Page 53 of Forever

“Nothing.”

Anabel’s eyes look at me, furrow appearing between her brows. “Nothing?”

“Nothing,” I agree, getting on my knees before her so we’re at the same level. Her bathroom is too small for this shit, but I’m not going out of here before I get my message across. I take her hands in mine, my lips kissing the inside of her wrists.

“We’re continuing how we planned.” With one hand, I lift her chin so I know she’s getting every word I say. “You’re packing and coming with me to the States. We’ll get married in a few weeks like we were supposed to, and we’ll go on our honeymoon before I leave for training camp.”

“What about the b-baby?” she stutters the last word out, almost like she’s afraid of it. Blue eyes grow wide.

What color will be our baby’s eyes? Brown like mine or blue like Bel’s?

“What about the baby? If I’m not mistaken, we still have some time before the baby comes to prepare everything.” I shrug. “But first and most important of all, you have to start eating. I don’t think it’s healthy for you or the baby that you’ve lost so much weight.”

“I should probably go and see the doctor. Maybe something isn’t right.” Her eyes, fill with tears look at me. “What if something isn’t right? What if all this throwing up was a sign but I kept ignoring it and now it’s …”

Her fear fills the whole bathroom. It’s so palpable I could take it in my hand and put it in a bottle.

My hands wrap around her, and I lift her in my arms. Her arms and legs hold onto me tightly, her face buried in my neck crying silent tears.

“Shh … You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“What if I did? We can’t know that,” she protests.

“I just know it. You wouldn’t do anything to hurt our baby.”

“Our baby.”

Anabel lifts her head to look at me. Her face is stained with tears, but her lips form a little O in surprise. I guess she really didn’t allow herself to think about the possibility of being pregnant before.

“Our baby.” I smile reassuringly, kissing her nose. “But you should call your doctor and arrange the visit. Just to make sure everything is okay. Or we could call your mom, or my mom and see with them.”

She shakes her head no. “I don’t want to tell anybody yet. Everything can happen and with the wedding, it’s just too much. Besides, I want this baby to be just ours for a little while longer.”

My hand covers her stomach instantly. Her much smaller hands settle over mine and give me a squeeze. There is no bump just yet, only a slight curve to her tummy. Or maybe it’s just my wishful thinking because in my head I can see Anabel carrying my baby. Her stomach round and her breasts full. She’ll look even more beautiful than before.

“Ours.”

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