Chapter Eighteen
Matthew
We didn’t have to try long. My mates were the most efficient babymakers on the face of the earth, and a week after I went off my birth control I suspected that we’d succeeded in our quest, but I still wanted to wait a little bit longer to be sure. Many people had the custom of not saying anything outside the family until the first trimester passed, since that was when there was the greatest danger of losing a pregnancy, but I wasn’t saying anything to anyone, not even my mates for at least a couple of weeks.
In fact, I didn’t even take a test for that length of time. House cat shifters had an especially high miscarriage rate, and I didn’t want to say anything if there was a change the baby might not make it. I got up every morning and went to work then came home and had dinner with my mates, my secret burning inside me. I told myself it was for their benefit and that since I hadn’t used the test that I’d bought and hidden in the bathroom drawer I didn’t even know for sure whether I was pregnant.
But as the days passed, a gut feeling became an upset stomach and my doubts faded into certainty. Work was extra busy at this time of year with all the tourism and we were picking up new accounts it seemed like every day, The Animals contracts had been signed and Bob was very pleased with me about that to the point he insisted that I continue to handle that account myself along with continuing to set up new customers. I didn’t have any other active accounts, but I did have a lot of driving around to potential new customers, many of whom were clubs and bars who wanted me there late in the afternoon or evening, keeping me away from everyone else until well after Flora was in bed.
I hated that, wanting to spend more time with our sweet girl. Especially if she was going to have the sibling she had asked us for. She would be an only child with three adults completely focused on her for a limited time.
I kept putting off the test, telling myself it was still early and I could still lose the baby until one morning when I got up from the table at breakfast and darted into the bathroom. It was the first time that happened in front of anyone in this case River, since Allen was in the shower in the master bathroom.
River came in and found me hunched over the toilet, throwing up the little bit of oatmeal I’d managed to eat. He sat on the side of the tub and rubbed my back until I sat back on my heels and gave him what had to be the guiltiest look in history.
His gaze in return held a question. Or maybe he already knew.
“I-I think I need to take a pregnancy test.” I dropped my gaze to the floor.
“I didn’t think it was the oatmeal,” he said, handing me a wet washcloth.
“No.” I wiped my mouth with the cloth. “Your oatmeal was very good.” Unfortunately, the very mention of it had a terrible effect, and I was sick all over again. When I stopped, he eased me to my feet.
“I’ll go buy a test,” he said. “You go lie down.”
I reached down and opened the drawer, pulled out the box. “I have one.”
“Oh, mate, how long have you known?”
“I don’t know, officially. But I’ve been pretty sure for a couple of weeks.”
He studied me for a long moment. “Why don’t you do your thing with the stick and then come back to the living room and rest on the couch until I get back from dropping Flora off at school, and then we’ll all three talk about this okay?”
I nodded, my eyes filling with tears.
“But don’t you look at the stick until we’re all together, all right?”
“All right.” I was sniffling now. “But why wait?”
“This is a really important moment for all of us.” He went into our bedroom, and I heard the low murmur of voices before he came out and went into Flora’s. Emerging holding her hand, River came over and kissed me goodbye, lifting Flora for a kiss as well. “I will be right back.”
As soon as he was gone I did as he’d instructed and peed on the stick then left it on the counter and went to rest on the couch. I needed to get to work, but I texted that I’d be a little late. After a while, Allen came and sat on the end of the couch, lifting my feet into his lap. He massaged the arches, saying nothing, just waiting with me until our mate returned. It seemed to take forever, but finally I heard the car door click closed and then he came in. “You didn’t peek?” he asked.
“No, I wouldn’t do that. I’m sorry for what I did do, making you wait to find out, making me wait too.”
“Before we find out the results, was it because you changed your mind and didn’t want to be pregnant?” Allen asked, pulling on each toe and sending waves of relaxation through my whole body. He sounded so sad, and I hurried to reassure him.
“My clowder had a terrible problem with miscarriages, and I didn’t want to tell you if it was only gonna be heartbreak.” I sat up on the couch, easing my feet from Allen’s lap. “I’d better go see.”
“We’re going together, remember?” River took my hand and they both crowded into the little front bathroom with me. The stick lay on the counter, and I approached it carefully and slowly. Whatever it said would have repercussions on our whole life. What if I wasn’t pregnant? Or had been but was no longer? What if—
Allen reached past me and picked up the stick, holding it in front of all three of us.
River peered at it. “Two pluses…does that mean what I think it does?”
I held up the box and showed him. “It means yes. I’m pregnant.”
My mates whooped and swung me around before my stomach threatened to rebel and I had to beg them to stop. When they calmed down, River cuddled me close and said, “Mate, there are no guarantees in life. If anything goes wrong, we will deal with it but for now? You’re pregnant and we love you more than life itself.”
“I am really going to have a baby,” I marveled. “And most of those who lost them, as far as I ever heard, it was very early. This just might be okay.”
Right now, I was over the moon and would do anything to keep the baby safe.