Chapter 9
"Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place,
And I can picture it after all these days."
C.C. reveled in peaceful satisfaction as she rested her head on Niles' chest as they reclined lazily together on the sofa. She was content with simply feeling the warmth of his body and hearing the rhythmic beat of his heart and low rumble of his voice. She watched, seemingly mesmerized, as autumn leaves fell from the large tree outside the window and thought to herself that she could be happy here for the rest of her life...
"What are you making?" C.C. felt, almost more than she heard, Niles ask his mother, who was busy knitting a large square out of a lush purple yarn.
"A blanket for my new grandchild," she answered, meeting C.C.'s eyes with a soft smile.
C.C. lifted her head from Niles' chest slightly and watched with renewed wonder as the knitting needles moved in a quick repetitive pattern. Instinctively, C.C.'s hand moved to smooth over her own raised belly. She felt Niles' gaze on her and could sense the warmth of his smile. Her cheeks grew hot. She had yet to admit it to Niles, but C.C. had found herself feeling ashamed of what her own mother would call her "current condition" only when she considered what Niles' parents would think of her. She wanted so much for them to like her and accept her. Now, the longer his mother smiled at her, the smaller that guilt and shame seemed to feel.
"It's going to be a girl, you know," Niles' mother said quietly.
There was a heavy silence for a moment before Niles asked "How do you know?"
Niles' father laughed.
"She always knows," he said with a chuckle. "She bought your whole wardrobe for the first year of your life when she was only four months pregnant - all in blue."
"That was a slight exaggeration," Niles' mother replied, "But he's right - I always know."
C.C. smiled and lay her head back down on Niles' chest. He wrapped an arm around her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Again she placed a hand over her stomach. She found herself wondering what their child would look like - if she, or he, would have Niles' hair or her nose... And yet, all she wanted was for their child to be healthy and happy. She was determined to give her child the love and attention she never received growing up.
As C.C. looked around the room, with Niles and his father chatting casually and his mother knitting away at the beautiful baby blanket, she realized, or perhaps was simply reminded, that she was accepted here, she was loved here. It was then she understood what it felt like to speak with fondness of family.