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“How is the morning sickness, Emily?” Charlie asks as soon as I enter her kitchen.
What concerned me the most was how easily nausea hit with certain smells, and I had no idea what Charlie was planning on cooking.
“Taking over my life,” I grumble.
“Hopefully, it eases off now that you are coming to the end of your first trimester.”
When I ask if she had suffered from it during her two pregnancies, Charlie smiles and tells me mildly. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more jealous of a person than I do right now, and I tell Charlie so, making her laugh.
“Don’t be jealous of me, Em,” she begins. “You forget that I have a demon child.” She laughs once more.
Changing the subject, I ask what is on the menu for the evening, and Charlie informs me she went with grilled chicken breasts, plain baked potatoes, and steamed vegetables. Although bland, Charlie tells me there were times when that’s all she could stomach during her pregnancies.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Please,” Charlie pleads. “Can you take those dishes out and put them on the dining table for me?”
As I leave the kitchen and enter the dining room, I can’t help but smile as I encounter Mackenna and Callum joyfully chasing each other around the table.
“Be careful of Emily, please,” I hear Charlie call out from behind me. “She has a baby in her belly, and if you run into her, you will hurt the baby.”
“Sorry, momma. Sorry, Emily,” a remorseful Callum replies.
“I thought you said you were raising demon children?” I quietly tease.
“Oh, don’t let that fool you.” She laughs. “That boy is just trying to give you a false sense of security.”
Charlie’s laughter is contagious, and I suddenly regret not wanting to come. Her voice, though, brings Mark and Hawke into the room to see what is happening. Mark relaxes as he witnesses his wife squatting in front of their daughter to wipe dirt from her cute little cheeks.
This, right here, is what I’m looking forward to the most, the cute, memorable moments. I will be eternally grateful to be able to experience those with Hawke, a man who has already shown what an amazing father and grandfather he is.
“What are you hoping for?” Charlie asks beside me.
The meal she prepared was not only delicious but also showed no signs of resurfacing, another thing I am grateful for. Hearing Charlie’s voice startles me as I’ve been contently listening to the excited little girl beside me describe her new doll in great detail.
Excusing myself from the conversation, I turn to Charlie, much to Mackenna’s displeasure, and admit I’d love a little girl. Hawke and I love spoiling little Abi with all the pretty things, and it would be lovely to do that with our daughter. I also tell her I’d love a son for Hawke, but we will love our baby no matter the sex.
“Regardless of my whining, I wouldn’t change either Mackenna or Callum for anything,” Charlie quietly admits. “I’m not going to say that too loudly either.” She goes on to laugh. “Because I’d never hear the end of it from that husband of mine.”
“Too late.” Mark grins, winking at his wife from the other side of the table.
“What about you? Are you planning on having any more children?
The universal call ofhell nosounds throughout the room, making everyone laugh, including their son and daughter.
“Our lives are full enough without adding another little human into the mix.” Charlie goes on to say. “Especially with Mark working with Jackson at Cole Security.”
“I can understand,” I concur. “I don’t know how Hawke and I will balance a newborn with our work commitments.”
Initially, I hadn’t thought of anything more than becoming a mother. As my pregnancy progressed and I realized how busy my workload was, I started to have some concerns.
Grabbing my hand, Charlie tells me to make sure I take time away from my work to enjoy every precious moment while I can because they grow up so fast. Thanking her for her concern, I admit that both Hawke and I have been discussing my maternity leave at great lengths.
I want our child to grow up with a hands-on and nurturing momma, just like my momma was with me. I see many women, particularly in my profession whose children have grown up with au pairs, nannies, or daycare centers. Neither Hawke nor I want to be one of those parents, so I’m going to spend the first year at home, and then we will re-evaluate.
“You can always run your practice from home,” I hear Charlie say.
