Carly and Joshua did not spend New Year's Eve in a fancy way or join the parties that they were invited to. Instead, they were getting busier from the overloading order that Carly had earned. Carly didn't employ any workers because her store was pretty new and small, so she thought she could handle everything by herself; which she had done all these few months. Although the order quantity was not reaching hundreds, it did reach a little more than a hundred batches to deal with and deadlines for sure. They agreed with delivery companies that they will have every single parcel be ready 4 days after the new year. They both enjoyed the busy days of packing, lying down among the boxes on the floor, whining because they were skipping meals, even making love and ruining some prepared packages and blaming each other for being perverts.
***
Joshua and Carly came home late in the afternoon after confirming and approving a bunch of delivery documents. Exhausted after almost a couple of hours of counting and evaluating, they dropped themselves onto the floor, enjoying the coolness that the tiles provided.
"Do you think all of the packages will be delivered on time, Josh?"
"Of course, they will, don't worry this is not your first time."
"This is, Josh, this is the first time I ever delivered a hundred and twelve packages at a time!" Carly sounded distressed.
Joshua rolled over and hugged her warmly, trying to spread convenience towards her. Carly sighed sharply and sunk her face against Joshua's chest.
"I'm worried, Josh."
"I know, that's fine, but whining won't get you nowhere, so we better wait and see, the customers will be dropping feedback when they receive their purchase, right?"
"Yes, they will, I'm so nervous"
"I know," Joshua smiled encouragingly at her and started kissing her when Carly suddenly pushed him away and stood up frantically.
Joshua was left alone dropping his jaw in confusion on the floor while Carly ran away to the bathroom.
"What? Am I so stinky or what?"
Carly gathered her hair in her grip and leaned forward above the sink, trying to take out her nausea. Joshua approached closer and rubbed her back gently.
"What's wrong?" He asked in concern
"It's okay, I'm fine, just little nausea. I think I've been too overworked and stressed lately." Carly gasped and sniffed.
"You should rest today, don't think about anything and just rest and sleep, okay honey? I will be the one to feed us today, don't worry."
"Now I am even more worried, Joshua!"
They laughed together, and Joshua helped her to undress.
"Get a warm shower now, then take a nap. I have to go out later, my brother called me to stop by, and I will grab some take away dinner too."
"Oh, okay."
Carly cleaned herself in the shower, enjoying the warm water for a longer time than usual then went for a late nap.
Joshua arrived home in less than a couple of hours, with some food packages and then they had their late dinner together and talked about Carly's store, and that they would give a few days off for the product delivery as the early year holiday. They ended the tiring day with a good rest that evening, but Carly went to bed still feeling a little weak and lightheaded. Joshua didn't suggest she take any medicine because it was just a minor illness and a big possibility she got it from stressful exhausting days. It was a quiet, relaxing evening they had after severe depression the previous days, perfect for a comfortable snuggle.
Joshua wrapped his arms tightly around Carly's exhausted body, he groped her affectionately making her chuckle in his embrace. Joshua placed a hand on Carly's belly and gasped as a thought crossed his mind.
"Um, no, I don't think so," he corrected his own mind and they fell asleep spooning.
***
It'd been three days and Carly was still feeling that there was something wrong with her body. She had never felt that weak and sleepy before. She kept on yawning, she had stopped eating properly, she spent her days off lying down on the bed and then moving to the couch to lie down more and check her store. She even always looked pale and seemed to be skinnier in just a few days.
"Honey, you need to go see a doctor, this isn't right, you're sick not only tired," Joshua furrowed his eyebrows in concern while hugging her in the bed. It was early morning before Joshua prepared himself to go to the office. And it was nearly 10 days after New Year's Eve, and that meant Carly had been ill for almost a week.
"Alright, I will go today. Do you have time to take me there?"
"I will take a half-day leave and we can go to the hospital later in the afternoon, what do you say?"
"Mmmhh… Alright then, whatever you say, Mister Hubby," Carly turned around and snuggled into him, Joshua couldn't help but kiss her shoulder and groan in despair as she said, "you need to get ready for work or you will be late, Josh."
***
They arrived at a small hospital after more than an hour stuck in the traffic, it was late in the afternoon, when most people are on their journey home from work. Joshua had registered Carly earlier before they went there, and all they had to do was only to wait for her name to be called inside. The doctor was in her middle age, looked wise and patient, her voice was soft and warm, but she was extremely tall with an average build. Carly couldn't help but think that she was muscular behind her hospital suit. Carly was given several examinations and did a urinary and routine blood check. The doctor that was named Kristy scrutinized the paper in her hands and smiled softly as she shifted her gaze at the nervous couple. She leaned her shoulders a little above the desk and smiled even wider looking at Joshua. Joshua widened his eyes and dropped his jaw while Carly was only blinking in innocence and alternated her gaze at them both. Doctor Kristy nodded her head in assurance at Joshua with a calming smile, her eyes narrowed in joy.
"Congratulations, mother to be," Doctor Kristy quickly gazed at Carly who instantly gasped in surprise.