Personal Chef

Chapter 86

Two weeks after our first attempt at baby-making, I got my period. To add insult to injury, it was back to being the horror show it was before I went on the pill. I woke up on my day off to sheets that looked like a crime scene, which made me thankful that Shawn was at the gym. After I stripped the bed and threw the sheets and mattress pad into the washer, I took a hot shower.

And cried.

It was unrealistic to think I'd conceive right away. I knew that logically. At the same time, I'd really been hoping it worked.

Shawn came home and found me making the bed.

"Blue sheets," he said flatly.

I looked up at him and saw that he was disappointed. This made me cry again. My damn period hormones combined with the bad news was too much.

"Oh, honey," Shawn said as he pulled me into his arms. "Don't cry. We just started trying. I googled and read it can take awhile."

"I know," I said, sniffling.

"We can have lots of fun trying again in a few weeks," he assured me.

"I need chocolate."

He laughed. "On it. I'll run out to the store, you just take it easy."

I finished making the bed and popped some Advil for my cramps while I waited for him to return. He was back in record time.

"I bought a huge bag of M&ms and some fresh brioche bread. I figured it would be good with Nutella."

I loved this man.

We drank coffee and ate our chocolatey breakfast at the counter.

"I was talking to Andrew yesterday, and he said the label needs to reserve some time at The Woodshed. Could you give me your next few months of possible ovulation days so that I'm not gone for them?"

I nodded. "I can do that. Or you can just add my period tracking app to your phone."

I then showed him which app I used and had him put in my recent data.

"About The Woodshed...I'd kind of like to spend a couple days there with you," I said as I put my coffee mug in the sink.

"Yeah? I'd love that! I know everyone else would like having you there, too."

"Maybe you could plan the dates so that we could try there. It's a special place for us, after all."

He grinned. "That's a fantastic idea."

                              ~~~~~~

Two months later, we were in Malibu. I still wasn't pregnant.

Shawn opened the front door to The Woodshed and we stepped inside. Nothing had changed, which was comforting. I was spending the first three days of his trip with him, and then he'd stay on for an additional ten days.

"Are we the first ones here?" I asked.

"Possibly. I'll go put the luggage away and you can unpack the groceries."

We'd stopped at Ralph's for food. Shawn tried to convince me that I didn't need to cook while I was there, but I wouldn't hear it. I loved cooking for Team Mendes and there was no way on earth I wasn't doing it again.

"Can I ask you a favor?" I said tentatively.

"Anything."

"Can we stay in my room?"

He gave me a confused look and then he appeared to get it. "Of course."

I really didn't want to sleep in the bed he'd shared with Kat. Just being here brought back some bad memories related to her, and having sex exactly where he'd fucked her was more than I could handle.