“Sorry,” Shantra said, but she didn’t look very sorry. She jumped up and down with excitement. “It happened.”
Laithir was still glaring at the flicking tail of her cat who was trying to get the pen out from under the furniture. Why that stupid cat liked pens so much, he’d never understand. “I know it happened. It always happens, Shantra. Why won’t that thing chase after those stupid fake mice you bought him?”
Shantra looked over at Janus and laughed again. “Forget the pen. I have…”
“I need the pen. I have to sign those papers.”
“I’m pregnant,” she announced.
Laithir was still glaring. “Then you can…” he stopped, and looked back at her, her announcement finally sinking in.
He didn’t say anything for a long moment; then he looked down at the plastic stick in her hands. “You mean…”
“Yes!” and she showed him the stick with the positive sign on it. “We’re going to have a baby!” she told him, and then squealed when he lifted her into his arms and hugged her. She threw her arms around him; delighted and so excited she could barely stand it. “A baby! We’re going to have a baby!”
“You’re beautiful,” he told her, as he kissed her gently.
Shantra sighed, happier than she’d ever thought possible. “You’re the love of my life, Laithir,” she told him, as she kissed him back.
And as always happens when he touched her or kissed her, everything was focused on him, and her hand forgot to protect the plastic stick, falling to the floor.
Janus, on the other hand, flipped around, excited for a new, more accessible toy. He pounced on the stick immediately and…a moment later, the pregnancy test was flung under another piece of furniture with Janus staring at it as well, his tail flicking back and forth.
“That cat,” Laithir groaned. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like diamonds?” he offered out.
Shantra only laughed and kissed him again. Delighted with her life and her husband. And her cat.