7. - #4
I texted my Mom, “Good morning, Mother. Our reservations are at 6:30 pm.” She will hate that I called her ‘Mother’. Ten minutes after that, she replied, “I’ve told you a million times, Moose, not to fucking call me Mother, and 6:30 is great! See you both tonight!”
I loved it when she sounded pissed off, but I knew that she wasn’t really mad. But I really didn’t have any idea why she hated it so much when I would call her ‘mother’. It could be, ‘Mom, Mama, Mommy. Hell, Claire was even alright with her.’ I always thought it was weird. Funny, but weird.
I watched a little bit of TV until around three PM, when I awoke my beautiful wife. She jumped straight up and got in the shower. While she was in there, her phone rang. ID said, Dr. Thomas. I answered, “Hello, Rachel’s phone.”
The woman on the other end said, “Yes, may I speak with Rachel Fitzsimmons, please?”
“I’m sorry she is in the shower right now. I’m her husband. Is there anything I can help you with, or a message I can give her?”
“No message, just ask her to call Dr. Thomas’ office if she can before five PM, please.”
“I certainly will. You have a nice afternoon.”
“Thank you, and you, too.”
I touched ‘end call’ on her phone and then walked into the bathroom. “Rach, you had a phone call. Dr. Thomas’ office. They said no message, but please call them back before they close today. Did you get into trouble at work last night?”
“Ha Ha, you’re funny! No, I didn’t get into any trouble. Just my regular PCP. She’s been on me to come in for a cholesterol check, so I went last week. I bet she just wants to give me the results and to bitch at me,” she said, laughing.
“You should set up that portal thing that I have. You would have gotten the results already,” I poked at her.
She stuck her head out of the shower and said, “Yeah, I know, but you know I hate computers enough as it is. I can barely use my damn phone. It’s fine, I’ll call her back when I get out of the shower. Now go away so I can get ready in secret.” She smiled her adorable smile.
I put on a nice casual suit, which just means sans necktie, and waited in the living room for Rach to emerge.
She sauntered out of the bedroom, and she nearly took my breath away.
She was wearing a simple black spaghetti strap knee-length dress with heels.
Her long hair was up in a loose bun. Not much makeup and minimal jewelry, but she didn’t need any of those things.
She was absolutely gorgeous. I kept thinking I must have totally done something right in a former life to have rated her in this one.
We didn’t really talk that much on the ride to the restaurant; we just held hands and shared the occasional smile.
We were both tired, but hopeful for the future.
I also knew that she really wanted to press me about the whole story that I’d found out, but she let it lie because she knew how much I had stressed the fact that I wanted to share it with everyone at once.
We arrived at Frangelli’s with ten minutes to spare and checked in with the hostess.
She delivered us to our table with four menus and a wine list. My parents were right on time, and I ordered a bottle of the house red.
We drank good wine, ate great food, and I told them everything the brooch told me.
When I was finished, I looked around the table at their faces.
I thought I would see shock or anger, but there was none of that.
All I saw was contentment on my mother’s face.
She looked directly at me and said, “Grandma Sally, Papa Ed, David, me, your dad, and you when you came along were everything to her. Mama always took care of everyone she loved; she was very vocal and passionate about that. She did what she needed to do to keep the family together, and I admire her for it.” Everyone at the table nodded along but didn’t say anything.
I turned to my wife, “Rach, I am sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I have never kept a secret from you, but I just wanted to tell you all at once. I hope you understand.”
I kissed her hand, and she smiled at me and said, “Well, I guess I should tell you something. I have been keeping a secret from you for about a week, and I think I should tell you now. Seems like the right time.” She took a deep breath and continued, “I didn’t go to the doctor last week.
I saw Dr. Thomas while I was at work last night.
Well, I saw her this morning. She took a little blood and made me take this test. Everything is confirmed.
You didn’t notice I had none of the wine, even though I love their house red? ”
She handed me a long white stick with a blue cap. The digital screen had the words “Pregnant”. I just looked up at her with what I know had to be the most stunned look. “I think Guilia Claire is a great name for a girl, don’t you?”
Mom nearly burst into happy ugly tears.
When I finally caught my breath, I grabbed my wife’s face and kissed her. “But what if it’s a boy?”
“How about David Edward?” she said while smiling. My parents were crying, and I was melting with happiness.
I wrapped my arms around her and whispered, “Either one will be absolutely perfect.”