Brooklyn

Chapter Twenty-Two - Arielle

After two amazing weeks exploring Florida, Arielle came back with Jaxon. Instead of going back to their apartment, Jaxon gave the cab driver another address that she didn't recognise. They drove straight through Brooklyn to a house. It was a beautiful house, similar to that of Cheryl's. The house had been decorated already with coral and peach sitting room, a lemon yellow kitchen, a pale blue bedroom for them and a cream nursery for their baby (which Jaxon did not know about yet) and a dazzling white bathroom plus a back garden with a hot tub. It was brilliant and perfect for them to raise a family in. Arielle and Jaxon called their family members to let them know about their honeymoon (and Arielle secretively told her mom about her pregnancy) and then they relaxed in the back garden.

"Do you want a glass of wine?" Jaxon asked as Arielle took out her book.

"No I'm okay." She told him. He smiled and walked back into the house and Arielle read for a while until she felt a punch in her gut. She knew what was going to come next. She dropped her book, quick as a flash and ran to the bathroom. She vomited in the toilet. Jaxon walked in and held her hair back. When she looked up, she saw his look of concern.

"What's wrong? You were fine ten minutes ago." He filled a glass with some water and she took a sip.

"I'm fine." She murmured, leaning back against the wall as he placed a hand on her forehead.

"Maybe you caught some bug?"

"I haven't caught a bug, Jaxon."

"How could you possibly know that?" He was checking her pulse now. She rolled her eyes.

"Because I'm pregnant you absolute idiot." He froze.

"You what?"

"I'm pregnant."

"And you was going to tell me when?"

"When I got checked out." He dropped her wrist and looked at her with a frown.

"This isn't a joke is it? You're really pregnant?" She smiled softly.

"Yeah I am." A smile crept across his face too.

"We're going to have a baby? An actual baby?" She nodded and he stood up, gently pulling her up too. He then hugged her tightly. "Is this why there's an unplanned nursery upstairs?"

"Yeah I told Kirsten and Cheryl two weeks ago." Jaxon raised an eyebrow.

"How far along are you?"

"I'm not sure but I would take a guess at three weeks or so."

"This is the best news ever. Honestly," He hugged her again. "No wonder why you refused the wine." She rolled her eyes, smiling.

Jaxon went into full daddy and husband mode over the next few weeks. Cheryl and Kirsten had got a few good baby things but Jaxon paid for baby walkie talkies and the whole lot. He went with her to every baby scan and blood test. He even teared up when they both saw the baby on the ultrasound. He was extremely supportive through Arielle's pregnancy symptoms, rolling his eyes at her moods and holding her hair back when she was sick. She didn't know where she would be without him.

"Better?" He asked as he massaged her feet. She nodded sleepily. His cell suddenly rang and he leapt up to answer it, walking into the kitchen while she dozed on the couch. He came back in and knelt by her head.

"Baby?" She kept her eyes closed.

"Mm?"

"They want me back. It's urgent. I have to get a flight tonight." She opened her eyes.

"What?"

"They want me back, baby. I have to go." He brushed her cheek and stood up. He then left the room and went upstairs. Arielle sat up slowly, wondering if this was actually happening or if she was dreaming. When Jaxon came back down, he was holding a black sports bag with his clothes.

"You're serious?" She whispered.

"Yeah, baby, I'm so sorry... But I swear I will be back before the baby is born. I'll make sure I'm here for that."

"Well... I have a present for you." She walked to the fireplace and handed him a photograph. He looked at it.

"The baby... But don't you want this?" He asked, waving the ultrasound picture at her.

"I can get another one. But I want you to look at this and think of us."

"I never not think about you," He said, cradling her face in his hands. He kissed her softly. "I'm so in love with you." He whispered. A car horn sounded from outside. Jaxon kissed her lips once more then left, leaving her to fall to pieces by herself.