Chapter Thirty
The Side Effects
Ruthie stood in front of her full length mirror trying to stretch a t-shirt over her enormous stomach. She pulled and tried to stretch it out but at five months pregnant her clothes were begging to not fit. She'd been trying to forget about Martin but that was hard to do with the evidence of there one night of drunken passion under her shirt or not under her shirt because the damn thing wouldn't stretch far enough. It only came up to about the middle of her stomach and no farther, it was showing off her brand new stretch marks, which made her feel worse about her body and appearance. Pregnancy was a beautiful thing people told her but they forgot to mention the side effects like the aching back, the swollen feet, the stretch marks, and that her clothes would eventually stop fitting.
Letting out a loud sigh she grabbed her robe off the chair and put it on. It seemed to be the only thing that still fit around her. She couldn't understand how everything had seemed to fit yesterday but today nothing fit. Taking a seat on her bed she put her poor tired feet up and dialed Freddie and Olivia's number on her phone.
"My clothes don't fit?!"
"It was inevitable." Olivia said with her usual sassiness.
"I have something to fix that." Freddie announced.
"What can possible fix it?" Olivia replied smartly, "You don't have a time machine do you?"
"Noooo!" Freddie said dragged out his annoyed Os.
"Then What?"
"I can't tell you."
"Then why did you say anything?" Olivia asked annoyed.
"I said I can't tell you I have to show you." Freddie said.
"Well then show me."
"What am I a freaken
genie? I can't just zap myself in front of you."
"Can you
two stop bickering and just come over," Ruthie begged, "And
Freddie pick me up some of that macaroni salad from that barbeque
place please."
"Food?!" Ruthie said with a smile as Freddie entered with a portfolio and a bag, Olivia trailing behind with Ruthie's prized bag of take-out.
"Gimme." Ruthie said ripping the bag out of Olivia's hands, she quickly found the disposable fork and was soon eating, "I was starving."
"You're always starving!" Olivia said with a roll of her eyes.
"She's pregnant." Freddie said walking over and patting Ruthie's stomach, "She's supposed to be hungry."
"Whatever Freddie, So what's going to make this hungry crazed person's clothes magically fit?" Olivia asked.
"I'm not hungry crazed!" Ruthie said while eating the macaroni salad like a person who hadn't eaten in days.
"Yeah you are." Olivia said.
"But you're supposed to be." Freddie added.
"Alright enough on her eating habits what's magically going to fix this issue with the clothes not fitting?"
"This!" Freddie said handing Ruthie his treasured portfolio. She opened it and flipped through the pages between bites. The pages were filled with beautifully sketches of Freddie's designs. They truly showed his vision and his passion for clothing and fashion.
"Maternity wear!?" Olivia said stating the obvious.
"They're beautiful designs." Ruthie said closing the book.
"Thank you." Freddie said with a smile, "I made them for you."
"You made them for me?" Ruthie asked shocked.
"Yep, it's my gift to you and the solution to your problem."
"You're a real genius!" Olivia said, "Too bad you can't wear those sketches."
"I've made you three outfits so far." Freddie said ignoring Olivia, he handed Ruthie the bag of clothes, "Soon you'll have an entire wardrobe."
"Awww thank you, Freddie." Ruthie said giving him a hug.
"You're making her an entire wardrobe?" Olivia asked a little jealous, "You've never even made me one outfit!"
"You've never been pregnant," Freddie said, "but if you get pregnant I'd be happy to make you a wardrobe too."
"Thank you." Olivia said, "But then I wouldn't be able to wear a bikini."
"Suit yourself." Freddie replied.
"Wearing a bikini is the least of my worries." Ruthie said opening the bag up. The outfits were defiantly well made and beautiful. They showed off Freddie's true talent.
"Thank you." Ruthie said again and kissed Freddie's cheek.
"You're very welcome." Freddie said grinning ear to ear, "I think I've found my specialty."
"Maternity wear?" questioned Olivia.
"Yep."
"Well I love them." Ruthie said with a smile.
"Now that the clothes issue is taken care of," Olivia said plopping down on Ruthie's bed, "Let's talk about Martin."
"What about Martin?" Ruthie asked looking innocent as you can be being pregnant and seventeen.
"Well you refuse to open his gift yet here they are in your room." Freddie said.
"My mom brought them up hoping I'd open them and then go talk to Martin." Ruthie answered, "I have my reason for being mad at him."
"Reasons you refuse to tell us." Olivia complained.
"Reasons we don't need to know, OOOOlivia." Freddie said again pronouncing the O for eternity, "but I do think you should work this out with him. The fact is you're pregnant and the baby is going to need a father weather you like it or not. I'd do it but Martin deserves a chance. Maybe not with you but with your child, his child."
"I know." Ruthie said unable to look at them.
"I'm here for you if you need me though." Freddie said taking a seat next to her he wrapped his arm around her, "And you know I love you."
"Why can't you be straight?" Ruthie asked with a laugh as she wiped her tears away.
"You need to talk to him." Freddie said.
"A serious Fred Flintstone." Olivia said contemplating it, "I never thought I'd see the day."
"I can be serious!?" Freddie said, ignoring him Olivia walked over to the window and began to look out.
"What are you looking for?" Ruthie asked.
"Flying pigs because if Freddie is being serious the world is a changing!" Olivia said and for the first time in a very long time Ruthie laughed like a seventeen year old girl who was just hanging with her two best friends.
Note: When I originally named this story 'Martin and Ruthie' I didn't have a good idea for the name and now that I have figure out how I'm ending it. I'm changing the name to 'The Martin and Ruthie Story'! I don't know if it will change anything else like the alerts or anything so I just thought I'd tell everyone. I'll be changing it next Monday when I added the newer chapter.