Meant To Be by Karen Stivali

Author:Karen Stivali [Stivali, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781622370269
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Published: 2012-08-26T20:08:44+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

“We have an announcement to make,” Frank said. “Marienne’s pregnant. We’re havin’ a baby.”

Justine’s mouth fell open. “Oh my God. Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Marienne said.

“Well, when?”

“About six months.” Marienne smiled.

“Oh my God. Is this why you’ve been sick so much?”

Marienne nodded. “Turns out morning sickness is a bit of a misnomer.”

“Jesus, that’s awful. You’re fine now?”

“Much better.”

“Well, congratulations, you must be…excited.” Justine looked over at Daniel and narrowed her eyes.

“Be right back,” Marienne said. “That’s one symptom that’s sticking around, it seems like I always have to pee.”

Justine watched as Marienne left the room. “Why don’t you go set up the pool table,” she said to Frank. “Daniel, come help me grab some drinks.”

Daniel followed her into the kitchen.

“You don’t seem too surprised by this announcement,” she said, as soon as they were out of earshot of Frank. “Did you already know? “

“Yeah,” Daniel said. “They weren’t ready to tell people yet, so I didn’t say anything. Seemed like a personal decision for them on when to announce this news.”

“Oh, of course.”

“Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

“Good, because you shouldn’t be.”

“I’m not.”

****

Daniel knew Justine was waiting for Frank and Marienne to leave before she exploded. They were barely halfway across the yard before she started.

“I can’t believe they’re pregnant,” she said.

He was surprised she led with that statement.

“And I really, really can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” That was the statement he’d been anticipating.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Marienne is superstitious, she didn’t want anyone knowing until she was further along.”

“I’m not complaining about her not telling me. I’m complaining about you not telling me.”

Daniel took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

Justine’s mouth remained twisted into a scowl. She poured herself another glass of wine. “At least now we know why Marienne’s been such a mess.”

“Yeah, she hasn’t had an easy time of it.”

“Honestly, I don’t know why women want to have babies, ever. It all seems so unpleasant.”

Daniel blinked rapidly. “Well….”

“Well, what? Morning sickness? Weight gain? Not to mention the delivery.” She shuddered and took another swig of wine. “It’s unimaginable.”

“But it’s the only way to make a baby.”

“Spoken like a true man. All you’d have to do is come.”

Daniel’s mouth hung open. He didn’t know what to say. Arguing with Justine while she was already annoyed seemed like a very bad idea.

“I’m going to bed,” she said. There was no invitation in the statement.

“I’ll finish cleaning up.”

She nodded and set her wineglass down in the sink.

Daniel loaded the dishwasher. He was relieved he no longer had to keep the baby a secret. Overall Justine’s reaction wasn’t too bad, but her attitude about babies worried him. She used to say she’d want kids some day. Lately whenever the topic arose, she tried to avoid it. The last time they’d discussed it was on the way home from her parents’ house. Her brothers had been there with their wives and children, and her mother was stressed and headache-ridden as usual. The children were whiny, because they were bored, and their parents had little patience or ability to soothe them.

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