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Maren wanted to be sure, so she took three.
Her third test consisted of sitting on the bathroom floor with her phone in her hand. Her finger gently taps the floor. She sets the timer and plays a random game on her phone. It’s mindless but distracting, something she needs right now. The two of them had been careful, using protection for the most part. But her stomach was so sensitive lately. She barely ate breakfast, and when she did, she’d throw it back into the toilet. She thought it was a stomach bug, but it continued for weeks. She sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Their careers had just taken off, and they were finally making decent pay. Her novels were making a small but steady profit online, and Lee was working on opening his first art show. Lee had won an award the year before, “Best Original Piece”.
A massive display of origami flowers, specifically lilies, tulips, and roses. They were of different shapes and vibrant colors. It was an idea that he had wanted to try for months. Inspired by seeing videos of it on TikTok, he went to Absolute Art downtown and bought so much paper. He would work at his desk for hours on end. He’d even forget to eat sometimes, so she would have to make him take a break. Thankfully, he had become faster and more efficient with his work. He completed the project a week before it was due, as she had helped with the final touches. The night that Lee won the award was a whirlwind.
They were blissfully happy, celebrating with wine and cake. Lee had “accidentally” gotten cake on her nose and playfully licked it away, which immediately led to her being wrapped in his embrace. Her thoughts and memories faded after that.
oops!
They talked about having kids, but not until they were stable. Ready. They were in their late twenties and had their whole lives for that to happen. A kid changes everything.
Buzz Buzz.
The timer on her phone ends. Leaving Maren no choice but to get off the floor and face the last pregnancy test.
Positive.
“Shit.” She mutters. Now, she has to face reality. Their whole lives are going to change. She grabs the test and stuffs it in the robe’s pocket. Leaving the bathroom feels like the air had shifted, like she had been trapped in a little bubble that finally burst. She leaves their shared bathroom and heads downstairs. The door to Lee’s art studio is closed, but she sees the light is on in there. He’s probably passed out on his desk again. She runs a hand through her hair and presses her hands on their wooden countertop. To ease her mind, she decides to make cookies. It was random, but her stomach was craving chocolate like crazy. She gently pats her stomach. “Are you hungry, baby?”
It blew her mind that a life was forming in her stomach.
Maren begins to take the “double chocolate chip” cookie dough out of the fridge and starts separating the dough. She adds a few chocolate chips there.
Maren can’t deny the extra chocolate chips. She places a five or six on a tray and stuffs it into the oven. Right when she does that, the door to Lee’s art studio opens. Lee has a gray t-shirt and baggy black sweatpants that hang low on his hips. He makes his way over to her and presses a soft kiss to her forehead. She sees his eyes are still slightly closed, meaning he’s half asleep.
“Hey.” He whispers with a soft smile,
“Hi, what are you doing ?”
“I could ask you the same thing, You told me you were going to bed like two hours ago.”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came down to write.”
Her rough draft was almost complete. She had spent night after night proofreading until her eyes hurt.
“Babe, you have two weeks,” he pulls her into a small hug. She nuzzles into his shoulder, “Please get some sleep.”
One thing that they have in common, they barely sleep. Their drive to get shit done keeps them up for hours. Maren looks up at him and gently pecks his lips.
“I’m almost done.”
Lee brushes the material of the robe away, his fingers lifting her shirt to stroke her skin underneath.
“You figured out the ending yet? ”
She shakes her head, “Not entirely, um, the war is over. Aliza and Leo are heading back to their old colony on Polaris. They’ve been through a lot, but they have each other.”
The two main characters hated each other in the beginning. Both claimed the title of being top of the class. But instead of being rewarded, they are forced to become space commanders against an alien race they’ve never dealt with before. Navigating through their new roles, they formed a strong bond, an understanding that they needed to keep their colony survive.
“They survived the war, they can be at peace,” Maren says,
“That’s a good start. Do you think they’ll stay together?”
Maren has thought about what they would do after. Aliza and Leo have sparks; the romantic feelings were there but they were too stubborn.
“They are a bit stubborn. Everyone knows they like each other, but will they get their ego out of the way”?
Lee grabs a chocolate chip and plops it into his mouth. She runs a hand through his hair,
“Sounds a bit like us.”
Maren rolls her eyes. “You are so dramatic.”
He pulls her back into his embrace, “We danced around each other for so fucking long.” He cups her face, his thumbs rubbing into her cheeks. His brown curls caress his forehead, and Maren giggles,
“Those fucking giggles, your smile, kills me.” He whispers.
“You captured my attention the minute you read your first poem in class.”
“Really,” Maren says,
“Hmmm, you take people to other worlds with your writing.”
Maren gets on her tippy toes, presses her lips against his. He smiles into the kiss, she pushes him back into the corner.
“You were alright too… I guess.” Maren teases.
“Oh fuck off,” Lee says, the words don’t come with any heat.
Then ding!
Maren pulls back, biting her lip,
“Hold that thought.”
“Sure.”
Maren puts on her oven mitts and pulls the cookies out of the oven. She had left them in just long enough that they had turned crispy on the edges, and the chocolate chips were seeping into the parchment paper. A sweet, gooey center.
They sat in silence as the cookies cooled. She watched as Lee played with her fingers. Her wedding ring gently glistened in the light. He was calming her nerves, and he didn’t even know it.
Maren knew she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Lee.”
“Hmm.” Maren watches as her husband looks up at her.
“I need to show you something.”
Lee nods. “Alright.”
“Hold out your hand and close your eyes.”
He chuckles and does what she says. He waits there in silence, she admires the softness of his face, his green eyes, the little mole on his neck. Will their baby get those features?
She places one of the pregnancy tests in his hand.
“Okay, you can open your eyes now.”
She leans away from him as he opens his eyes. He looks down at the piece of plastic, one eyebrow raised,
“Are you serious?” His voice is flat, it sends a chill down Maren’s spine.
Does he not want a baby?
“You’re not fucking with me are you.”
“No,” Maren says, quickly standing up, almost knocking the table stool over.
“Lee-we can”, but then she’s swept up in a tight embrace.
“Holy Shit, Maren.” He holds her so tightly. She wrapped her arms around him, her fingers clenching his shirt.
Maren is a bit stunned by his change in demeanor, she pulls back to look at him. His eyes are sparkling, it seems promising… hopeful.
It makes her heart pound.
“I can’t believe this, holy shit.” Maren could hear him babbling away. She kinda tunes him out for a few moments, not on purpose, but there are too many emotions swirling through her.
“Hey, are you okay?” She hears Lee ask. She feels his large hands on her cheeks,
“Hmmm.”
“You’re stuck in your head again, baby.” Maren huffs,
“I can’t help it.” He kisses her forehead,
“You’re going to be an amazing mom.”
“You don’t think this won’t screw up our plans.”
“Baby, plans change, this.” He puts his hands on her shoulders.
“This is our baby, I can’t-He stops to gather his thoughts, and she can see his eyes filling up with tears.
“There’s no one I would rather have a kid with.” Maren laughs,
“Me neither.”
He pulls her into another hug, then lets her settle back into her chair,
“You made cookies to celebrate,” Lee asks,
Maren pats her stomach,
“Wasn’t my idea.”
Maren grabs a cookie and takes a huge bite, the chocolate nearly exploding in her mouth.
“She’s gonna be obsessed with chocolate just like her mama.”
“She, Maren says, how do you know she’s going to be a girl.”
“I just know,” Lee says a bit of cockiness in his voice. Maren could feel her cheeks heat up.
“Hopefully they don’t get your cockiness honey.” Lee rolls his eyes.
“There is a chance that we can have a boy.”
“True, but I’m not backing down on this.”
“Fine, but I’m going with we’re having a boy.”
“I guess in nine months, I can say I told you so.”
Maren playfully kicks his leg, making him yelp in fake pain.
The kitchen is silent once more as thoughts are still swimming in each other’s heads. Lee pulled himself closer, his gaze wandered from her eyes to her stomach.
He then reaches over but hesitates, his voice trembling,
“Can I?”
“Yes.” She grabs his hand, and he gently presses it against her stomach. Maren stares at him, watching as he tries to swallow the sob that is trying to leave his mouth. But then he took a deep breath, tears began trickling in her eyes.
“She’s going to be so beautiful.”
He’s staring directly at her stomach. He rubs her shirt, and she places her hand over his. Their fingers slowly intertwine, and it feels like the world has completely faded away. This heaviness, fear was being washed away. Her mind wandered to bedtime stories, helping them with their arts and crafts, watching them grow and learn everything that makes the world beautiful.
They have so much love for this baby.
“I know, she whispers, “I love you both so much.”
Lee squeezes her hand.
“We love you too.”