Kissing his mouth gently, I press my body against his, wanting to absorb his pain.
“I love you, Gwenny. Don’t ever,” he pulls back and looks me in the eyes, “forget that. No matter what. Okay?”
I frown, nodding. “What’s gotten into you lately? You seem on edge and you’re always coming out with weird things that you wouldn’t normally say.”
He shrugs. “It’s probably the excitement of becoming a dad. Sorry if I’ve seemed...” Now he’s smiling. “Weird? Is that the right word?”
“You’re always weird. Maybe it’s because for once you’ve actually been acting normal.”
“Cheeky,” he chuckles and forces me to straddle his lap on the high stool. “Let me take you to bed and remind you how weird I am.”
“I don’t think I need reminding, but I’ll gladly play along and pretend I do.”
******
Two weeks go by and I’ve finally told my boss I’m pregnant now that I’m starting to get a bump. I show up for work late due to Caleb being ill. His migraine has him stuck in bed, his face under the covers. I feel bad for him and want to stay at home to look after him, but I can’t. We need all of the money we can get.
My boss, Derrick of Chicago’s, is really understanding thankfully. He even gives me a hug and congratulates me which is nice.
Work is boring and I’m sick of everyone asking me where Caleb is. He’s at home! Obviously. Why is it anyone’s business? If it was me that was off they wouldn’t be panicking, they’d be trying it on with my fiancée. I know this because Sasha comes in with a group of girls every Wednesday. I don’t work Wednesday nights. She tells me about the group of women who constantly surround him, but he brushes them off as much as he can.
You’d think the news of our engagement and the pregnancy would warn them off, but some of them try even harder than they did before. It drives me around the bend.
Fortunately I have complete trust in Caleb so I’m not worried at all. It’s just irritating. It stresses him out too.
When I finally make it home, I climb into the shower and afterwards I snuggle up with my poorly, soon to be husband in bed. He instantly wraps himself around me, bringing my face to his neck.
“Marry me,” he whispers as I place my hands against his feverish skin.
“You’re burning up.” I try and pull away so I can get his medicine.
He doesn’t let me. He just looks in my eyes in the dark; they’re serious, extremely serious. “I want to marry you on Wednesday.”
“What?”
“Please. Just do this for me. I’ve already made the appointment. Two PM on Wednesday. I wanted tomorrow, but tomorrow was taken. We’re going to Gretna Green; it’ll be a road trip.”
“That’s impossible! It takes time. We have things to post and declare. You can’t just get married in two days. What’s wrong with you?” I snap and pull myself free of his arms. “Let me get you something to bring down that fever.”
“You’re not fucking listening!” He exclaims suddenly and sits bolt upright in bed. He winces and presses his hands to his head. “I need you to marry me, please. It’s simple. We can have a party in a couple of months but I want to make you my wife. I already did everything. I already posted everything. I started the day you agreed to marry me. I’m sure I did.”
Damn it. This is crazy. He’s delirious.
“Promise me!” He sounds out of breath.
I nod, not saying the words but sort of meaning them. “Okay.”
He sags back, his body too heavy for his lack of energy right now. I take this chance to rush into the bathroom and wet a lot of towels. When I place them over his skin, he cries out. My panic increases. “What’s wrong? What is it? I think I should call an ambulance.”
“No!” He almost shouts and his hand wraps around my wrist. “I’ll be fine in the morning; it’s just the flu or something.”
“I don’t know, Caleb,” I whisper and place a wet flannel on his forehead.
His eyes come to mine. “Please, Gwenny. No hospitals.”
I sigh and agree. He’s right, it’s probably nothing. I’ll just have to keep a close eye on him.
“I almost forgot,” he whispers and motions me closer. “Bring him here.”
Giggling, I move up the bed and bring my navel up to his face.
“Love you, baby Weston,” he says and I feel his lips press against my stomach. Seconds later he’s fast asleep and I’m changing the towels. His temperature is so high the water in the towels is now lukewarm. That’s crazy. Now I’m really worried.
The morning comes and Caleb is much better. His fever broke in the night and I know this because I didn’t sleep at all. I don’t want him to go to class and I’m shocked when he so easily agrees and spends the day with me in bed, watching movies and eating junk.
Then he reminds me of what he said last night and my heart starts racing. “We’re getting married on Wednesday.”
I roll him onto his back. “What’s the rush?”
“You’re pregnant with my son. I want to do this properly.”
I frown and think on it for a moment. I want to walk down an aisle in a stunning white dress. I want the after party and the confetti. I don’t want to get married at a registry office just for the sake of getting married.
He sees my thoughts churning and gives me a little shake. “I hate to pull this card…”
“What card?”
He rubs his hands over his face and flips us over so I’m on my back. “If you don’t marry me then I’ll think you don’t love me.”
Drama. “Stop being an idiot.”
His face falls and I see the desperation in his eyes. “Please, Gwenny. Please.”
Now I’m really panicked. “What’s going on Caleb?”
“Nothing…”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I had a dream,” he blurts and pecks me on the lips. “I had a really bad dream and I can’t remember it, but I know I want to marry you and I don’t want to waste another minute.”
“Damn it,” I groan and turn my head. “Fine. Fine. Wednesday we’ll get married.”
“You swear?”
“Ugh.”
“Swear it, Gwenny, or I’m never eating you again.”
My mouth falls open in horror. “You bastard.”
“Swear it.”
“Okay, okay, I swear it!”
The smile that lights up his face is mesmerising. He kisses me deeply before rolling back onto his back and pulling me tightly to him. “Love you, Gwenny.”
“Love you too.” Even though we’ve agreed, something in my gut just isn’t right. There’s something going on here and I want to ask him but I’ll give him time to get better first. He looks exhausted, sounds exhausted and is clearly unwell, even if his temperature has broken.
“Let’s just stay in bed until we get married,” he murmurs, his lids hooded and sleepy looking. “How does that sound?”
I nod. “I still have to work your shift though.”