest, it won't be my name that will help you. Actually, they heard about you from the anaesthetists team and wanted to meet you. Any idea how that could be possible, Tobias?"
My husband's ears turn red from embarrassment.
"Hum… I… I may have talked about my amazing wife that was studying while being pregnant with an almost three-year-old kid at home and on her way to get the best grade of her class… I didn't think someone heard…"
"I guess they did because they already sent a letter to you, you should be getting it soon. I just wanted to tell you."
"Thank you but I'm not sure I deserve it. My husband was biased. He makes me feel like Wonderwoman sometimes."
The look in his eyes makes me feel like I'll burst into flames any moment. Is it even allowed to love someone so much?
A hand on mine makes me come back to the moment.
"I'm not sure you understand, dear. Not everyone manages to become a doctor while having two babies." My grandma says.
"I had help." I insist.
"Of course but you still did."
"It's true, Love. You know I almost failed my sixth year and I didn't have as much responsibilities."
"Thank you all. I'm not wonder woman but I'm happy for your help. I wouldn't have done it without you. That's sure."
My daughter is dancing on her chair and she eventually tugs on my arm.
"Mommy, I gotta go potty." She whispers loudly.
"Really? Then we should go now."
I excuse us both and we hurry to the bathroom. She goes in alone but I stay outside in case she needs me. I'm picking at my nails as I wait when I see someone approaching. I surely wasn't expecting my husband.
"Honey, hey. What's…?"
The sentence isn't even done when he attacks me with his lips. My brain doesn't register what is happening, but my body knows what he is doing. I'm pushed against the wall and I have to remind myself we are in a public place.
"Stop, somebody is going to see us. We'll pick it up at home." I manage to say between kisses.
He takes my face in his hands and looks at me right in the eye. I can see all the love he has for me.
"They are right. I married wonder woman. You gave birth to two precious babies, raised them, had to take care of your lovesick husband and became a doctor. I'm so proud of you!"
"And… you had to tell me in the restroom of a restaurant?" I tease.
He chuckles.
"Don't break the moment, Love. I couldn't wait longer."
"A bit late for that. But I see what you mean. I love you too."
"I Lov-"
"Mommy, I'm done!" We hear a little voice scream through the door.
"Sorry, wonder woman has a new mission."
"We'll continue at home." He promises.
"You better!"
Once Tobias enters the men's restroom, I help our daughter to wash her hands. Her long blond locks fall on her face so I help her to tie them back.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"When the baby is here, where I go?"
"What do you mean?"
"I go with grandma and grandpa?"
"Of course not, you are staying with mommy and daddy."
"But mommy, where will it sleep?"
I crouch in front of her.
"Well, the baby will sleep with mommy and daddy in the beginning then we'll change daddy's office into a bedroom. Were you afraid?"
She nods her little head yes.
"Listen, you'll always stay with mommy and daddy. We both love you too much to let you go."
"Really?"
"You know, mommy will have a new job but I'll always be your mommy first. Okay?"
"Okay?"
I raise my hand for her to hit it. Tobias taught them both how to high five and she loves it. She doesn't miss and the smile that grows on her face tells me I said the right thing.
As we walk back to the table hand in hand, I can't express how thankful I am for this life I have. When I think that everything is only possible because one day, my mother applied to a job in that particular house and got the job.
I may have started as the maid, I am the proof that a single job doesn't determine your entire life nor dictate how it's suppose to be forever. And moreover, a job doesn't choose who you can or can't fall in love with.
I was a maid, I was born into this but not anymore. I worked hard for it and I am now a pulmonologist. And you will hear about me.
However, I've always thought that this is what I've wanted to do with my life. It was but, on my way, I've learnt that I needed and that I am more than that.
I am a daughter, I am a wife but more important,
I am a mother.
I really hope you liked this story!
I'm not sure what kind of story will come next but I don't think I'm done with them yet!