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Chapter 12
She bought herself new underwear and new clothes. She thought ahead and bought different sizes, she didn't know how much weight she would gain during the pregnancy. The clothing was mostly black or dark colors; she also bought more comfortable shoes. All in all the shopping went well, the clerks were helpful, it might be due to the fact that her make up was lighter and instead of wearing tight black leather pants she had jeans and a white top.
Lisbeth got home late in the evening. She checked her emails and her pending research assignments for Milton Security, there was nothing new. She tried some of the clothes on, she settled for brown yoga pants and a black tank top. Today was Wednesday; there was nothing else to do. She would wait for Mikael to come home; she started reading some of her books on genetics.
The day at Millennium was ordinary; Mikael had meetings and interviews for possible journalists. He met with Erika and they figured out the details for the next board meeting. They coordinated vacation times for the employees, it was already April and they needed to make arrangements. While organizing the schedules he decided to tell her about the baby.
"You know, I have interesting news," he started; she was one of his best friends and the first person besides immediate family who would learn about the baby.
Erika did not look up from her charts, she distractedly said "Oh yes? Out with it, you know I hate riddles."
"Lisbeth is pregnant, I'm going to be a father." She was utterly shocked, it was unbelievable, and she was literally speechless.
"I don't know what to say, I guess congratulations?" Erika was hesitant; his face was impassive. "Don't get me wrong. I am happy for you."
Mikael understood her attitude, when they were together they were adamant that a no children policy was the best way to live. Neither of them understood the compulsivity people had when it came to having babies.
Nilla had been an accident, and so was the future baby. "I am ambivalent, I mean you know me, I screwed my relationship with Nilla but this baby with Lisbeth, it just feels right. When she told me I was scared but also so very hopeful, I really love her and just thinking of a little girl like her makes me burst with happiness.
His eyes softened and he looked happy, expectant, he spoke then; "but you see she is still so young and is more afraid than me and she has every right to be"
Erika just hugged him and said "Say those things to her, Lisbeth is a smart woman. I am sure that if she has any doubts they will disappear once she hears you speak about that baby."
Erika took a deep breath, "by the way Mikael, I am sorry about what I said when Lisbeth disappeared. I got mad, once again you left Millennium to save her, I guess I was a jealous but I am working on it." Erika meant every word; this baby was the final proof. Her love affair with Mikael was over, now more than ever he would not risk losing Lisbeth.
He answered, "thanks Erika, I hope you are right and things work out." He did not mention her apology; that was best left in the past. When his Sally left he realized that Erika had been important but Lisbeth was someone he could not live without. His convenient sexual relationship with Erika Berger was over.
When he left Millennium he decided to buy something for the baby. He bought a small white teddy bear, it was sentimental but he thought the baby needed to be more present in the house. Sally and him had avoided talking about the baby, she was taking her vitamins but they never addressed their future child. That needed to be fixed.
He opened the front door of the apartment and found Lisbeth reading one of her genetics book.
"Hey Sally, how did things go with Palmgren?" he was curious as to how the man responded to the baby news.
"Things went well, he was surprised as it is obvious but he took things rather well."
"That was expected, so now all of our close friends and relatives know about the baby." Mikael said.
She interjected, "you told Berger and your daughter?" her tone was suspicious; she did not think that he would have that conversation with neither of these women.
"I did, Erika says congratulations and Nilla is happy for us," Mikael called Nilla when he was leaving Millennium. Lisbeth and his daughter did not have a relationship per say. They knew each other and were sort of acquaintances.
He approached the baby theme "here, I bought something for the little one."
He showed her the bear and she smiled, it was just like him to buy sentimental crap like that.
"Thank you, but it won't play with it until it's out of me."
Mikael readied himself for a fight. "I would like you to stop calling our baby 'it'. I know this pregnancy took us by surprise but he or she is growing inside of you and we have to take care of this little one. He touched her baby bump as he spoke.
Lisbeth understood his stance and assured him that she was going to try her best.
"Mikael I don't want surprises, next month we ask the doctor to tell us whether this baby is male or female".
That was a small step but it was toward the right path. She needed more time to adjust to the new situation; at least he hoped that was the case.
She was getting impatient; they went over the baby situation and reached an agreement. She was trying her best but he couldn't really expect her to jump up and down with joy because she was carrying his child. In a way she resented the child, it was causing her a massive change in lifestyle. She was still nauseous and tired all the time. Lisbeth knew her life would dramatically change once the baby arrived. The Salander everyone met would be gone; she could not be reckless or as irreverent as she had always been. She was sure her personality would always be the same but now with a baby her persona would have to change. She would become a mother to someone, needed by another human being. Lisbeth was not ready yet to accept that Mikael needed her as much as he proclaimed.