13. Leah
CHAPTER 13
LEAH
M orning sickness had left Leah alone for the first part of her pregnancy, but in the ninth week it hit — hard. Yet, strangely, it wasn’t in the morning at all.
“I feel the worst in the afternoon,” Leah complained to her mom, Sharon, over the phone one day. Her parents had been a little surprised to hear that she was pregnant, but had also been overjoyed that their first grandchild was on the way. They were on the older side, Sharon had pointed out, and they hadn’t been sure if they’d have a chance to meet a grandchild at all.
Leah had played off Dan’s role with the same story they’d used on Moira — that they were good friends who’d decided to have a child together. Leah could tell that her mother was a little confused, but was glad that she didn’t push for more information.
“I felt the same way when I had you.” Sharon’s voice was full of affection. “I was all right in the mornings, but around lunchtime I’d start to feel terrible, no matter what I did. The good news is that my morning sickness was mostly gone by the beginning of the second trimester — so hopefully you won’t have long to wait.”
“I hope not. The thought of being this sick the whole pregnancy is not exactly appealing.” Leah took a sip of the ginger beer she kept on her desk to ward off her nausea. “I keep trying to tell myself that it’s a good thing, because it’s a reminder that I’m really going to have a child, but it’s not very fun.”
Sharon chuckled. “That’s understandable. Even I was unhappy with morning sickness, and I’d waited so many years to have you and wanted you so much.”
“Are you looking forward to being a grandmother?”
“Very much. I’m going to spoil your little one all the time. Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?”
“I always liked the idea of not finding out until birth, but I’m starting to think I might want to know now. We’ll see. Our next appointment will be the twelve-week scan, so for now I’m focusing on making sure the baby is healthy and developing well.”
“And how is Dan feeling about all this?” The question was innocuous enough, but Leah could tell that her mother was fishing for information. Leah couldn’t blame her. Her and Dan’s situation was a bit unusual, especially compared to her parents’ experience.
“He’s been wonderful.” Leah smiled to herself at how true those words were. Dan had been a little evasive about how he was feeling. Each time she asked, he mentioned how glad he was that Leah was feeling well and that everything was going smoothly, but he didn’t address his own perspective. Yet his actions had spoken more loudly than any words. “He’s asked me how I’m feeling every day and keeps telling me to rest and take it easy. He goes on long walks with me, which always help with the nausea. And after I told him that baby carrots and lemon sorbet are the only things I can keep down when I’m feeling sick, he’s been making sure I’m fully stocked on both.”
“He sounds like a good man.” Leah could hear the smile in her mom’s words. “When are we going to meet him?”
Leah sighed. “I’m not sure. Like I told you, we aren’t a couple, but we are planning to co-parent. I imagine you’ll meet him at some point. I just can’t say for sure when.”
“I understand. As long as he’s good to you, we’re happy.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door of Leah’s office.
“Sorry, I think someone is here. I’ll have to say goodbye.”
“Okay, sweetie. Take it easy, and let us know if you need anything at all.”
“I will. Bye, Mom.” Leah hung up. “Come in!”
The door swung open, revealing Dan. True to form, he had a plastic shopping bag in one hand, which Leah already knew would be full of baby carrots and lemon sorbet. In the other hand, he held a small stuffed rabbit.
“Hi, Leah. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all. I was just talking to my mom. I’ll admit, work has been a little slow since we launched Forenal.”
“Good. You should be taking it easy at work. Mind if I sit?”
“Please.” Leah gestured to the couch on the other side of her desk, then got up to sit beside him. He smiled at her.
“How are you feeling? And how’s the little one?”
“I feel good. No word yet from the little one.” She winked, and Dan chuckled.
“Well, let me know when she calls.”
“She?” Leah asked.
“I don’t know.” Dan looked sheepish. “I just have a feeling.”
“Really?” Leah chuckled. “I get the feeling we’re having a boy.” She rested a hand on her stomach. “I can already imagine a rough-and-tumble little boy with your eyes.”
“No way. It’ll be a little girl who looks just like you.”
“Oof. I wouldn’t wish this hair on anyone .” Leah twisted a strand of her red hair between her fingers. “I love it now, but it took me some time.”
“Well, I think it looks beautiful, and our child would be lucky to look like you.”
Leah’s heart warmed at Dan’s kind words. “Thank you. But I think our child would be even luckier to look like you.”
“I think we can agree that, either way, boy or girl, our child will be very smart and have excellent business sense.” Dan winked and Leah smiled.
“True.”
“Anyway, I brought you a few things.” Dan took a bag of bright orange baby carrots out of the shopping bag and handed it to Leah, who tore it open and popped a carrot into her mouth right away. “There’s also lemon sorbet in the fridge in the kitchenette — I saw you were running low. And the woman at the store said that these ginger candies were a lifesaver when she had morning sickness.” He set a small tin of ginger candies on the table in front of them.
“Thank you, Dan. You’re too kind. I can buy my own groceries, you know.”
“I know, but you’re making a child from scratch. The least I can do is give you some fuel to do so.”
“Mostly I’m making the placenta right now, but thanks. I do appreciate it.”
In truth, Leah was starting to feel like she was getting a much better end to their deal than Dan was. She’d shown up for one lovely lunch with Dan’s parents — that was all. Meanwhile, Dan had not only helped her achieve her dream of becoming a mother but was also taking excellent care of her now.
“Well, I appreciate you. My parents spoke very highly about my new girlfriend and are thrilled at the thought of a grandchild. I hope you won’t mind bringing our daughter to their house every once in a while.”
“Not at all.” Leah liked the idea of both her and Dan’s families being involved. Growing up, it had been mostly her and her parents, which had been wonderful, but she liked the thought that her baby would have a bigger family. “I’m sure our son will be very excited to spend time with his grandmother and grandfather.”
“They’re hoping to claim dibs on Grammy and Grandpa.”
“That works,” Leah said. “My parents are hoping to be Oma and Opa. My great-grandparents on my mother’s side came from Germany and they want to keep the tradition.”
“That’s sweet.”
In that moment, Leah felt like they were just a normal couple, talking with excitement about the arrival of their baby. It was easy to forget that this wasn’t real. Too easy. Especially when Dan handed her the toy rabbit Leah had spotted when he’d come in. The rabbit was made of an incredibly soft material and had baby-safe embroidered eyes. Its fur was white and brown, and it wore a gentle embroidered smile.
“I know we have a little while to wait before the baby will be ready for stuffed animals, but I saw this in the window of a toy store and I just had to get it. When I was a baby, I had a stuffed bear that I slept with for years. I thought our child would enjoy a toy too.”
Leah smiled. “I had a stuffed toy as a child, too. It was a penguin with a little bow tie. I think my parents still have it somewhere.”
“We should find the bear and the penguin and give them to the baby, too.”
“A bear, a penguin, and a rabbit. His hands will be full.”
“We can get her a backpack.”
They grinned at each other. Leah knew that she should be putting up her defenses to avoid being heartbroken when Dan inevitably created distance between them — because he might. He might become focused on his work again, or simply be less enamored with parenthood when he saw how many poopy diapers and burp cloths were involved.
But Leah was tired and hormonal from early pregnancy. She didn’t have the energy to defend herself against a man who was so considerate, so sweet, and so thoughtful. So, she just let herself enjoy this moment.
Surely, the deep connection she felt with him was mostly due to intense pregnancy hormones and all the time they’d been spending together. She would feel differently later, when the baby was here. Or perhaps Dan really was as ready to be with her as he seemed. Perhaps he would be an involved father for the baby and a partner for Leah… Maybe, in time, they could even be together…
Leah was trying not to get her hopes up, but the looks Dan gave her, and his affectionate manner made her hopeful that a future as a real family could be possible. Surely, he wouldn’t be so thoughtful if he didn’t care about her at all. Right?