Once You've Tasted Love

Chapter 53

The next morning I was up early. Gary was too, he had to be at rehearsals by nine.

"Gary?" I asked as I finished getting ready.

"Mhm?" He looked at me with raised eyebrows. 

"Can you help me please? I need to use your printer, and that for your computer, and I don't want to use that without you, you know I’m not bad with computers, but there are important things on there and I’m kind of afraid of accidentally deleting something." 

"Yeah sure, what for?"

I shrugged "Need to print out my resignation." 

Gary’s eyes opened wide "You were serious?"

I smiled "Of course I was! I would never lie to you about such things!" 

He grinned at me "That tour is going to be amazing!" 

I bit my lip "Yeah... But to be honest I'm not quite sure if that won't be even more stressful for me." 

"I promise you, you won't be stressed with anything. We will fly everywhere in the jet and only have the best accommodation." 

I sighed "Gary, that's not the problem. I'm worried about not getting enough sleep and flying basically every day. It's stress for the body. But, I will ask my doctor what she thinks okay?"

He nodded "Yeah, that'll be the best." 

I kissed him on the temple and said "Don't worry. I promise you that I'll attend at least every gig in the UK. Including Belfast."
-----

I got into work and Louise immediately looked at me expectantly. I hugged her and gave her a weak smile "Suppose you'll have to work on your own again for a while..." 

"So you'll do it?" 

"Yeah. It's better that way." 

"Promise we'll stay in touch?" 

I laughed "Of course! You were one of my bridesmaids! You're one of my besties!" 

She smiled at me and hugged me. 

"And it’s not as if I’m stopping from one day to the other, at least I hope so."

I went into my boss' office, my heart race was high, higher than a year ago when I had my job interview, I suppose. I knocked at the door and then went inside, smiling weakly, my resignation in my hand. "Good morning Felix."

He smiled "Oh, good morning Clara! Congratulations on the wedding!"

I nodded and smiled "Thank you." 

"What can I do for you?" 

I cleared my throat "Well, actually...I'm pregnant." 

"Wow! Congrats!" 

I sighed "Thanks. And yeah...I'm sorry, I really am, but...I have to hand in my resignation." 

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. But I can understand it. I have to say, we're going to miss you. You were a great member of our team." 

"I'll miss it too. It was a real pleasure to work here." We agreed that I'd have my last day on Friday.

At lunchtime I decided to call my doctor, to ask her for advice about the tour. End of the story: I had to go for a check tomorrow. Great. What one does for the hubby, right? But then again, having to go for a check meant that I could see our baby and that was something I was very excited for.
------

I got back home and was met with snores that came out of the living room. This was class. Gary laying on his back, mouth open, sleeping, his one arm hanging off the sofa, his other arm resting on his chest, Hugo laying on his lap, sleeping and snoring just as much. I had to smile, and yes, I might have taken a sneaky picture. I went to go and cook something.

"Mhmmm...smells delicious in here! Hello Honey. How was your day?" Gary came in a while later and gave me a kiss as usual.

I smirked "Good, Thanks. How was your day? Sensing the INTENSE nap you had it was exhausting?" 

Gary blushed at my words "It was. And yeah it was good."

"My boss responded quite well, by the way."

"Oh did he?" 

I nodded “I have my last day on Friday. Oh and I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow at 6." 

Gary smiled "Please, can I come with you?"

I grinned "If you want, sure!" 

"Good. I'll pick you up at work."
------

Like he said, Gary picked me up the next day at work to go with me for my appointment. "Honey, I'm so excited!" 

I laughed at Gary "I can see it. I am too. And I'm nervous too., if I’m honest.”  

We got to the doctors and I was greeted again by the nurse "Good evening!"

"Hello. I've got an appointment? Barlow." I smiled as I said my new name for the first time. 

"Ah yes. Please follow me." Gary and I took place in the room where the ultrasound was and soon the doctor came in. 

"Hello Clara. Mr. Barlow."

"Gary please." 

She shook both our hands and didn't seem starstruck at all. Maybe she was used to seeing stars? "So, Clara, everything alright so far?"

I smiled "Yes, thank you."

"Let's have a look at your baby first, then we can go through your questions, is that okay?" 

I nodded.

As she did the ultrasound she asked "You are nearly 10 weeks now, right?"

"Yeah. 9 weeks gone."

She nodded „Good. So, here is your baby. Just so that you can imagine, it's as big as a strawberry now. Everything looks fine and healthy." 

Gary had a shit-eating grin on his face and looked down at me. I smiled at him, I was so happy about seeing him so happy.

We sat back down and the doctor cleared her throat "So, what is the question?“

"I wanted to ask for advice. Gary is going on tour in Europe and I would really like to go with him, but I don't want to risk anything with the baby." 

She nodded "As I said, everything seems fine. As long as you promise me to go and see a doctor as soon as there are ANY complications or stuff, and you Gary, promise me not to put her under too much stress and make sure she gets enough rest, I wouldn't see a reason for you not to go."

I smiled and Gary squeezed my hand "Thank you!"

"Oh, and I don't know how the tour plan's going to look like, but if you aren't in the UK for the 12 week scan, we could do it when you're about 14 weeks or so too, but we shouldn’t wait too long with it."

I nodded "Okay. Thanks."

Back home we sat down on the sofa, relaxing together. "You happy Gary?"

He nodded "Very. This is surreal."

I sighed happily "I know. Where has this year gone?"

"I don't know. Seems like yesterday I met you in the park." 

I had to giggle a bit at the memory "Back then, I would have never imagined to be your wife and pregnant with your child in a years time..."

"But I'm glad it turned out the way it did. I love you. Forever."

"I love you too."