Hear My Heart Beat

IV

After another wild romp on his bed, he dragged me into the shower where we spent less time actually showering. "Let's stay in," I pleaded, trying to convince him with my lips and hands.

"Sounds very tempting," he acknowledged with a passionate kiss. "But I have to take you somewhere. I'm sure you'll love it."

After he promised me that he'd continue what he had started later tonight, I finally agreed. I got dressed while he went down to the kitchen to prepare his surprise. I stared in consternation at my wardrobe. I really needed to shop for maternity clothes. My usual edgy outfit couldn't accommodate my growing belly anymore, so I settled for one of my stretchy yoga pants and the comfy cotton shirt I wore to the gym.

He stared at me when I got to the kitchen. I was still trying to fix my shirt which was constantly falling off one shoulder. I heard him curse under his breath.

"What?" I asked. He answered me with another kiss. "Don't tell me you like me in my ratty gym outfit?" I laughed.

"I don't care if you wore rags. You'd still look beautiful," he swore, holding me close.

"Flatterer," I accused, but not without a smug smirk on my face.

He took me to the openair cinema overlooking the harbor. It was getting dark, which actually lent a sort of privacy to the otherwise very public setting. Several couples had already spread out their picnic blankets on the grass in front of the screen and were snuggling against each other. We followed suit and started eating the feast he had prepared earlier.

The movie started. It was '50 First Dates'. "Really?" I said to him. He gave me a wink and turned his attention back to the screen.

I had probably seen this movie a hundred times, but that didn't stop me from tearing up near the end. He pulled me tighter against him and planted a kiss on my wet cheek. "Stupid hormones," I muttered. He laughed at me.

I looked around us. At the other couples who were absorbed by the romance on screen. At the water gently lapping against the stones, and the boats sliding along its waves. At the sun setting in a beautiful backdrop of pink clouds and red-orange sky. At the cool wind blowing against the leaves of the trees around us. At the man who sat beside me, his profile outlining peace and contentment. An unexpected surge of happiness rose within me.

"What?" He caught me staring at him. Probably with a silly smile on my face.

I kept smiling. "I'm just very happy. Thank you."

He raised our joined hands to his lips until they touched my knuckles. "Anything for you, mo shíorghrá."

"What did you say?" I asked. I remembered his father saying something in the same strange tongue.

"Nothing." He grinned. "Let's go?"

*#*

Later that night, after he had kept his earlier promise, he said in a hesitant voice, "There's something I want to ask you. But please, don't take this the wrong way."

"What is it?" I asked.

"I want to ask you to cut your hours at work, at least until you have the baby."

The familiar heat of rebellion spread in my chest at his words. Who did he think he was that he could have a say in my life? Just because we had started to grow closer physically didn't mean he could make decisions about me.

Then I tamped it down with a sigh. Rebellion was my constant companion and only friend when I was growing up in a very controlling environment. But I wasn't a teenager anymore. I was an adult, who was soon going to be responsible for another life. I should be thinking clearly, not always assuming that everyone was out to get me.