A large smile spread across John's face. "We're going to have a baby?"
"Yeah, we are. Do you think we could keep it to ourselves for awhile?"
"Sure, we should enjoy it first, before everyone knows." He stopped to think for a second. "Would family be okay?"
"Mmhmm. I just meant no one in the company."
The smile on John's face just grew larger as he pulled Ryan down onto his lap. "That works for me."
**********
Ryan woke up late the next morning and found herself alone in bed, so she got went downstairs to find someone. "Anybody still here?"
"Kitchen!" she heard John's voice yell back. Ryan walked in and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Hi sexy," she said with a laugh. John turned and gave her a long kiss.
"Morning baby."
Ryan released him and headed for the fridge. "Where is everyone?"
"Work, it's after noon."
"No way." She looked at the microwave clock and saw that it was actually closer to one. "I didn't mean to sleep that late."
John handed her a plate filled with fruit and sat down. "We didn't get home until after 3."
"True."
"Not to jump right into this or anything, but when can we tell them?" John asked, anxiously referring to the baby.
"Eager much?" He gave her a cocky grin and leaned back in his chair.
"I'm eager for a lot of things, baby."
"I bet you are."
"Seriously though, they like good news. It would ne nice to give them some."
Ryan wiped her mouth and nodded. "As soon as I get it confirmed by the doctor we can."
"Can you get in before we leave?"
Ryan stood and set her plate in the sink. "I'll go call now." She grabbed the cordless phone from the counter and sat down on the living room couch. She dialed the barely remembered number, and waited for an answer.
"Dr. Stevenson's office, Shelly Robinson speaking," an elderly sounding woman answered.
"Hi Mrs. Robinson, it's Ryan Hafner."
"Ryan, dear, how are you?" Shelly Robinson was the old secretary at the junior high that Ryan and John attended, as well as a family friend, and had recently started working at the doctor's office after a short retirement.
"I'm doing pretty well thanks. How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Did you need an appointment?"
"Yes, please."
"Is it for you?"
"Yes. I need, well...I need a pregnancy test." Ryan hated to admit that to Mrs. Robinson, who had very strict views on premarital children/sex.
"That's wonderful Ryan. I bet John's thrilled."
She was a bit puzzled. "He is. I thought you would be upset."
"Oh no dear. My Jenny got herself pregnant not a year after you left for Cushing, and she couldn't have raised a better child. She married the man last year, after giving me another grandchild, and they are very happy together."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"We'll have to talk more when you come in. Can you be here today around 3?" Ryan glanced at the clock and saw that it was just past 1.
"Sure. I'll see you then. Thanks."
"Your welcome Ryan. See you later." They hung up, and Ryan went back in the kitchen.
"I have an appointment at 3."
"Good. Not to dampen anything, but I was thinking."
Ryan gave him a teasing grin. "Uhoh, that's not good."
John wrinkled his eyebrows and sat down. "I didn't even say anything yet."
"I know, but you were thinking, so I know it can't be good."
"Harsh baby."
"I know. Continue please."
"Like I was saying, I was thinking. You aren't going to want to raise a baby in Los Angeles, are you?"
An uncomfortable look crossed Ryan's face. "It's no secret that I prefer Massachussets to California, John." He nodded and looked down at his watch.
"I didn't mean to upset you sweetie. We can talk about it later. I've got an errand to run, but I'll be back in time for you appointment."
Ryan sighed, but nodded. "Alright, we'll talk later."
**********
"Ryan, come on back." Ryan sighed at the nurses words, but stood. She stopped at the front counter.
"Mrs. Robinson, if John shows up will you have him come back please?"
"Of course."
"Thank you." Ryan gave her a smile and walked back to the scale.
"So how are you feeling today Ryan?" The nurse, Patty, asked her.
"Alright I guess. Anxious to find out if the test was right."
"If you want to have a seat in that room, I'll be right back to find out." A half hour later, a beaming Ryan walked back up to the nurses desk.
"I'll assume it's positive dear?" Mrs. Robinson asked her.
"Yeah it is."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you. John never showed up?"
"About five minutes ago, he's out in the lobby. I told him you were about finished, so he decided to wait."
"OK, thanks. See you later."
"Bye Ryan." Ryan opened the door to the waiting room and found a very sheepish looking John sitting in a chair.
"I am so sorry I'm late."
"Is it at least a good reason?"
"Oh yeah. But it's a surprise, you'll find out later tonight."
"A surprise?"
"Yeah, we'll go after supper."
"You're gong to make me wait?"
"Yes I am. Besides, you're eating for two now, you can't miss a meal."
"Please do not turn into Travis." Travis's wife Mikaela had given birth about a year before, and Travis was way too overprotective with her.
"I had to learn from someone."
"No you didn't. Did you drive?"
"Yeah." He smirked at her and started talking in an odd voice. "you lookin for a ride pretty lady?"
"Why thank you kind sir. My boyfriend was supposed to pick me up, but he was late so I walked."
"I hope it wasn't too far for you ma'am."
"Not at all." They got into the car and drove the five minutes back to John's parents.
"You really aren't mad?"
"No, even though I should be. What is my surprise?"
"OK, that came out of nowhere. But I'm not showing you until after supper."
"Fine." They walked into the house and found a very full dining room. Both of John's parents, all four brothers, and three significant others. "Gee, I think we're late."
"You are young lady," Carol pretended to chastise them. "Try to find some seats, I'm about to pull the lasagna out of the oven."
John pulled out a seat for Ryan, then sat next to her. "It smells great Mom."
"Thanks John." The group ate in mostly quiet conversation until the end of the meal, when John stood up.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make. Actually, we have an announcement to make," he said, pulling Ryan up beside him. "Ryan's pregnant." Carol stood and threw her arms around both John and Ryan.
"That is such good news! I am so happy for you two!" John's dad came over and offered congratulations, and everyone else followed. It got quiet again, although John remained standing.
"There is something else though. I've got a surprise for Ryan, though I know it will thrill more than just her. The thing is, we have to go to it, so anyone who wants to come is more than welcome." There was some confusion, as everyone decided who was rising with who, but eventually they were on the road. John drove across town and pulled into a driveway. Everyone got out and gathered on the front lawn. "I know that while I am a warm weather kind of guy, Ryan lives for cold New England nights and hot chocolate. That is why I met with a realtor this afternoon, and am able to give her this." He handed Ryan a small box. "Open it."
"John, what is going on?"
"Just open it." She did, and tears came to her eyes.
"You bought a new house." He just nodded. "Oh baby, thank you so much!" She wrapped her arms around him. "I can't believe you did this."
"I know you'll be happier here, and since I'll have you, I know I will."
Ryan opened her mouth to say something else, but Matt interrupted. "Enough with the sappiness bro. Let's see this place!"
**********
"Yeah, we are. Do you think we could keep it to ourselves for awhile?"
"Sure, we should enjoy it first, before everyone knows." He stopped to think for a second. "Would family be okay?"
"Mmhmm. I just meant no one in the company."
The smile on John's face just grew larger as he pulled Ryan down onto his lap. "That works for me."
**********
Ryan woke up late the next morning and found herself alone in bed, so she got went downstairs to find someone. "Anybody still here?"
"Kitchen!" she heard John's voice yell back. Ryan walked in and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Hi sexy," she said with a laugh. John turned and gave her a long kiss.
"Morning baby."
Ryan released him and headed for the fridge. "Where is everyone?"
"Work, it's after noon."
"No way." She looked at the microwave clock and saw that it was actually closer to one. "I didn't mean to sleep that late."
John handed her a plate filled with fruit and sat down. "We didn't get home until after 3."
"True."
"Not to jump right into this or anything, but when can we tell them?" John asked, anxiously referring to the baby.
"Eager much?" He gave her a cocky grin and leaned back in his chair.
"I'm eager for a lot of things, baby."
"I bet you are."
"Seriously though, they like good news. It would ne nice to give them some."
Ryan wiped her mouth and nodded. "As soon as I get it confirmed by the doctor we can."
"Can you get in before we leave?"
Ryan stood and set her plate in the sink. "I'll go call now." She grabbed the cordless phone from the counter and sat down on the living room couch. She dialed the barely remembered number, and waited for an answer.
"Dr. Stevenson's office, Shelly Robinson speaking," an elderly sounding woman answered.
"Hi Mrs. Robinson, it's Ryan Hafner."
"Ryan, dear, how are you?" Shelly Robinson was the old secretary at the junior high that Ryan and John attended, as well as a family friend, and had recently started working at the doctor's office after a short retirement.
"I'm doing pretty well thanks. How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Did you need an appointment?"
"Yes, please."
"Is it for you?"
"Yes. I need, well...I need a pregnancy test." Ryan hated to admit that to Mrs. Robinson, who had very strict views on premarital children/sex.
"That's wonderful Ryan. I bet John's thrilled."
She was a bit puzzled. "He is. I thought you would be upset."
"Oh no dear. My Jenny got herself pregnant not a year after you left for Cushing, and she couldn't have raised a better child. She married the man last year, after giving me another grandchild, and they are very happy together."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"We'll have to talk more when you come in. Can you be here today around 3?" Ryan glanced at the clock and saw that it was just past 1.
"Sure. I'll see you then. Thanks."
"Your welcome Ryan. See you later." They hung up, and Ryan went back in the kitchen.
"I have an appointment at 3."
"Good. Not to dampen anything, but I was thinking."
Ryan gave him a teasing grin. "Uhoh, that's not good."
John wrinkled his eyebrows and sat down. "I didn't even say anything yet."
"I know, but you were thinking, so I know it can't be good."
"Harsh baby."
"I know. Continue please."
"Like I was saying, I was thinking. You aren't going to want to raise a baby in Los Angeles, are you?"
An uncomfortable look crossed Ryan's face. "It's no secret that I prefer Massachussets to California, John." He nodded and looked down at his watch.
"I didn't mean to upset you sweetie. We can talk about it later. I've got an errand to run, but I'll be back in time for you appointment."
Ryan sighed, but nodded. "Alright, we'll talk later."
**********
"Ryan, come on back." Ryan sighed at the nurses words, but stood. She stopped at the front counter.
"Mrs. Robinson, if John shows up will you have him come back please?"
"Of course."
"Thank you." Ryan gave her a smile and walked back to the scale.
"So how are you feeling today Ryan?" The nurse, Patty, asked her.
"Alright I guess. Anxious to find out if the test was right."
"If you want to have a seat in that room, I'll be right back to find out." A half hour later, a beaming Ryan walked back up to the nurses desk.
"I'll assume it's positive dear?" Mrs. Robinson asked her.
"Yeah it is."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you. John never showed up?"
"About five minutes ago, he's out in the lobby. I told him you were about finished, so he decided to wait."
"OK, thanks. See you later."
"Bye Ryan." Ryan opened the door to the waiting room and found a very sheepish looking John sitting in a chair.
"I am so sorry I'm late."
"Is it at least a good reason?"
"Oh yeah. But it's a surprise, you'll find out later tonight."
"A surprise?"
"Yeah, we'll go after supper."
"You're gong to make me wait?"
"Yes I am. Besides, you're eating for two now, you can't miss a meal."
"Please do not turn into Travis." Travis's wife Mikaela had given birth about a year before, and Travis was way too overprotective with her.
"I had to learn from someone."
"No you didn't. Did you drive?"
"Yeah." He smirked at her and started talking in an odd voice. "you lookin for a ride pretty lady?"
"Why thank you kind sir. My boyfriend was supposed to pick me up, but he was late so I walked."
"I hope it wasn't too far for you ma'am."
"Not at all." They got into the car and drove the five minutes back to John's parents.
"You really aren't mad?"
"No, even though I should be. What is my surprise?"
"OK, that came out of nowhere. But I'm not showing you until after supper."
"Fine." They walked into the house and found a very full dining room. Both of John's parents, all four brothers, and three significant others. "Gee, I think we're late."
"You are young lady," Carol pretended to chastise them. "Try to find some seats, I'm about to pull the lasagna out of the oven."
John pulled out a seat for Ryan, then sat next to her. "It smells great Mom."
"Thanks John." The group ate in mostly quiet conversation until the end of the meal, when John stood up.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make. Actually, we have an announcement to make," he said, pulling Ryan up beside him. "Ryan's pregnant." Carol stood and threw her arms around both John and Ryan.
"That is such good news! I am so happy for you two!" John's dad came over and offered congratulations, and everyone else followed. It got quiet again, although John remained standing.
"There is something else though. I've got a surprise for Ryan, though I know it will thrill more than just her. The thing is, we have to go to it, so anyone who wants to come is more than welcome." There was some confusion, as everyone decided who was rising with who, but eventually they were on the road. John drove across town and pulled into a driveway. Everyone got out and gathered on the front lawn. "I know that while I am a warm weather kind of guy, Ryan lives for cold New England nights and hot chocolate. That is why I met with a realtor this afternoon, and am able to give her this." He handed Ryan a small box. "Open it."
"John, what is going on?"
"Just open it." She did, and tears came to her eyes.
"You bought a new house." He just nodded. "Oh baby, thank you so much!" She wrapped her arms around him. "I can't believe you did this."
"I know you'll be happier here, and since I'll have you, I know I will."
Ryan opened her mouth to say something else, but Matt interrupted. "Enough with the sappiness bro. Let's see this place!"
**********