The Professors Memory

Chapter 31

Olive had slept for most of the afternoon, reluctantly Phabel woke her for dinner. He didn't want to but he knew it was wise to keep her well fed. A shifter pregnancy was hard on the body, it was a short pregnancy where the child would grow rapidly. She would be pregnant for a few months more before their little bundle arrived. Wearily Olive sat up on the bed, watching as the maids entered the room, Phabel helped her to her feet and left her to dress for dinner.

'Have you had the discussion with Olive yet Phabel?'

He stopped by the door to his father's study, stepping into the room wishing that he didn't have to have this lecture again.

'Not as yet, she is still weary and I do not wish to press her like at such a time.'

'But it is the time.' Eris responded 'She will be showing soon and I do not wish for a scandal.'

Phabel frowned at his father, not that there was any point. His gaze was lowered to his paperwork, engrossed in it rather looking at his annoyed son.

'If you do not wish to have the conversation with her then bring her to me, I will discuss it with her. I am sure she will be more than compliant.'

'That isn't the issue father, she was abducted and attacked yesterday, she almost died. Could you not give it a couple of days?'

'Phabel, I saw her stomach, she is already showing. I doubt there is a gown on this planet that would accommodate your couple of days.'

'She is not showing already.' Phabel snapped 'It's just left over female stuff...' Phabel frowned as he flicked his hand.

'Bloating son?' Islana grinned as she entered the room.

'Yeah, that's it.'

He looked to his mother and mouthed help me to her. She winked at him and sauntered to the lounge that was closest to Eris.

'Darling, she needs to recover from the awful fright that she has had and lets be realistic, planning a wedding takes time. You can not expect the guests to drop everything to come to a wedding that is the next weekend. And besides, you plan a wedding that quick and someone is going to smell a rat.'

Eris finally lifted his head from the paperwork, looking from his son to his wife.

'Well then Islana, what would you suggest?'

'A month.'

Eris scoffed as he shook his head.

'Olive is designing her own dress, I will help her in its design to ensure that it will allow any swell to be hidden. When the child is born we will declare him or her as a premature baby, which isn't that hard, it's only a month.'

'Fine. One month exactly.'

Islana rose from the seat and took Phabel by the elbow, guiding him out of the room.

'You see darling, it's all about how you approach him. Dig your heels in and he will do the same. Point out the reality and offer him an alternative, success can be achieved.'

They stopped by the stairs as the maid helped Olive along the open corridor. Phabel could see that she was still uneasy on her feet. He climbed the stairs and lifted her into his arms. The maid was grateful, she fretted for Olive becoming unbalanced at the worst time. Phabel could feel the soft material of her dress under his fingertips, a soft pink dress that was pretty and demure. His mother had purchased some new items for her while she was here. Islana loved having another person to lavish her love upon, Seraphina was fiercely independent from a young age and insisted on purchasing her own clothes. Olive rested her head on his shoulder as he descended the stairs. Islana looked upon the poor thing and felt sorry for her, she was still stuck in the post turning phase that caused lethargy and weakness, she was clingy because of the abduction and then there was the pregnancy. Only a few days pregnant and already her body was in a mighty upheaval. Hormones were pumping, her body was gearing up for the changes and the child was draining her for the majority of the sustenance she took in.