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“Well, what about a registry.”
Her eyes did that cute realization thing they did, and she nodded slowly. “You know, that actually sounds like a great idea.”
“Thanks. I’m full of them.”
“Full of something,” she retorted, standing up and grabbing the tray. Quickly I took it from her, taking it to the trashcan myself.
“I’m not helpless, you know,” she said, following along behind me.
“I am aware,” I said, tossing the stuff away into the appropriate bins. “But just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should have to. I’m not the one carrying a fetus, so I should be the one opening doors for you, taking out trash and the like. You can do all of this when I’ve gone back to the office.”
“I… I guess that makes sense. But still, I think you’re spoiling me.”
“Maybe you deserve to be spoiled.” I offered her my arm, which she promptly wrapped her own arm through.
“We’ll see if you keep thinking that when everything is said and done.”
“I doubt my mind will change much.”
“Uh-huh, that what everyone says at first, but then reality comes in swingin’.” I was going to protest further, but then she was hauling me towards the shopping area of the mall and I just decided to let her think what she thought. Time would give me the chance to prove her wrong and I was certainly intent on doing that. I didn’t care if we were getting a divorce; I still wanted good things for Nicole.
And, as far as I was concerned, she was going to get them.
***
In a strange turn of events, shopping without buying anything actually was… fun. We set up several registries in different shops, putting things we liked or thought useful in and generally having a great time.
Somehow, Nicole was even more hilarious than usual. Although I knew that could just be the friendship forming between us that made me appreciate her dry wit more, I had a feel that she was growing more relaxed around me and being far more candid. Funny, how after sleeping together twice, it was a good ol’ fashioned trip to an outlet mall and terrible fast food that really started to make us close.
It was strange to think, but I couldn’t wait to divorce her so she could move on from our mistake in Vegas and go on the crazy path she had in front of her. Despite her wise cracks and her unwillingness to trust anyone, there was this fire in her eyes. Something that told me that nothing could get in her way and she would blaze through any obstacle.
I got the feeling that, even if I hadn’t showed up, that she would have made it back onto her feet anyways. Sure, it probably would have taken her longer and been a lot harder, but she would have made it.
Honestly, if she wasn’t pregnant, I would have asked her out for a night cap, so we could wind down and have some more laughs. But, as we were heading back to the car, I could tell that she was exhausted and probably wouldn’t appreciate watching me drink.
“Wow, what a day,” she murmured as we headed back to the hotel.
“Yeah, it certainly was productive.”
She chuckled slightly, but her head was leaned against the back of the chair and her eyes were closed, I guess I would let her rest; she had certainly earned it.
But as we drove along, I was reminded that in just a day or two I would be going back home, and she would be on her own. Who would be there to watch her back? Who would she call if she fell or started having contractions early?
That thought followed me all the way up to the elevator and into our room, continuing to escalate as she showered and got ready for the night. I was still going to sleep on the couch, but I didn’t mind. If I wanted, I could just get my own room, but I didn’t want to be separated from her when our time together was so limited as it was.
But when she came out of the shower, her skin slick with water and her long hair in a bun on top of her head, I couldn’t keep my thoughts to myself any longer.
“Hey, I know you said your mother wasn’t very supportive, but since your father’s out of the picture and she’s cooled down, maybe you should tell her about the baby. You need someone you can trust around just in case.”
She froze in the middle of the room, one foot towards the bedroom. Slowly, her head turned towards me, and I could see her moth moving repeatedly as if she was trying to figure out exactly what she wanted to say.
“Uh… I… I guess I’ll think about it once I have a place. Right now, that should probably be my biggest priority.”
