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Oh God. Here I go again. Like him? You like him? You’re crazy about him. He consumes your every thought—waking and sleeping. You’re carrying his baby. You like him? I sagged against my chair, afraid I was going to pass out.
“Alright. That is a good thing to know.” His face betrayed his internal confusion.
“Amir? I meant—I mean—more than like.”
He gave me an expectant look, “Okay, Julie. I more than like you as well.”
Amir leaned towards me and rested his huge mitt on my bare leg. Goosebumps instantly appeared, and I made a much too needy sound.
Amir leaned even closer and scented my neck, “You smell of the wildflowers and of hydration, of hope and life.”
I batted my lashes in response, feeling like I was having a seizure. “Um, thanks?”
He placed a quick kiss on my neck, “I’ve missed you. I crave you every second of my existence.”
He kissed me and I swooned, leaning into him and making the neediest sounds. “Tell me you will be mine, Julie.” He kissed me again and I almost fell into his lap.
“Tell me your thoughts on children? I realize that modern women, especially American females, often they choose career over progeny. You seem like just such a female to me. Tell me.”
“I um—never wanted kids—never as in the past—I mean—sometimes I’ve entertained the idea. Career though? Yes—that is my focus. My whole life in fact—kids no—at least not yet—career yes—totally into my career.”
“Ahhh, so someday you envision being a mother?”
My snort, followed by a quick, “Sooner than I planned,” made his head jerk up. He didn’t miss a thing.
His tone reminded me of a king, sitting in a throne, seeking an answer, “Explain that last statement.”
I bit my lip and gnawed on it while I decided what to do. I had to eventually tell him. There was no denying him the information. I wanted more of him, I wanted to be with him and near him and somehow have this strange fairy tale come to life. If I wanted all of that, I couldn’t simply abort and never tell him. He would somehow find out, and then hate me and discard me. I knew I could never live with that. Even now, the thought of not being in his life sent me into a near hysteria.
I drew my brows together and faced him, “Amir.” I paused right there. Physically unable to say the words. He picked up my hand and gave me one short nod. I cleared my throat. “Amir. I am pregnant.” A myriad emotions flitted across his face and for a moment it was the most unhinged I’d seen him. Normally the utter canvas of composure, now he seemed almost near tears.
I clarified, “I am one hundred percent certain it is yours.”
He swallowed and dropped my hand, reaching for his napkin. He was entirely speechless—another anomaly for him. In a voice that hinted at extreme fear, he tried to say something, and it came out as a mixture of statement and question.
“You’re keeping it…?”
I decided I’d already jumped off that ledge, so I might as well be honest. “I wasn’t going to. I have an appointment on Monday.”
He turned so abruptly, I jumped in place. His hands went to my shoulders, and he shook me lightly.
“No! Absolutely NOT! You will marry me. You will be my queen. This is my child.”
I nodded and began crying. I sobbed the words, “I didn’t plan this, Amir. I refuse to trap you this way. Not my plan. None of this is what I wanted.”
His hands fell away from me as he sagged back into his chair. “You do not want to be my wife? The queen of a nation?”
“Amir, I think I’m falling for you. That is all I know.” I waved my hands in the air frantically.
“The rest of this—this!” I set a hand on my belly, “This, this isn’t—wasn’t ever in my plans. I wasn’t going to EVER have this…”
His eyes traveled to my belly and his expression softened.
“Julie, I know I am in love with you. I am certain and this…”
He reached forward and set his hand over mine. “This is the manifestation of that love. This is our sign from the heavens.”
The tears pooled in my eyes and I sniffed repeatedly. Then I began a bobble headed kind of nodding that I couldn’t stop. Finally, I simply said, “Yes, I guess it is.”
