Twins

A Baby for Lili

Three weeks have passed Lili still hadn't gotten her period, events like this is not unusual - she had missed periods before in times of heavy stress. She just let it pass by, whilst thinking at the back of her head that she might be pregnant. After all, she had quit taking the pills, and had been regularly having sex with Henry. Her biggest concern is not the pregnancy at all, it is her budding career in advertising.

Lili ignored her suspicion, and went about her day. Whilst Henry is getting on well in the equity company - managing portfolios and leading people. Meanwhile Harold had become an art appraiser after his History of Art and Management degree at University of St Andrews, far devoid from his twin.

Throughout the day Lili had peed a little more than usual, and her heart pounded fast as if her suspicions were true. Much as she wanted to have an abortion, the law is rather grey about its legality.

She went about her day and distracted herself with modern art in Tate Museum, and a quick swing by Harold's office - where's it more relaxed and accommodating.

'How's my favourite lady?' He smiled as he hugged her unofficial sister.

'I just needed some distraction,' she sighed in front of a David Hockney painting.

'Something wrong? Had a fight with my Twin? Before you answer that, coffee, tea, red wine, white wine, still water, sparkling water or champagne?'

'Wow you have a lot of drinks in your office,' her eyed widened with surprise and amazement.

'Art galleries, it's part of the public relations to the high-end buyers,' he smiled and helped himself with a glass bottle of still water.

'I'll have the still water too,' smiling as Lili checked out a new sculpture from an up and coming glass blowing artist Gina Rossi.

'What's up?' Harold asked, as they busied themselves looking at the painting on the wall from another semi-known painter Victor Lawrence.

'I might be pregnant,' she said in a somber manner.

'Congratulations, but why don't you sound happy?' He felt confused, and concerned as that foetus could be his nephew or niece.

'It is obviously unplanned if it is truly a baby, my career Harold.'

He faintly smiled at Lili, 'is that why you told the uncle first not the daddy?'

Lili nodded, 'I should get test. It could just be fatigue and my frequent urination could just be an urinary tract infection.'

'You do that and let me know how it goes.'

Lili left the art gallery, and walked on home in Covent Garden stopping by at the chemists for several pregnancy tests.

The first one came out, positive.

She took a deep breath, and paced herself around the flat.

The clocked ticket at 17.00, and her heart pounded quite fast, until she felt nauseated. She sat on the sofa, taking deep breaths and trying to calm herself down.

Henry arrived home forty five minutes later, as usual in his positive and happy mood being very much in love with Lili. Understandably so, as they haven't lived together for that long.

Lili heard the door unlocked and the opened. Henry entered their flat with a smile seeing Lili sitting on the sofa.

'How was your day?' He approached her in the living room, whilst Lili was holding a Monocle magazine.

'Good,' she was rather nonchalant.

'Something wrong?' They've known each other for so long for Henry to notice a difference in her mood, attitude and outlook.

'I'm pregnant,' she let the news out.

Henry took the news very well, and happily. He can barely contain his smile and happiness on his facial expressions. 'Baby that's great,' he sat on the sofa and gave her a kiss and hug.

'Hen, I don't know if I'm happy about this.'

'We are having a baby, why wouldn't you feel happy?'

'Henry, I'm just starting out my advertising career.' Even though Lili is starting to warm to the idea, seeing Henry's happiness on hearing the news.

'Let's give this baby a chance, I'm here for you. We have a flat together, and you'll get to love the baby too. Don't worry about the finances, I have this covered.' Henry assured her, aside from the fact that the baby will be born from two rich families. Lili's father was a chief economist of Bank of England before becoming a CEO at Commbank, and later becoming a real estate developer. Whilst Henry's family owns a twenty three billion pounds equity company.

'Okay,' she took a deep breath and smiled at Henry and shared a kiss affectionately, accepting the reality that they are to enter a new phase in their relationship. It may have been unplanned, but they love well enough to get through the upcoming challenges together.

'I hope you don't mind I told Harold first,' Lili let the truth out.

'Oh. Why?' Henry felt unbalanced emotionally but remaining his comosure as he heard of this.

'I was afraid to tell it to you. We haven't planned to having a baby,' Lili felt insecure about it also.

'This is my baby too Lili,' Henry looked disappointed.

'We never planned for a baby,' she stood her ground.

'Just because we haven't spoken about having a baby, it doesn mean we will not have any. It will eventually happen to us, the only issue you see here is that it happened sooner. I don't care if it happened now, yesterday, tomorrow, next year, or years from now. We will have this baby.' Henry put his foot down, and stood up from the sofa and helped himself with a glass of Matuga rum to let his emotions out.

Lili took a few moments to let Henry's words sink in, and finally stood up. She approached him at the kitchen island where Henry stood still with a glass of rum in his left hand.

She hugged him from behind as she approached him, 'you're right sweetie, we will go through with this pregnancy.'

Henry turned around to face Lili, and gave her an assuring kiss on the forehead. 'Thank you and I'll stand by you.'