“How are you today?” Michael asked as he came in and kissed her cheek before taking the seat next to her.
Darcy smothered another yawn. “I’m fine,” she said, knowing she didn’t look it.
“You didn’t get enough sleep. Why don’t you skip church today and rest? You’ve been putting in too many hours at the office,” he said and took a sip of coffee.
Darcy ignored the queasiness that settled over her at the smell of Michael’s coffee. “I’ll be okay,” she said and looked at the headlines of the newspaper. She was glad to read that Norman Finch was sentenced to ten years in prison for embezzlement. He was also facing civil charges for sexual harassment. Darcy was scheduled to testify in another woman’s case later in the week. “I see Norman is right where he belongs,” she said and pushed her fruit away from her, not liking the smell of that either.
“I’m glad the women are speaking out against him,” Michael said. “But I’m more concerned with you. Are you going to eat anything this morning” he asked, putting down his paper and watching her.
“I’m not really hungry,” she said, grimacing at the idea of eating.
Michael didn’t say anything as he noted the changes in her face and body. He knew her intimately and wondered if she had noticed anything different about herself lately. He doubted it. Darcy was one of the most intelligent women he knew when it came to computers and technical solutions. But when it came to self realization, she was usually dumbfounded. He counted backwards and realized that she was about five weeks late on her monthly cycles. He smiled at what that meant. They’d been married for less than a year but it had been a passionate and wonderful year. Since both of them had wanted children immediately, they hadn’t been using any birth control.
He decided he needed to ease her into the idea of her pregnancy. He wasn’t sure how she was going to take the news. He leaned forward and took her hand in his. “Darcy, remember last night when you didn’t want me to touch your breasts?”
She nodded, but didn’t look up from the article she was reading. “I’m sorry, did that bother you?”
“Not at all,” he replied. “But you don’t want to eat anything, my coffee is turning your face green and you’re so exhausted that you fall asleep around seven o’clock each night.”
Darcy looked up and frowned. “I’m sorry. Have I been a bore lately?”
Michael shook his head, knowing that he’d have to state the issue plainly instead of letting her guess it herself. He pulled her over onto his lap and nuzzled her neck, enjoying how she immediately wriggled in his arms, wanting more. “Darcy, I think you’re pregnant,” he whispered.
She went instantly still. Looking up at him, her eyes were as wide as saucers. “No, I’m just tired,” she said and stood up.
Michael reacted instantly by reaching out and grabbing his fainting wife before she fell to the ceramic floor of the breakfast room. Shaking his head, he carried her into the family room and laid her down on the sofa, then got a cold wash cloth to help revive her.
Darcy looked up and didn’t know how she’d gotten to the family room. She looked directly into her handsome husband’s face. “Michael, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper as she took in the family room ceiling.
Michael pulled her up to a sitting position gently. “Darcy, I’m pretty sure you’re pregnant,” he sighed, pulling her hair back away from her face.
She didn’t say anything for a long time, just stared at his face. The previous conversation in the breakfast room was coming back to her now. “Are you sure?” she asked, a smile starting to form on her face.
Micahel threw back his head and laughed. He’d never get used to the transformation of her image when she smiled. He loved those dimples! “No, I’m not sure. I think you should take a pregnancy test and then we’ll be sure.”
Darcy blushed, wondering if she’d ever get used to how wonderful he made her feel. She knew he was right. It answered so many questions she’d had about what was happening to her body lately. “What if I am pregnant. Will you be happy?”
Michael kissed her hard. “I’ll be ecstatic!”
She sighed into his mouth. “Good. I want a little boy just like you,” she said, a feeling of wonder falling over them.
“First of all, it is going to be a little girl, just like you with glowing green eyes and a complete lack of how beautiful and wonderful she is. And second, you’d better hope it isn’t a little boy like me. I weighed ten pounds when I was born and I was never little. None of my brothers were. Even my sister, who weighs about one hundred and ten pounds now wasn’t little when she was born.”
Darcy shook her head. “No use scaring me. I know you’ll be right beside me. I can get through anything with you there.”
Michael kissed her. He felt the same way.