September 5
After Bram’s morning exercises. He told me that we could pick up his MX-5 from the repair shop. I refused to come with him because the baby was getting heavy and I did not want to travel to far away places like Manila. But Bram insisted because he wanted me to see his newly repaired car.
So after our check up from the hospital we went to the repair shop, it was thirty minutes away from the hospital. The MX-5 looked new. As far as I could remember it was a dark shade of blue but now it was painted bright blue with a glossy finish. I sat on the sofa while Chantal and I watched Bram inspect his car.
“All the modifications that you requested are here,” The guy who was wearing a blue shirt said, “Are you joining the November race?”
I frowned just by hearing this. I was not sure if Bram was ready to race again. He just started driving. He was driving Ruby inside our village. But I was not sure if it would be safe for him to compete?
“No, I’m still in training,” Bram responded to the guy, “And our baby will come out in November.”
“Congrats in advance!” The guy and Bram made a fist bump, “Is it a boy or a girl?”
“It’s a boy,” Bram said with a grin.
“Another racer in the family?” The guy asked Bram while he nodded his head.
Bram glanced at me and our eyes met, “I’d rather not say, my wife is here.” Then both of them laughed at each other.
Since we were now in our last trimester. I told Bram that we should practice abstinence from sex from now on. I explained to him that it was for the baby’s safety. I helped him search for effective diversions online. And he was doing exercise and yoga regularly.
They also returned all our living room furniture to its original place. And today, Bram moved the center table away and did his yoga. He was now sitting on his yoga mat as he sipped on the straw of his water bottle. I was sitting on the sofa watching exercises for pregnant women. I felt like I was being watched, so I turned to Bram and he was definitely looking at me.
“Is it effective?” I asked Bram.
“What?” Bram’s response to me.
“The diversions?” I asked again, grinning at him.
“What do you think?” Bram said sarcastically. He got his towel from the sofa and wiped his face.
I rolled my eyes at him, “Can you just answer me? Yes or no?”
Bram stood up and walked towards our bedroom, “I’m going to take a shower.”
After dinner Bram fixed my pregnancy pillow on our bed. It was a huge pillow in a letter C-shape and it was the most comfortable pillow ever! I just wished that I remembered it at the early stage of my pregnancy. I laid down hugging the pillow and fell asleep instantly. I woke up in the middle of the night because Bram moved my shoulder.
“What?” I asked, without opening my eyes.
“We need to remove your pillow,” Bram told me.
“Why?” I asked as I hugged my pillow tighter.
“I need warmth too, Emma,” Bram answered me.
“Use the comforter,” I told him. But he started lifting the back of my neck to remove my pregnancy pillow then he replaced it with our regular pillow. Then he moved my legs and removed my pregnancy pillow off the bed.
He returned, covered us both with our comforter, and hugged me from the back. He kissed the left side of my neck and pulled me closer.
“Bram, not too tight,” I moved a little so he would loosen his hug from me. We were facing our walk-in closet because I needed to be near the bathroom.
“You’re so warm, baby,” he whispered to my ear then he cupped my right breast.
“If you touch my boobs, you will make it difficult for yourself.” I reasoned with him.
“This is better than nothing, Emma,” he told me, then he rested his head beside mine.
Tuesday
The next day Aunt Calla called me and asked if she could visit us here in our home. I told Bram about it and he did not care as long as they would not see each other. Bram already returned to the office last week. So I gave Aunt Calla the office hours of Bram, so they would not see each other. Aunt Calla got here at around three in the afternoon. I took her to the newly renovated spare room.
As Bram requested, the spare room was transformed into his home office. He moved one of his biggest pictures here from his condo. The maid placed our refreshments on the tea table and closed the door.
“Credence does not want me to tell you this,” Aunt Calla leaned back to her chair, “Your brother was caught by the CCTV camera in the ancestral house during their tour.”
My lips parted, “What do you mean?”
“He went upstairs, where tourists are not allowed,” Aunt Calla explained further.
I hugged myself because I got goosebumps. I shook my head, “I don’t understand? Was there a warning sign that he did not see?”
Aunt Calla gave me a small smile, “You should see it for yourself, Emma, dear. I understand you love your brother. But don’t be blind to what kind of man he is becoming.”
I sighed, “Does Bram know about this?”
“Probably? I’m not sure, maybe Credence told him already,” Aunt Calla added. I touched my baby bump because the baby moved. Aunt Calla looked alarmed, “Are you alright? I’m sorry, Emma. I shouldn’t have told you.”
“I’m fine,” I raised my hand to stop her from coming near me, “The baby just moved.”
After our dinner, Bram went to his home office and I went upstairs to get ready for bed. Maria assisted me with my night routine and then she placed my pregnancy pillow on the bed. She turned off the lights, left the lamp at Bram’s side on, and walked out of our room. Bram woke me up and said that he would remove my huge pillow again. He kissed my head and hugged me from the back. I opened my eyes and remembered something, “Did you know about my brother and the CCTV footage?” I asked Bram as I stared at the ceiling.
“We can talk about it tomorrow,” Bram said.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, not really sure if Bram was still awake because his arms felt heavy under my breast.
“I don’t want him near you, remember?” Bram whispered above my head, “But since he’s your brother, I had no choice but to deal with him.”
Bram had never been this blunt to me before or maybe I just did not notice it? I needed to call mom about this. I had no idea on how to deal with this kind of situation. I would need to call Uncle Theo too as backup.
“Don’t worry about it too much, Emma,” Bram said all of a sudden. I thought he fell asleep.
“How can I not? He is my responsibility,” I responded to him.
“This is the reason why mom and I didn’t want to tell you. We don’t want you to worry. Maybe you should stop seeing Aunt Calla until after you give birth?” Bram laid flat on his side of the bed.
“What do you plan to do with the footage?” I asked nervously.
“Let mum handle it, Emma,” Bram hugged me again, “I’m tired, let’s go to sleep.”