ALWAYS AND FOREVER

Chapter 37

Fenna

I'm lying flat on bed the following day. My stomach hurts and Nolan, as usual ain't in bed. It's a Saturday, a non working day and I assume he has gone for his usual morning run.

I spring out of bed as the first bout of diarrhea presses me. I run to the washrooms and diarrhea my guys out. I don't know what has triggered that. It seems I ate something that didn't go well with my system.

Nolan is seated on bed, looking worried when I come out of the washrooms, over thirty minutes later. I'm trying my hands with a towel when he holds me from behind and asks what has made me take so long in the washrooms.

“My belly hurts. I think it's the chicken I ate last night.”

I tell him.

“But I ate the same chicken and my stomach is perfectly fine...maybe we should see a doctor...”

I agree immediately becsuse I don't have the energy to argue and I'm sure he won't take no for an answer.

Since I don't have appetite for breakfast, I run a warm shower and while at it, I run my fingers through my lower abdomen. There seems to be a lump just below the navel and a bout of nausea flashes through when I insist on touching it.

I throw up there and then, making me feel weaker than before.

I turn off the faucet and wrap a towel around me as I walk lazily towards the bedroom.

Nolan is already dressed and he's eagerly waiting for me.

He has already placed a dress on the bed and chosen some flat shoes for me.
I apply some lotion on my body then dress up quickly, a lot of questions running through my mind.

“Could it be Amoeba? Or Typhoid...or worse still brucella!”

I panic as all those thoughts rush through my mind.

******
My head is slightly aching when we finally pull up infront of Nolan's doctor's office.

He opens my door and he snakes an arm around my waist as we walk into the hospital.

“Fenna, you look so weak! What's the matter?”
The doctor asks after exchanging pleasantries.

“I don't know doc. I've been feeling weak and nauseated all through since last week. I also oversleep to an extended of missing job. Worse still, I passed some loose stool this morning and later threw up...”

I explain to him.

He closely examines my palm then my eyes.

“You look pale. But don't worry. I'll prescribe some drugs but before then, I'll have to run some tests to confirm whatever I'm perceiving.”

He scribbles something on a pad and he hands it over to me, telling me to take it to the lab attendant.

Nolan brushes his lips on my cheeks as I rise up to leave.

I'm just at the door when I hear the doctor to him.
“Congrats bro.... There's no doubt she's pregnant... ”

I step back and look at the doctor who seems to be obvious of my presence as he shakes Nolan's hand.

“I suspected so the day before yesterday..... ”
Nolan says.
I don't wait to hear the rest as I just walk towards the lab.

*Pregnant? Me? How? But I'm on the jab? Doc must be mistaken!*

The lab guy does some blood tests, together with my stool and urine.

*I can't be probably paged. I can't...*

The lab guy interrupts my thoughts but calling my name. He tells me that my results are out and he hands over a report, smiling widely.

“Give this back to the doctor...”

I assume it's nothing serious because he's smiling.

However, my heart is still racing. I try to inteprete his report to no avail. He seems to have scribbled alot of gibberish on the pad.

I hand it over to the doc as I take my former place next to Nolan. Nolan's mood seems to be up the roof and he's all smiley.

The doc passes through the report, taking down some notes and when he finally lifts his head, he smiles broadly.

“Congratulations Fenna...you're four weeks pregnant!”

“What?”

I gasp in shock.

“So it's true? But I am on the jab! ”

I ask, still shocked.

“When was the last time you came for your jab? ”
He asks, still smiling.

“The first time we came with Nolan ... ”
I say, still craning my head to remember the date.

“Oh my God! I was supposed to come back two months ago! I totally forgot! ”
I laugh heartily at my forgetfulness. Well, I'm already pregnant and Nolan seems to be over the moon with happiness.

“Congratulations once again! ”

Nolan hugs me passionately as we head to the pharmacy to pick my drugs. He can't just hide his happiness.

*******
“Stop it already babe... ”

I shout at Nolan who has been continuously rubbing my belly, sometimes pressing his ear over it to listen to God knows what!
I can't even count the kisses which he has already given me.

“I'm going to be a dad...can't you see?”
He asks joyfully.

“This calls for a celebration.”

He adds, opening the bedroom door and running downstairs.

My mind is in a trance. I'm unable to keep the same thoughts at bay.

I'm not officially married and yet I'm already pregnant!
I've mixed feelings about all that!

I'm so much engrossed in thoughts such that I do not hear Nolan coming back. He's holding a packet of juice and two glasses.
He places them on the table and helps me sit up because I'm lying on my back on the bed.

“You're crying? ”
He observes, and I wipe my cheek with my palm and I'm surprised to find out that I was really crying.

“Aren't you happy babe? We're going to be parents! ”

His words just increase the tension in my heart. Tears flow down freely and mucus is coming out of my nostrils. I sniff it back in an unladylike manner as he makes me sit on the bed.

“Stop it honey! The least you can do is be happy... for you...for us! ”

He beseeches me.

“How can I be happy huh!? Tell me! Is it because I'm pregnant? Or is it because I'm pregnant out of wedlock?”
I emphasise on the word *Wedlock*

Nolan snakes his arm over my shoulder as he wipes my tears with the free hand.

“Don't be sad my love. I understand how you feel.... ”

“No you don't! ”
I interrupt him.
“You're not the pregnant one here...to make the matters worse, out of wedlock....unmarried! ”

“And you think I don't feel the same too? You're wrong Fenna! We're getting married as soon as possible. Just pick the date and I'll make it up to you! ”

His words make me feel a little bif relieved. I realise that I overreacted for nothing. He means the best for me.

“I..... I.... I'm so.....”

“Don't say anything love... Let's celebrate!”
He interrupts me as he wipes my tears for the umpteenth time.......