Fulfillment(24)

I made it just in time, but gagged every time I pictured or thought about cheese. No, I love cheese. It’s not fair! I could so knock back a freakin’ glass of gin right now! I sulked for a bit then opened the door to the bathroom. Jen was standing just outside and as I opened the door, she pushed her way in, locking it behind her.

“Hey! It’s fine, I’m fine. The cheese just smelled awful. Could you smell it?” My acting was far from Academy Award worthy.

“No, it smelled fine, but then again, I’m not the one who is pregnant, am I?” Jen placed her hands on my shoulders and pierced me with her all too knowing eyes.

Look away, Alexis. Look away. Fuck, she knows.

“No, you’re not...,” I replied, “I am.”





CHAPTER SEVEN





“Alexis Elizabeth Summers,” was all Jen could say as she pulled me in for a hug—then pushed me out again to search my eyes—then pulled me back in again.

“It wasn’t planned, Jen,” I mumbled into her chest. “I completely forgot to take my pill during that week I spent with Bryce. I know it’s no excuse, but I was so head-fucked at that point that it just completely slipped my mind.”

“Does he know?” she asked, concerned.

“Who? Bryce? Or Rick?”

“Oh shit, Lexi! Whose baby is it?”

“Calm down, Jen. It’s Bryce’s baby, and yes, he does know. He couldn’t be happier. We are both really happy. Obviously, I had no plans at this stage in my life to have another baby. But, it happened, and we are both really excited about it.”

She stood there stunned for a moment then smiled brightly. “Well, in that case, congratulations.” She hugged me again. “How far along are you?”

“Approximately nine weeks.”

“Are you planning on telling Mum and Dad anytime soon? Because if you keep doing that...” she pointed to my hand which I had subconsciously placed on my belly in a rubbing circular motion, “...then you are going to give yourself away.” Oh shit!

“No, not yet. We are going to wait a little while longer. The kids don’t even know. Only you and Bryce do.”

“Okay, well in that case stop doing that.” She pulled my hand away from my stomach. “Oh wow, Lexi, you’re having another baby.” She took hold of my other hand and held both of them in front of us. We both beamed at each other and did a stupid little run on the spot while squealing, just like we had when she found out she was having twins. “You are seriously going to have one of the cutest babies ever!”

I laughed. “I know.”

Jen and I composed ourselves before leaving the bathroom, and I suddenly felt terrible for leaving Bryce alone for such a long time. My concern about him feeling awkward without my presence, however, appeared to be ridiculously unwarranted. Because, when I made my way back into the Kitchen area, Bryce was in the middle of helping Mum prepare the roast chicken. Well...help was probably the wrong word, he was actually in control and giving her lessons in what appeared to be the stuffing process. He looked up and caught me smirking at him but that soon changed as I took in the sight of his hand inside the carcass—my vomit-express threatening another departure from stomach-station.

“Are you alright?” he asked, trying to sound concerned but knowing very well why I was sick.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I think it may have been a bit of delayed motion or travel sickness from the chopper ride. I felt a bit yuck when we were in the air.”

“You’re supposed to grow out of that, Alexis,” Mum grumbled. “We could never take her anywhere when she was younger,” she explained to Bryce.

I screwed my face up at the molested chicken. “Um...I think I might go outside for some air. Where are the kids?”

“Where they always are...on the tractor with your father.”

I nodded and pointed to the door, indicating I was hauling my arse out of there and away from the gut-wrenching chicken.

***

After Bryce had helped Mum in the kitchen, he offered to take both her and Dad up in the helicopter for the aerial view Dad had requested. Jen and Steven were sitting on the front porch with me, the twins were still blissfully asleep along with Olivia, and Nate and Charli had taken the quad bikes out in one of the paddocks. Sitting on Mum and Dad’s veranda on an autumn afternoon was simply divine. Our childhood home, which was a large, solid brick ranch-styled house with a tin roof and a veranda that circled all the way around the building, sat atop the highest point on the property, and being that it was situated on a hill, allowed you to experience one of the most stunning panoramic views of the valley. It really was picturesque and peaceful. Well, peaceful until the loud hum of an engine roared in the distance, getting louder as it approached the house.