Epilogue - One Year Later
The past year has been filled with even more change for me.
I was settled into a new identity, although it wasn’t as Mariette Cambria Aubert.
No, as of seven months ago, it became Mariette Cambria Creed.
Shadow hadn’t lied. As everyone hollered “Happy New Year” and fireworks began to go off outside, he asked me to set the wedding date.
And in true biker and Pagan style, as soon as I said yes, he made wedding planning kick into high gear.
I was right there with him and had already been planning our wedding with Betty, Brae, and Jalisa.
We had several things already in order, which helped make it possible to marry him on the last Saturday of April.
I kept my word to him, and after January first, we discussed the baby situation.
With a wedding date fixed, I agreed that I’d stop all contraception and we’d let nature take its course.
It could take a while to get pregnant, I warned him.
He said he knew that and he’d do whatever it took to make it happen for us.
The sex had always been plentiful and amazing, but that man stepped it up even more. I was exhausted some days, but I never complained. I loved everything we did, and every time we expressed our love. It was always more than mere sex between us.
Each month, we’d wait with breathless anticipation only to be disappointed. At eight months, I was scared that one of us might have a problem making it hard to conceive or impossible. Shadow had agreed to go with me so we could be checked out.
In September, when we went to the appointment, he stood beside me as the doctor prepared to perform a pelvic examination. Remembering that day made me smile.
Shadow held my hand. He watched as the doctor placed items on the tray beside her. His eyes widened.
“What the fuck is that thing? You’re not putting that in her, are you?” he barked at my poor doctor.
Dr. Calista Beale calmly explained to him.
“Yes, Shadow, I’m going to insert that into her vagina.
It’s called a speculum, and it’s the only way I can open things up to see what it looks like in there.
I’ll be as gentle as I can. It’s always a bit uncomfortable, but if it becomes painful, Cambria will tell me.
Won’t you?” She directed the last part to me.
“Yes, I will. Shadow, it’s fine. I’ve had several of these over the years. Come on, relax.” I squeezed his hand. He realized he was gripping mine hard. He immediately loosened it.
“Sorry. I just never knew what one of those looked like. Christ, women do get the raw end of the deal,” he muttered.
“Usually, yes. Although if we have to do an internal exam of your urethra, you won’t think so,” Dr. Beale informed him. I saw my man wince and pale a tiny bit.
“Cambria, scoot your bottom to the end of the table. Okay, good. Now, I need you to spread your legs as far as you can. Good, now you’ll feel me touching your inner thigh. Take a deep breath and let it out. There we go. Keep breathing.” She kept up the commentary.
I thought it was more for Shadow’s benefit than mine. I concentrated on remaining relaxed as the slight discomfort registered. Then I heard Dr. Beale inhale swiftly. Moments later, the speculum was removed. She stood and snapped off her gloves.
“You may sit up, Cambria. We’re finished. There’s no reason to continue further.”
Disappointment hit me. God, was it that bad and obvious?
“Why not? What did you find?” I choked out.
Shadow helped me to sit up. Tears were filling my eyes. Dr. Beale noticed them.
“Oh, honey, don’t do that. It’s not anything bad, I’m sorry. I should’ve said this. Congratulations, you two, you’re pregnant.” A huge smile spread across her face.
I sat there stunned, and so did Shadow until he let out a loud holler.
Then, I was smothered in his arms. He was kissing my face and mouth, telling me how much he loved me and how happy he was to be having our first baby.
We both ended up crying. Thankfully, Dr. Beale and her nurse left us alone as soon as the doctor announced we were pregnant.
They gave us ten minutes to celebrate and collect ourselves.
When they returned, I was prescribed prenatal vitamins, my due date was estimated, and a follow-up appointment was scheduled. We left there walking on the clouds.
That had been two months ago. I was three months pregnant, making my due date June twentieth of next year.
That was three days before my birthday. Both of us were hoping the baby would be born on my big day.
As of yet, we hadn’t found out what we were having.
We were debating whether we wanted to know.
Dr. Beale already did. She’d run the testing for genetic disorders, which told her what the sex was, but she and her staff were good about not telling us.
However, Shadow and I were wavering. And I might break.
We were in Dr. Beale’s office for my third appointment.
Shadow was by my side, holding my hand as always.