Chapter 80- A question
Soft music was playing in the background inside the Atlantis. The dim lighting in the restaurant was setting the mood for a long romantic night.
While seated near the glass wall, Tessa was able to watch a variety of fish swimming by in the aquarium next to them.
For this dinner, she was in an emerald flowy chiffon gown. It was one-shoulder and cinched at the waist with emerald stones. She wore transparent pointed stilettos on her feet.
She had left her hair to flow in deep wavy curls, cascading down her shoulders like a waterful. Her makeup was simple with only a light pink gloss on her lips. Her look was simple, yet classy and breathtaking.
Aaron thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in this world. He was in a beige two-piece suit, a white shirt underneath, and brown shoes.
A smile crossed his lips as he watched Tessa talk happily. The smile on her face brought warmth to his heart… he vowed in his heart to always make her smile that way.
He couldn’t help but recall their youngest child who looked just like Tessa.
‘I would like to have more girls who look like my wife,’ he thought silently.
He glanced at her and suggested they have more children, flooring Tessa altogether.
Tessa’s mouth dropped to the floor and her eyes grew into the size of dinner plates. She couldn’t believe her ears. “T-ten? Why would you want all those children?”
Aaron chuckled at her reaction. He took a sip of his wine and said, “I want a big family and the kids you gave me are too beautiful. I want more… But don’t worry. I was just joking when I said I want ten. Having one more is ok. I want to experience having a newborn because I never got to be with you during your first pregnancy. I missed out a lot.”
His voice became low towards the end and a pang of guilt shot through Tessa’s chest. Hiding her pregnancy from Aaron will always be something she will regret and feel guilty about for a
while.
Luckily, the kids were still young and had bonded with their father. What would have happened if Tessa and Aaron didn’t see each other again and the kids ended up resenting their father for not being present in their lives? Tessa shuddered at the thought.
She pursed her lips and replied, “We can have one more child. Maybe a year later? What do you think?”
Aaron’s eyes lit up. He eagerly claimed, “That is perfectly fine! I’m sure the triplets will be happy to have a sibling.”
Tessa smiled and agreed. “Yeah… they are grown now. I’m sure they will love their baby sister or brother.”
The couple discussed the names they would consider once they got pregnant and had a fourth child. For Aaron, this was exciting because it was his first time trying to pick out a name for his child. Since he didn’t get to name the triplets when they were born, Tessa promised that he would give their child a name once they had them.
A few minutes later, Tessa suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen and winced, clutching her stomach.
Aaron noticed this and panicked, his stomach twisting. He got up from his seat and rushed to her side. He got down on his haunches and looked at her worriedly, asking, “What’s wrong? Are you ok? What’s hurting?”
For a moment, Tessa felt like someone was ripping her guts out from the inside out. Her face grimaced in pain for a few seconds and then, the pain suddenly disappeared. She breathed out in relief and glanced at Aaron, answering, “I’m fine, babe. I think I’m having pre-period cramps. Strangely, I haven’t had those in a while after giving birth.”
Aaron’s eyebrows knitted. He wasn’t convinced because Tessa’s face was contorted in pain just a moment earlier. He cupped her cheek and asked, “Are you sure you’re ok? Let’s go to the hospital and have you checked out.”
“It’s ok. This is normal. I’ve been through worse. A little period pain won’t kill me,” Tessa said, smiling.
To her, going to the hospital for period cramps wasn’t necessary because the pain wasn’t so intense for her. A hot water bottle and some tea would suffice.
“I don’t want to see you in any kind of pain, cupcake. We need to find a way to stop your cramps even if they are mild. When are your pees due?” Aaron was not letting it go.
“A week from now. Don’t worry, I’m sure the pain won’t come back. Let’s enjoy our
honeymoon in peace,” Tessa remarked, not wanting Aaron to worry.
Aaron sighed and nodded. He got up and kissed the top of her head and added, “Let me know if the pain returns. I’ll take you to the hospital immediately.”
Tessa chuckled and shook her head. She was grateful for the care she was receiving from Aaron. Could she be referred to as a lucky woman? This was more than luck… Finding a man who loves you more than anything in the world was a blessing.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Michelle and Graham had agreed to meet up in town before going to the dinner they had invited their parents to in the evening.
They were going to announce their upcoming marriage together. Since they were once
engaged, they knew their parents wouldn’t have a problem with it. If anything, they would be happy because they wanted both families to be connected to each other through marriage.
Graham was in a sage green-fitting golf t-shirt and black pants. He wore shades as he stood. next to his jeep, waiting for Michelle to arrive in the parking lot at the shopping mall.
Michelle used a cab because they would spend the day together, so there was no need of using a separate car. When she spotted Graham at a distance, her heart raced erratically.
He looked so hot and attractive. His buzzcut, his muscular body… she drooled over him as the cab got closer to him.
When she got there, Graham approached them and before she knew what was happening, he paid the cab fare for her. He then opened the back door and held out his hand to her.
Michelle frowned. She glanced at him and said, “I can pay for my own cab fare.”
Graham smirked and replied, “I know. But what kind of man will I be if I let you pay for it? I don’t care if you’re richer than me, Michy. I’ll take care of my woman.
Michelle’s heart skipped a beat and her face flushed. She secretly fanned herself and then asked, “Why did you want to see me before the dinner?”
“There’s something I need to tell you. I don’t know how you will take it… I had tried to postpone it to a few years later but it’s not possible,” Graham said as he led her into the shopping mall.
His voice was gentle but he was saying those words with a serious face. Michelle couldn’t help but think the worst. A bad feeling suddenly settled in the pits of her stomach.
‘Has he changed his mind? Does he just want to co-parent and not get married?’ Her mind raced with thoughts.
She swallowed anxiously and followed his lead. When they entered a baby shop, Michelle glanced at Graham and remarked, “It’s not the time to buy baby clothes yet.”
Graham chuckled. He arched an eyebrow at her and said, “For me, the right time was the moment I heard I am going to be a father. I want to get my little one a gift and I want to be the first one.”
Michelle’s heart fluttered. She followed Graham and watched as he took his time checking through the clothes. The smile on his face as he picked their child’s clothes was breathtaking.
He finally picked a onesie that had the words, ‘Daddy loves me!!’ and a pair of denim shoes. He then faced Michelle and sought, “How’s this for our little prince?”
At that moment, Michelle fell for him a little more. Her eyes watered and she ended up blinking back her tears. She smiled and replied, “It’s perfect.”
A few minutes later, they left the shop after getting a few other things. Graham was excited, he got a stroller, a baby cot and baby blankets. He then asked the shop owners to deliver the
things to his penthouse in the City. He would take them to the military base after they get married since that was where he would live with Michelle.
“Are you hungry? Let me buy you lunch,” Graham offered as they walked in the direction of a
Mexican restaurant.
He grabbed her hand and led her inside. At first, Michelle thought she wouldn’t be able to eat because of her morning sickness. However, she ended up finishing five tacos.
Graham kept watching her the whole time. He even gave her his tacos and she immediately gobbled them up. A deep chuckle left his lips and Michelle glanced at him, frowning.
“What’s funny? I’m eating for two.”
Graham shook his head and responded, “Nothing. I’m just happy that you are finally eating something. I noticed that you ate a lot of tacos at the wedding so I realised they are your favorite food at the moment. Or maybe our baby loves tacos.”
Michelle blushed and replied, “Yes, it’s the baby. Come to think of it, the baby wants two more tacos. Order more for us please?”
Graham immediately called the waiter and ordered more tacos for her. He remarked, ”
Anything for the two of you.”
The two of them shared a hearty lunch. Since it was a weekend, they took a walk in the park. and sat under a tree.
It was a warm day with a slight breeze blowing every now and then.
“What is it that you wanted to say?” Michelle asked Graham after a few minutes.
Her stomach was in a knot the entire time they were together. She couldn’t help but ask because she couldn’t take the suspense anymore.
Silence befell them and Graham looked up at the sky. He then dropped the bomb, “I’ll be leaving the Country for two years.”
Michelle’s stomach twisted. She glanced at her fingers and fiddled with them, her heart sinking.
“When?” She asked in a low voice.
“Four weeks from now. I couldn’t postpone it and I have a duty to serve the Country. However, I want us to get married before I leave.”
Michelle’s eyes stung with tears. With a croaked voice, she questioned, “A month? Andy didn’t think of letting me know?”
How could he suggest getting married when he knew he would be leaving soon? Michelle thought they would spend some time together before he embarked on his missions.
“This is why I didn’t want to get close to you. The nature of my job requires that I leave everything behind and serve the Country at any time. I didn’t want to be that man who leaves his wife behind. But I can’t take you with me either,” Graham said with pain laced in his voice.
He didn’t like the way Michelle sounded hurt. This was what he was trying to avoid… They were not even married yet but he was already making her unhappy. Nonetheless, he didn’t want to give up on her. Now that he had given in, he couldn’t live without her.
Graham wanted to do everything he could to make the relationship work.
“So… I’m going to have the baby alone?” Michelle remarked, a pang of pain shooting through her.
“No, you’re not. I’ll be your husband. My parents will be there for you while I’m away and I’ll find ways to communicate with you every day… I wanted to ask you something…” Graham suddenly got down on his knee, causing Michelle’s eyes to widen.
He took out a white box and opened it, revealing an expensive diamond ring. Michelle gasped and covered her mouth with her palm, “Graham, are you-”
“This ring has been in my family for a hundred years. It’s a betrothal gift that the men in my family give to the women they love. Michelle, I want to marry you and grow old with you. My life would be meaningless without you.
I know I’ll be away most of the time, but I promise to cherish every moment that I’m with you. I’ll love you like tomorrow will never come. Men in my family only love one woman. So you see, Michelle, without you, there can be no one else. This is why I’m on my knees humbly asking you this… Will you wait for me?”
