“How are you, Caleb?”
“I am fine, Boss,” he responded.
He faced Olivia and said, “Welcome back once again, Mrs. Bailey.”
“Thank you, Caleb,” Olivia responded.
They sat on the mini dining table in the kitchen and she asked him, “What are we having for lunch?”
“Protein-based food and herbal soup. It is good for your health presently.”
Denise furrowed and looked at his wife who was as speechless as he was. They locked eyes for a while before he asked the thirty-five-year-old janitor, “What do you mean by ‘your health presently,’ Caleb?”
Now, Caleb was taken aback when he realized that his mouth had been faster than his brain. Ideally, he should have kept whatever information he had or any observation that he had made to himself and waited for his boss to inform him officially that his wife was pregnant. At that point, he had no response than to mop in regret, while the couple fixed their gazes on him and waited for his response.
Suddenly, Denise’s phone rang and he looked at it.
“Continue with what you are doing,” he informed the janitor before he picked up his call.
Then, he held Olivia by the hand and they walked to the parlor before he greeted the caller, “Hello, Big sister. I am delighted to hear from you,”
“Hello, Denise. Congratulations once again.”
“Thank you, Big sister. How are my niece and in-law?”
“They are fine. How is your expectant wife? Can I speak with her?”
“Certainly. She is here.”
Now, he handed his phone over to his wife, who was already sitting on the couch, and announced, “Your school mother is on the line.”
Olivia cheerfully collected his phone and greeted her joyously, “Hello, School mother. It is good to hear from you.”
“Wow! I am pleased to hear from you, too. Congratulations, my dear. I hope that you are strong?”
“Yes, School mother. I am strong.”
“I like that. Remember to avoid any form of stress.
“It is all right. Thank you for your concern.”
“You are welcome. Always take your routine drugs religiously. You got it?”
“I got it, School Mother. How is your family?”
“My family is fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Take care. I will keep in touch.”
“It is all right, School Mother.”
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Afterward, she handed the phone back to her husband, who was pleased with himself for marrying a woman that his family members would be proud of.
“Hello, Big sister,” he greeted her again.
“Yes. Denise, please take care of her. I am proud of you.”
“I will. Thank you, Sister.”
“You are welcome. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
(Cut)
When the call ended, he cast a passionate glance at his chubby wife and whispered, “You are in safe hands, my dear. Okay?”
“Thank you, for assuring me, Hubby.”
Now, she walked to the television and attempted to turn it on while Denise returned to the family platform. He noticed that Louis had not commented, and that gave him some worries.
‘What is the problem with my little brother? Could he…?”
“Hubby, your favorite program.” Olivia interrupted his reverie and declared
She joined him on the couch and he cheered up at once. He focused on the television while he rested his head on her thighs.
After a few moments, Caleb announced, “Boss, Madam, the lunch is ready.”
“It is all right. Thank you, Caleb.”
“Thank you, Caleb.”
“Don’t mention, Boss. Don’t mention Madam.”
Denise looked at his wife and asked her, “Would you like to have your lunch now, or after the television program?”
“After the television program, please,” she answered and pulled his nose.
“It is all right,” Denise accepted and they continued with the program.
Meanwhile, Denise was still worried about his brother’s silence on the family platform. Then, he excused himself, “I will be back, My Angel.”
“It’s all right,” Olivia responded without looking away from the television.
He walked to the guest room and discovered that Louis was around on the wedding day. Not only that, he dressed up for the wedding. The epiphany baffled him the more.
“Why did he dress up and was not at the registry?” He asked himself bitterly.
Then, he picked up the suit, dusted off the dust, and put it back into the suit bag before he hung it in the wardrobe. Afterward, he walked back to the sitting room and joined his wife.
A few minutes later, John, announced, “Mrs. Anderson and her family are here.”
“Wow!” Denise and Olivia screamed in unison and got up to meet them.
Before they got to the door, Daniel had gotten into the house before his parents.
“Uncle Denise,” he screamed and ran into his outspread arms.
Denise lifted him and gave him a peck.
“It is good to see you, Daniel. How is school?”
“Good to see you, too Uncle Denise. School is fine.”
“That is good to hear.”
Olivia who was standing beside Denise, when he sighted her and greeted her immediately, “Aunt Olivia, I am happy to see you,”
“How are you, Daniel?” Olivia asked him cheerfully.
“I’m fine, thank you. And you?”
“I’m fine, thank you. Where are Mom and Dad?”
When Daniel was about to respond, his parents walked in.
“Wow! Angel, you look good,” Freya greeted her happily.
“Thank you for the compliment, Auntie Freya.”
“You are welcome. How are you?”
“I’m fine. I can see you are good.”
Phil greeted her, too, before he faced Denise and declared, “Welcome to the league of married men. I am happy for you.”
“Thank you, Brother-in-law. I appreciate all your support. Please, take your seat.”
Phil took his seat. Denise did the same and Daniel sat in between them, while Freya and Olivia took their seats on another couch. Then, Freya began to lecture Olivia on the dos and don’ts of pregnancy.
Just then, Denise remembered the lunch and asked them, “Shall we move over to the dining table, please?”
“Sure,” Phil responded and got up.
At once, they moved over to the dining table. Without delay, Freya called out, “Caleb.”
“Yes, Mrs. Anderson,” he answered and walked out of the kitchen to meet her
“Did you prepare the protein-based food and herbal soup I asked you to prepare for her?” she inquired
“I did, Mrs. Anderson.”
“That is good.”
Now, Denise and Olivia exchanged glances and concentrated on their meal again. It happened that after Denise posted on the family platform that they were returning as expectant parents, Freya called Caleb and instructed him on the meal to prepare. Then, he concluded that Olivia must be pregnant and that prompted what he said some minutes ago, which he was unable to explain the source. Just like most humans, he wanted to take the credit.
At The Bailey’s Native Home
Arthur got back after work, and his driver stopped him at Nichole’s Apartment, who had gotten back home earlier than him.
“You can leave. She will bring me back home,” he informed his driver.
“It is all right, Boss,” The driver responded before he drove off.
The janitor informed Nichole that he was around and she walked to the door to receive him.
“Welcome home, dear,” he hugged and greeted him.
“Thank you, Nichole. How was your day?” He asked and released her.
“My day was fine. And yours?”
“Fine. Thank you.”
They walked into the parlor and sat on the couch. After a while, she got up and asked him, “I will get tea for us. Is that okay by you?”
“I don’t mind,” he accepted.
She walked to the kitchen and instructed the chef, “Kindly serve tea for two.”
“It is noted, Mrs. Bailey,” she answered nervously.
Nichole stopped in her tracks and searched her countenance.
When she noticed that she was restless, she asked her, “Is anything the matter with you, Tricia?”
“No. Mrs. Bailey. Nothing is the matter with me,” she answered with a fake smile but Nichole was not convinced.
“Then take a rest. I will serve the tea,” she ordered her and inched towards the pantry.
“I apologize, Mrs. Bailey,” Tricia stated.
She looked at her and smiled before she repeated, “I will serve the tea. Okay? Just take a rest,” she ordered with a firmer voice.
She paused and watched her walk out of the kitchen. Afterward, she served the tea and sat beside Arthur on the double-seat couch.
They were chatting over the tea, when he inquired, “Have you spoken with Denise?”
“No. I feel we should do that together.”
“It is okay.”