Moving Forward

Chapter 9: Chris Norway

The water of the shark exhibit illuminated as we walked by. We had finished breakfast silently because well...this was my first ever date. I mean sure I have hung out with people but this is the first time someone has taken me out somewhere. To say the least, I was nervous. He had rented an entire building for me and this is only half of what he has planned. I thought we really was only going to get dinner but Harry really does like to do things big. However, even though it was romantic, I felt it was a little overwhelming.

I looked at the shark as Harry stood by me. His scent reminded me of the ocean in the spring time, calming and breathtaking. I smiled at him but laughed when he pulled me closer. He wrapped his arms around me as I kept staring at the sharks. Then I said, "You know it's going to take more than fish and breakfast to get me to melt."

"I thought I had already done that the other night," he said kissing the back of my neck, "I can feel you shaking...what's wrong?"

I didn't want to tell him about me being a little bit nervous so I said, "Well my dad is in town and I don't want to run into him."

He let go of me and took my hand in his. We begin to walk again before he spoke, "Is that bad? I mean I would give anything to see my dad again."

"That's different Harry," I stated feeling a little guilty, "Your dad was there for you and Caleb. Mine just up and left."

He nodded in understanding but I looked passed him to see a seahorse. I let go of his hand excitedly and ran over. I put my face and hands on the glass not caring if it was cleaned or not. Then I saw more and I started jumping up and down. I was like a kid in the candy store as Harry looked at me with a perplexed and amused stare.

"Look, look, look," I pointed tapping the glass, "One of the sea horses are pregnant! I wonder if it's time to give birth or not?"

I was overjoyed looking at the animals. It brought back so many memories of me and my grandmother. Now that I think about it, she brought me here when I was little and one more time before she died. She always took me to see the seahorses because it was the first time I saw a birth of any animal.

"You are really into sea horses I see," Harry laughed pulling me away from the glass, "but I think you are scaring them."

"Sorry," I laughed still not taking my eyes away just in case it has its babies, "It's just that...as a kid this was the first animal I ever saw give birth. The tour guide told my grandmother and I that it was the boy that had the babies."

I paused before turning to him again, "I remember I thought that was coolest thing. Then I told everyone at school and this kid told me only girls can have babies. I debated with him so fucking tough because I loved kids and I wanted to have a baby. That brought up the topic of sex really early for me."

We both laughed because I could still remember my mom sitting me down and telling me I wasn't a sea horse so I couldn't have kids. I laughed again, "I cried so hard when she told me I wouldn't be able to. Then she said if you find a nice girl and get married she can have a baby."

We begin to walk again when I saw that the sea horse wasn't gonna do anything. Harry had gotten a little tense. I could see a questioning expression on his face even in the dim lighting. I lightly pushed my shoulder into him and asked, "Did that make me sound crazy?"

He laughed and answered, "No. It made you sound like a kid."

He paused for a moment and his tone took on a serious note, "So you want kids?"

"Huh!" I pretended not to hear as we stopped. He folded his arms in amusement before I sighed and answered, "Maybe one. Or two."

He nodded smiling and said, "I never would've thought you wanted kids."