Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

TWENTY THREE

Silence. The words I spoke brought nothing but silence. Subconsciously, I begged him to speak, to say anything. Then, the tears came...from him instead of me.

"Sugar, say something."
"I am stunned. I'm so happy, I think my head might explode."
"You are?"
"I am. This is the best thing I've ever heard in my entire life."

I completely unraveled, into a pile of laughing, trembling, crying, mess of a woman. and He pulled me tightly to him and I simply didn't want to let go. Ever.

"When do you think it happened?" He asked, quietly, still smiling ear to ear.
"The ultrasound tech said six weeks." I handed him the pictures from earlier.
"This? This is the baby?" He looked at me in amazement.
I nodded.
"It's our baby." he whispered, his eyes fixed on the fuzzy black and white jelly bean.
"Yeah...our baby." I said quietly as I placed a hand low on my stomach.
"I love you so much." He said, as he crawled up on the bed and laid down next to me.
"You're not terrified?"
"Of course I'm terrified. Aren't you?"
"Well...yeah. You know me."
"Yes, I do. And I'll tell you right now, I'm not going anywhere. I know that thought had to have crossed your mind."
"Only about a thousand times. What are the odds that I'd find this out today, and you just happen to get home early from shooting on the same day?"
"Just lucky, I guess." He shrugged.

In a gesture that made my heart swell, and made me shake with laughter, he jumped up to his knees and bent until his mouth rested on my stomach. He planted a kiss there, and then spoke to that spot.
"Hello little baby. I see that you're very tiny, but I want to introduce myself. I'm your dad, and I love you so much."
I began to tremble with giddy happiness.
"Your Mum is a worrier of the highest order, but don't worry, she means well, and she's wonderful. She takes good care of me, so surely she will take even better care of you. I can't wait until I get to meet you."
He laid his head on my stomach, like he always did, but it was different that time. His blue eyes gleamed with a new purpose, and I fell in love with him all over again.

***

"What do you want for dinner? I'll cook. Any cravings?"
"Oh come on. It's a little early for cravings, Thomas."
"Well, I don't know. This is very new to me. I should probably get a book."
"Yes, great idea." I said sarcastically "Just wait til the paparazzi spot you at the bookstore, talk about a media frenzy."
"Maybe I'll just use Google for now."
"Good idea."
"Are you going to tell your Mum and Dad soon?"
"I'm still getting used to all of this. I'm just going to keep it quiet for now."
"Who knows about...our baby?"
"You, Me and Wendy. She came here to check on me, and ended up taking me to the doctor."
"I'm so glad she was here for you."
"Me too."

My phone started buzzing. It was a phone call from Stef.
"Hel--"
"One more week! I'm going to be home in one week!"
"You have no idea how excited I am to see you. I'm glad this tour was a short one."
I glanced at Tom, and he mouthed the words "tell her".
"Are you sure?" I whispered, as quietly as possible.
"What are you whispering about?"
"My god, do you have super hearing?"
"Maybe. What's the big secret?"
"Well, that's just it. It's a secret. You have to promise not to tell anyone. Not one soul."
"You're pregnant, aren't you?"
Tom and I burst out laughing and that was all it took. Stef was on the other end of the line, screaming and wailing like crazed person.
"I'll take that as a happy sign." I said.
"I'm going to be an auntie!" She cooed, and it made my heart squeeze.
"I have to go, I just wanted to say hi, I guess I got more than expected! Congratulations. I love you Max."
"And I love you, Auntie Gaga."

***

"I'm tired of sitting around, let's go for a run."
"Are you sure you can do that?" Tom looked concerned.
"My doctor told me to go about my normal activities. as long as it's not one hundred degrees outside, I should be good."
"Alright! Let's get moving then."

I pulled on a pair of running crops, a sports bra and a loose tank. I grabbed my favorite black and white "trainers" as Tom called them and off we went. We jogged through the heart of "Hell's Kitchen" and then west to meet up with the Hudson.

Enough time had passed that my doctor and surgeon felt comfortable with me resuming normal activity. It felt good to get my heart pumping and move my body more than minimally. It was also a welcome comfort to be next to Tom, in his newly adopted city. I marveled at how quickly he had become a fixture in my life, and how it seemed like he had always been there. Most people would say we'd moved too fast, but I didn't care.

***

Knock Knock Knock

"That's got to be Stef." I jumped out of my seat and bounded down the stairs, and opened the door.
"Nebraska!" She stood, beaming just outside.
We jumped into each others arms and hopped around in circles. It felt like years since I'd seen her. Tom just stood back a little, examining the mania happening in front of him. She let go of me, and grabbed Tom swiftly and squeezed him tight.
"I'm so happy for you!" She planted a kiss on his cheek, leaving a crimson pair of lips on the side of his face.
"Thank you, Stef." He smiled sheepishly. Maybe he was embarrassed by all of the attention.
She turned and crouched down in front of me, talking to my belly, which was still a strange gesture to me, considering there was zero physical evidence of a pregnancy bump.
"Hi baby. I'm your auntie. I'm crazy, and I'm going to spoil you rotten...just you wait."

I felt whole again. Stef was home, Tom was home and I had the product of my love for him, growing inside of me. What once was utterly terrifying, now made me feel complete, and wonderfully at peace.

"Baby gets to go to its first Lady Gaga concert tonight! How exciting!" Stef commented.
"There's all sorts of firsts happening around here, isn't there?"
Tom's phone started ringing, and he excused himself to take the call.

Stef and I chatted over coffee, in my kitchen as she showed me countless pictures from her tour and all of the exciting places she'd been. It was really perfect that her last show was in New York City, and I was beyond thrilled to be a part of it. After a moment, Tom reappeared looking solemn and a bit irritated.

"Max, Stef...I've got a bit of bad news."
My stomach jumped up to my throat, I was so over bad news.
"That was Joss. They lost a bit of footage, and they need me to re-film a scene immediately."
"What? When?"
"I've got to leave in one hour."
Dammit
"So no concert, with us?"
"I'm sorry. I'm under contract." he wrapped his arms around me, as I pouted into his shirt.
"I know, but it's just not going to be the same without you, Thomas."