The Yes Girl

by Michelle Maris

  I don’t answer him right away. I don’t know if it’s because seeing him here in front me, shocks me, or because he looks so damn good that I want to touch him and kiss him.

  “Will you explain what’s happening here?”

  Oh yes that…“I understand how messed up this must seem. I don’t know what to say right now.” I go for the most inappropriate thing to say considering the circumstance. “You look great. I can’t believe you are here in front of me.”

  “You don’t know what to say, you stand here pregnant with my child that you chose not to tell me about, and you don’t know what the fuck to say. You quit your job, you cut me out of your life, and I made love to you in October… Were you pregnant then?” He pauses as that little fact makes his face twist. “You cut me off except for a few emails and a couple of phone calls, my mother saw you like this and didn’t tell me, and now here we are right back to where it all started.” He runs his fingers through his hair and releases a frustrated huff. “I know what you should say, tell me why you broke my heart and then decide not to tell me that I will be a father.”

  I feel sick. I feel like I could drop. “Nick it all happened so fast, I panicked. I didn’t want to mess things up for you.” I fall back as I feel my blood leave my body. Nick reacts and takes me in his arms. I fall into him, resting my head on his chest.

  “Alex, did you take the train in? Do you have to go back to work?”

  “Yes and No.” I feel like I could pass out, or vomit, either will do.

  “Okay, listen I will drive you home. If I leave you here to get my car do you promise you will stay here?”

  “Yes, I promise.” I couldn’t run if I tried.

  Nick walks me over to the Starbucks on the corner. He sits me down and goes up to the counter. He talks to the young man behind the counter and comes back with a bottle of orange juice. “I told the guy behind the counter to keep an eye on you. I gave him a hundred dollar bill to run after you if you leave. It shouldn’t be hard to catch up with a woman nine months pregnant, so don’t get any ideas.”

  “Are you kidding me?” I let out a giggle. “Insurance?”

  As Nick walks away, he looks back, “No, I’m not kidding. Don’t leave! I’ll be right back. And yes, insurance.”

  The car ride to my house is a blur. I close my eyes as carsickness takes over. Nick rests his hand on my arm and asks if I will be okay. He drives as fast as possible but I ask him to take the turns slower. The last thing I want to do is dry heave.

  I open my eyes as we pull up to my house. Nick jumps out of the car and helps me out. We walk to the door, and he takes the key from me, unlocks the door, and disarms the alarm.

  We walk into the bedroom and he helps me onto the bed. I sit up on the side of the bed. Nick takes off my shoes. He stands up and helps me off the bed. Standing close he removes my dress up and over my head. He looks at my pregnant belly, and I see a slight smile form on his lips. He places his hands on either side of my belly and glides his hands up and around to my back and unclasps my bra. My swollen pregnant breasts spill out and rest on my belly.

  “What can I put on you?” Nick looks around the room.

  “On the back of the bathroom door is a robe.”

  Nick comes back into the room with my new robe that replaced the one he took with him to Germany. He slips it on me and ties it around my belly. I lay down on the bed with my pillows behind my back and Nick places another one under my knees.

  “Do you feel better?” He asks as he sits beside me.

  “I do.” Thank you.

  “Do you feel up to talking? Or should I say explaining?”

  I know I owe Nick an explanation. Even if I don’t feel like talking, I will because he deserves it. “We can talk.” My voice is low.

  “How did this happen? You were on the pill.”

  “Do you remember when we made love right after I had the stomach flu?”

  “Of course I do. I remember I was so gentle because you looked so frail.”

  “That was the moment. I continued the pill when I felt better but I skipped so many while I was sick and may have missed a few more after that.”

  “So when did you find out?”

  “The same day you told me about Germany.”

  “Damn, I can’t believe this.” Nick pinches the bridge of his nose. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t my mother tell me? Have you been talking to my mother this whole time?”

  “Whole time? No, just since we ran into each other. I asked her not to say anything until I could tell you myself. I thought I’d call when you arrived home, but I thought that was next week.”

  Nick’s face looks as if he searches for something. “So you planned on telling me?”

  “No. I mean not until I ran into your mom.”

  “So you weren’t going to tell me until my mother convinced you?”

  “Yes and no. Nick, I didn’t want to ruin your life. You said many times that you didn’t want children. You came home with this incredible life changing news, everything you wanted, how could I take that from you? A child would have derailed all your plans. You’re young, you have everything going for you.”

  “Alex that is fucked up. Do you know how much you fucked me up these past months? I love you… I am in love with you. What don’t you understand about that statement? That news of going to Germany only meant something because you were in my life. The second you shut me out, it meant nothing. After that, I went through the motions. I didn’t care anymore.”

  I can’t look at him. “Nick, I’m sorry. I thought…”

  “You know what… you thought wrong. I never wanted children before you because I dated a bunch of mindless twits. Women who wanted the money, who didn’t have one deep thought in their head. I couldn’t raise a child with a mindless twit. But you, you changed everything. I wanted to have children with you the second week I knew you, but I said nothing because your concern was your age, I didn’t want to put that pressure on you. I thought at one point we’d have that discussion and you’d go off the pill and we would let fate takes its course.”

  Through my sobbing, I say, “I told you I was a hot mess.”

  Nick wraps his arms around me, “And I told you I would be patient.”

  I laugh through my tears. Nick laughs. He look into my eyes, “It’s so good to be here with you. I missed you so much. When I got out of the airport, I felt like I was one step closer to being with you again. I was on my way to your office when I saw you standing there. I couldn’t believe you were there.” He uses his thumb to wipe the tears from my eyes. “So we are having a little girl named Ava.”

  "Yes.” I sniffle. “If you like the name.”

  “And my mother knows?” There is humor in Nick’s tone.

  “And Julia.” Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that bit of information.

  “And Julia?” Nick shakes his head in disbelief.

  I try to change the subject. “You’re mom has been great. She had her decorator come in and change one of my spare rooms into a nursery. She helped me shop and she spent a lot of time here over the past month helping me prepare.”

  “Oh my God, the women I love will kill me.” Nick rubs his temples with his middle finger and thumb.

  “Don’t be angry, I planned on fixing this mess. I was waiting for you to come home next week. Tell me you’re not angry.”

  “Oh, I’m angry, furious, I mean this is fucked up, so fucked up, but as long as you still love me… my feelings haven’t changed.”

  I can’t believe after everything I have done to this man he still loves me.

  “I never stopped loving you.” I cry. “Don’t mind me my hormones make me cry all the time now.”

  “Baby, cry as much as you need to. So where do we go from here?” He asks as he helps me wipe my tears.

  “Well, we’re having a baby.”

  “Two weeks? In two weeks I will be a father?”

  “Yep.” I smile as I think of Nick as a father. />
  “So we resume as normal? We have the house in the country, the house in the city, a baby, and a dog?” Nick lays it all out as if nothing changed.

  “A dog? We don’t have a dog.”

  “I want a dog, a chocolate lab.”

  “I would love a dog. We should get two so the one is never alone.” I add.

  “In this house, no one will ever be alone again. I got you pregnant once, I will get you pregnant again and then we might even adopt a few kids.”

  Nick readjusts the pillows behind me. His hands skim over my belly and he gazes at me. “I want you, Alex, right now. You are very sexy pregnant. Everything about you looks so deliciously swollen.”

  I blush. “I think you should make an honest woman out of me first.” I tease Nick as he continues to rub my pregnant belly.

  “Don’t worry, I have that covered.”

  “What?” What does he mean by that?

  “Yeah, I did that too. I bought a ring for you. I planned on asking you to marry me when you came to Germany. I held on to it. I knew I would catch up with you one of these days.” Nick smiles. “I’m just glad I got to you before you gave birth to our first child.”

  “I’m so sorry, Nick.”

  “Don’t worry, Alexandra, you’ll make it up to me.”

  Chapter 26

  Alexandra

  17 Months Later

  “Jill, do I look fat?” I look at my side profile in the full-length mirror.

  “Of course you look fat, you’re pregnant.” Jill runs the makeup brush over her nose as she shouts back over her shoulder.

  “Jill, don’t tell Alexandra she looks fat.” Kate walks towards me with a tissue box. “Honey, you don’t look fat, don’t listen to Jill.”

  “I’ve never lied to Alex, I will not start now.” Jill applies another coat of black mascara to her eyelashes.

  “Jill, it’s okay if you tell her a little white lie on her wedding day.” Kate tries explaining to Jill.

  “So I look fat?” I try to suck in my stomach but nothing happens.

  “You look beautiful. You’re glowing. You’re pregnant and Nick loves you that’s all that matters.” Kate pulls at the long flowing skirt of my dress.

  “And your tits look awesome. I mean honest to God they look like porn star tits. That’s all Nick will look at.” Jill waves the mascara wand in the air pointing towards my breasts.

  “Jill, you’re terrible. It’s not the only thing Nick will look at.” Kate tries to defend her son, but it is a feeble attempt since it seemed every time Nick and I thought we were having a private moment during this past week someone caught him kissing the tops of my breasts.

  “It’s not the only thing but they will get the most play time.” Ana chimes in from the bathroom.

  “Oh my goodness, I can’t listen to this anymore, that’s my son you speak about and he’s your brother, and it’s his wedding day. We shouldn’t be talking about Alexandra’s tits at a time like this.” Kate looks at each one of us with a stern face, and we all break out laughing.

  I walk into the bathroom to look out on the front lawn. Kate insisted that the windows stay frosted; the whole groom shouldn’t see the bride tradition. Since the bathroom windows are mirrored I can see Nick, but he can’t see me.

  He looks beautiful. He looks happy. He’s laughing and talking to his brother-in-law and best man, Rob. Julia is standing near him with Ava. I told Nick he’s not allowed to hold Ava until after the ceremony in case she spits up.

  Maggie and Max are lounging near Nick’s feet. They are the two most unruly dogs ever (when they are around me). We take them out every morning for a three-mile run with Ava in her jogging stroller, and a two-mile walk in the evening trying to drain their energy. Nick says I spoil them. When he’s home, they are so well-behaved but when it’s just Ava, the two of them, and me, it’s God awful.

  Luckily, Mike is around Monday through Friday nine to five. Nick hired him as my driver, but since there are many hours when he’s not driving me, he hangs out in the house with the baby, the dogs, and me.

  Mike has been with Nick for most of his adult life, so when Mike mentioned to Nick that he wanted a more stable Monday through Friday job, Nick jumped on the chance that Mike might want to be my driver. I didn’t think it necessary, but I understood why Nick didn’t want to lose Mike. When Nick came home and explained the situation, I couldn’t refuse taking Mike on as my driver.

  I can’t remember the last time I drove since I’ve been with Nick. I hope it’s like riding a bicycle… you never forget.

  We maintain the best of both worlds by splitting our time between the suburbs and the city. For our wedding day, we agreed the Lake House was the perfect place.

  “Where is she?” Millie yells from my bedroom.

  I leave the bathroom and the view of Nick and see Millie Gentry standing in my bedroom looking proud as I walk out. “Oh Alexandra, I didn’t think it was possible, but you look even more beautiful than I’ve ever seen you.”

  “But Millie do I look fat?”

  “Of course you look fat, you’re pregnant.” She answers me as if I asked her the dumbest question.

  “See I told you,” Jill says to Kate.

  Kate walks towards me with the box of tissues. “You look beautiful, Alexandra.”

  Everyone chimes in agreement.

  “Honey, being fat pregnant doesn’t mean you don’t look beautiful… I mean look at those tits.” Millie tries to appease me.

  “Oh great here we go again with the tits.” Kate throws her arms up in the air.

  I am about to walk out onto the deck when Kate squeezes my arm. “Alexandra, you have brought so much joy to my son’s life, I’m so thankful to you.”

  “Kate, what I’ve received in return is beyond anything I could have imagined.”

  We hug one last time and then she slides the doors open. I step out onto the deck and our eyes lock. I can’t wait to stand next to him.

  I walk down the front yard towards Nick while the small orchestra plays in the background. He waits for me with a smile on his face while our dogs sit at his feet and Julia holds our daughter in her arms standing by Nick's side.

  I place my hands in his and we smile at each other. The priest who married us in the church a few weeks back is officiating our wedding today. Our first wedding was private and we used the traditional vows but today in front of everyone, we will recite our own vows we have written for each other.

  As the music stops, our priest speaks. He goes through the traditional wedding jargon, and then he starts the vow part of the ceremony. Nick goes first and I feel so nervous for him.

  “Alexandra, since the first moment we met I knew I would love you, I may have fallen in love with you that night. Your nature is to love and accept. You are blind to anything angry or hateful. I knew I needed that deep in my bones. The longer I love you the more I realize how happy I can be. I thought there was a cap on happiness. You’ve changed that belief. Everything about you excites me. Everything about you makes me feel safe. I am home when I am with you. Your innocence, your kindness, your generosity, and your love make me want to live better each day. I love that I can call you my friend, my wife, the mother of my children, and I love that I get to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Tears well up in my eyes. My turn? How am I going to top that?

  I inhale. “Nick, from the moment I met you I tried to avoid you… well, maybe not the moment but definitely the next day.” I hear laughter from all the guests as Nick shakes his head in agreement. “Thankfully, you never gave up on me. Your love Nick didn’t allow me to give up. I tried to push you away, and you came back with more love. You brought into my life everything I needed. I lived isolated, alone, and I convinced myself I was happy. Now I never take a breath alone, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Nick, I love you beyond those three words and I am grateful for the life you instill in me every single day. You fill my life with love. Places and things take on a whole new mean
ing now that I share them with you. I love you, Nick Ryan, I always will.”

  The priest finishes up our vows. “Nick Anthony Ryan, do you take Alexandra Adams as your lawful wife?”

  “Yes, I do.” Nick answers.

  “And Alexandra Adams, do you take Nick Anthony Ryan as your lawful Husband?”

  “Yes, Yes I do!”

  There you have it… saying yes really can change your life!