Proposition

by Wegner, Ola

  She sighed. “I want to, but I really don’t feel very well today.”

  His arm contracted around her. “That’s all my fault.”

  “Stop that,” she chided him tiredly. “I’m very happy about the baby. I would only like to stop vomiting up everything I manage to eat.”

  “It’s going to be better later, hopefully soon,” he assured her. “The doctor said so.”

  “Yeah, I hope so,” she said listlessly.

  Soon she fell asleep and he pulled the covers gently over her small form. Careful not to wake her while using the bathroom next to their bedroom, he decided to take a shower in the other bathroom, down the hall. Twenty minutes later, he was down in the freshly redecorated, shiny kitchen, making himself coffee and toast. Glancing at his watch, he decided that he had enough time to check the news, before going to the airport. He turned on the TV that they had had installed in the small dining area next to the kitchen. Amy hadn’t been exactly delighted with that idea at first, but she’d agreed readily when he’d given up from having another TV set in the living room. He suspected that if she’d had her way they would have ended up without the TV at all, similar as it’d been in her old condo before he’d moved in.

  They had been living in their new house for almost a month, but it all looked as if they’d moved in yesterday. Amy was very unhappy that she wasn’t able to put their home in order. There were still unpacked boxes everywhere. She’d said she felt depressed seeing all the mess around her. Still she wasn’t up to doing much every day. She felt constantly tired and sick to her stomach most of the time. He’d even tried to suggest that they could hire some help but she’d only scowled at him.

  She had done lots of it lately, scowling at him, and being cranky. It seemed that his sweet Amy was gone and was replaced by this moody, pouting little person, frowning at him when he tried to come close to her. He knew that he should be more understanding, but he couldn’t really help feeling slightly irritated by her attitude. He absolutely hated when she kept pushing him away.

  He finished his breakfast, turned off the TV, and tiptoed into their bedroom to check on her. Cocooned beneath the covers, she slept soundly. He considered whether he should wake her up, but decided against it. His mother certainly wouldn’t mind Amy taking a nap when she arrived.

  Pulling the car out of the driveway his thoughts returned to Amy’s behavior in the last weeks. The worst was that she behaved as if she literally couldn’t stand his touch. He knew that her breasts were very tender now, but he felt rejected when she unceremoniously slapped his hand away when he’d tried to touch her there. He’d always been very gentle, and she’d loved when he’d played with her breasts. But not anymore, it seemed. A few days ago, he’d tried to initiate lovemaking but she’d ignored him, and he’d aborted the effort. She hadn’t even tried to tell him that she hadn’t felt like having sex. She simply didn’t react. She had been on her side, and he started running his hand over her body, just as she liked it. But she hadn’t even moved. She’d only lain stiffly, and when his hand slipped into her panties, she closed her eyes, pretending sleep. He‘d felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

  He didn’t want to be ungrateful, she was carrying his son or daughter after all, but he needed her attention, too. It wasn’t just about sex. He wanted to feel her close to him, needed her touch, her warmth, but lately he’d been denied even that. The doctor had assured them that it was perfectly safe to make love during pregnancy. Understandably, he would have been extra careful and gentle, but she didn’t even allow him to prove that. He wondered how long this situation would last before she would return to her own self in that respect.

  The labor itself terrified him. He refused to even think about it. Amy’s doctor had informed them last week that Amy shouldn’t give birth in a natural way. Because of her sight defect, there was actually a possibility for her to lose her sight during the strenuous natural labor. Her doctor had already decided that a c-section would be necessary for this and any future deliveries.

  They had spent Christmas mostly at home, because Amy hadn’t felt well. They had only visited Thomas and Claire on Christmas Day. Thomas had been delighted when he heard he was going to be a grandfather. But at the same time he’d seemed to be concerned about his daughter’s low spirits.

  And now his mother insisted on coming. Stacy had wanted to visit them at Christmas, as soon as she’d heard that Amy was pregnant. She’d all but invited herself, but Jake had managed to somehow persuade her to put this idea out of her head. He’d reasoned that they had barely managed to move in. He’d stressed that Amy was too tired to handle guests after the exhausting move.

  But a few days ago his mother had phoned again, mainly asking about Amy’s well being. Amy herself had told her that she wasn’t feeling very well. He guessed that his wife needed a woman to talk to, because she had started complaining to Stacy how sick and tired she felt all the time. And now his mother was on her way, determined to help her daughter-in-law through the rest of her pregnancy.

  He didn’t really blame Amy that she had confided in Stacy. He was happy that they seemed to get along so well. Claire was certainly not a person with whom Amy would have wanted to seek help and support in this situation. What unnerved him was that he was there by her side to help her, but Amy didn’t seem to notice it. She behaved as if she’d thought that his role ended the moment the baby had been conceived.

  It wasn’t that he didn’t want his mother to come visit. He loved his mother, and enjoyed her company, but perhaps not for an extended period of time, as she planned. He resented his mother living with them, even for a short time. It was a breach of his privacy. He loved when he and Amy were alone at home, just two of them.

  “How is she?” were his mother’s first words, after they saw each other among the sea of people at the busy airport.

  Jake kissed his mother’s cheek, returning her hug. “She’s not well today. She’s been vomiting the whole morning. She asked me to apologize to you that she couldn’t come to pick you up.”

  Stacy waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, that’s nothing...I understand she can feel unwell, poor darling.” She pushed the trolley with her luggage to Jake, indicating he take care of it. Judging by the size of her bags she intended on more than an obligatory few-days-long stay. “But tell me, is it that bad?”

  “It’s just hard for her,” he admitted.

  It alerted Stacy instantly. “Is the pregnancy endangered?”

  “No, no. Doctor says everything’s fine,” Jake assured her instantly.

  Stacy’s hand went to her chest in relief. “Thank you, Lord,” she smiled. “But she seemed so unwell when I spoke with her,” she added worriedly.

  “I think it’s all about her mental state,” Jake explained, directing them to the entrance. “Her moods are unpredictable. She’s tired and sleepy. Her nausea often lasts till midday so she’s often late for work, which upsets her very much. I suggested that she could start the maternity leave earlier but she refused, getting angry. I don’t understand why she opposes the idea. It’s not like she has to work to support herself and the baby. Besides, her pay is ridiculous in comparison to what I make...”

  “Jake Barry!” Stacy exclaimed sharply, interrupting him. “Will you please shut up? Sometimes you’re just like your father! How can you be so arrogant and insensitive? I hope you didn’t tell her what you’ve just told me.”

  “Well, no, not exactly...” he retreated.

  They walked into the parking area and walked toward Jake’s car.

  “I can’t understand why she insists on going to work every day, exerting herself, when I do everything in my power so she doesn’t have to work at all.”

  Stacy kept shaking her head when her son loaded her bags into his car’s trunk. “You don’t understand anything.”

  “Exactly what don’t I understand?” he asked when they were already in the car.

  “Look, your wife is an intelligent and educa
ted woman, not some empty headed bimbo.” Stacy started to explain rationally. “She needs to have her own purpose in life, something which will separate her from you, like her own friends and her job. It doesn’t matter how much she earns there on the condition that she enjoys what she does, and the work is meaningful to her. You have to give her some space. You cannot suffocate her with your attention. I observed you two together, when I visited the last time. You smother her with your attention. You don’t give her enough room to breathe around you. You’re always at her feet. Always beside her. It’s no wonder you got her pregnant just a couple of months after the wedding.”

  “And who’s saying that?” Jake said incredulously, “Did you forget how you tormented her about having grandchildren the last time you came here?”

  “I did nothing like that,” Stacy answered with dignity. “I simply asked her whether she liked children and if she planned to have any in the future,” she stressed the last words.

  Temporarily, silence filled the car. Jake wondered when the last time was that he felt that irritated. He knew very well what his mother had said to Amy the last time, but he saw no point in quarreling about this. No matter how old he was his mother had a certain way of getting to him.

  “Don’t speed up,” Stacy cautioned when they turned onto the highway.

  “I do not speed up,” he muttered through his teeth.

  Stacy only raised her eyebrow. “I only hope that you don’t speed up when you drive your pregnant wife.”

  “Mum, of course not!” he spat out. “Damn it!” His clenched fist hit the steering wheel.

  Stacy glared at him. “Jake Mathew Barry, you do not use that language in front of me,” she informed him.

  “Mum, first of all it’s not that kind of language,” he reasoned more calmly, “And secondly, could you please give me a break? I have enough on my mind.”

  “As you wish,” Stacy said quietly, turning her head to stare out of the window, clearly with the intention of not resuming the conversation any time soon.

  “Look, I’m simply worried about her,” Jake started defensively after a long moment, waiting for a traffic light to change. “She’s lost weight and she doesn’t feel well at all. Still her obstetrician says she’s doing well, and her condition is good.”

  “Doctors,” Stacy snorted dismissively.

  He gave her a half-doubtful, half-curious look. “Mum, weren’t you a nurse for over thirty years?”

  “Yes, I was. That’s why I know exactly what I’m talking about,” she stated confidently.

  Some time passed again before Jake divulged another piece of information. “I feel guilty...” He paused with a sigh. “About this whole situation,” he admitted reluctantly.

  She glanced at him sharply. “Why?”

  “I must say that you’re at least partially right about this. I should have given her more time before...” he cleared his throat, “before starting a family.”

  “Is she unhappy about the baby?” Stacy asked more gently.

  He shook his head. “No, she says she’s very happy. At least, she says that she is... but I’m not sure.” His expression clouded. “She cries a lot...you know.” He made a restless move with his hand. “Without any reason.”

  “Jake, son, of course she’s got a reason.” Stacy’s tone was almost soothing.

  “Well, if she does I don’t get it,” he said, his voice again turning irritable. “She and the baby are fine. She has a husband who... well, who adores her. She has no financial worries. I can buy her anything she wants.”

  Stacy glanced at him skeptically. “Haven’t you noticed yet that she isn’t exactly the buying type?”

  “Of course, I’ve noticed,” he murmured grudgingly. “It’s one of the reasons I married her.”

  “Jake, honey, I suppose I could explain to you what’s happening to her right now,” Stacy began patiently. “But these are things rather difficult to understand for a man.”

  “Is that all I’m going to hear?” He sounded even more irritated now.

  “Darling, it has nothing to do with you.” Stacy tried to appease him. “We women are simply just slightly more complicated than men. Don’t glare at me like that. We are,” she insisted. “The undeniable fact is that we see the world on different, more complex levels. Amy’s emotional, because her body’s changing and her whole life is changing. She’s not herself. It’s her first child so she’s full of apprehension and fears. She has no one to talk with about what’s going on.”

  He scowled. “She’s got me.”

  “I mean a woman, dear. She hasn’t got a mother or sister with whom she could confide.”

  His shoulders lifted in a helpless shrug. “I just want to help her.”

  “I know, Jake.” Stacy reached out and stroked his cheek. “And I’m sure she knows she’s got your support.”

  They didn’t speak more until they pulled into the driveway in front of the house.

  “Lovely house,” Stacy exclaimed sincerely, climbing out of the car.

  “Amy will be happy to hear you say it,” Jake said, walking to the back of the car to retrieve his mother’s bags.

  Stacy admired the house and its surroundings. “Very stylish.”

  “Amy picked it.”

  Stacy gave him an amused look. “I gathered as much.” She walked straight to the house, leaving him with all the bags.

  Amy appeared on the porch and both women fell into each other arms. Soon they disappeared and the door to the house closed with a loud bang. He had a feeling that this would be long couple of weeks.

  When he eventually got into the house with all of his mother’s baggage, the women were standing in the hallway, talking in soft voices. Amy looked as if she had been crying again. To his astonishment, they hugged again. He personally thought that it was rather strange for two women who barely knew each other to behave in such an unreserved way.

  “Jake, here you are.” His mother turned to him at last, acknowledging his presence.

  “Stacy will stay in the guest room,” Amy said with a smile.

  Already, his wife looked better. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and she wore fitted jeans and a pretty pink shirt.

  “I’ve already prepared everything. Jake, please take the bags upstairs.”

  He did as he was told. His mother went to refresh herself and Amy rushed to the kitchen. When he returned downstairs, lunch was ready on the table in the dining room next to the kitchen.

  He raised his eyebrows. “You cooked?”

  “Sure, we have a guest after all,” she answered, twirling around the table, putting on the finishing touches.

  He sat down and stared sadly at the plate in front him.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, pouring him freshly made tea into a mug.

  He shook his head. “Nothing.”

  Stacy returned and they started eating. Amy and Stacy ate little, finished quickly, and excused themselves, ordering him to do the dishes. They disappeared upstairs for the rest of the afternoon and he was left to clean the kitchen.

  When they walked down, he was watching football. He turned the TV off the moment they stood together in front of him.

  “Everything’s all right?” he asked worriedly, standing up, looking searchingly from his mother to his wife. It couldn’t be that bad because both of them were smiling.

  To his surprise, Amy’s face broke into a big smile and she walked to him and lifted onto her toes to kiss him on the cheek, snuggling against him. Slowly, he wound his arm around her waist and held her close.

  “Just, fine.” she said and smiled sweetly at him. “Your mum agreed to stay with us for a couple of weeks and help me put the house in order.”

  “And later, I invited Amy to stay with me in Florida for some time,” Stacy announced. “We’ve been discussing starting the maternity leave earlier too.”

  Jake’s eyes widened apprehensively as he stared down at his wife. “You want to leave me alone?”


  “Oh, don’t pout,” his mother patted his cheek. “Isn’t he cute when he does that?” she asked Amy. “It will be just a couple of weeks,” she continued. “Amy and the baby need a change of climate. It’s so cold here this time of the year.”

  “Well, if it’s good for her and the baby,” he agreed grudgingly.

  “You mentioned that deal in California.” Amy’s sweet voice caught his attention. “I know that you would like to be there to have an eye on everything, but you don’t want to leave me on my own here. So perhaps while I’m in Florida with Stacy, you could go to California. Then, after you finish with your business there you could meet us in Florida.”

  “That sounds to be a reasonable plan,” Jake agreed, relieved, kissing the top of her head. He decided that his mother’s visit was not that bad after all.

  Chapter Twenty

  “We went shopping today,” Amy said from the bathroom.

  “What a surprise,” Jake murmured under his breath, not lifting his eyes from his laptop. It was nearly ten in the evening, but he was still working, sitting in bed. He needed to get a lot of work done before leaving for California.

  Amy walked into the bedroom. “What did you say?”

  “Nothing,” he said, still frowning over the data on the screen. Stacy and Amy went shopping almost every single day. And, contrary to his wife, his mother had no qualms whatsoever about spending his money. She reached down and pulled his laptop off his lap.

  “Enough work for today,” Amy announced, saving his last document and putting his laptop aside.

  “You know, I think that bonding with my mother has gone a little too far,” he murmured dryly. “You’re acting exactly like her. I’m not sure whether I like it.”

  Amy gave him a pointed look, her hand on her rounded hip. “Well, I don’t care. The fact is that she’s right that you work too much.”

  He wanted to answer something to that, to say that she was turning really bossy, but he didn’t. He much preferred to simply stare appreciatively at her. He couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked this evening. The night attire she chose tonight was definitely on the small side, exactly the way he liked it. It was a nice change, because lately she seemed to prefer shapeless, neck buttoned, tent like pajamas or ankle length nightgowns. He much preferred her like this, in shorts like knickers and pink top with thin straps. The top was well-fitted and it hugged her midsection nicely. He could already see that her waist had definitely thickened.