Drabble 16: Thanks.
"You sure you don't need my help?" Natalie walks into the kitchen, more to check the progress of the food than actually help out. Henry rolls his eyes as his mother fusses over the little bump (well, it's more like a large bump, now) Nat's got between her hips, also giving her a plate of food to munch on while she waits in the living room.
"Mama," Henry whines, laying out a pie crust, "Why does Nat get to eat before us?"
"Henry, your wife is pregnant. She is with child, my grandchild, and my grandchild will not go hungry." Helena rolls her eyes, "And you never deny a pregnant woman food, Henry. You are not a woman, you will never be pregnant, and you will never understand what us women go through for our children."
"Ma. I'm adopted."
Helena smacks his arm and chuckles, "Who told you? But doesn't matter, Natalie is allowed to eat whatever she wants. You don't make her cook at home, do you?"
"Well… she wants to, sometimes. Usually ends bad, though." He shrugs, shaking his head at the memory of her burning an entire loaf of bread trying to made toast.
"You just make sure she doesn't stress herself out too much these next three months. Do the dishes for her. Rub her feet. Clean the apartment." She begins listing things off and her son groans, putting the pie in the oven. Soon dinner's actually ready and the three and a half of them sit around the small, round table. Helena murmurs prayers in Hebrew and Henry mumbles along, Natalie being left to awkwardly stare at the dents in the table. They decided to raise the baby Jewish, since Henry's side of the family are quite devoted to the synagogue and Natalie's never really cared about religion. As long as they could celebrate Christmas for her, she didn't care.
"What are you thankful for Henry?" Helena asks and he groans.
"Ma, we haven't done this since middle school." He sighs and Natalie chuckles.
"Don't you be givin' me that. It's Thanksgiving. Now, what are you thankful for?"
"I'm thankful… for food." Natalie smacks his arm and he grins, "For my loving and gentle wife, my kind mother, and the beautiful little… thing growing inside my wife's body."
"You make her sound like an alien." She laughs, but Helena and Henry stay silent.
"…She..?" Henry whispers, fingers reaching out to brush the bump, "She's a she..?"
Natalie's face pales, "I'm sorry. I was… I was going to tell you tonight… I'm sorry…" She starts to sniffle and he quickly gets up and hugs her, kissing her hair and choking a laugh.
"No, babe, it's okay, I just… we're having a baby girl." He's about to cry, but his mom pushes him out of the way and crushes Natalie in a hug.
"Congrats, babydoll, I've gotta start working on those little pink boots. I knew it'd be a girl; you have the butt for a girl." Helena gushes and Natalie cocks an eyebrow.
"Uh… thanks, I guess?" She sits back down, "Can we eat, now? I'm thankful for… sweatpants and maternity discounts." Natalie shrugs, picking up her fork and not letting anyone stop her. Henry's still too dazed to eat, imagining a baby girl with curly hair and Natalie's little nose, smashing keys of a colorful plastic piano. Their little girl cooing, fisting and unfisting her tiny hands as he holds her. Natalie wearing loose tee shirts, hair in a messy bun as she takes their daughter to preschool.
Eventually, they say their thank yous and goodbyes and leave, Henry barely waiting until they unlock their apartment door to kiss her senseless, pulling away only to whisper, "Let's have another."