Authors: Adrienne Williams
When she woke up the next morning, Elliott had already left. She got up and
went into the kitchen and made herself some hot cereal and hot tea. After she finished eating, she went into the office, found a writing pad and made herself some notes of some things she needed to take care of that day. At the top of the list was finding an internal medicine doctor. She was having very bad sinus headaches and needed something stronger than the over-the-counter medications that she had been taking. She called Lena and asked her if Ben could recommend anyone in his practice. “Oh, yes,” Lena said. “How long have your sinuses been acting up?” Renee told her that they started giving her trouble shortly before she left New York. “My goodness, you should’ve said something before now. No need to be feeling ill.” Lena told her that she would call Ben to get the name of someone from his practice that could see her that day. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll call you right back.” After she hung up the phone, Renee started making notes, outlining how she would transition from New York to LA. Just as she was about to call Genie to see how things were going, Lena was calling her back. “All you have to do is show up at 1:00. Dr. Moore is one of the best physicians in the city. He’ll have you feeling better in no time.” Renee got the address and thanked Lena. They made plans to get together later in the week, before Kayla and Matt leave for New York. She called Constance and told her that she was going to be spending an unknown amount of time in LA. “I hope that I haven’t inconvenienced you,” Renee said. Constance assured her that the only inconvenience was that she wouldn’t be seeing her anymore. Renee told her that she actually was going to have a residence in New York and maybe they could meet for lunch the next time she was there. She and Constance had become good friends over the years. She also called Mya to see how she was and how things were going at the women’s center. “Things are good, but it’s not the same without you here. We all miss you, but we’re glad you and Elliott finally got together.” As the conversation went on, Renee asked, “How are things with Cory?” Mya said, “I was just getting ready to tell you that we’re engaged.” Renee said, “Oh my goodness, Mya, that’s fantastic! I knew something was up when he had you house-hunting with him.” Mya laughed and said, “I guess I kinda knew it too. I’m so happy, Renee.” Renee said, “Please keep me posted about the wedding.” After their conversation, Renee got herself ready for her doctor’s appointment. Once she finished the paperwork, she took a seat in one of the plush, comfy chairs that decorated the beautifully appointed waiting area. She had come prepared for a long wait, since she didn’t have an appointment, per se, and had just pulled out her Kindle. Before she could turn it on, a pretty, young nurse was calling her. “Hi, Ms. St. Claire. I’m Tiffany, Dr. Moore’s nurse. How are you today?” As they were walking into the exam room, Renee was telling Tiffany about her horrible sinus headaches. “I’m so sorry you’ve not been feeling well since you got here, but Dr. Moore is the best and he’ll have you feeling better in no time at all. Tiffany asked Renee about her last physical exam. “Mmmm, it’s probably been about a year.” Tiffany told her that the doctor would want to do a complete physical on her since she is a new patient to his practice and it had been a year since her last one. After Tiffany had finished taking Renee’s vital signs and collecting labs, she left the room so that Renee could change into an exam gown and wait for Dr. Moore. Even the exam gowns were nice and soft and generously cut. After a short wait, Dr. Evan Moore entered the room. “Hi, Renee. Very nice to meet you.” They talked for a few minutes and he did a quick, yet thorough exam on her. He left the exam room to check on the labs and returned shortly. “Well, everything checks out fine, Renee. Here’s a prescription for sinus pills and a decongestant.” He gave her specific instructions on how and when to take the sinus pills and decongestant and
told her to call him if she had any questions or concerns. She thanked him and after he left the room, she quickly got dressed, went to the checkout desk and left the office.
After her appointment, she went to the market and got some fresh tilapia, kale and new potatoes to cook for dinner. By the time she made it home, it was after 4:00. As she was in the kitchen preparing dinner, she heard the garage door open. “Hi, baby,” he said as he pulled her close and kissed her full, sensuous lips, feeling her softness pressed close to him. He elicited a tiny moan from her and she said, “How was your day? How’s the case coming along.” He said “It’s actually going very well. I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to settle outside of court.” He took her by the hand, led her into the living room, sat on recliner with Renee straddling him. “So, I did have a few minutes of down time today and I tried to call you.” She had forgotten to turn her phone back on when she finished her doctor’s appointment. “Oh, I was just out and about today. Must’ve gone out of range or something.” He nibbled her neck and slid his hands under her shirt. “Really? So, tell me, where in the world did my pretty go today that took her out of range?” He was tracing his fingers up and down her spine, making her hot all over. He smiled suggestively at her because he knew exactly what he was doing to her. “Well,” she said, “I went to the market to get tonight’s dinner, and a few other things.” “Mmmm, I see,” he said as his hands found their way to the inside of her jeans. He was kissing her, licking her lips, sucking on her neck. “I went to the doctor today.” He stopped and looked at her with his brow furrowed and said, “You okay?” She told him that she just went in to see one of doctors in his dad’s practice about the sinus headaches she’s been having. “What did he say? Did he give you some medicine?” She kissed his lips and said, “He gave me some sinus medicine and a decongestant. He said the headaches should stop very soon.” He was pulling her close again, sliding his hands to the front of her sweater this time. Renee continued talking. “He also said I could expect a few more changes over the next few months.” He was just getting ready to unsnap her bra, but then stopped. He looked at her for a few minutes. “Elliott,” she said, “I’m pregnant.”
Chapter 22
Elliott sat silently for a few seconds, taking in what Renee had just said. She was shifting her body, getting ready to remove hersel
f from his lap when he placed his hands on her hips, looked her in the eyes and said, “You’re pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.” He was speaking so softly. Renee was getting ready to speak but before she could say anything, Elliott was kissing her. He gently placed his hands on her stomach and said, “That’s why you went to the doctor today?” She said, “No, I really went there for sinus headaches, but since Dr. Moore has never seen me before, he did a physical exam and some lab work. Elliott, I’m sorry if . . . “ Before she could finished, he furrowed his brow and said, “Sorry? No, honey, there is nothing to be sorry about. I mean, this is great. I’m going to be a dad.” Renee laughed and said, “Well, you already are . . . “ He said, “Yeah, yeah, but now I get to, I mean we get to do it together this time. This means everything to me, Renee. I love you so much.” Renee took in a deep breath and exhaled. He laughed and said, “Why such a deep sigh?” She said, “Well, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I told you. I mean, it’s all such a surprise to me, so I knew it would be a surprise for you too, and I wanted for you to be as happy about it as I am.” He kissed her lips gently and said, “I’m way past happy, baby.” She gave him a deep kiss and started to stand up. He said “Where you going?” She said, well, we gotta eat, so I thought I’d finish dinner.” He said, “Uh-uh. We’re going out to eat this evening and you’re going to start taking it easy.” Renee laughed and said, “But I already started everything.” He countered, “We’ll just put it away for another time. We’re going out tonight and then we’re going to come back here and do all kinds of stuff to each other.” Renee stood up, laughed and said, “Okay. But you do realize that it’s the all kinds of stuff that got me pregnant?”
After dinner, Renee and Elliott returned home, showered together, and spent the rest of the night kissing, touching, tasting, moaning, their bodies slippery with their sweat and juices. Afterwards, as they lay in their tangled sheets, Elliott said, as he stroked her stomach, “You know, I didn’t even ask how far along are we?” She said sleepily, “I don’t know, not very far, maybe 6 weeks or so. Dr. Moore has me set up already with an OB so I can get an ultrasound in a couple of weeks.” Before she fell completely to sleep, Elliott said, “Okay, honey. I wanna go with you.” As she closed her eyes she said, “Yes.”
The next morning, after Elliott had left for the office, Renee called Liza. When Liza answered, she said “Well, I was thinking I was going to have to make a trip out there.” Renee said, “It’s the time difference. You’re three hours ahead of me.” Liza laughed and said, “Has it been so long that you think you could use time difference as your lame-ass excuse? Come on, St. Claire, it’s me you’re talking to. You were mad at me for laying out the truth for you.” Renee said, “I’ve missed you, too. They talked about everything. Except for Renee’s pregnancy. She and Elliott had decided not to tell anyone until after her sonogram. “So, are you officially in LA now?” Liza inquired. Renee told her that LA was home for now and that in time she would splitting time between New York and California. “Elliott is renting the house he was staying in while he was there.” Liza said, “Yes, I know, little one. I told you he’s in love with you.” They stayed on the phone talking, catching up for two hours before Liza said, “Well, not all of us are ladies of leisure, I have to get back to work, but I’ll call you over the weekend.” When her conversation with Liza ended, she went into the kitchen to make herself a smoothie. As she was pouring it into a glass, the doorbell rang. The shipment of the hair and skin products for Lena and her friends had arrived. She got the list that she had made for each ladies’ specific needs and checked to make sure that she had received everything. Once she had verified the order, she called Lena to see when she and her friends wanted to have their hair and facial party. “Are you available tomorrow? That way Kayla can help out and you won’t have to do everything yourself.” Renee was somewhat nervous, though, because Lena is a very perceptive woman. If Lena had the slightest suspicion that Renee was pregnant, she would definitely say something. Even though she was not showing, she still was a little concerned, so she tried on a pair of her favorite jeans to make sure they still fit. After she put them on, she felt silly. Of course they would still fit. Did she really think she was going to blossom that much overnight?
Later that night, while they were getting ready for bed, Renee told Elliott that she would be spending most of the next day at Lena’s. “You sure you feel up to all of that, babe? I already told you, I want you to take it easy.” He was standing behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist as she put moisturizer on her lips. She turned around to face him and said, “Stop worrying. I’m fine. In fact, while I was out the other day, I spotted a nice yoga studio right up the street and signed up.” He said, “I don’t know, Renee, all that stretching and bending might not be such a good idea right now.” She walked out of the bedroom and down the hall, Elliott right behind her. She told him, “If it makes you feel any better, they even offer classes for pregnant students. And, they have a certification program. Remember I was telling you I want to do that at some point?” He wasn’t completely convinced. “I just don’t want you to hurt yourself. Besides, you can always start again after the baby is born.” She got a drink of water and said, “Doesn’t work that way. If I don’t do something to maintain some level of fitness now, it will be that much harder afterward.” He stood there, letting his eyes rake over her body and said, “Well, you obviously didn’t have any problems after Matt and Kayla, so . . . “ She laughed and said, “Being a teenager had a lot to do with that. I’m an old woman now,” she said as she walked back to the bedroom. “See that’s where you’re wrong. Everything about you says young, hot, and now, pregnant.” He pulled her close to him and kissed her softly. A tiny moan escaped her lips when they pulled apart. “Oh,” she said, “Is it okay if I take the SUV tomorrow? It’ll make transporting the products easier.” He said, “I’m calling Mom right now to see if she can bring her friends over here.” Before she could protest he said, “Renee, you already won the yoga round. Let me do this, okay?” She let out a big sigh and said, “Okay, okay. But at least let me call her.” He gave her his phone and she dialed Lena’s number. After the call ended, she gave Elliott his phone and he said, “See, that’ll work out better. You won’t have to take all those products over there, plus, it’ll give Mom’s friends an excuse to come over here and check out our house.” As she was joining Elliott under the covers, she said, “I like the sound of that. Our house.” He rolled her onto her back and said, “That’s exactly what it is. Beyond a reasonable doubt.” She said, “Mmmm, lawyer talk. Are you going to . . . “ Before she could finish her sentence, he was inside of her.
The next day, Friday, Lena, her friends, and Kayla arrived at Elliott’s and Renee’s house at 10:00 that morning. Renee had gotten up early enough to attend an 8:00 yoga class, get cleaned up, and was finishing a smoothie when they rang the doorbell. Lena hugged Renee and said “You’re looking gorgeous this morning. Glowing even.” Renee froze for a brief moment before saying, “Oh, probably comes from yoga this morning. Always gets my blood pumping.” Kayla and Lena’s three friends followed. Renee had made a pitcher of smoothies and asked the ladies if they would like to have one. Joan responded, “We actually had breakfast before coming here, but maybe later?” Renee said “Absolutely,” as she put the pitcher into the refrigerator. Renee had already set up two of the guest suites the evening before to be used as the rooms for application of products and styling of the ladies’ hair. Renee took Lena and Joan to one suite, while Kayla took Eileen and Marie into the suite across the hallway. Renee washed, conditioned and applied curling cream to Joan’s hair first. After she finished sectioning and twisting Joan’s hair, she had her to sit under the hair dryer. As she was getting ready to start on Lena’s hair, Lena asked, “How was your appointment with Dr. Moore?” Renee was applying apple cider vinegar as a last rinse to Lena’s hair before conditioning and applying the leave-in conditioner. “It went very well. I really appreciate you pulling some strings to get me in. My headaches have disappeared.” Lena said, “You know, Ben ran into Dr. Moore a few days after your appointment. He said it was such a pleasure meeting Elliott’s wife and he congratulated him on the new addition to the family. So, did you and Elliott get married and not tell us? Is there going to be a new addition?” This conversation was not going unnoticed by Joan. “Did you say Elliott and Renee got married and she’s having a baby?” Lena said, “Well, that’s what Dr. Moore seems . . . “ Renee laughed and said, “Hold it, hold it. He must’ve just assumed that Elliott and I just got married and saying that I’m the new addition.” Renee’s heart was racing. She quickly finished styling both ladies’ hair and while they were “oohing and aahing” over each other, Renee went across the hallway to see how Kayla was progressing with Eileen’s and Marie’s facials. Kayla had just finished applying moisturizer to Eileen’s face. She teased, “So, Mom, you pregnant?” Renee didn’t even bother with answering her. “Okay, smarty pants, you done? You ladies look beautiful,” Renee said. Marie replied, “That oil cleanser really works. When Kayla started talking about oil as a facial cleanser, I thought she had lost her mind. Turns out she knew what she was talking about.” After they had a small glass of the smoothies that Renee had made earlier that morning, the women collected their products and hugged and thanked Renee and Kayla. Kayla had decided to spend the night with her mom and dad and Matt was coming over later for dinner.