~KATERINA ~
"Wha-what are the results doctor?" I inquired as soon as the doctor entered the waiting room holding test results. I shifted in chair uncomfortably, my heart pounding wildly against my ribcage as though it would escape from my chest the next second.
" Congratulations Mrs Thompson, you're pregnant!" The doctor said with a big smile on his face. My eyes widened when I heard his words, " Re-really doctor?" I stuttered, not sure if I had heard him right or if my ear was playing some dump trick on me.
It felt surreal. I have been waiting to hear those words escape the doctor's mouth for like forever. If it was a dream, I didn't want to wake up from it. I wanted to dream forever because the reality was too harsh and my fragile heart couldn't take it anymore.
" It's real, Mrs Thompson. I have run a few tests and all gave the same results. Here are the medical reports, see for yourself." The doctor handed me the test paper. Taking in a nervous breath, I stretched my sweaty hand to grab the papers, my heart skipping a million beats per second. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself then looked at the bottom of the paper.
" By the analysis of the urine sample presented in the hospital laboratory, the pregnancy test is positive." The paper read. My lips slowly curved into a smile and I could feel tears burning in my eyes, this time it wasn't tears of sadness. However, it was tears of happiness. A single teardrop rolled down my cheek and fell on the test reports.
" I'm pregnant. It's true I'm pregnant." I repeated the words over and over again so that it could stick in my head.
When I explained to the doctor how I was feeling a few minutes ago, he told me that I might be pregnant. However, I denied his assumptions, telling him that it might be a fever or something. I didn't believe I was pregnant because I have been disappointed too many times. I didn't want to put my hopes up, afraid that my heart would be shattered like it has always been.
Lucas and I have been married for four years. We have been trying to have a baby for the past four years of our marriage and finally! The heavens have answered our silent prayers. My hand found its way to my still flat belly and I rubbed it gently, my lips curving into a smile and tears burning in my eyes. I still couldn't believe that indeed I'm pregnant.I can't wait to break the news to Lucas when he comes back home today from the business trip.
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" Ma'am, are we going back to the company?" James, my chauffeur asked, opening the car door for me.
" No, drive me home. I need to prepare for my husband's home coming from the business trip." I said with a big smile on my face, happiness taking over. James looked at me as if I had grown a second head. However, he didn't say anything as he nodded to my words.
I couldn't blame him for looking at me that way though. I know he was surprised why I looked so happy because I was sad minutes ago when he drove me to the hospital. James has been working for us as a chauffeur for the past four years that Lucas and I have been married. He knows me pretty well. He can tell when I'm happy and when I'm sad.How was I supposed to be sad when I had received the best news in the world? I wanted to tell James that I was pregnant, that's why I was over the moon.
However, I simply couldn't tell him about it yet. I wanted Lucas to be the first person to find out about the pregnancy then we will announce it together like a lovely couple that we are. My heart fluttered when I gave it a thought. God, I can't wait for his return!
I got inside the car carefully, my hand wrapped protectively around my belly to protect the little one growing inside me. The doctor told me that the first trimester is delicate, so I need to be cautious. He gave me medicines to help with the pregnancy so that the baby would be healthy.
When I settled in the car, I texted our secretary to let her know that I wouldn't be going back to the company, asking her to reschedule the meeting for the next day. It was already 4pm and our company usually closes at 5pm, even if I went back to the company, I would still be late because it's a one hour drive…
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My mind jolted back to the present when the car stopped all of a sudden, I looked through the car window and that's when I realised that we had already arrived at my residence.
The drive back home from the hospital was a blur that I didn't notice how many minutes had passed. I was lost in my own world, a beautiful world that I had created in my head. A world where our little angel was included and it was pure happiness, there was no sadness, pain or regret.
I couldn't stop myself from envisioning how life would be once our little angel is born. I imagined the smile on our faces and tears in our eyes as we stared at our sweet little angel for the first time. I imagined Lucas playing with her in the flower garden as I watched with a big smile from the balcony. I imagined us reading bedtime stories to her and watching her as she slowly drifted into a deep slumber. I imagined what the little one would look like. Will she have beautiful blue eyes like her Dad's or will she have brown hazel eyes like mine? Will she inherit her father's jet black hair or will she inherit her mother's brown hair? I know this sounds crazy but…I couldn't stop asking myself questions.
" Thank you James." I said with a smile when my chauffeur opened the car door for me and I carefully got out of the car, being cautious.
" Ma'am, I'll be around in case you want me to drive you somewhere." James said with a slight bow.
" You don't have to James. You can go home to your family and spend some time with them. I don't think I will be leaving the residence today." He looked surprised when he heard my words.
" Re-really ma'am?" He asked doubtfully, as if he hadn't heard what I said earlier. I nodded my head, a smile tugging on my lips.
" Yes, you heard it right." I confirmed, " Thank you so much ma'am. My wife gave birth yesterday, this means alot to me." He said and I could feel the happiness in his voice. I was happy too to know that he would be able to spend some quality time with his wife and bond with his new baby.
After talking to James, I headed straight to the mansion. I stopped at the door and looked around the ground floor, it was calm and quiet, even a pin drop could be heard. The image of our little one running all over the place shouting " Mammy! Daddy" and bringing this mansion to life popped into my mind and I couldn't help but smile. My hand found its way to my belly and I caressed it gently…
It will not be this quiet or feel this lonely once the baby is born. This place will be filled with laughter and happiness…
I headed to the kitchen and started to prepare dinner, my husband's favourite dish. I wanted him to have a good meal once he comes back home from the business trip. I know how horrible the hotel food tastes sometimes and that's why I decided to prepare his favourite dish, beef wellington. Lucas loves my cooking and there's no doubt that he missed it. My cheeks flushed when I remembered how he always teases me about my cooking.
" This food tastes so fucking delicious. However, the cooker tastes more delicious." That's how he always comments on my food. I felt butterflies in my stomach when his words played in my head. God, I'm dying to see that handsome face and tell him the news.
My body reacted in a way that I couldn't explain when his face popped in my head. Will he make love to me tonight when he comes home? Was he dying to see me too? Many questions buzzed in my head, driving me crazy.
I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss Lucas because…I missed him so fucking much. Even though he has been away on a business trip for a week, to me it felt as if he has been away for a decade. I think that happens when you love someone deeply. I can't wait to see him again, look into those crystal blue eyes that make my heart skip a beat, wrap my hands around that masculine body and rest my head on his firm chest as I listen to the music of his heartbeat singing my name…
" That smells good, is it young Thompson's favourite dish?" Andrew, the butler's voice pierced through the quiet air, almost startling me. I turned around to look at him, a smile spreading across my face.
" Yes, Mr Andrew. It's his favourite dish, beef wellington. I would like him to have his favourite dish when he comes back home from the business trip. You know how hotel food tastes sometimes." I explained to him and he nodded in understanding.
" I'm sure young Thompson will love it. No one can say no to your cooking, you know." The smile on my face broadened when I heard his flattering words.
Mr. Andrew is in his fifties, he has been working for the Thompson family for years and he has always been good to me.
" I'll leave you so that you can continue with what you're doing.I only came to say hello. I don't want to be a destruction." He joked and I laughed. With his words, he left the kitchen.
" Hmm…" A moan escaped my lips when I tasted a piece of beef wellington. It tasted delicious, just the way Lucas loved. I prepared sticky toffee pudding for dessert and when I was done in the kitchen, I went upstairs to take a quick shower since darkness had already begun to fall and I knew Lucas would be home soon…
_____
A smile spread across my face as I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror before me. I was wearing a red sleeveless long dress with a split on my right thigh. The dress fitted me perfectly, revealing the curves of my body. I applied light make-up to enhance my features, painting my lips red to match the dress.
Lucas liked it whenever I wore a red dress, saying the red colour looked good on me. He liked it too whenever I wore red lingerie and a bra. I felt my cheeks warm up when those dirty thoughts crossed my mind. I wanted to look good for my husband when he comes back home. I placed my hand on my belly and smiled.
" I can't wait to tell Daddy about you, just hang in there sweetie." I muttered under my breath, feeling a little bit nervous. When I was done dressing up, I headed to the dining room and set up the table, lighting the candles to spice up the dinner.
I looked around the dining room and nodded in satisfaction. The smell of candle in the air triggered the memories that I shared with Lucas. The memories that we shared aren't enough. It's just the beginning of many memories that we are going to make, our unborn baby included.
I sat on one of the chairs in the dining room and waited for Lucas to come back home so that we could have dinner together, talk about his business trip, tell him the progress of the company in his absence and tell him about the good news…
The wait was killing me. A microsecond felt like a second, a second felt like a minute and a minute felt like an hour. It has been one and half hours but… Lucas hadn't shown up. I tried to call and text him, letting him know that I was waiting for him so that we could eat dinner together. However, he didn't answer any of my phone calls nor did he respond to any of my texts.
The food had already turned cold and the candles had burned out. Lucas should have arrived a while ago since it was already 10pm. I felt a knot at the tip of my stomach, my heart sinking when the thought of my husband not making home tonight popped in my head.
' Perhaps something came up concerning the business, he'll be home soon.' I encouraged myself and continued to wait for him.
The door clicked open and I turned my head instantly to check who had entered the dining room. However, my heart sank deep in my stomach when I realised it wasn't who I was expecting.
" Young Thompson's hasn't arrived yet?" Mr Andrew inquired and I could feel the worry and sadness in his voice.
" Yes…" I replied, trying my best to keep on a smile so that he couldn't see my sadness. Mr Andrew was quiet for a while, he looked at the cold food on the table and the burned out candle and I saw unexplainable emotion cross his eyes. He then turned his gaze on me.
" It's already late, young miss. What about you going to have some rest and I will wait for him instead? I will let him know that you did all this for him." He tried to reason out but I shook my head almost immediately.
" It's okay, I'll wait for him a little bit more. I know he's on his way. Perhaps he just caught up with something. Don't worry about the food because I'll reheat it." My lips curved into a smile, " And about the candles…" I turned my head slightly to look at the burned out candles, " I'll light another one. I think you're the one who is supposed to have some rest, Mr Andrew. Don't worry about me because I'll be fine. I have young blood, so I can stay up all night." I joked to light up the mood and he laughed.
" Don't you dare underestimate this old man, he can stay up all night too." He protested. However, he listened to me and went ahead to have some rest.
Another hour passed by and there was no sign of Lucas. I called him again a few times and texted but it was the same, he didn't call back nor text. With a heavy heart, I stood up and began to collect the plates.
When I was about to pick the last plate, the door clicked open. Slowly, I turned my head towards the door and there he was, standing 6 '2 tall in a black business suit which fitted him perfectly and looking handsome like always…