The next day, Machi happened upon an article in a magazine. It wasn't something she would usually read. A type of Lady's Journal her mother had sent her. The article read:

How to Tell Your Husband Your Pregnant

Machi still hadn't told Yuki. She hadn't told anyone. She guessed it was time, and she couldn't wait until the obvious signs appeared for him to figure it out. Or could she..?

No, no, that wouldn't work.

She read on:

Is this your situation: Your in your bathroom, looking your recently purchased HTP (Home Pregnancy Test.) It's positive. You pregnant. Now that that's out of the way, you have to tell you husband/significant other the big news. But you have no idea how too. Well, if this describes you, here's some ways we thought would be best suited:

Pick a time and a place that suit your style: Over dinner? On an evening walk? In the middle of the night?

Make the moment special and romantic with sparkling cider (in lieu of Champagne) and a new dress, if that's important to you.

Try the indirect method, if that's your style: Mention that your period's late or use a prop, like a rattle or a baby book, to get your point across. Even the food can be used as a hint! Make a meal of Baby corn, baby carrots, baby back ribs etc.

Consider integrating him into the discovery process. Tell him you think maybe, and then have him there with you to look at your test results.

Try telling him by phone, if you think he'll need a little time by himself to settle into the news.

Afew ideas the magazines where good ones. Except the one about the baby foods. She was sure that she'd seen the TV show, Full House, once, and it had not gone well. And so that night, she set the dining table, the nice one they only used for special occasions. She placed the nice soft table cloth, and used the fancy dishes. She even wore the red dress that he'd given to her on there anniversary, the one that he said was nice, but she thought was too girly, and would never wear. In the end, she did end up using the baby food idea. Not because she had a change of heart about the suggestion, but because there simply wasn't anything else in the fridge. Oh, well, she thought, as she dumped the baby carrots in a bowl of water, maybe he'll understand.

But she truly believed that at the end of the day, he would finally get it. That could take a hint.

Yeah right.

"What's all this for?" he asked, smiling, as he came in from work.

"It's nothing…" Machi said. She'd forgotten too make a excuse for randomly preparing all this. She had to think of something, who makes fancy dinners for now reason?

"Uh…Happy Birthday!"

"It's not my birthday…" Yuki said puzzled.

"Oh, really?" she said flustered, "I forgot. Well, we'll have dinner anyway, okay?"

"O…kay," he said. She was acting really strange and it was beginning to scare him.

"So, do you like the food?"

"Yeah."

"Do you notice anything about it?"

"Its…food?"

"Yes…I know that but there's something special about it."

"Its…left over food?"

"Oh, never mind."

"Are you feeling okay?"

She simply rolled her eyes.

"Okay, guess. I made the dinner for a reason. Can you guess?"
"Well, you made me dinner."

"Uh huh."

"And, it was really nice."

"Thanks. And?"

"So, your obviously setting me up for something big."

"Yes!"

"Something huge!"

"Right!"

"Something really special?"

"And that would be..?"

"I have no idea," he said shrugging, "I'm just guessing, remember."

Machi looked over at the bread knife at the table, and suddenly realized what those women where thinking when they kill there husbands. She took a deep breath.

"One more time," she said, "Guess why I'm making you dinner?"

"Okay, well is the thing good or bad?"

Machi thought for a second. "Good," she finally replied smiling, "Definitely good."

"Okay, does it have to do with work?"

"No."

"Um…any of the family?"

"NO."

"Wait, I know it!"

She perked up, "Really?"

"We won the lottery!"

She gave a defeated sigh.

"Well, I might as well tell you, cause your not getting any closer."

Okay, go ahead, you can tell me."

Machi took a deep breath. She would say this slowly and calmly. "Okay," she started out, "Well, I missed my period this month—"

Yuki was surprised to say the least. They never talked about this stuff. It was even worse because, as she said it, he'd taken just taken a big forkful of baby corn, and choked. I mean seriously choked. His face turned bright red from embarrassment, then blue as he smacked himself on the chest trying to dislodge the food in his windpipe.

"Yuki…" she said, looking at him oddly, "What…Oh!"

She quickly got up and began performing what little she knew about the Heimlich Maneuver. Somehow it worked. He started breathing again, and his face regained its normal color.

Unfortunately, in all the commotion, the scented candles had been unwittingly knocked over. The fire was devouring the table cloth.

"Quick! Do something!" Machi shouted, as Yuki ran to the kitchen to grab the fire extinguisher and fired aimlessly. At least, Machi thought later, He'd hit most of the fire. And most of Machi, too.

"I'm sorry," Yuki, "I know you worked hard on the meal."

But Machi simply laughed. He laughed too. He picked up a baby radish, one of the only bits of foods that weren't burned or covered in whitish foam.

"I'm pregnant," Machi laughed.

And finally it was out. She remembered how the some of the article had described the magical feeling of finally telling your loved one. And she know felt it. And it was almost perfect.

Too bad Yuki choked on the baby radish, too.