For All Eternity

That was scary

Sighing Dianne turned her phone off and put it face down on the bed. Ending a phone call with her parents was never ideal, nor easy. Today it was made all the more difficult because under normal circumstances they were supposed to be with her in London watching her perform. This meant that she couldn't help but imagine being able to tell them in person. Her mum being able to rub her back as she was sick and not just Joe. Her Dad celebrating in person that there was a subtle tummy appearing under her top. Her mum giving her good advice, taking her to the pharmacy or a supermarket to find things to stop her feeling sick, rather than just suggestions and congratulations through a screen.

The dancer knew she needed Joe. And more specifically a hug from him. She hadn't actually seen him that morning. He had got up early, for a meeting with a client and she had woken up at 9 am with a plate of toast and her morning medicine next to her. But no Joe. She suspected he had come and dropped it off in between his meeting and starting school with Connie. Dianne knew that he had probably kissed her head, which would have woken her up, then disappeared back downstairs before she moved.

Climbing out of bed she rubbed her tiny protruding tummy, which had been quite settled recently, other than a moment where Connie had belly flopped onto her at 7am. That time she had managed to turn away to projectile, in every sense of the word, vomit all over their bedroom floor and then the sink. The day had been entirely written off then, as the redhead had laid on the pull-out sofa bed in the office, with a sick bucket, whilst their room aired out, feeling entirely unwell.

"That was a funny day, eh baby, and poor Connie felt so bad but it wasn't really her fault," Dianne said to herself, still rubbing her stomach, walking to the bathroom to wee. That was something she had discovered; you piss more with a baby in you, than without.

Eventually, still feeling sorry for herself, she pulled Joe's robe, that almost dragged on the floor, on, just so she could be temporarily enveloped by his scent, and left their room. From the top of the stairs, she could see Connie. And next to Connie, a phone with a timer- she was very obviously in trouble. As she got closer, she could see the timer read 9 minutes instead of six and the redhead wondered what on earth had landed Connie the extra time. And actually, what had landed her there in the first place.

"Morning Connie."

"I been naughty."

"Okay," Dianne stepped, with a wobble, over her daughter, and walked to try and find Joe.

"Ah, I wondered when you'd be up, how's Mum and Dad?" Joe asked, having heard her talking upstairs. He put down the cloth and spray and came around the counter. Dianne stepped forward and collapsed into his arms, putting her forehead on his shoulder, relaxing when he instinctively wrapped his arms around her.

"Not feeling well, gorgeous?"

Dianne shook her head, sighing.

"What's not well? Your tummy? Do you feel sick again? Have you been sick?"

"No, no, I feel fine, just, just a bit sort of sad."

"Oh honey, why?" Joe asked, walking them to the sofa.

"Mum and Dad," he felt his top get wet and felt her start to shake.

"Oh it's today, oh I'm ever so sorry Dot," she was sat in his lap, still curled into him, though this time perpendicular.

Dianne sniffed into him for a little while, trying to find the words to explain why it was particularly upsetting. Why he needed to hold her a little bit tighter for a little bit longer.

"I just," she started shaky, rubbing her burning eyes, "If they could have come then Mummy would be able to look after me too. And you'd have help with Con. And we could have told them in person and maybe they'd have even made a scan."