Surprise!

Chapter twenty

Reba was in much better spirits after their little conversation outside. Actually wanting to start counseling to solve their issues before the baby arrived...possibly even marriage, which had Narvel very excited!

Finally convincing Narvel to let her out of bed again, Reba got herself situated on a stool at the kitchen counter to help with dinner. "Can you grad the salt for me?" Reba asked as Narvel carefully observed her every move. "Yea, I gotcha," he walked over to the table and picked up the salt shaker, handing it to her, and standing back beside her to watch.

"I won't fall apart, Narvel," she huffed,"let me up for a few minutes."
"Five minutes," he replied sternly,"and don't go running off." Reba gave him a salute and kissed his cheek. "You have my word."

Narvel smacked her butt as he walked into the living room, peaking around the corner to make sure that she was steady on her feet enough to be alone, "I can feel you watching me ,you know," Reba called out, not looking up from the food that she was preparing. "Just checking," Narvel said as he finally took a seat on the couch.

Reba glided around the kitchen, so happy to be doing something productive for her little family, all the while writing baby names as she cooked. "Narvel? What do you think about the name Jess for a boy?" She asked into the living room.

Narvel strolled in over to her and looked down at her list, "I mean, is it after someone or do you just like the name?" He asked. "Well, do you want to name him after someone? I just like the name," she answered, shrugging her shoulders. Narvel wrapped his arms around her growing waist and kissed her nose "Not unless you want to, but I think he needs a very strong name,Jess is cute, but it doesn't seem like a name for a super hero or something," Narvel replied, "So you want our baby to be a super hero?" She smiled ",and who said they're a boy?"

"Father's intuition goes a long way,"causing Reba to scoff. "I'm sure that it is very accurate Mr. Know-it-all," she poked his stomach. "And don't think about poking me because they think it's a game and kick the hell out of my insides," she pointed her finger at him. Narvel just three his head back and laughed, "oh I love you Red," kissing the top of her head. "Now, you either have to go lay on the couch or in the bed, because you have been up way longer than five minutes," Narvel ordered. Pouting, Reba nodded her head and shuffled towards the living room to watch TV.

She plopped down on the couch and put her feet up on the arms as she laid sideways across it. She placed her hand atop her stomach and had just gotten completely comfortable when she heard a loud clang from the kitchen, followed by a few choice words from Narvel.
"Narvel!" She hopped up as quick as she could but got dizzy by the time she made it to the doorway and had to grab the door frame for a second to keep from passing out. He looked up at her and went towards her while holding his own hand. "Reba! What are you doing?" I just looked at him like he was dumb-and in that moment-he was. "What are YOU doing?" He sighed, "I ruined dinner! I burnt myself on the pan and then I flipped out and now our food's all over the floor!" He looked down, defeated.

"Baby, are you alright? Let me see it," she reached for both of his hands, wanting to inspect his injury as the food just didn't matter right now. Narvel held his right hand up to show her, it wasn't bad, but it could stand a bit of cold water and frozen peas.

"You run this under the sink, I'll grab the peas out of the freezer ," maternal instincts kicking in as she jumped into action. "I'm fine." He insisted. She rolled her eyes, "Uh-huh. Well then still, for me, please hold these on your hand for a moment?" She asked him, handing over the peas.

Sighing, he grabbed the peas and winced as the cold touched his burnt skin. "I'll find something else for dinner, you go hold that in there," pointing him in the direction of the living room. "But-"
"No buts. Go."