Behind The Mask

Chapter 57

Anouk's POV

It was a very short honeymoon for Michael and I, but he promised a real one "with the exotic location and stuff" after we did the ceremony for our families. It was cool being married in secret in an age where relationships are so casual. Michael would place the wedding ring on a necklace under his shirt every time he went out in the city and asked me to put it back on his finger when he came back home. He did the whole carry the bride over the threshold thing. It was quite hard to explain to Manny why he was inviting me in a home I was living in already. Well, soon Manny would go home so while Michael was away, I would spend all my spare time with him.

"You won't forget about me, maatje, right? Now that you say prayers with Michael..."

I became pink in the face. Manny has found a term for all the private time Michael and I spend in the bedroom...and I have the feeling that if he tells it to anyone, mom included, nobody would be fooled.

"Manny, you're like my brother, c'mon! How could I forget about you? Plus, my mother is getting married soon and you'll be back here for the wedding, right?"

"Yes, I guess. Mom and dad said they need me now that there is no one to look after your hotel."

"Well, Manny....we may decide to make it our vacation house. It won't be a hotel anymore."

"No more noisy tourists?"

"That's right, no more. Just you, I, Michael, mom, Wayne....Would you like that?"

"It would be so cool!"

"So, why don't you start by picking your favorite room? You know, first come, first serve."

"I will! What about Michael? Does he get to pick a room?"

"Nope. He has to stay in my room."

Manny made a face.

"Do you think he'll like it?"

I grinned thinking of the time Michael and I spent there at the beginning of our relationship.

"Yes, I think he will learn to like it."

"If he doesn't, he can take the room next to mine and we can play board games all the time!"

"Hey, and what about me?"

"You don't even like board games very much."

"True. But I like Michael."

"I know. You always go and kiss him and say girly things to him. But I think he likes it, so it's OK."

I smiled. How simple are man-woman relationships, seen through the mind of a child. A child who lives in the body of an adult, attractive man. I wonder how long till Manny gets the attention of a woman...and the shock of his life. I will have to ask Michael to recommend a good doctor, a psychologist, someone...I need to figure out what will happen to Manny when my baby is born and when he becomes the object of a woman's attraction. I have never had to figure out these problems before. And now I try to find a way to keep Manny safe from any kind of trauma.

While Manny ran to play more arcade game and once again try to beat Michael's high scores, I lied down on bed. I feel suddenly very tired and out of breath, although I didn't do any effort. I lick my dry lips and think if I missed anything: insulin check, pregnancy vitamins check. Well, I should expect a difficult pregnancy, that much I knew. My doctor said the same, that it won't be a bed of roses. I guess I'll just have to stop panicking and definitely I must not tell Michael about every random moment like this one. He is capable of putting me under medical care till the baby is born. No, I'm just a pregnant, diabetic, paranoid woman, that's all. I grab my college books and start working on my vacation project. It's coming together nicely. The professor was very impressed with my idea for the triangulation of financial controls and my project is to create a case study where this would be applicable. I already have my case study ready: "Charitable foundation, founded by very busy philanthropist. Cannot take time to devote proper attention to every aspect. Does not have a financial-economic educational background, so the numbers and papers do not mean much to him. Relies on hired staff to keep the money flowing to the sponsored causes." I stop my outline of the recitals and think.