It’s early evening, you’ve spent the day on the phone to family and friends and now you’re both taking a well earned break before deciding what to order for dinner.
After the whirlwind of the last day or so, the absolute mayhem of the match you’d been in, the heartache of knowing that your wife wasn’t for returning to her seat at the commentary table and the incredible news of what awaited you both over the next few months, nevermind the next few years…
Yes, it was nice to spend time together and enjoy the peace.
Taking in the view, your eyes drift down to observe the sight of your wife nuzzling into your chest. Your left arm is draped around her shoulders and rubbing circles gently between her shoulder blades.
Vanessa’s attention, much like yours until a few seconds ago has been on the room stretching out in front of you.
With the exception of the large beanbags you’re lying on, an impulse buy at the time but finding their use now at last, it’s a pretty sparse looking room. Sure, there’s one or two chests of drawers, but this room had almost intentionally not been set aside for any particular purpose and hadn’t yet been needed as overflow for any of the other rooms in the home.
’So you don’t want to know?’
’Hmm?’
Your response is almost automatic.
Vanessa tilts her head up towards you, repeating the question.
In response, you shake your head gently from side to side, your lips pursing while your tongue runs over your front teeth and then pushes into the cheek.
’Nein… I…’
You pause, settling for kissing her forehead while you compose a more coherent response.
’I’m happy not knowing, jah.’
’Really? You?’
She props herself up on her elbow, having rotated herself round somewhat and making a racket with the beanbags as they adjust to her movements.
In the quiet of the room, it’s only amplified. A snort of laughter comes from her as she struggles to get comfortable and yet look dignified while doing it.
‘You could move you know?’
‘What?’
‘Move your one, move to the right, it’s trapping mine.’
She gestures at your outstretched form and the beanbag you’re lying on.
With an overly dramatic sigh after a short silence, trying to stare down one another, you relent.
It doesn’t go well, you trying to shift slightly doesn’t translate to what the beanbag ends up doing and you’re soon at an angle, the side closest to Vanessa almost ballooning as you see more of the wall than the ceiling.
Throwing your left hand up even as your right elbow stabilises you on the floor, Vanessa’s laughter is heard before she appears over the top.
You tilt your head to the left, looking up at her.
‘That wasn’t quite what I asked you to do babe.’
‘No kidding…’
You go to try to adjust, only ending sliding off onto the floor even more.
‘Sheiße…’
A frustrated noise comes from the back of your throat as you just give up at this point, the back of your head hitting the ground gently as you go spreadeagled.
‘You’re such a gentleman though, giving me both…’
Vanessa stretches out herself, the beanbags reacting far more positively to her weight than they did yours, letting her lounge across them comfortably.
‘Glad you’re happy mein schatz’.
The dryness in your response has her giggling, which means you soon follow.
You settle into your new position, both just looking into one another’s eyes for a moment.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to know?’
‘Jah…’
‘Ok… ok, sure… even though it’ll make decorating this room and getting clothes and such so much easier…?
Your eyes flicker around the room.
It’s a good point, but…
‘Still don’t wish to know my love’.
Your gaze settles back on your wife.
‘Could be fun then…’
She sticks her tongue out at you, causing another ripple of laughter.
‘Though it will mean we need to choose two potential names…’
‘Is that on top of the names you’ve already got penciled in?’
‘Smartass.’
Your left hand rises up, brushing a few loose strands of hair away from your wife’s eyeline and out past and over her ear.
She grasps it with her right hand that she’s propping her head up with, placing it against her cheek and then settling her left hand under her chin as support.
Her right hand gently drags up and down your arm, slightly ticklish, but pleasant.
‘So when did you learn?’
‘For definite?’
One eyebrow goes up as she computes the dates in her head.
‘One, two… no, one week ago I met with Dr Martins and had the prenatal appointment…’
A moment of realization dawns.
‘So that routine check up… jah?’
‘Jah my love, that was it.’
She squeezes your hand.
‘I didn’t want to jinx it. I had my suspicions and so did Dr Martins, but wanted to check properly given all of the past and recent history.’
A small grimace flits across her face.
‘There’s still concerns until I pass the first trimester, things will be more settled then… and I wanted to wait to tell you then, but…’
Another squeeze of your hand.
‘Moment felt right, y’know.’
‘I had no idea mein schatz’.
A look of pleasure appears.
‘I did a good job then!’
Seeing your expression, she elaborates.
‘You’ve been on edge the last few months even after dealing with that psycho b*tch. I’ve been on edge… then with all of these fertility treatments, trying to boost my chances, not touching a drop of alcohol since Christmas, y’know…’
She sighs.
‘There’s been a lot going on, so what’s one more thing to add to the pile?’
‘This time it’s a wonderful thing.’
That smile. It’s radiant.
‘Yes my love, isn’t it just.’
Once more you both fall silent.
’So what colours do we paint this room in?’
’We leave it as is, if you’re not wanting to know if we’re having a boy or a girl, then we’re leaving it neutral.’
Patting the carpet you’re lying on, you glance down at it and then back at your wife.
’And the first time the baby decides to throw up, jah? This, nice, speckled cream… ‘
You search for the words as Vanessa just stares at you unimpressed.
’... type… thing…’
’Where are you getting speckled from?’
’It looks speckled.’
Another quick glance down and then back to your wife who by now is raising an eyebrow and appraising you. Never a good thing.
’I think you got hit in the head one too many times in that match my love, I know it was a confusing mess at times, but that carpet isn’t speckled.’
’It looks speckled.’
It was a pathetic comeback, but Vanessa just rolls her eyes, groans and leans down to kiss you.
’One, it’s pearl, two, you infuriate me at times.’
’I look forward to doing that until the end of days my love.’
’You’ll be saying differently once my hormones kick in properly!’
You can’t help but laugh at that, even as your wife has that knowing look on her face, albeit then joining in the laughter as you both enjoy the moment with one another.
Once more, silence reigns, your left hand rises up, toying with a lock of her red hair that cascades over the beanbag.
You choke back a small laugh, almost coughing.
’It’s good to know all that effortwe put in between Christmas and new year really worked…’
Your wife rolls her eyes at this, a smirk forming nonetheless that soon blossoms into a smile.
’And the times before that… and after…’
Once more you’re comfortable enough to just look at one another, by now Vanessa’s hand is trailing her fingers through your hair and over your forehead.
’I still can’t believe you’ve called time on commentary though…’
You exhale slowly through your nose, blinking once or twice, that realisation still hitting you.
’It’s going to be so strange mein schatz…’
’I know babe, but… I’ve not been doing it for some months now… and well, Jason’s still there, Matthew’s really taken to it…’
’Jah, he has…’
’You’ll still have people you know and love rooting for you out there… and you’ll have people you know, and well, will get to know doing the same here.’
Now that’s a nice thought.
Change is scary. This change in things is, well, actually, terrifying in truth.
It’s something you both were working towards, but now that you’re both hurtling towards it actually coming to pass…?
‘Sheiße…’
You sit upright, swinging round to come face to face with your wife. Holding your hands together and interlocking fingers, you stare into her eyes.
’We’re going to be parents…’
Right now, nothing else mattered.
End scene.
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