I apologize that this has taken FOREVER to update! Here is a short one. Thank you to those who continue to review! It means a lot!
"Can I get you anything at the store?" She looked over her grocery list early Monday morning.
"I can't think of anything you didn't already." Charles answered, in between bites of his breakfast. "You know, you don't have to run to the store today. We could go together this weekend."
Elsie sighed and went back to her own breakfast. "What a wonderful idea. And what would we tell the acquaintances we are sure to meet while shopping? Meet my lover, who just so happens to still be married?"
He wasn't trying to rub their situation into already salty wounds. Charles bent his head and silently continued eating.
Elsie noticed his sunken face. "I'm sorry, darling. It just does not make sense for us to go out together."
"I was just trying to be helpful."
She bit her lip and reached for his hand. "I know. Anyway, you have an afternoon with your boys and I have a few stops to make on my own before hand."
She had one very important stop to make first.
"And is there any possibility that you could be pregnant?" Dr. Isabel Crawley had been her physician for years. This was almost the 30th question Elsie had been asked, but the question she had been waiting for.
"Yes, there is a possibility." Dr. Crawley took some notes and typed them into Elsie's file. She didn't look up for quite some time and that unnerved Elsie.
"And is there a specific reason you have come to see me today?" she finally spoke.
Elsie swallowed. "I wanted to check… that is I don't want to presume… I have a feeling that I may be pregnant."
"I see." The doctor smiled. "And you would like confirmation."
"Yes that is correct. I would like know if it is even possible for me at this point in my life."
She nodded. "We will talk about options and decisions if that is the case."
Elsie sat back in her chair. She didn't admit it to anyone, barely even herself, but she felt different. It wasn't a sickness, but it was certainly an unfamiliar feeling.
The doctor reentered the small waiting room with a few papers in her hands.
Elsie's stomach was in so many knots, she couldn't take a deep breath before standing. She took a few unconscious steps to meet Dr. Crawley.
"Congratulations, Miss Hughes. You are, in fact, pregnant."
It was then that Elsie regretted leaving her seat. She felt her legs buckle under herself and the last thing she remembers is a single moment of utter joy before she hit the ground.
There were so many thoughts going through her head on her drive home, she didn't know where to begin: happiness, anger, fear, sadness, and then more joy.
How was she going to tell him? What would he think? They had talked about it and he admitted he wanted to give her a child. But this was so sudden.
She was about two months away from finalizing her divorce and Charles was about three months. Thank heavens! She would hate to sport a baby bump while in the process of getting a divorce. People would think it was Joe's.
Oh God! What would Joe think? And Alice? Of course, her relationship with Charles would have to come out sooner rather than later. She wasn't sure she was prepared for that.
She couldn't question herself now that it already happened. Her absolute elation by far surpassed her worries.
The sun came out from behind a cloud and the symbolism wasn't lost on her.
"A new beginning for us, my precious darling," she whispered to her child.
Arriving home was like a cold bucket of ice had been poured over her head. Reality set in. They would have to move. There was no spare room for another person. But could they afford to move? Charles was up for a management position at his building and loans company, but would the extra money be enough? She could always go back to being a secretary or a school aid. She worked in the school before she married Joe.
Her eyes scrunched shut as she sunk into the sofa. She just realized she had a splitting headache.
She was glad Charles would be away all evening. It would give her the time she needed to think and prepare.
Charles walked up the stairs, pulling his keys out of his pocket. He had a wonderful evening with the boys. Alice agreed they could spend their Friday evenings with their father, as long as they were home by 9:00. This was their 8th Friday together and Charles felt like he was finally getting to know his own kids. Alfred and Jimmy were also opening up to their father about their school work and social life. Charles was finally able to relax and feel like he had an actual relationship with his children. Their evenings usually began with pizza and then they switched off choosing another activity.
This Friday, Alfred chose bowling. Charles laughed to himself as he remembered the look of pride on Alfred's face when he beat his father in the last game. Jimmy was more excited about the arcade games than their bowling game, but they all had a great time joking around and bonding. He hoped soon they would be able to spend the weekend with him, but there were a lot of creases to iron out before that would ever happen. The biggest crease begin on the other side of the door.
"Els, I'm home!" He called into their tiny apartment. The living room was dark, but he could see light coming from the kitchen and Elsie sitting at the head of the table with her tea.
"Els, what's wrong?" She was much too stiff and silent for everything to be alright.
She poured him a cuppa and set it at the place to her right. "Charlie, please have a seat."
He walked slowly over to the table, afraid of what was to come. "Is it Joe? Did he call?"
She cracked a smile and shook her head. He was nervous, but then again, so was she.
He sat at her offered spot and took a sip of tea. He waited for her to begin, but she just stared at him, making him more anxious. "What is it, love? You have me worried."
She broke her gaze. "I have some news for you and I am… that is… I'm not sure how you will take it."
"Now I'm on the edge of my seat."
She took his hand. "You know I love you, right?"
"Elsie," he couldn't wait any longer. "Please."
"Charlie, I'm pregnant."
He would be lying if he said this wasn't the biggest shock of his life. His eyebrows rose far into his forehead and he's mouth went dry. He sat back in his chair and his eyes darted around the room. He realized he wasn't breathing and finally drew in a shallow breath. "What?"
She bit her lip. She knew he would be surprised, but his strong reaction surprised her. "I'm…pregnant." She continued. "I wasn't sure at first. I've felt… different for days, but I didn't want to assume anything." She looked into his eyes for the first time since her announcement. "But Dr. Crawley confirmed it. I'm going to have a baby." Her own happiness leaked out of her eyes and smile.
"My God, Elsie." He was still in a state of shock and amazement. Looking at her face, he saw her nerves, but looking into her eyes, he saw her euphoria. "This is all you've ever wanted, isn't it love?"
As she finally exhaled, her voice betrayed her. She nodded her head in answer while water pooled behind her blue eyes. "You know how I feel about having a baby."
"I do." He wrapped both his hands around hers.
"But, this is not at all how it was supposed to happen." She was scared. "Who knows what the future holds, or how much longer we'll even be here. Suppose we can't afford a larger house. And what will people say when they see me? A newly divorcee, pregnant…"
"Elsie!" He pulled her forcefully to her feet and drew her head tightly to his chest. "Stop that talk right now." He held her for a moment while she tried to put her fears behind her.
When she relaxed, he brought his hand to her cheek. She was soft and warm to his gentle touch. He tilted her head back and hunched his shoulders so his forehead rested against hers, their eyes level.
"Els," he whispered. "We're having a baby! And I couldn't be more thrilled!"
"Oh thank God!" Her relief was palpable as the worry flew from her body. She gripped his wrists tightly and pushed herself closer to him. Both their faces lit with radiant smiles.
"I will say, this timing couldn't be worse," he laughed.
"Yes, it is atrocious." She joined in his laughter.
"We will have quite the story to tell this lad or lass someday." His hands traveled from her cheeks to her sides. He noticed her face change and worry creep back into her head. "Now, none of that." He brought her focus back to the present. "We will face each challenge as they come to us. But for the moment, can we just be happy?"
She nodded with vigor and stretched her arms around his neck, pulling his lips to hers.
"In the spirit of living in the moment, my darling," Elsie began backing away from him dragging him by the hand towards their room, "humor me."
And there the lover sat, pressed against each other talking and dreaming of a small quaint house surrounded by a lush garden, a red door opening to their world, a bright yellow kitchen welcoming happy times, and a crib surrounded by baby pink walls.