Chapter 55 - Cheers

Chapter 55  Cheers

The party is about to start. Erica, Inéz,  Carlotta and my parents are here for dinner. Ben and my dad are laughing while they are roasting the meat. Erica raises her glass. “Happy Birthday Lynn.” She raises her glass of wine and the others follow. “Happy 25th birthday my love.” Ben gives me a kiss and the others hug me. “25” I mutter. “I am getting old.” I shudder.

“If YOU are old, what does that make me?” Ben asks and I grin. “27.” I reply. We all laugh. I am the youngest of all and the only one that isn’t smoking or drinking.

Theo is chasing rabbits in the garden and begs for a piece of meat every now and then.
I’m having the time of my life.

The party is a great success but I am exhausted by the time everyone has left. “Let’s get up early tomorrow and clean up.” Ben says. But I shake my head. “I want to clean un now,  quickly, so I can lie in a little tomorrow.”

We quickly bring the dirty dishes, bowls and glasses inside and head to bed.

Theo is following me wherever I go. He crawls next to me when I’m finally in bed and lays his head on my belly. He howls softly and I stroke his head. “You will not be forgotten sweet Theo.” I assure him. He howls one more time, lifts his head and curls up next to me.

I guess this is his way to greet the little one in my belly. I turn on my side and fall asleep.

The next day is filled with lots of guests who come to celebrate my birthday. Today is my actual birthday and my parents drop by to hand me my present.  They bought me a gorgeous green stroller which can be used for babies as well as toddlers.

I buzz around the garden to make sure everyone is happy. Take care of drinks and food where necessary and occasionally kiss Ben when I pass him.

The garden and the house is empty just before dinner time. My parents are the last to leave with the promise they will come back for dinner tomorrow.

Ben takes off to walk Theo and I go inside.
My feet are sore. I kick off my shoes and plop on the couch.

I look at all the presents I revieved. Most of them are baby related. Baby clothes, bottles, pacifiers and stuffed animals.
The parents at work all joined in to buy a three hundred  euro gift card for baby furniture.

I’m such a spoiled girl.

This was one of the best birthdays ever.

Ben returns and plops down next to me. I lean against him. “Thank you for the great day.” I say. “This is the first time we have spend your birthday together.” He laughs.

I look up at him. “Which reminds me, that I totally forgot about YOUR birthday.” I gasp. It suddenly crosses my mind that he had his birthday three days after I was released from prison. “I can’t believe I forgot. And I can’t believe you never mentioned it.” I slap his arm.

“Never mind. I will celebrate it twice next year. Hmk?” He says, but I am not satisfied with that answer. “Technically it will be your twenty-seventh and a half birthday in August. Can we celebrate your twenty-seventh and half birthday then?” I clap my hands enthusiastically and Ben laughs. “If you want me to celebrate my twenty-seventh and a half birthday, then let’s do so.” He gives me a kiss on my cheek and I cheer.

I love parties.

Even though I will be 6 months pregnant then.

“Speaking of parties. Aren’t there some things we need to arrange for a wedding day in October?” Ben asks and I raise my eyebrow. “I am due in November. I don’t think I will find a wedding dress big enough to fit my belly if we get married in October.” I mutter. “What about the fourth of October?” He asks. “I will still be big.” I grumble. “But probably less big than you will be on the 30th.” Ben grins and I have to admit that he might have a point.

“Okay, the fourth of October it is.” I clap my hands again.

More parties!.

“We will talk about it more tomorrow. But now I really need sleep. Are you coming with me?” Ben gets up from the couch and I reach out my hands. He grabs them and pulls me up straight. “I wonder if I can still carry you.” He grins and turns his back to me. “Hop on.”

I giggle and wrap my legs and arms around him. “This is the first time I have given two people a piggyback ride at the same time.” He laughs when he stumbles up the stairs with me on his back.

I can’t stop laughing and it takes me a lot of strength to keep on holding him. He gently drops me on the bed and I am still giggling. My dress shoved up above my hips. Ben looks down on me, his eyes are dark with lust and I bite my lip.

“Can we… Is it possible… Is it dangerous?” Ben stammers when I  try to pull him on top of me.
“We did it before.” I frown. “But your stomach, it’s bigger now. Won’t I crush the baby?” He is still backing away from me.  And I giggle.
“Of course not.” His worries are touching, but for now I desperately want to get laid. “The hormones are driving me crazy. I am horny all the time.” I confess and his eyes get bigger.
“Really?” He asks.

“Shut up, come here and kiss me.” I manage to finally pull him on top of me. He lifts his weight off of me a bit but he does what I demand. His lips crush mine.

He never been so gentle with me and I have to admit that I like him being so gentle and careful.

We slowly make love and fall asleep in each others arms.

The alarm clock is ringing way too early. I growl and throw the blankets off of me. The moment I swing my legs out of the bed I feel the nausea coming up. “Not again.” I growl and run to the bathroom.

That’s been a while.

I drag myself to work. Inéz sees me stumbling inside with a pale face. “Are you okay Lynn?” She asks. “Not counting the party overdose, lack of sleep and some morning sickness. Yes, I am.” I yawn and rub my eyes. The smell of coffee and baby poop makes me feel nauseous again but I manage to keep it in.

“We really need to find someone to replace you.” Inéz says. “Someone we can call when you are not feeling well too.” She continues.

“I am okay, really.” I’ll say quickly. “I just go sit outside with the oldest kids to play and get some fresh air.”

My stomach treats me mean for the rest of the day. I keep throwing up and Inéz eventually sends me back to bed. “I will handle it here. You get some sleep and take care of that little one in there.”

I grumble but do what she tells me to. I stumble back to the bedroom and crawl in bed.

“Lynn, are you home?” Bens’ voice from downstairs wakes me up from my dream. I turn on my back and kick away the blankets.
The bed feels wet. I must have been sweating badly. I swing my legs out of the bed and turn around to pull the covers back on the bed.

I stop breathing for a moment.

That’s not sweat in the bed.

It’s too wet for only sweat.

Blood?