Love by Love – 38
Reba flipped through the channels with one hand in a bucket of popcorn that balanced on her big belly. She was thirty-five weeks along, and she could give birth at any day now. She had everything prepared. Brock had arranged some time off to be with her after giving birth. Right now, all she had to do was wait for the big day.
"Hey Reba." Barbra Jean came into her friend's house without knocking. Reba just gave her a quick glance before turning her attention back to the TV. "Man, every time I see you, you're always shoving things in your mouth."
"Shut up, I'm eating for two!"
"That line will only work for few more weeks, so yeah, milk it while you still can."
"What do you want, Barbra Jean?" Reba asked not really needing an answer. She continued flipping through the channels.
"Where's Brock?" Barbra Jean looked around.
"Why do you ask? Are you seeing him?" Reba piped up angry. "I'll kill you, you know."
"Oh phuleeze! Will you cut that out?" Cried Barbra Jean.
"I'm just kidding." Reba mumbled and suddenly sat up straight, well as straight as she could. "Unless you're really seeing him then I'm dead serious that I'll kill you." Barbra Jean rolled her eyes annoyingly. "Alright, I'm sorry. Hormone. Brock is still at work; it's his last day before paternity leave. He has to clear up some paperwork I guess." Glancing at the clock, Reba continued, "But he should be home soon."
"And you haven't got ready?"
"For what?" Reba arched her brow, puzzled.
"Duh? He's taking you out for a romantic weekend getaway before the baby is born. That's why I'm staying here for a weekend." Barbra Jean was going to laugh at her friend's forgetfulness, but the look on Reba's face told her that she was never aware of it. "Didn't Brock tell you?"
"I'm sure if he did, I would remember that!" Reba immediately set the popcorn tub aside and tried to get off of the sofa.
"Or I wasn't suppose to tell you? Oops… Act like you know nothing 'cause I might have just ruined his surprise."
"Would you just help me out of the seat? I have to go get ready. I haven't packed and I don't know what to wear!" Reba began to panic. She tried to rock from one side to another getting up from her seat. Barbra Jean was a little anxious, she just accidentally spoiled her surprise. "Oh for crying out loud, would you stop weeping and get me out of this stupid chair?"
"Oh no you don't! You're gonna sit here and pretend that you know nothing about Brock's romantic getaway!" Barbra Jean pushed Reba back down on the couch and wouldn't let her leave.
"But I gotta go get dressed and pack!"
"I'm sure Brock had that taken care of."
"But-"
"Sit and zip it!"
Reba crossed her arms and pouted. She didn't have to wait long before Brock came back from work. Before he even have a chance to say hi, Reba burst out. "Barbra Jean told me you're planning a romantic getaway for this weekend!"
"Oh you blabber mouth!" Barbra Jean groaned. Reba childishly stuck her tongue out to Barbra Jean.
"Thank you very much, Barbra Jean," quipped Brock. "Anyway, honey, why don't you go get changed and I'll go pack your stuff." As he helped his wife up, he had just noticed. "And make sure you wear matching shoes, left and right I mean."
"Oh that? I put one on and sat down, put the other side on and realized that I got a wrong shoes. But I was too exhausted to change it. And I figured, I don't plan to go out anywhere, who cares if I got two different pair of shoes on?" Reba mustered swaggering to her room to get changed. Brock and Barbra Jean tried to hold their laughter. Brock had their suitcase packed in advance, so all he needed right now was his wife; who didn't seem to be ready anytime soon.
"Honey, are you done yet?"
"No, You won't tell me where we are going and I don't know what to wear!" Cried Reba in her walk-in closet.
"It's maternity clothes you're wearing, how many options do you have?" Brock mumbled.
Putting her hands on her hip, Reba glared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Nothing, just put on something comfortable, okay hun?"
Reba pouted and blew air out of her nose a little unsatisfied. Nevertheless, she put on a dress that she thought it was the most comfortable. Once she was ready, they said good bye to the kids and thanked Barbra Jean for taking care of them while the couple were gone for a weekend. Brock took them to a nice dinner first before continuing to drive down south.
"Here we are." He opened the door for his pregnant wife and helped her out of the car. A smile immediately spread across Reba's face when she recognized where they were: Galveston, their honeymoon suite. Brock reserved the very room they spent their wedding night a few years back.
"If I wasn't pregnant, I would have pounced on you for this wonderful surprise." Reba commented with sweet gleam in her eyes.
"You can still give me a hug." Brock put their suitcase down and parted his arms waiting for her to walk in. Reba graciously stepped in his embrace and held him tight. She loved him so much words could not describe her feelings. They both stood in silence indulging the love that flow between the two of them. The romantic getaway started of so sensationally. Until the next day when Brock took her to the beach.
"You are the meanest husband!" Cried Reba. "You take me here so you can see women in their bikinis because I'm fat? Why don't you just take me to rock climbing? That would be less cruel."
"No honey, I'm taking you here so you can relax."
"How can I relax seeing these women wearing almost nothing, compared to how huge I am!" Reba turned around going back to the hotel.
"You're bearing a child. You're not huge." Brock followed his wife, trying to change her mind.
"Oh, c'mon, I can't even see my own toes!" Reba looked down to prove her point. "Which reminded me, I haven't cut my toe nails and some sand got stuck in them. How am I suppose to clean them now?"
"Alright fine, we'll go back to the hotel and I'll help you cut your toe nails. But later this evening, we'll go walk along the beach together, okay?"
"Okay, after those Victoria Secret models leave," murmured Reba. Brock discretely glanced at those 'Victoria Secret models' and he chuckled. They weren't models, they looked like they were just a group of college students. They were thin alright, but to Brock, he preferred the curvy figure Reba had, before pregnancy.
"I think you're more attractive than they are." Brock praised sincerely. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed on the top of her head. "That's why I could never take my mind off of you." She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes with a soft smile at the corner of her lips. Brock always had a way to make her feel better. Brock took her back to their hotel room, they had ocean view suite. Reba was saying they could enjoy the view from the balcony. But instead of watching the beautiful view, she watched Brock cut and file her toe nails with love shone from her eyes.
"Thank you, darlin'." Reba blew him a kiss when her last little pinky was filed. Brock stood up and collected his real thank you kiss.
"You're welcome. You know, walking can help induce labor. Now that you toe nails are cut, will you go to the beach with me?"
"There's also something else we can do to induce labor." Brock grinned when she winked mischievously. Shaking her head from side to side, Reba added. "I'm not comfortable wearing a bathing suit in front of people. Even before I was pregnant. Hey, I didn't complain when you hardly let us leave the room when we came here before, so don't complain when I don't want to leave the room."
"But we were on our honeymoon." Brock whined.
"Are you saying that we have lost our love and passion that we couldn't stay in this room for a weekend and not get sick and tired of each other?" Reba glared at him intensely.
"No dear, hungry? Shall we order some food? We should. 'Cause I'm hungry." Brock took a wise move by steering her mind toward food. It worked. Nevertheless, in the evening, they walked arm in arm along the beach watching the sunset and listening to the sound of the ocean. After the walk, they returned into their room, Brock drew her a bath in a big heart-shape jacuzzi tub. He massaged her shoulders, scrubbing her back. As they were lying in bed, Reba giggled when the baby was kicking. She pointed the visible movement on her tummy to Brock.
"Go back to sleep, mommy and daddy need some time alone." Reba tittered petting her belly where the bump was.
Mumbling, Brock moved his hand on her tummy and following the movement. "You know, I almost want you to never to give birth to this baby."
"Why not?" Reba was a little startle at his odd remark.
"Well, when you're not pregnant, or even when you're pregnant with Jake, you were all 'I don't need you, I can take care of myself' type of woman, but this baby makes you ask for my help. And your eyes would spark every time I do things for you showing your appreciation. And when you rely on me, you make me feel like a hero. I'll miss that after you gave birth and you no longer need me."
"Oh honey..." Reba pulled him to a hug. "Did I always make you feel that I don't need you?" He nodded.
"You're a strong woman, Reba. You can do everything a man can. It scares me knowing that you could live without me. Because, one of these days you'll get tired of me and just kick me out of your life. I don't want that. And when you became pregnant, you change. You rely on me more than ever. And I like that." He poured his heart out to his wife. "To a man, there's nothing more fulfilling than knowing his wife needs him."
"I'll aways need you. I don't think I would be able to do everything myself without your support. And I love you very much. Even if I could live without you, I don't want to," said Reba kissing him passionately, showing him how much she loved him.
Their weekend getaway was as romantic as he thought it would be. He loved spending time taking care of her. Reba was so well rested and relaxed. So relax she felt a contraction start on their way back home.