The days following my appointment were a whirlwind of emotions. The weight of my pregnancy felt lighter now that I had shared it with Mr. Beaumont, and I found myself smiling more often. Each day, he showed me a new side of himself, and I began to see hints of the man he used to be.
I pulled out my jotter and began making a list of things I needed to get. The excitement of becoming a mother made my heart race.
Having Kate and Mr Beaumont on my side has made things alot easier, Jessica calls me ones in a while asking how I’m faring, and it just feels so good having all of these support around me.
I sat at the kitchen table, pen in hand, as I wrote down essentials: diapers, baby clothes, a crib, and all the little things that would make a nursery feel like home. As I scribbled down each item, I imagined my baby in the crib smiling at me.
The doctor said it’s too early to detect the gender, but for some reason I don’t want to know, I want it to be a surprise to me, boy or girl I’ll love them unconditionally.
After making my list, I sought out Mr. Beaumont and I found him in the sitting room, sitting in his favorite armchair, a book resting in his lap. The sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a warm glow around him, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“Mr. Beaumont?” I called softly, not wanting to startle him.
He looked up, his expression shifting from concentration to interest. “Yes, Nora?”
“I’ve been thinking about preparing for the baby’s arrival, and I’d love your help,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow, and I walked closer. “What do you have in mind?”
“I made a list of essentials we need to get. Would you be willing to go shopping with me?” I asked, hoping he’d say yes. He’s an old man afterall and will want to rest.
He pondered for a moment, glancing at the book in his lap as if weighing his options. Finally, he nodded. “Alright. Let’s do it.”
“Thank you! I really appreciate this.” I said, dieing of excitement.
We decided to head out the next morning, and I spent the evening organizing my list and researching nearby stores.
I was just so excited, that before I slept all I was doing was imagining how I’d decorate my room to suite the baby’s needs.
The next day, I woke up early, the sun just beginning to rise. I dressed in comfortable clothes, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. When I came downstairs, Mr. Beaumont was already waiting for me in the foyer, dressed casually.
“Ready to go?” he asked, and for a second I could swear I heard enthusiasm in his voice.
“I am!” I replied, unable to contain my smile.
As we drove to the store, our conversation flowed easily, and I found myself sharing more about my dreams for the baby. I talked about names I liked, the nursery theme I envisioned, and how I hoped to create a loving environment.
Mr. Beaumont listened intently, nodding occasionally. “Those are lovely ideas. It sounds like you’re really putting a lot of thought into this,” he commented.
“I just want to do everything right,” I said, rubbing my hands slowly on my stomach. “This baby is my world now.”
Well all these while I thought I was excited, but the moment we stepped into the store I realized I was far from excited all along.
The bright colors and cheerful decorations surrounding the baby section was mind blowing. I had never seen something so colourful, and certainly never imagined shopping for baby items could be this exhilarating.
“Where should we start?” Mr. Beaumont asked, glancing around.
I just stood confused myself, there were just so much in here that I don’t know where to begin.
“Let’s begin with the essentials-diapers, wipes, bottles, we will come to clothes later,” I suggested, leading the way.
As we walked through the aisles, my mouth was just opened in awe at the array of products available. I picked up packs of diapers, feeling the soft material through the packaging. “These will come in handy,” I said, adding them to our cart.
Mr. Beaumont picked up a pack of baby wipes and examined it. “I never thought I’d be buying these again, but these look alot fancier than years back.” he said with a hint of a smile.
I chuckled, feeling thankful at his willingness to engage in this experience. “It’s a whole new world, isn’t it?”
We continued through the store, gathering items, I picked out tiny onesies adorned with cute animals and vibrant colors, holding them up for Mr. Beaumont to see.
Since I’m not certain about the gender of my baby yet I’m getting things that will look good on both a baby girl and a baby boy.
“What do you think of this one?” I asked, my eyes sparkling with excitement.
He regarded the outfit with a thoughtful expression. “It’s certainly cheerful. I can see why you’d want it.”
“Cheerful is exactly what I’m going for!” I replied, placing it in the cart.
As we moved down the aisles, I noticed Mr. Beaumont becoming more animated. He pointed out items he thought would be useful, and I appreciated his input. It felt like we were building a bond that went beyond caregiver and patient-something deeper and more meaningful.
After gathering all the essentials, we made our way to the checkout line, we loaded our items onto the conveyor belt. Once everything was paid for, we pushed our cart out to the car, the trunk filled with our carefully selected items.
“Thank you for today, Mr. Beaumont. I had so much fun,” I said.
He smiled, a rare sight that I hoped to always see. “It was enjoyable. I hadn’t expected it to be so… engaging.”
“Maybe we should do it again sometime,” I suggested playfully.
“Perhaps,” he replied, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
As we drove back to the mansion, I felt lighter, the weight of my worries replaced with excitement.
That evening, as we unpacked the bags, I couldn’t help but marvel at the transformation, just as Kate had said Mr Beaumont had offered me the room next to mine for my baby.
“Let’s set up a little space in the corner of your room for the baby,” I proposed.
“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice.
Over the next few days, we worked together to create a cozy nook for the baby. We arranged the crib, hung up soft colors, and placed the tiny clothes neatly in drawers.
As I stood in the nursery, I couldn’t help but smile. And everything just felt like a dream.
One evening, as we sat together in the sitting room after a long day, I turned to Mr. Beaumont, “Thank you for being here for me, Mr. Beaumont. You’ve made this journey so much easier.”
He looked at me, his expression sincere. “You’ve brought light into this house, Nora. I’m grateful to be part of this journey with you.”
“I promise to do my best,” I said, determination in my voice. “And I hope I can make you proud.”
“You already have,” he replied, smiling.