A/N: Thank you all for the reviews! Now I just have to figure out where to end this story and start the next one…
Right now, everything is easy to hide. The appointments every three weeks, my currently tiny bump, it's all so easy to hide. One day… it won't be. One day we'll have to tell people, one day the world will know. That day… still isn't today.
That day is coming very soon though. We had our 12 week appointment and everything remains perfect. I've lost a little weight but that's nothing to be concerned about. Our little lemon is happy and healthy, weighs about half an ounce, and is about the size of a passion fruit.
As if my extremely heightened sense of smell and sometimes better, sometimes worse all day sickness weren't enough illness to deal with… now we have Marburg virus to worry about.
Jay was the only one in my staff exposed and really the only person near me that has been but it threw a wrench in our plans for telling people. My entire team is now working from our home and it makes it hard to get enough time alone to tell the kids when that's happening.
We've got just over a month until our new wedding date. On top of balancing this pregnancy, trying to plan a wedding that not many people know has been pushed up six months is nearly impossible. We took our guest list down to us and the kids, I ordered a dress online yesterday, and I think that's all the planning I have in me.
One thing that was extremely easy to plan was how our announcement would go… no announcement. I'll keep up my travel schedule as long as I can, maintain the same attitude we've had with personal matters that my office has had since day one, and figure out how to hide my bump when the time comes.
Things will get more complicated as we get closer, especially when there will certainly be appearances I'm expected to make on and around my due date, but we'll keep the same approach and hope for the best.
I don't know how Daisy will feel about the optics but I also don't care. We're doing this on our own terms. We'll tell the world when we're ready to tell the world.
Before we tell the world, we have to tell the kids. Every time I think we have the perfect opportunity to do that, something changes it. We have to tell them before I leave for my next trip, just in the event that something leaks.
We finally found the right opportunity despite the obstacles… even if it wasn't the reaction we wanted. Henry and I were both up early on Sunday morning and I was craving Oreos but cinnamon rolls were the appropriate substitution.
I missed getting to have regular weekend breakfast with the kids. Jason was the first to wake up and I was extremely surprised. It was like a blast from the past when he laid his head on my shoulder as I finished pouring a cup of coffee. He was always such a cuddly baby, I miss my cuddly baby boy.
We had to convince Stevie to stay home for the morning instead of studying at the library like she had planned but it also gave her an easy out afterwards which she was probably thankful for.
Ali was the last to join us for breakfast and wasn't exactly happy that Henry and Jason running around the house playing football was what woke her up.
It was still great to enjoy breakfast as a family for the first time in a long time. I couldn't stand the smell of the bacon that Henry and Jason insisted on making, I thought I was going to pass out because the smell was so strong to me. Henry kept sending me little looks to ask if I was ok and while I gave him little nods and soft smiles but I was three seconds away from losing everything in my stomach at any point.
I might have misread one of his looks and I didn't realize it until he started talking.
"Hey guys, your mom and I need to talk to you about something." He told them, about three words in was when I realized I had misread the last look he gave me.
"Oh I know where this is going… do we get some sort of prize for seeing two divorces before we turn 18?" Jason's comment was both a joke and a defense mechanism.
"Jason, come on." Maybe Stevie was more like me than I realized because she took the words out of my mouth.
Her words gave Henry the few moments he needed to get himself together and move past Jason's comment. "No, sorry slugger, you're stuck with me."
Ali giggled under her breath, she and Henry have started to become like a dynamic duo lately. Seeing this interaction brought a much needed and relaxing smile to my face.
"Actually, we are going to move the wedding up." I wasn't as nervous as I expected so it felt like the perfect time to contribute to the conversation.
"When to?" Stevie asked but it was probably what they were all thinking.
"Next month." Henry was ready for that one. We waited to observe their reactions before we said any more.
"Is that even possible?" If only Ali knew how many times I've asked myself the same question.
"Well… it's going to have to be." Henry said what we were both thinking out loud.
"So, why move it up?" Stevie had to know there was a much bigger reason.
"Um…" I began. I looked to Henry for not only support, but to basically ask him to say it because he could find the words better than I could.
"Well, I know this is a lot and it's a surprise but…" I could only imagine the thoughts that were running through the kids heads. I couldn't let that silence and worry linger.
"I am… going to have a baby." I had to be direct with them. I didn't want to sugarcoat it.
"Wow." Stevie's shock was expected… everyone's shock was expected. She was just the first one to clear the air.
Ali remained silent but obviously upset.
"So, is this replacing me or Ali?" Damn it, Jase, not the right moment for that joke.
"Jason, come on…" Henry wasn't having it but I think he's underestimating Jason's ability to flip every stable thing on its head.
"No, really. It's got to be me right?" Jason's tone was partially joking, but I knew deep down he wasn't.
"No one is being replaced." I never want them to think that.
"We won't be replaced but we'll be ignored." Ali was never afraid to stand up for herself, no matter how irrational she could be. We needed to hear her concerns though before we can help them. "We already split time with you and with dad and we're supposed to believe nothing will change when you guys have your own baby? Like we're not gonna be pushed aside for your baby?"
There was emphasis on the 'your' in her last sentence. It was understandable. My love knows no ends but sadly I only have 24 hours in a day and I have much fewer of those to give to my children than I have in the past.
"I'll go move in with dad." Jason chimed in before I could say anything.
"You're not moving in with your dad, no one is going anywhere. No one is going to be ignored. No one is going to be loved more than anyone. We've got a long time to figure this out." Six months seems a whole lot longer than it really is.
"Stevie, you ok?" Stevie had been oddly silent through this entire exchange and I was so thankful that Henry turned our attention to her.
"Yea. It's surprising but I'm happy for you guys." Stevie's older and it's probably easier but I'm so thankful she's feeling ok with this.
"I'm going back to bed." Ali was obviously upset and I wasn't going to run after her, she needs time and space to process this and I understand that.
"I'm going to the library." Stevie began to stand up. "Love you, dad." She gave Henry a hug. "Love you, Elizabeth." I was shocked but graciously accepted the hug.
"Thank you." I whispered to her.
Even though there was a lot going on, it meant I had a lot to be thankful for.