Chapter Forty-Four
The next two days, Angela was too nauseated and threw up everything she ate. Damian was too worried about her and didn't know what to do.
Arnold and his fiancée, Clara who was a gynecologist came over to their farm to check upon them. They saw Angela's state.
"You guys go out, I need to check her up," said Clara. They both left the bedroom and Clara checked her properly.
She knew instantly that Angela was pregnant. "Am I serious?" Asked an anxious Angela. She was too worried that she might have caught on a stomach bug and needed to be hospitalized.
"No dear, you're just pregnant. Nothing serious," said Clara, re-arranging her clothes before calling Damian and Arnold.
"Does she need to be hospitalized?" asked a worried Damian. Arnold smiled at him. He knew from the symptoms that Angela was pregnant.
"Oh, no-no. She's just pregnant. Congratulations to both of you," informed Clara.
"Oh, then what do I do? Should she be under bed rest?" Asked a worried Damian.
"No no. She doesn't need complete bed rest. But yes you need to shift from this remote place to somewhere else where you'll get medicines and other facilities," suggested Clara.
"Why don't you both shift to aunt Sandra's house?" Asked Arnold.
"Aunt Sandra wouldn't allow Damian to stay with me. I won't stay there without him," said Angela.
"Why wouldn't Damian be allowed to stay there?" Asked Arnold. "Alright, you guys pack up and you come along with us. I'll ensure that Damian stays there with you. I'll talk to aunt Sandra."
"Thanks, Arnie. Let's load the already packed suitcases. We'll pack up the rest of the stuff," said Damian.
Angela got up to pack the stuff that they had unpacked and Clara helped her. Arnold and Damian quickly loaded their packed suitcases onto their GMC Sierra. "Why don't you relax Angel? I'm doing it," said Damian, holding her by the shoulders and making her sit on the couch. Angela didn't argue. She sat quietly and allowed Damian, Arnold, and Clara to do the packing. Jim Rogers' mom sent them warm crusty bread rolls and chicken stew for lunch and they thanked her warmly.
They left the farm by noon and drove towards Rollingwood. Angela was glad that Arnold and Clara were with them to settle them at aunt Sandra's house. Arnold had already called aunt Sandra up and informed her of their arrival. He had explained the situation over the phone and she was glad to have Angela and Damian live with her.
They reached Rollingwood in the afternoon. Aunt Sandra lived in an old two-storied house, nicely renovated with a small front lawn. Bright flowering plants were arranged neatly along the edges of the lawns.
"This was my mom's childhood home. I had come here once when I was 7," informed Arnold.
"Oh, I've never been here," said Angela, looking at the house. They had parked their cars and were standing in front of the white-painted wooden gate.
The door of the house opened and aunt Sandra who looked exactly like their mom but older came out with a smile on her face. They opened the gate and went into the compound.
"Welcome dears. What a pleasant surprise! I was waiting eagerly for all of you," she said excitedly, hugging Angela.
"Aunt Sandra, this is my fiancée Clara, she's a gynecologist," introduced Arnold, and aunt Sandra hugged her too.
"Oh, nice to meet you, Clara," she said and Clara hugged her too.
"This is Damian, Angela's fiancé," introduced Arnold, and aunt Sandra hugged him too.
"What a handsome young boy you are dear! Come on inside all of you," she invited. Arnold and Damian unloaded their stuff while Angela and Clara went inside. Aunt Sandra had two rooms cleaned up for them. She led Angela to a room at the back of the house on the ground floor.
"With your pregnancy, you can't climb up and down the stairs, so you and Damian can have this room, Angela. It's bigger than all the other rooms and the adjacent room can be turned into a nursery when the baby arrives. Do you like it?" Said aunt Sandra as she opened the huge bay windows that opened up to a flower garden in the backyard. Angela could see the beautiful backdrop of Texas hill countryside far away with rows of beautiful bluebonnets giving the landscape a blue hue.
"It's perfect aunt Sandra. I'm in love with this room already, thank you for having us," she said, tears of gratitude forming in her eyes.
"Now child, are you going to make me cry? You know I love you as my own daughter. I'm glad that you're here with me. This was your mom's home so you have a right to be here. So cheer up child and enjoy your first pregnancy. I was a nurse all my life although I've retired last year, so I can take of you as well as the baby, " said aunt Sandra.
"Oh, you too were a nurse like mom?" Asked Angela.
"Yes, dear. We studied at the same nursing college, " she said and they all nodded appreciatively. Clara asked about her specialty which Angela found out that it was pediatric nursing. Damian came in with their luggage.
"Do you like your room Damian?" Asked aunt Sandra and Damian nodded with his cheeks turning slightly pink.
"I'm loving this. I was tired of living alone, you know," said aunt Sandra.
"Come, Clara, I'll show you to your and Arnold's room," she said drawing Clara alongside her and leaving with her.
"Angela, Damian, freshen up and relax. I'll make something for you all," she said, before closing their door and leaving.
"I love her. She's so motherly," said Damian. He had never felt so welcome and loved all his life by his own parents.
"Yes. I'm glad you'd be staying with me," said Angela, pulling him towards her and hugging his torso in a tight embrace.
He wriggled uncomfortably. "Why are you squashing my baby?" he said, extricating himself to keep a distance from her.
"Why would it be squashed? Hugging doesn't even affect a full-grown baby. So relax and come here," she said and Damian relaxed and hugged her.
"Can I kiss you?" He asked hesitantly.
Angela nodded and Damian kissed her gently in a lingering kiss. "I'm so happy that we'd be having our first baby. Do you wish to get married before our baby arrives?" He asked.
"No Damian. Let's wait for some time for dad to accept us," she said and Damian agreed.
They freshened up and went out to the living room. It was already evening and Angela was feeling very hungry. She saw that Clara and aunt Sandra were making something in the kitchen. She went into the kitchen but the smell of food made her feel sick again.
"You sit at the table, Angela. I'm getting you some soup. You must be hungry," said aunt Sandra.
"How did you know aunt Sandra?" She asked her.
Aunt Sandra smiled. "I know dear. I can read you," she said and Angela smiled at her. She went to sit outside with Damian and Arnold.
"Have you settled Angie?" Asked Arnold.
"Yes bro, thank you. You're staying here for a few days, aren't you?" She asked, pleading with him to agree.
"We can stay for two days only. Have to join back at the hospital," he said and Angela clapped.
"Ok, two days will do," she said, hugging him.
"We'll come back again, don't worry," he promised. Aunt Sandra brought her a minestrone soup while everyone else had some coffee and brownies. They talked for some time. Afterward aunt Sandra and Clara went to cook dinner. They didn't allow Angela to help and she lay down in her room feeling exhausted from all the traveling.
After two hours, Damian woke her up for dinner. She went out to the dining table feeling embarrassed that she fell asleep while aunt Sandra and Clara had to cook for all of them.
"It's normal to feel exhausted Angela. Don't worry, after the fourth month, you'll have the energy to cook and help with everything. Till then give your body what it needs, nourishment, and lots of rest," comforted Clara.
"Would you make a diet chart for her Clara?" Asked a worried Damian.
"Aunt Sandra was a nurse. She knows it all. Don't worry she'll take care of everything. I'll give you my number if you need any advice. Look for a good gynecologist/ obstetrician nearby and go for regular check-ups," Clara told them punching her number into Damian's phone.
After dinner, they retired to their rooms. Angela changed and lay down on the bed. Damian scooted to the far end of the bed and stared at her longingly.
"Why are you hanging on the edge of the bed?" Asked Angela confused by his behavior.
"This was such a bad idea. I can't sleep with you without making love," he mumbled unhappily.
"Who's asking you not to? Come here," she said.
"I don't want to hurt you and the baby," he said, with concern.
"You won't hurt us. Making love doesn't hurt anyone. It's normal, " she explained and Damian scooted close to her.
"Really? Thank God. I didn't know how I could stay away from you for nine months, " he grinned, already stripping off his clothes.
They made gentle love, with Damian being extra careful with her. She loved this new tenderness in Damian. Gone was his wild and rough lovemaking. He was maturing into parenthood and so was she.