Happiness Doesn't Wait

Blake

I've noticed that Abi seems to be scared now more than ever. The mention of children or babies sends a fearful shine through her light brown eyes. But whenever I ask her about it, she just quickly avoids the question.

Now that my mother seems much better after her last round of chemo, I've been focusing a lot on Abi. I watch her from afar sometimes when I inspect how my workers are doing with the customers. I always smile when I see Abi smile to her clients that gesture at her small bump.

From the day we went to shop for new clothes, it's gotten a bit bigger. Now people actually notice her when she wears her uniform with her new stretchy pants. Some waitresses that are closer to her even touch her small bump sometimes. This brings that beautiful smile on her face every time.

Yet, the other day I may have asked a dumb question that made her a bit angry at me. I took her out one night to eat and when we were getting back, she fell asleep. When she woke up, I jokingly asked her if she always snores so I can prepare myself for our honeymoon. At first, an embarrassed blush started on her face but then it turned into an angry frown. I wished I could have swollen my words up.

So I've decided to go to the library one day and check out the books I could find on maternity. At least these books aren't like the classics I like to read. They are easy to understand and surprisingly thin. Despite its thinness, there is a large amount of information I gain from them.

For example, one thing that stood out to me the most as a chef was the food she needs. I applied this to whenever I observed her take a break. I've learned that she's made a sort of pattern to her hunger. I suppose that whenever she feels those first pangs of hunger, I watch her drink a lot of water. Once I see her get to the lobby, that's when I know it's actually hunger and I get ready for her just in case.

Ever so often, she shyly comes up to me to ask for a special plate and I gladly do it for her. I find it funny whenever I give her a plate and she tastes it for the first time. She makes an expression like it's the best food she's ever tasted. I have to say, she is my most important client I have ever made food for.

But after reading on maternity one day, I made her a small and healthy snack based on her cravings. It was a very quick and easy tuna salad with some organic chips on the side. I even added a little bit of guacamole if she wanted to make it interesting for herself with a cup of soy milk.

She happily started eating it and I realized that this might have been my best plate for her because she did a satisfied smile at the end, put a mint in her mouth, and came up to me to put a loving kiss on my cheeks. "Thank you, my love. It was delicious." I've never been so proud of my work on that day.

Today though, she left early and I find myself closing the restaurant with the others. As I get ready to check on the lobby, Ryan passes by me and says, "Blake. I need to talk to you tomorrow. Stop by my office first thing in the morning." After this, he doesn't even let me respond back as he turns the corner.

Nerves start in my heart at his odd attitude with me. Have I done something wrong? This must be because of Abigail. I need to prepare what to say in her defense. I can't let her get fired. Not now.

I decide to worry about this later as I get in the car. I check my messages and go to the address that Abi sent me. It seems like George's birthday was yesterday, and the law firm where he works at is making him a small party with a few friends. I suppose he wanted his family to be there and he asked each one of them to bring a friend of their own.

So I check my hair in the mirror before walking in. The first person my eyes recognize is Abi. She also seemed to have been waiting for my arrival as she quickly sees me enter. I go up to where she stands by the drinks and gives me a relived sigh the moment our lips meet.