and somber.
More and more lately, Brock had caught Lily lost in thought, sometimes biting her lip and others with true fear in the widening circumference of her eyes.
He skimmed his hand down her side to lay claim to her hand resting between them. Holding her fingers carefully in his, Brock spoke softly. “What’s going on, Lil? Are you okay? What can I do?”
Had he done something to upset her? Was she no longer in love with him? Did she want to leave their life? Maybe Brock was selfish, but he couldn’t imagine anything better. He was with the woman he loved more and more every day. She still excited him and the slight swelling in her stomach filled him with pride, but not vain pride. More pride filled with love. She was his partner and he wanted nothing more than for her to be as happy as he was, or even more so.
He honestly hadn’t considered she might not be as happy as he was. Until recently.
Lily lifted her gaze to his face with a snap. “Brock, no. I’m so happy with you. Please, don’t worry about that. I… It’s just…” She closed her eyes and shook her head, turning her gaze somewhere toward Brock’s chest.
“What, what is it? Lily, you’re starting to scare me.” What could possibly be wrong that she couldn’t tell him about? Brock’s heart pounded in his chest.
“I’m embarrassed.” Lily’s soft murmur barely reached Brock in the quiet of their room.
Pulling back, Brock studied Lily in the dim lighting. “What’d you do? Crave something truly disgusting? Pickles and chocolate frosting weren’t bad enough?” His soft chuckle brought out a soft laugh of hers.
She picked his hand up and played with his fingers, intertwining hers with his. “No. It’s… Oh, my word, I can’t believe I’m going to say this.”
“Tell me. It’s obviously important enough to bug you. Are you thinking about it all the time?” He’d caught her in random moments distracted and unsure. She’d always brushed him off, but he knew there was something wrong. Best-friends and lovers knew when things were wrong.
Brock and Lily were both.
Lily sighed. “Okay, honestly? You really want to know what’s bugging me?”
“Yes. I really want to know.” He cradled her other hand in his and waited, staring at Lily in the near-darkness to try to gauge what was going through her mind.
Lily inhaled long and deep and then exhaled out of her mouth on a whoosh. “Okay, here goes. I went to the doctor the other day, for my appointment. Remember?”
A shiver of fear ran across his arms and shoulders. Brock narrowed his eyes. Whatever she said, he had to be strong. He couldn’t lose it in front of her. She wanted a baby more than anything. He had to be supportive. If something was wrong, he had to help her through it. That was his job and he didn’t take it lightly. “Tell me, Lils. What’s going on? Is the… Is the baby okay?” He steeled himself against her answer. Everything was okay. As long as Lily was fine, he could handle whatever answer she threw at him.
“What? Oh no. The baby is fine. Growing like a weed. No, um, that’s not the problem. I’m sorry I worried you. Baby is fine.” She cleared her throat and then wiped her hand over her forehead, brushing her layered hair from her face. “Okay, now this seems even dumber after that.”
“You better tell me what’s going on before I start getting cranky.” Brock scowled with worry. He didn’t like the way this conversation was going.
“Sorry, um, okay so I was at the doctor’s and looking at the ultrasound and that’s when it hit me.” She half-laughed and half-sobbed. “I can’t get it out of my head.”
“Get what? What’s going on?” Brock gritted his teeth. His woman was going to drive him to drink.
“There’s only one way this is going to end. I have to somehow get a human out of my body.” She paused; the silence heavy with expectation.
Brock stared at her shape in the shadows. Was that it? Was he supposed to wait for her to finish her confession? Did he reply right then? What was appropriate for the situation? Did he ask if she was done or something?
He was out of his element. She was obviously upset; Brock just hadn’t heard anything worth being upset about yet.
“Don’t you get it? This baby is not big. Yet. Yet, Brock. Your mom said you were over nine pounds when you