What To Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection Part Two (198 page)

As the DJ announced we were going to dance our first dance as husband and wife, Garrett took my hand and walked me out onto the dance floor. The DJ played
“Gotten”
it was a song not many people had heard before but it was totally us. Garrett pulled me close and began to sing to me,
“You just get me like I’ve never been gotten before.”

About a month after the wedding came the day I was dreading. The day I had to say my tearful goodbyes to my mother and Nicole. Even though I was looking forward to spending the rest of my life with Garrett, I couldn’t help but feel like I was leaving a little piece of my heart behind with them. It has always been just my mother and me. I had never left my hometown let alone moved to another state. I couldn’t help but worry about her. I was all she had and thinking about her being alone brought tears to my eyes.

“You ready to go, Babe?” I jumped at his words and quickly wiped the tears from my eyes.

“Yes, just give me another minute,” I sniffed back my tears.

“What’s the matter? Why are you crying?”

“I can’t believe we are leaving tomorrow,” I said. “I am so excited to go, but I am going to miss my mom and Nicole.”

“Aww Babe,” he said rubbing my back. “They can come and visit whenever they want and you can Skype with them every day.” He smiled at me trying to cheer me up.

“I know. . . It’s just I have never been without either of them for longer than a week.”

“Come on, we gotta go or we are going to be late for dinner,” he said.

I
swear the flight to Oahu was the longest day of my life. I had never stepped foot on a plane let alone fly for over ten hours. Once we arrived and were all settled in our new place, Garrett had arranged almost a week off from work to show me around the island. He took me to Waikiki where we spent the day at the beach. We hiked Diamond Head, and even swam with the dolphins. He was right, Oahu was beautiful. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.

Our time together discovering the island had flown by so quickly, and before I knew it, Garrett was back to work and there was already talk of him leaving again. I was going to miss him like crazy, but I knew this was his job, and I had to accept it. While he was at work all day, I began adventuring out on my own trying to get familiar with my new surroundings and took my camera everywhere with me.

I began shooting pictures of the local children and one night over dinner Garrett suggested I try to start up my own photography business. He told me there would be no overhead costs since there was no need for a studio because we lived in paradise. At first, I laughed off the suggestion telling him he was crazy, but later that night while I was lying in bed, I began to think about it and the idea brought a smile to my face.

The last eight months went by like a blur. It was hard to believe we were living in Oahu. Garrett has been gone two weeks, and I’ve had many sleepless nights since he’s been away. I never sleep well when he’s not lying beside me. I was constantly worried that something was going to happen to him, even though he was only gone for training. I was selfish and wanted him home with me, safe. As I lay in our bed listening to the ocean waves crash in the distance, I could feel the dampness in the air from the ocean, and sometimes I swear I could taste salt in the air. My mind had been racing about so many things. When was he going to come home? How my new photography business was going to do? How long were we actually going to stay on this beautiful island?

There were days I actually had to pinch myself. I felt like I was living in a dream. So many things had happened in the past year, it made my head spin. All this thinking was making me tired, I could feel my eyelids get heavy, and I let sleep take me over.

I woke to feeling the bed move. “Garrett?” I said sleepily.

“Hey Babe, I didn’t mean to wake you. We got back early, I couldn’t stay away. Go back to sleep,” he whispered in my ear as he molded his body into mine. He nuzzled his head next to mine and wrapped his arms around me. I loved the way he held me. I felt so safe.

I moved away from his body, so I could roll over slightly to see his face. “I missed you,” I said, kissing his lips softly.

“I missed you too.” He took his hand and slowly moved it down my body until he reached my swollen belly. “How are my girls?” He said with a huge smile on his face.

I had just entered into my sixth month of pregnancy. The news of me being pregnant came as quite a shock. We had agreed for me to stop taking the pill and try to get pregnant, but neither of us dreamed it would happen within a few months. This time I was ready. I had my life in order and Garrett and I were ready for the next chapter in our lives.

When I had first realized I was late for my period I became nervous to tell him. I knew he wanted a baby right away, but I honestly didn’t think it was only going to take a couple of months for me to get pregnant.

This was the third day in a row I had woken up feeling sick to my stomach. At first, I thought it was because I had eaten so much fruit the night before. One of the luxuries of living in Hawaii was the produce. It was amazing. Once a week we went to a small farmer’s market in town, and I would spend a small fortune on fresh fruits and veggies. I had become a very good cook and Garrett was very impressed with my skills.

On the third morning of me waking up feeling like I was going to vomit, I tried to remember. When was the last time I had gotten my period? Garrett was already gone when I got up. He started going to the gym every morning before work. We had only been here a few months, and since we decided that I was going to stop the Pill, Garrett had grown even more of a sexual appetite than he already had. He told me he wanted me barefoot and pregnant. I just laughed and rolled my eyes at him.

When I had gone to my doctor and talked to him about stopping the Pill, he said that since I had been on it for almost five years, there was a good chance it could take up to a year to get pregnant. My heart sank a little over his words because I knew how badly Garrett wanted a baby. That very night after my doctor’s appointment Garrett was all over me, he wanted to make a baby, and we nearly had sex on our kitchen table. I had to convince him that it was unsanitary to fuck where we ate. I also didn’t have the heart to tell him it could take up to a year. I figured why not just having fun trying and it would happen, when it happened.

I slipped on a sundress and decided to bike into town to buy a pregnancy test. I figured it was probably going to be a waste of money since the doctor said a year, but I was definitely late. My bike ride was relaxing, and I loved feeling the ocean breeze on my face. I parked my bike outside the small grocery store and practically ran in.

I located the feminine product’s aisle quickly purchasing two different types of tests. I wanted to make sure they both read the same result. I checked out at the self-checkout line and made my way into the bathroom. I had to know immediately. I couldn’t wait the twenty minutes it took to get back home. I opened up both boxes and skimmed the directions. They both said the same, pee on the stick and wait five to ten minutes. Hovering over the toilet seat I peed on stick number one and then stick number two. I knew this was going to be the longest ten minutes of my life. I checked my watch and it read 9:25 a.m. Okay, Leila you can wait ten minutes, you are not that impatient.

I decided to text Nicole. She was the only one I was going to tell about this. I knew my mother would have the same reaction as Garrett and I didn’t want to hear it from her either.

Me—

Hey! Just wanted to let you know I just peed on two pregnancy test sticks. ;-)

As I sat in the bathroom stall waiting for her response my phone rang. I looked down and smiled. I hit the answer button and heard.

“YOU’RE PREGGERS!”

I began to laugh uncontrollably. “I said I was taking a test! I don’t know if I am pregnant or not. I have to sit here in the bathroom stall at the grocery store until the test gives me a plus or minus.”

“Eeew, why are you in the bathroom at the grocery store?” Nicole asked.

“Because I rode my bike into town and I couldn’t wait the twenty minutes it took to get back home,” I laughed. “Look, I wouldn’t get your hopes up too much the doctor said it could take up to a year.”

“I know you are knocked up, I can feel it. Garrett has been fucking you silly hasn’t he?”

I laughed, “Let’s just say he hasn’t gone very long without sex.”

“Oh my God! You guys are going to be parents. I think I’m going to cry.”

“Oh, please don’t cry. Then you are going to make me cry,” I begged her.

“What time did you take the test?” She asked.

“At 9:25.”

“And what time is it now?”

“It’s,” I looked down at my watch. “Oh God. . . It is time,” I said nervously. “Nicole, I’m scared. I don’t want to look.”

“What are you scared about? You are married to the most wonderful guy on the face of the planet. Well, besides Michael,” she laughed. “You’re living in freaking paradise and your husband makes a damn good living which means you don’t even need to work.” She paused for a minute waiting for my response. “So what’s the problem?”

She was completely right there was no reason for me to be worried about having a baby. I had the perfect life.

“Okay, I’m going to look,” I said taking a deep breath. I picked up the first test and saw a very faint plus sign and my heart skipped a beat. I then picked up the second test and clear as day it was a plus sign. “Oh my fucking God.”

“What? Leila! Will you freaking tell me!” Nicole yelled.

“I’m pregnant,” I whispered.

I then heard the loudest scream I had ever heard. I quickly pulled the phone from my ear, but I could still hear her screaming like a crazy person. I couldn’t help but laugh as I gently rubbed my belly. Relief, excitement and nervousness washed over me. How was I going to tell Garrett? I needed the perfect way.

“Nicole!” I yelled into the phone. “Will you please stop screaming.”

“Oh my God! I just can’t believe it,” she said over and over again.

“Will you stop saying that and listen to me. I need to come up with an idea on how to tell Garrett. Stop talking and think!” I said forcefully.

“Okay, let’s think,” she said. “Hhmm. Oh! I know. Go buy a #1 Daddy shirt and wear it when he comes home from work.”

“That’s a great idea! Nicole, you are a fucking genius,” I said smiling. “Alright, let me let you go so I can see if I can find a place that sells shirts like that or a place that can make one. I promise I will text you later after I tell him.”

“I’ll talk to you later, Momma,” she laughed.

I was still a little shocked at the results, but thrilled nonetheless. I slipped the pregnancy tests into my bag and headed to the front of the store to ask the cashier if she knew of a store. She directed me to a little boutique a few minutes down the road that sold high end baby clothes, cribs and maternity clothing.

I hopped on my bike and peddled down the street until I saw the sign for Le Bebe Boutique. I walked in and instantly the store had the calming effect. There was a faint hint of lavender in the air and soft lullabies playing in the background. I definitely didn’t belong here, and I was skeptical they carried what I was looking for. From behind a clothing rack I heard, “Hello, welcome to Le Bebe Boutique. Can I help you find anything?”

“Hi,” I smiled… “Actually, yes. I am looking for a #1 Daddy T-shirt or something like that. I just found out I am pregnant, and I want to surprise my husband when he gets home tonight.”

“Congratulations, that is so great,” the sales clerk said kindly. “We actually only have a few left. The owner has decided not to carry them anymore.”