The Un-tragic Story of Romeo and Juliet

Chapter 6

Romeo

"P-p-pregnant?" I asked. "Yes Sir Romeo, she is pregnant." I looked at Juliet. She didn't look shocked or scared or worried, she looked... happy. "Romeo you need to calm down. Your face is pale and you look like you are going to be ill," Juliet said. She was right. I was scared. Not scared, terrified. I was terrified because I never thought this would happen, at least so soon in our marriage. "Romeo, Romeo?" Juliet was saying. "Romeo, are you alright? I know this isn't what you wanted but I-" "Juliet, stop. I am not angry or sad. I am surprised. I didn't think this would happen so soon. I am not happy either." Juliet's eyes filled with tears and soon she had red eyes and tear stained cheeks. "I am not happy because I am overjoyed! This may have been unexpected but I love you and I already love this child more than I love myself." Juliet's eyes filled with more tears and she continued to cry. I walked over to the bed and sat down next to her and hugged her. The doctor had seen this and left. "Juliet, you must calm down," I tried to tell her. She kept sobbing into my shoulder. "Are you not happy?" Juliet looked up at me tear stains on her cheeks and down her neck, redness filled her eyes, and her cheeks were rosy. "Unhappy? Why would I be unhappy? I was upset when you said you weren't happy, of course I was upset, but then you said how overjoyed you were to be having this child with me and that, coming from you, my dear husband, made me even more grateful for this child than I already am." I looked into her watery eyes and kissed her.

Juliet

We left the doctor. We were more blessed than ever and have never been as happy as we were this day. Instead of going back to the inn, Romeo showed me the two bedroom house he had seen before he went back to Verona for me. It was still open, so we bought it. We went back to the inn to gather our things and we moved into our new home. Romeo did most of the work, even though I insisted on helping him, he disagreed. About a week later, we were settled into our new cozy home. We had furniture so the house wasn't so empty. Romeo spent some time in the second bedroom a little more each day. Each day coming out to send letters, probably to his parents, for they were worried about him. I didn't know if my parents knew I was in Mantua, if I was alive, or even if I was married and with Romeo. Romeo had stopped sending the letters a few days after I noticed he was sending them.

About a month later I was three months into my pregnancy when a letter arrived, it was addressed to Romeo and it was from my parents. Do they know I am here? Why are they sending Romeo letters? Romeo wasn't at home because he had found a job in the marketplace. I was too curious. I ripped open the letter with my family seal on it and read:

Dear Romeo,

Lady Capulet and I would love to come to Mantua to visit you and Juliet. We will leave Verona right away and we should be there by Saturday July twelfth. We are so excited to see you two and even more so that our daughter is alright and safe with you. Thank you for sending your numerous letters and catching us up on yours and Juliet's life. We do hope Juliet is feeling better than she did when you started your journey. We will see you soon. Stay safe and be careful.

Lord Capulet

Saturday the twelfth? Today is Friday the eleventh. One day? One day to clean and set everything up for my parents! How could Romeo not tell me about him inviting them? I would have cleaned and cooked and gotten the other room ready for their arrival. Suddenly the door opened and I quickly put the letter back into the envelope and went to greet Romeo at the door. "Good evening my love. How are you feeling today?" Romeo asked me. "I am fine, thank you. But this letter from my parents arrived for you today. I must confess, I did open it and how could you not tell me you invited them for a visit? I would have cooked and cleaned and-" Romeo interrupted me, "Exactly. I didn't tell you because I wanted it to be a surprise and I didn't want you to worry about any cooking or cleaning. I will do all of that and you can go rest. You look exhausted." The only thing I could do in that moment was smile. How did I get so lucky to have met and married this wonderful man? "Okay I will rest, but I will make the food because I have tasted your food and we won't torture my parents while they are staying with us." Romeo burst out laughing and agreed that it was for the best. He cleaned and I cooked. We were both very excited to see my parents and Romeo told me they didn't know of the baby yet, so I was looking forward to Saturday's supper. We finished cooking and cleaning and went to sleep.