Mending the Soul (29 page)

"As a matter of fact, I just now hung up with her.  You didn't even give me time to pick the phone back up and call you.  I spoke to the doctor, and from the sounds of it, that nurse is gone after today."  Jenna told him.

"Good!  Your doctor doesn't need a liability like her working as a nurse there."  Nicholas said.  "So, what did she say about your test results?"  He asked excitedly.

"She said that my numbers are really good and really strong and that I'm about 7 ½ weeks preggo."  Jenna told him.

Nicholas did the math in his head, and got really quiet.  "So it's not mine then?"  Nicholas said, a lump forming in his throat.

"What do you mean?  Of course it's yours Nicholas!  How could you ask that question!?"  Jenna yelled, insulted that he would even say that.

"Jenna, the first time we slept together was only 5 ½ weeks ago.  How can you be 7 ½ weeks pregnant and still be carrying my child?"  He asked her, as if she was ignorant.

Jenna laughed.  "Nicholas, they measure it from your last menstrual period.  It's been 7 ½ weeks since that, and I ovulated right around the time that we made love the first time.  So, even though that was only 5 ½ weeks ago, it still makes me 7 ½ weeks along.  Do you understand that?"  She explained.

"Oh god, Jenna!  I am so sorry.  I guess I win the Asshole of the Year award, huh?  I didn't know that was how they measured it."  Nicholas said, sounding as if he was near tears.

"It's ok.  I understand and I'm not upset.  It's an easy mistake to make."  Jenna told him.

"So, our baby seems healthy?"  Nicholas asked, his tone starting to lighten again.

"That's what she said.  The next appointment will be for an ultrasound.  You have to be there with me for that, come hell or high water!"  Jenna told him.

"Oh, don't worry about that, I will be there no matter what.  I already had Zoey schedule the whole afternoon off for me after the appointment."  He said happily.  "Well, I better get back to work now.  I'll be home in about an hour or so.  I love you Jenna."

"I love you too."  Jenna told him and hung up the phone, finally able to relax for the first time that day.

The week passed by rather slowly for Jenna.  She couldn't wait for the weekend, when she and Nicholas could spend more time together.  Jenna spent the weekdays trying to get her home office ready for her to work out of part time, while trying to tie up loose ends at her office since she wouldn't be spending much time there anymore.  She was also inundated with calls from people wanting to see Nicholas's house in response to the 'For Rent' sign in the front yard.

When Friday afternoon rolled around, Jenna was relieved.  She had just gotten home after showing the house to a young couple when Nicholas pulled into the driveway with Colby and Emma.  The kids ran to her and gave her a hug before running into the house to play with the dog.  Jenna laughed, knowing they were just as excited for the weekend as she was.

"How did the showing go?"  Nicholas asked.

"It went pretty well.  They really liked it and seemed to be a pretty responsible couple, so we wouldn't have to worry about them paying the rent on time."  Jenna said.  "We should hear back from them sometime this weekend, or so they said."

"Good."  Nicholas said as he put his arms around her.  "So, how are you feeling this afternoon?"  He asked, running his hand over her stomach.

"Not too bad, a little tired though."  Jenna admitted.

"So, how would you feel about a kid-free night then?"  He asked.  When he saw Jenna's inquisitive look, Nicholas explained.  "Both kids were asked to sleepovers for tonight, and I thought that it would be ok with you if I said yes."

Jenna looked a little relieved.  "That sounds good to me.  At least we aren't pushing them off on another babysitter.  As long as they both want to, then it's fine with me."  Jenna was feeling guilty for leaving the kids with babysitters so much lately.  When her and Kyle were together, Jenna very rarely needed to leave Colby with a babysitter because she was home all the time.  She basically had no life then.  Now, over the past few months, she felt she had been too reliant on babysitters.

"They both begged me the whole way home, so I think they'll be ok with it.  We can go drop them off, then pick up some dinner and head home to eat.  How about we order some pay-per-view tonight and just relax?"  Nicholas suggested.

"Sounds good to me."  Jenna said with a sigh of relief.  She just didn't have the energy for much more.

Jenna went in the house and got both kids packed for their sleepovers, then loaded up the Xterra.  She called in a food order to Olive Garden, then they headed out.  After the kids were dropped off, with their promises that they'd behave, Nicholas drove to Olive Garden and picked up their 'To Go' order.  When he got back in the SUV, Jenna's head was against her window, and she was fast asleep.

Nicholas gently shook her awake when they got home.  Jenna was startled and woke up with a shot.  She hadn't realized that she fell asleep, and was a little confused when she woke up.  Nicholas helped her out of the vehicle and into the house, where he put their dinner on plates and lit the candles in the dining room.

Just as they were about to eat, the doorbell rang.  Jenna rose to get the door, but Nicholas put his hand on her arm and told her he'd get it.  A minute later, he returned to the dining room, carry a vase of two dozen roses.  When Jenna saw them, she gasped.

"Nicholas, what are those?"  She asked as he put them in the middle of the table.

"Jenna, I think you're old enough to know that they're roses."  He teased.

"I understand that, but what are they for?"  Jenna replied.

"Read the card and find out."  He said.

Jenna stood from her chair and plucked the card out of its holder.  She opened the envelope and read the card, tears filling her eyes.

'To the mother of my child-  Thank you for making me so happy.  You have given me my life back, and so much more.  I can't thank you enough for everything you have brought back into my life.  I am here for you every step of the way.  I love you.  Nicholas.'

"Oh, Nicholas!  Thank you.  You didn't have to do that!"  Jenna told him, wiping her eyes.  Pregnancy made her so emotional.

"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to.  I just want to make sure you know how special you are to me."  Nicholas told her as he walked around the table and kneeled next to her, taking her hands in his.

"Nicholas, you being here with me every day lets me know how special I am.  The way you treat me, the way you are with Colby, and the way you hold my hand through all of my doctor's appointments all let me know how you feel about me."  Jenna smiled.

"I just never want to take you for granted.  I want to make sure that you know every single day how much I love you, because one day it may be too late to show you or tell you."  Nicholas pointed out.  He kissed her softly, then went to stand up to go back to his chair and eat.

Jenna had other ideas though.  She grabbed his hand and pulled him back to her, giving him another kiss, but a deeper one this time.  Only when they needed to breathe again did Jenna release him so that he could go and sit back down.

After dinner, Nicholas cleaned up while Jenna went and found a movie for them to watch.  Nicholas carried in two bottles of Pepsi, and a bottle of juice.  He dimmed the lights in the living room, then laid on the couch, pulling Jenna down to lay next to him.  "Not long before we won't be able to fit on this couch together anymore."  He laughed.

"So, are you going to hate me when I get all fat and stuff?"  Jenna asked.

"Hell no!  I'll think you are just as, if not more beautiful than you are now.  You have my little baby in there.  How could that be anything less than perfect?"  Nicholas replied.

"Oh, you're such a sweet talker.  You always know just what to say."  She said as she poked him in the ribs, causing him to jump in a ticklish reaction.

Nicholas wrapped his arms around Jenna, then settled in waiting for the movie to start.  Shortly after the opening credits began to roll, Jenna was out cold, snoring lightly.  Nicholas had to stifle a laugh, he had never heard Jenna snore before.  Since it was still early, he decided to watch the movie, then carry Jenna up to bed once it had finished.  There was no way he could go to sleep at this point, it was only 8:00 at night and barely dark outside.  He watched her sleeping peacefully for a while, memorizing every point on her face.  He looked at her longingly, knowing just how much Jenna had impacted his life in such a short time.

*****

The next morning, Nicholas woke up to Jenna jumping out of bed and making her morning dash to the bathroom.  He threw the covers off and followed her in there, performing his morning ritual of rubbing her back and giving her a cool cloth for her face, then starting the shower when the color began returning to her face.

Since the kids weren't home, Nicholas and Jenna showered together, taking their time and enjoying each other.  As they made love in the shower, Nicholas noticed that Jenna was getting a little heavier to pick up, and realized that he wouldn't be able to have her in that position too much longer.  He would never tell her that though, she would feel horrible to think that Nicholas was complaining about her weight, even though he wasn't.  Out of the shower, Nicholas dried her off, paying extra special attention to the small bulge of her expanding stomach.  He rubbed her belly, kissed it, and talked to it.  When he started blowing raspberries on it, Jenna decided that was enough attention for the day.

Jenna dragged Nicholas over to the sink, where she sat up on the counter and pulled him between her legs.  She reached behind her and grabbed his can of shaving gel, and spayed a shot in her hand.  Jenna rubbed her hands together, causing the gel to turn to foam, then she slathered the foam on Nicholas's face.  Jenna turned the faucet on, and ran Nicholas's razor under the stream of water.  She looked up at Nicholas as she positioned the razor near his sideburn, her eyes asking if he trusted her.  Nicholas gave a small nod, his eyes filled with laughter.  Jenna slowly lowered the razor to his skin, then traced it along the contour of his face in slow strokes.  Nicholas told her which direction to shave his face in, depending on the area she was working on at the time, and was impressed at how graceful she moved, especially around his beloved goatee.

After all of the stubble had been removed, Jenna took a wet washcloth and cleaned off the residual shaving foam.  She tested her work by rubbing her hand along the skin of his jaw line, pleased that it was nice and smooth.  She kissed his cheeks, inhaling the fresh scent of his shaving gel as she did.  "Nice and soft, smelling good enough to eat."  Jenna told him.

"You did a great job.  Thanks."  Nicholas said, enjoying the experience, and quite honestly, feeling a bit turned on from it.  He wondered if she noticed the stirring in his groin.

"You know, the smell of that stuff really turns me on."  Jenna admitted.  She wrapped her arms around his neck, and moved her head near his shoulder, to kiss his neck.

"Maybe we should do something about that."  Nicholas suggested.

"Hmm, it's only been about half an hour since the time in the shower, are you sure you're ready to go again already?"  Jenna teased.  She got her answer as she felt Nicholas probing his erection between her legs.  "Mmm…Guess so!"  She said as he entered her slowly.

*****

Just before lunch time, Nicholas went to pick up Emma and Colby at their friends' houses.  Jenna stayed behind so that she could catch up on some housework.  She groaned when she heard the doorbell.  Standing outside was a tear-stained face of her best friend.

"Vanessa?  What's wrong?"  Jenna asked as she opened the door.  Vanessa stood there, pain written across her face.  "Come in here and talk to me!  You're starting to scare me.  Is everything ok?"

"Oh Jenna!"  Vanessa cried and fell into Jenna's arms.

Jenna managed to move with Vanessa, at least a little further into the foyer so that she could close the front door.  She held Vanessa in a hug and rubbed her back as the sobs shook her body.  "Honey, tell me what's going on!"  Jenna urged.

"I just don't know anymore.  I am so confused!"  Vanessa sobbed.

"Ok, honey.  Let's go sit down.  Do you want something to drink?"  Jenna asked.

"Water?"  Vanessa asked as she walked slowly to the living room.

Jenna grabbed a water and a juice out of the fridge, then went to sit with Vanessa in the living room.  She handed the water to Vanessa, who managed to open the bottle and take a huge drink.  Jenna figured that Vanessa had been crying for a while and was most likely pretty dehydrated.

"Jenna, what am I going to do?"  Vanessa asked.

"I don't know Nessa.  You haven't even told me what's wrong."  Jenna told her sweetly.

"I'm in love."  Vanessa said and broke into a whole new round of tears.

"Is that all?"  Jenna asked.  Vanessa shot her a murderous glare through her tears.  "Honey, why is that a problem?"

"It's a problem because look at the last time that I fell in love.  I got hurt so bad that I never wanted to get close to another man again.  Now I go and fall in love with someone who's as big of a player as I am?"  Vanessa explained.