Changes 2/3
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000
Tracy E. Aiken <teanc@mindspring.com>
Disclaimer in part 1
Once inside the limo, he said, "to the loft, please, Fred."
On the way there, Laura, once again, fell asleep on his shoulder,
but this time she awoke when the limo stopped in front of her
building. "Come on," she said getting out first. "We
need to talk."
After climbing the stairs, Laura opened the door and stepped out
of her shoes. "Come sit down," she said taking his hand
and leading him to the sofa. She could see he was unnerved at
what she was about to say. "Relax," she said caressing
his cheek. "I think I'm pregnant."
She could see the shock and then happiness on his face. "Laura?
I knew something was going on, but nothing quite like this. I
love you, so much," he said pulling her to himself.
"I love you, too, Harry."
"When are you going to the doctor? I mean to find out for
sure."
"I have an appointment tomorrow morning, but I have a home
test in the bathroom. I've not taken it yet, I wanted you here
with me when I did."
"Can I help you?"
She chuckled. "No, I'll be right back, it only takes two
minutes."
She could see he wanted to ask her something. "Come on,"
she said holding out her hand.
He did decide he didn't need to be inside the bathroom while she
took the test, so he waited until she took the test and then came
out to him. He immediately took her in his arms and together they
waited for the results.
"How much time has passed," she asked?
"About five minutes."
"Let's take a look. If it's a plus sign, I'm pregnant, if
not, a minus. I put the test on the sink."
Together they walked into the bathroom and stared at a stick with
a large plus sign on it, then smiled at one another.
"We're going to have a baby, Harry."
"I love you, Laura. I'm so happy," he said taking her
in his arms.
He pulled back enough so he could place his hand on her abdomen
and caressed her there.
She placed her hand over his and laced her fingers with his. She
was watching their hands caress their unborn child and then looked
into his eyes and said, "I love you, Harry."
Leaning into her, he kissed her very gently. "I can't believe
we're going to be parents, that's there's a baby here. We're going
to be a family," he said with wonder in his eyes.
"We already are, Harry, we already are."
She could see he was touched by what she had said.
"We have so much to talk about, Laura, however, all I want
to do is to go to bed and hold you close."
Smiling at him, she said, "that sounds nice, come on."
They changed into their pajamas quickly. Then taking his hand
she led him over to the bed and drew the covers back, then climbed
in, followed closely by Harry.
She was laying on her side with him spooned behind her, his hand
on her abdomen. He couldn't stop touching her, and their child.
"Laura," he said quietly.
"Yes?"
"I don't want to be presumptuous, but I don't want to be
separated from you, at all. I want us to be together Laura."
Turning over, she could look into his eyes and saw how much love
he had to give. "Are you trying to ask me to live with you?"
He shook his head, agreeing with her.
"I'd love to live with you, Harry. However, neither of our
current apartments is large enough for our growing family."
"What would you think of us buying a house?"
"Living in a house again," she said, "that would
be nice."
"I'll contact a realtor I know, have him do some searching
for us."
"I hope finding a house will be as easy as finding an office
was."
"Leave it all to me, love. Don't worry a bit."
She yawned and then said, "sorry."
"You've nothing to be sorry for, just rest," he said
pulling her to chest.
When she woke, Harry wasn't in bed, and she could see the sun
shining behind the curtains. A few minutes later, he walked out
of the bathroom in his robe.
"Good morning, love," he said sitting next to her and
leaned down to kiss her.
She kissed him back, but he could tell something was wrong.
"What's wrong, love?"
"Nauseous."
"How about some toast, do you think you could keep that down?"
She took his hand in hers and said, "not right now."
"Can I do anything?"
"Thank you for offering, Harry, but no. It'll pass in a while."
"What time is your appointment with the doctor, Laura?"
Looking at the clock on the bedside table, she said, "in
a couple of hours. Do you want to come along?"
A huge smiled was plastered on his face. "I'd love to, thank
you."
"Thank you for wanting to come," she said cupping his
cheek.
"There's nowhere I'd rather be, Laura, nowhere," he
said leaning down to kiss her.
She broke their kiss and suddenly was out of bed, running toward
the bathroom. Remington, close behind her.
"Laura."
She was kneeling in front of the toilet, being sick when Remington
appeared behind her. He didn't know how to help her other than
to offer his support. He kept rubbing her back, and when she was
finished being sick, he pulled her back against him. "Laura?"
"Harry," she said, with her eyes closed.
"Are you all right? Can I do anything?"
"You're doing all you can, at this point."
"I feel so helpless, Laura. If you need anything, please
ask."
He held her and comforted her until she was feeling better.
"I need a shower," she said.
He eased her away from himself and stood, then helped her up and
began to undress her. Then he quickly undressed himself.
"Going to shower with me," she asked?
He smiled at her and said, "every chance I get."
Their shower passed quickly. He knew she really wasn't feeling
all that better, so any extracurricular activities would be put
off until later, until she was feeling better. He paid extra attention
to her, cleaning her body first and then washed her hair. She
tried to reciprocate, but he'd
have none of that. He wanted to concentrate on her.
When they were finished in the shower, he dried her completely
and then left her, combing her hair as he went to get ready again.
Instead of putting on a suit, he grabbed jeans and a button down.
He was fixing some toast when she came into the kitchen wearing
khakis and a sweater.
"You look nice," he said.
"So do you. You know how I like you in jeans," she said
hugging him.
Then, as always when they were close, they were interrupted. This
time by the telephone. The caller identification said it was Mildred,
calling from the office.
"We should have called her, earlier," Laura said. Turning
to the island, she picked up the telephone. "Hello."
Laura smiled when she heard Mildred's apologies for interrupting
them.
"It's all right, Mildred. We were just having some breakfast.
We won't be in for a while, we have some appointments this morning."
Remington kept making their breakfast while waiting for Laura
to disconnect with Mildred. When she did hang up, she turned to
him and said, "Mildred was worried about us."
"Why?"
"We're late and we didn't call."
"Do you feel like some breakfast, Laura?"
"Maybe the toast, dry, but we have to leave soon."
"Where is your doctor's office?"
"In Westwood. It's not too far from the office, the old office,"
she said correcting herself.
"When do you think we'll be able to move?"
"Hopefully soon. We'll have to arrange for movers and pack
the office, get the new office wired, and we will need some new
furniture since we have more rooms in the new office."
"We need to talk to Mildred about the expansion plans, too.
Laura," he said, and waited until he had her full attention.
"Yes?"
"Promise me something you won't overdo, considering, eh?"
She smiled at him. He was already being protective of her, and
they weren't positive she was actually pregnant. There was little
chance she wasn't, but still.
He knew he was on thin ice, metaphorically speaking, but he just
wanted to make sure she was healthy and safe, and stayed that
way.
"I promise. Now finish your breakfast, we have to get going.
I'll call Fred," she said, picking up the telephone.
Forty-five minutes later they were exiting the limo, just outside
of her doctor's office. Once inside she signed in and sat next
to Remington. He was feeling completely out of place. He was the
only man in a roomful of women. Normally, this wouldn't bother
him, except he was in Laura's gynecologist's office. Luckily,
Laura was called rather quickly back into the inner workings of
the doctor's office.
Once in the back, Laura was shown into one of the examination
rooms, where she was asked to change into the hospital gown and
then deposit a sample of urine. After that was done, all Laura
could do was to wait for the doctor
to come and talk to her. She was wondering how Harry was doing
in the waiting area.
Her doctor knocking on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Come
in."
Gail Stevens stuck her head in the door and said, "Hi, Laura."
"It's good to see you, Gail," she said walking over
to hug her friend.
"How are you feeling?"
"Right now, I'm okay."
"Did you do a home test?"
"Yes, last night and it was positive. What did your test
say?"
Gail smiled and said, "congratulations."
Laura was all smiles.
"I do need to do a quick exam and give you a prescription
for pre-natal vitamins. Is that hunk of a man in my lobby with
you?"
She just smiled.
"I thought so. Is that Remington Steele?"
"That's him."
"I've seen his picture in the papers, but they don't do him
justice, Laura."
"Do me a favor, and don't tell him that," she said smiling.
Once the exam was over, Gail gave Laura her prescription and,
arranged for the next appointment, then told her goodbye. A few
minutes later Laura was dressed again and standing at the nurse's
desk, making her next appointment. Remington came to stand next
to her. She smiled at him while
finishing up with the nurse.
On their way out of the office, Remington took her hand in his
and led her out to the waiting limo. Once they were inside, he
turned to her and kissed her passionately.
"I love you, Laura," he said after pulling back from
their kiss.
"Harry, you are going to be such a great father," she
said, going into his arms easily. "I love you, so much, Harry."
To Be Continued...