Clouded Judgement. NICHOLA HARVEY
responded; from that initial day at the island up until now.”
Her voice a croaky whisper, she shared her own sorrow with me, “Carys blames me for the discord in the family, and still refuses to speak to me whenever I try to make amends. Bryson, mercifully still picks up when I call.”
Peeved by my oldest sister’s indifference, my lips thinned. “Don’t worry about Carys; she’ll come around eventually.”
She snorted, wiping away her tears with the pads of her fingertips. “I’m glad you’re the optimist. Currently, I feel anything but.”
“Carys was always close to Em…he and his family. He doted on her, being the first-born and all. I suspect it’s just the shock causing her odious behaviour. Give her time, okay?”
She stiffly nodded before casting her saddened gaze downwards.
“What else is bothering you?” I quietly asked, my head cocking as her trembling lips clammed up. As per usual, she compelled me to ask again, “Teddy, what else?”
“There’s another reason I look awful.”
I eyed her quizzically; she cocked an eyebrow. The penny eventually dropped. “Ah, your weight loss.”
“Yeah that. I saw the frown on your face when you first came in, not to mention over dinner. I’ve also been sick, and not just from stress either….” Teddy paused before tentatively speaking, “…I’m pregnant.”
My jaw fell open. What the? Pregnant? I licked my drying lips before swallowing the shock. “How? I mean, I know how, but how? I thought we were careful?”
“Not careful enough, apparently,” she stated flatly. “The doctor explained it only took one time without the use of a condom. I have a feeling it was the night I instigated our lovemaking, remember?”
How could I forget? That lovemaking was beautiful in every sense of the word. That aside, I wanted to kick myself for my carelessness, more so after not heeding to Doctor Montgomery’s advice, sternly given to me only weeks before.
“Aren’t you happy about the news?”
“Y...Yes, yes, I’m thrilled, actually.” As I pathetically stumbled over my words, she snatched her hand away.
“You could have fooled me!”
I inhaled sharply and ran my clenching hand through my already dishevelled hair. Why was it, no matter which way I responded, it was seemingly the wrong way?
“I’m just worried about the impeccable timing – you know, with all that’s going on currently.” I held Teddy’s misty-eyed gaze and swallowed. The tension between us felt palpable, and not in a sexual nature for a change.
“You’re right, the timing isn’t great,” she replied quietly, sagging against the backrest, and rubbing her flexing fingers across her forehead. “I’m only a few weeks along, so I guess having an abortion isn’t entirely out of the question.”
Teddy’s abhorrent answer to the ill-timed nature of the pregnancy sent me flying out of my chair. “No! No abortion! We shall work through this. I know we can….unless that’s what you want?” I knelt in front of her, searching her troubled face with pleading eyes. “Please, tell me that isn’t so?”
A feeble smile formed as she sifted her fingers through my hair. “No, the thought never crossed my mind. I guess we just got our wires crossed.”
I sagged as the relief washed over me. “You have no idea how pleased I am to hear you say those words.” I brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and clasped her sweet face as I locked our lips together in a gentle embrace. Our foreheads touching as we parted, Teddy’s voice trembled, reciting her fears.
“What if I can’t be a parent, Ari? What if I’m far too damaged? I’d hate myself if I inflicted –”
I immediately tilted her chin, my gaze intent as I quietly assured her, “Hey, hey, stop, right there; you shall be an incredible mother to our child, and like always, I shall be right alongside you telling them so. So no more of this self-doubt, okay?” Her head reluctantly bobbed, causing my brow to furrow at the untold worry, but as she was already fragile enough, I remained just as silent. “Everything shall be fine, you’ll see.” As I urged her towards my embrace, my voice shuddered regardless of the optimism I attempted to convey, “Everything shall be fine.”
After further and in-depth discussion regarding the rest of our future, we crawled into bed and made sweet, sweet love. An all too consuming feeling that radiated through every responsive touch and languorous kiss, leaving me yearning for more. Even now, as we snuggled tightly, and my fingertips lightly caressed along her sticklike torso, I had another erection. But as part of my conscious effort not to overdo the sex, I raised a subject guaranteed to leave me limp.
“I’m buying earmuffs, and not just for our ears, your belly too – I refuse for our child to ever be subjected to or deafened by mother’s high pitch squeals.”
Teddy snorted derisively. “Your poor mum, she thinks none of her children appreciates her enthusiasm.”
My lips twitched in suppressed amusement. “We do; sort of.” I scoffed. “I just wish mother wouldn’t hurt our ears with all that blasted excitement.” I peered down at Teddy just as her beaming smile faded and she rolled away from me, flopping an arm across her creasing forehead. “What’s wrong?”
“We need to tell Doctor Montgomery sooner rather than later about the baby, mostly because of the medications I’ve been on.”
Concerned by the worry etched in her voice, I rolled towards her, kindly coaxing as I tenderly cupped her cheek. “Hey, look at me, please?” With a languid sigh, Teddy slowly met my tender gaze. “It’ll be fine. He’s a doctor and is astutely aware that accidents tend to happen from time to time.”
She grimaced, unconvinced once more by my optimism. “Doctor Montgomery’s already warned me getting pregnant wouldn’t be the best option for me, right now anyway. His prime reason being that he’s also extremely aware I’m still not in the best place to have a child anytime soon.”
Drawing Teddy closer and encompassing her within my arms, I pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Let’s wait and see what he has to say before we jump to any conclusions. You never know, he might actually be thrilled for us.”
My optimism could not have been any farther from the truth.
Doctor Montgomery’s jaw hit the floor the second we shared our joyful news with him. “Well, I’m delighted to see you took my advice,” he eventually uttered caustically. “But how could you both be so bloody reckless?”
“It wasn’t intentional, Doc…” I countered calmly. “It just happened.”
“Intentional or not, adding a defensive child to the mix while these unpleasant issues remain in your lives – it’s just damned irresponsible!”
At that point, I felt his comments were unwarranted and seriously thought about putting him back in his place. But as if the good doctor sensed my irritation, he glowered, raising a pointed finger directly at me.
“Don’t bother, Ari! You both need to hear what I have to say! So I suggest you sit there quietly until then!” he growled aggressively. “Am I clear?”
“Crystal,” we replied in unison, shrinking back into our seats.
Other than that little reprimanding, life had changed and for the better, both at home and work.
In particular, my staff. They were profoundly thrilled that their morose boss had finally left the building and replaced by someone much more amenable. Discovering I was about to become a father was the principal reason behind my chuffed mood, I suppose. Something Asher kindly noticed, his rare praise catching me off guard during one of our regular lunches at Rockpool Bar and Grill, Southbank beside the Yarra River, or the upside-down river we Melbournians