Untitled

By

J.C. Thomas

“Since when did you give a damn about some sniveling high school kid’s drama?” His irritation resounding throughout the restaurant from the tiny cell phone in my hand

Well you’re pretty good at sniveling without high school drama, I thought, but didn’t say. Letting his bad mood stress me out wouldn’t help anyone.

This had been going on since this morning when a friend of mine called crying, asking for my help. Being the empathetic person I am; I went. Once again disrupting any and all plans for the sake of someone else’s well being.

Her tear rimmed, blood shot eyes stared at me and my heart hurt, “I can’t talk about this right now.”

He gave an angry sigh, “Fine.”

“I’ll see you later, okay?” I said in a strained tone, trying my best not to get annoyed with his attitude.

“Whatever.”

“I love you.”

“You too,” he refused to say it. I hung up not willing to argue. A sadness I had been fighting for years gripped at me, threatening to take over. Tears of my own stung at my eyes.

Time to get back to playing the reluctant mother; this was my role, no matter how much I tried to stay away.

“What do I do, is there something wrong with me? How could he cheat on me?”

Unanswered questions and tears over the food she refused to eat.

His words came back to me, why did I care so much?

I had my own relationship issues to deal with, obviously. She played with her engagement ring. I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved or jealous over my own empty ring finger. Nearly two years, three of our friends’ weddings, and a current pregnancy later, it hadn’t happened yet. At least he didn’t cheat on me, I thought unfairly and sighed trying to get back into consoling my friend before my depression dragged me under.

At home that night, I came in to find the remains of his cat’s destruction. Trash bits and a nice surprise swamped the kitchen. In my rush this morning, I had forgotten to put the trash up. Wonderful.

Yet another disaster that of course I had to fix.He had convinced me it would be a good learning experience if we had a cat. Expecting a cute and cuddling kitten I'd gotten the spawn of satan. I couldn't remember how many of these messes I had cleaned up, not to mention the bites and scratches I had endured.

I hated the damn cat.

The cat lounged on the counter, looking too happy with himself and the chaos he had caused.

I snapped.

I shoved him off the counter, “After all the shit you pull, he still loves you!” Grasping at anything I could and pitched it at him, my cell phone,“I’m only his girlfriend," salt shaker,"I’m only pregnant with his baby," pepper shaker,"but no," trash bits, "if I fuck up," coffee spoon, "I have to deal with it."Cereal bowl,"You," thermos,"you do nothing and you get his attention.”

The cat skitted under the couch to hide from me.My breath came out in ragged streams and I collapsedto the floor,my adrenaline rush gone. The hair in my short ponytail fell to my face and a wave of nausea hit me, it was all I could do to make it to the sink.

It was only after I ran the water did I realize I was crying. The room started to spin and somewhere a phone rang.

A soft pressure on my forehead and strong arms gathering me up brought me back to consciousness. He was there, fuzzy, but there.

“Hey, Sweetie,” he smiled.

“Hey,” I rubbed my eyes, clearing the sleep out.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“The cat—,”

“I cleaned it,” he laid me gently on the bed, and started taking off my clothes. “How are you feeling,” he asked as his hand came to rest under my shirt on the just forming bulge.

I didn't know if he meants my breakdown or my getting sick. Either way... “Better.”

He nodded, "How's your friend?"

"Crisis averted," I yawned.

Again he noddedand kneeled down pulled something from his pocket, “Here.” He presented his fists, "Pick a hand."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Just do it."

I tapped them both; he retracted his right hand, and opened the left. I had to sit up to see.

Resting in the palm of his hand was a small, white gold,ring. The large stone was asapphire and on either side was a tiny diamond.

“What’s this,” my voice caught.

“What I had meant to give you today, before the jerk in me escaped,” he chuckled and a choked laugh came from me. “I love you, I want to be with you and make a life for this baby,” he stroked my stomach as he spoke, “Will you marry me?”

I nodded, not able to speak.

He laughed and put it on.I recovered from my shock enough to pull him into a proper kiss, a kiss that drove away my doubts and fears after that… no words were needed.