Lily’s POV.
It is November and it is starting to get very cold. And ever since little bun has started kicking he has left every shyness and is always busy playing football especially at night.
Ryan thought that my mood would get better after this but little did he know that, that was all just a start. My mood which used to turn every minute, is now taking seconds to change.
Today is 15th of November and also Kathy’s baby day. We arranged her baby shower last month and I gifted her matching clothes to the one my son would wear. She was on cloud nine thinking our boys would have each other.
We even promised to plan our next baby together which I now think is weird but not that much as Kathy and I have become very close to each other in the past three months.
Vance got a call from Kathy’s Mom who is looking after her in his absence that she has gone into labour. I accompany Vance by demanding I should be there for my friend. And apparently, Vance can’t fight with my mood swings either.
He calls Ryan on the way and here we are in the afternoon in the hospital waiting for Kathy to arrive. We have reached before them and Vance is sweating like anything. But as soon as Kathy reaches there his demeanor changes.
He looks confident and strong and I think it kind of sweet of him to become like this for his wife. But he will still hear it from her as it is Kathy. I hope Ryan would be like this too. Because sometimes I dread labour too but I push the thought away from my mind.
Ryan and I have yet to see the birth video and I have told Ryan that this is the first exam I don’t want to be prepared for. But soon we would be joining Lamaze classes to know everything we could.
I wait in the waiting room with Kathy’s Mom but soon she has to go to the delivery room as Kathy kicked Vance out. But then again Vance has to go into the room. Soon Ryan comes with lunch for everyone and gives me a bottle of juice.
“Where is Vance?” Ryan asks when he sees no one around me.
“He is coming and going and so is Kathy’s Mom. Her father and Vance’s parents would be here soon after lunch as I insisted on it. And as Kathy was asking for Vance and kicking him out again and again. Doctors said that he should be nearby and so should her Mom.” I say as I eat some vegetable salad.
“Okay. Do you want to go out?” Ryan asks.
“After lunch I would have to take a walk. Did you eat anything?” I ask.
“No. Why are you so calm today?” He asks.
“Don’t worry, I will be back to normal after the baby comes. I don’t want to throw tantrums and make it difficult for others. It is Kathy’s day and I have given all my energy to her so she can use it for labour and throw as many tantrums as she wants.” I say as I have some soup with ricotta bread rolls.
I make Ryan eat something too as I know he had skipped his meal as he loves Kathy a lot. She has been a glue for these two friends who never let any misunderstanding come between them. She is the one woman I am not jealous of and never can be.
Soon Vance and Kathy’s family come and we greet them. Ryan brings coffee for them then takes me to visit our doctor for a check up. At exactly eight in the evening, we meet little Mr. Williams.
He looks like an exact copy of his father except for his hair. Ryan and I promise to visit them the next day and go home. I take out my nightwear and change it in my room only. I feel Ryan’s arms come around me.
“You look so soft today that I just want to keep you in my arms and cuddle with you.” Ryan says as he kisses my cheek loudly.
“I don’t want to move too.” I say.
“But we have to eat.” He says.
“Yes we do.” I say and turn in his arm.
As my belly has grown a lot in the past months, it is quite difficult for us to hug from the front and Ryan knows how much I love being in his embrace. We hear a knock on our door.
We have dinner in our room only of cilantro-pepita pesto with squash ribbons and fettuccine. In dessert comes on my demand brownie mocha trifle in a jar.
Next day, we go to see Kathy and I hold little Vincent in my arms. Ryan gushes over him and kisses Kathy on cheek for which she slaps him.
“You do not kiss me. You were supposed to be here when I was trying to decide whether to let your friend be here or not. Did you know he told me to push the baby away? How can I do that when he is just born? How can you be so jealous of our baby, Vance?” Kathy asks Vance as she complains.
“I love him, Kathy.” Vance says.
“Really?” She asks as Ryan soothes her.
“Yes.” Vance says as he takes Vincent from me.
“It means you don’t love me.” Kathy asks and starts crying.
“Don’t worry. It is just baby blues.” I whisper in helpless looking Vance’s ear.
“I know but I don’t know what to do.” He asks.
“Just hug her and do as she says.” Ryan says.
And he does that and Kathy is back to smiling the next minute. After a week we attain the christening of the baby as Ryan is his Godfather. Kathy promised me that the next one would have me as Godmother.
I have already appointed Emma as the Godmother for my child so I promise Kathy the same that the next one would have her. We have yet to decide about who is going to be Godfather and I have left that decision to Ryan. And for that his friend and brother are bribing him of which I take advantage of.
On Thanksgiving, Ryan and I go to Anderson’s farm. Lady gets very happy to see her family again and shows Teddy off to them. This time Ryan takes me to his room which looks cosy and cool.
I help in making dessert as Heather and Anna make side dishes while boys barbecue on the lawn. We laugh as we talk about recent events and how Richard has already bought plenty of toys for the baby so he can get an excuse to bring the baby to their house over and over again.
We have turkey with cranberry stuffing, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and stuffed sweet potato. I made pumpkin pie and mini apple pie for which I got many compliments.
I spend my weekends baking new things as I want my baby to eat healthy and good things even though it would be a year or two before he could chew. We stay there over the weekend and come back on Sunday.
I am going to take my maternity leave from January so I work overtime sometimes to let my colleagues have every knowledge of the projects I was looking after. Mindy brought in one of her friends who would be temporarily in Mindy’s place as she would be in my position for that while.
Ryan gets busy with his work too and often comes home late and tired too. But even though he is tired, he would show his concern for me whenever he gets time or even when he doesn’t.
I get worried sometimes that he must be facing some problems so I don’t show many tantrums and try to control my mood swings but he gets even more concerned when that happens.
Ryan drops me to his parents home the night before he has to leave for Phoenix. This meeting was sudden and Ryan decided to send someone else as he doesn’t want to leave me alone. But Richard was not feeling okay so he had to go.
I showed off that I am fine so that he could go without any worry but inside I was getting ideas to give him hints to not leave me. I wiped my tears that night as I lay alone in our bed. It is the first time in a long time that we are not together.
“Lily, what happened? Why are you not saying anything?” Ryan asks as I try to control my tears as he called me as soon as he reached.
“I am tired and sleepy.” I say with a clear voice.
“Then you go to sleep, I will hang up.” Ryan says.
“No.” I say.
“Why?” He asks softly.
“Because I don’t want to.” I say as I whimper.
“Lily. If you had told me I would have taken you with me. I asked you so many times.” Ryan says in scolding.
“Don’t scold me.” I say and continue, “I am not allowed to fly anymore and also I know you would be back before Christmas for family photos.”
“I miss you so much. And I promise to be back. Tell me what you want? I will bring it for you.” Ryan says.
“I just want you.” I say as I wipe my tears.
“And?” He asks.
“And potted cactus plant and also something sweet and also some…” I say and talk with him till I fall asleep.
Heather already is done with her shopping for Christmas and so am I. To distract me she asks me to plan this year’s Christmas. I choose some of the desserts and games to play. Richard and I catch up with each other as we walk around after dinner every night.
On 25th December, I wait for Ryan like anything. Everybody is here. They all came yesterday morning and had ever since dotted on me. Everybody is busy touching my bump every time my baby kicks.
But Ryan has yet to come and I think our baby misses him too as every time I think about him, he kicks as if to ask where his Dad is. I try to call him but the lady keeps saying she can’t reach him as he is out of coverage.
“I know that but can’t you go there and let me just ask one question.” I say in frustration and hang up even though I know I was talking to no one.
“He would be here, Lily.” Noah says.
“When?” I ask as I put my hand on my hips.
“I don’t know.” Noah says as he gets flustered.
“Then don’t say anything. Otherwise instead of Ryan you would become prey to my anger.” I say and start calling him again.
I finally gave up when dinner was starting to serve. Ryan knows that after dinner there is a photoshoot and if he is not here by then… then… then I will not take any pictures with him for life nor would the baby.
For Christmas, we have lemon herb roasted potatoes, parmesan roasted carrots, Christmas tree bread, roasted chicken, cranberry almond spinach salad, sun-dried tomato pesto bites, two different soups of tomato-basil and minestrone and four cheese white lasagne.
In dessert also, we have so many varieties like boiled christmas fruit cake, pecan pie, english trifle cake, eggnog and my favourite and the only one I can have is chocolate cake.
Today’s meal is making my mouth water but I can’t eat anything as my main man is not here. I also wore Christmas colors, a red knitted sweater and a green pleated skirt. Just as I am about to enter the dining room, I hear a loud jingle and a loud Ho Ho Ho.
“Merry Christmas, young lady.” I turn around to see a Santa Claus dressed person.
“Merry Christmas.” I say still sulking and not in the mood for Christmas.
“Why so sad, my child? Maybe a gift can brighten your mood.” He says and I look at him weirdly.
Does he think I am a baby? Can’t he see my bump which is huge now? Does he not know that he should not mess with a pregnant woman’s angry mood. But I try to calm myself and go to answer.
“Would you be able to give me what I want?” I ask.
“I could at least try.” He says.
“I am trying to contact my baby’s father, my fiance but can’t. Can I talk to him? Can I meet him?” I ask.
“Why don’t you call him one more time and see?” He asks and I sigh.
He keeps insisting and I call Ryan one more time and this time the ring goes. And I hear his phone’s ringtone coming from Santa Claus.
“Ryan?” I ask in confusion, “Did you kidnap Ryan to give me? Good next time I would order you to give me him like this only if he is late. Where is he? Bring him. He is going to get punished for making me wait and worry.” I say.
“I am here only.” I hear Ryan’s voice coming from Santa Claus.
“You ate my husband. How dare you?” I say.
“No, I am here. Really, Lily?” Ryan says as he gets out of the costume and comes to hug me.
“I knew it was you the moment you opened your mouth and said Ho Ho Ho.” I say and slap his arms away.
“Okay. Are you still angry? I am sorry. I got late because the weather got bad. Please forgive me. It’s Christmas.” Ryan says as he tries coax me.
“Did you bring gifts for me?” I ask.
“Yes.” He says as he puts his arm around me.
“Did you take care of yourself there?” I ask as I look at him.
“Yes. Look mistletoe, now we have to kiss and make up.” He says as he puts mistletoe above my head and I giggle.
We kiss each other and I finally feel at home. His hot lips feel nice in this cold weather. We join the family after Ryan gets changed and celebrate Christmas. Ryan praises me for my work on the Christmas tree and gifts I bought for others.
Atlast the time for clicking pictures came and just as Ryan said I smiled a lot. I look around me, at my family and make a wish that we always stay happy like this and always have each other.
Because I love them very much.