Jenna Mindel - Falling for the Mom-to-Be

He spotted Annie resting in a lounge chair after she’d spent the morning weeding her flower beds. Her small garden plot lay untouched and unready for planting. Now that it was only her, maybe she didn’t want to plant vegetables.

That small reminder of Jack’s death hit him like a punch in the gut as a sense of loss swamped him. Jack had always bragged about his wife’s cucumbers and tomatoes and onions. He used to bring bags of her homegrown veggies onto the laker. Matthew hated the thought of Annie giving it up.

She hadn’t moved from that lounge chair in a while. Had she fallen asleep again? Dressed in loose overall shorts and a T-shirt, Annie had a large floppy hat covering her face so he couldn’t tell if she was awake or not.

He checked his watch. Nearly noon. “Hey, I’m going to buzz home real quick.”

“What for?” Luke took a long swig from his water bottle.

The sun scorched them both and lunch would be a welcome break.

“I’m going to grab that fish we caught last night. We can grill it here for lunch.” Maybe that’d bolster Annie’s spirits. She loved a fresh catch.

“Good idea.”

Matthew climbed down the ladder. “Anything you want to go with it?”

“Coleslaw.”

He nodded. Annie had been feeding him and his little brother every day. Lunch was ordered in or picked up from the corner IGA store. They’d had pizza, sub sandwiches and even a bucket of fried chicken. Stuff Annie didn’t eat. Today, he’d grill something for her and maybe pick up a couple funky salads, too. Annie liked a lot of greens. She’d eaten a whole plateful of rabbit food last night at dinner.

It didn’t take long to buy what he needed. The small house he shared with one of his older brothers—and soon Luke—sat on the edge of town. Right near the locally owned and operated grocery store. In less than half an hour, he was back at Annie’s lighting the gas grill.

Luke worked on the roof while he grilled and Annie continued to snooze. The woman could really sleep. Did the baby sap her energy, or was it depression? Grief could fall into despair.

He prayed Annie wasn’t so wrecked by Jack’s death that she couldn’t sleep at night. She had smiled, though. Laughed even. With him. So he had hope that she was making her way back.

He stepped inside to gather plates, utensils and glasses full of ice. Annie kept the cooler outside stocked with water and pop. She’d also made sun tea in a big glass jar with a spigot.

Luke appeared from the roof and set the table.

Annie woke up and, looking dazed, headed toward the deck gripping her midsection. “What’s that garlicky smell?”

“Lunch.” He lifted the lid and pulled the tray of perfectly seasoned walleye fillets off the grill. “Luke and I caught these last night.”

Annie’s face went pale. No. More like ashen-green. He’d seen that same skin color when rookies got sea-sick on the lakes. She slapped a hand over her mouth and backed away. Fast. She didn’t make it far before she retched in an empty flowerpot.

He set the fish back on the grill and bounded down the steps with a handful of napkins. “Wow, Annie, I’m sorry. I thought you’d like fish and didn’t think...”

She breathed deep and held out her hand to stay back. “I’ll be fine in a minute.”

He watched her heave once more but nothing came out. He placed his hand on her back and held out the napkins.

She gripped his hand. Hard.

He suddenly chuckled at the situation. Who threw up in an empty flowerpot? “You done?”

“I don’t know.”

He caught his brother’s eye. “Luke, grab a bottle of water, would you?”

Luke had filled his plate but stood frozen in place, eyes wide. Then he moved quickly, slamming the cooler lid and bounding down the stairs with water. “What’s wrong with her?”

“No, don’t...” Annie retched again.

Luke backed away. “Whoa...”

Matthew took the water bottle from his brother, no longer seeing the humor in this. “Do me a favor.”

“Yeah?”

“Take my truck and go get your stuff. We’ll finish the roof tomorrow.” Matthew threw him his keys.

Luke caught them. “How will you get home?”

“Just do it.” He didn’t think Annie wanted an audience, and since she gripped his hand tighter than a vise, he wasn’t going anywhere soon. Besides, he could walk the couple miles home if he had to.

“Okaaaay.” His brother narrowed his gaze. “So, what’s the deal here?”

“Go, will you?”

Luke nodded. He grabbed his plate on the way.

Matthew ignored the swishing sound of his brother getting a pop from the ice-filled cooler before finally leaving. He handed Annie the water bottle. “Here.”

She shook her head, scattering tears. Her hand trembled in his as she lurched down and dry-heaved one more time.

Helpless, he rubbed her back.

“Ugh! Sorry,” she mumbled and let go of him.

He noticed that her hands shook as she pushed back her hair. He poured water over the napkins and handed them to her.

She wiped her mouth and forehead then took a swig of water from the icy bottle. “Thanks.”

He frowned. “Sorry about lunch.”

“It’s okay.” She teetered a little. “I think I need to go inside. Maybe lie down.”

Without asking, he scooped her up into his arms and headed for the sliding door to the laundry room.

She gasped. “I can walk.”

“No way. You look like you might pass out.”

“It’ll pass.” She burped. “Sorry.”

“Hey, you’re not going to get sick on me, are you?”

She was sipping water again and sort of giggled. “I’m not making any promises.”

He tucked her head over his shoulder. “Point it that way, then.”

She laughed. An awkward, embarrassed kind of laugh. “I’m so sorry.”

“You! I’m the one who messed up. I should have asked you before I grilled fi—”

She quickly placed her fingers against his lips. “It’s okay. Just don’t mention that word again.”

He playfully bit her fingers and then smiled at the surprised look on her face. “I won’t.”

She smiled back as he walked her into the living room and deposited her on the couch.

“Where’s Luke?”

“I sent him home.” He sat on the edge of a chair across from her. “Does your doctor know about you getting sick a lot?”

Annie looked away. “She said it’s a good sign.” Then a shadow fell across her face. She looked so small on the couch by herself.

“What is it?”

She shook her head.

“Talk to me, Annie. What else did the doctor say?”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m high-risk. There’s no guarantee I can do this—”

He was out of the chair and next to her in an instant, drawing her into his arms.

She went limp and plunked her forehead against his shoulder. “I can’t lose this baby.”

He held her tighter. “You won’t, Annie. I promise you won’t.”

She pulled away and sniffed. “You can’t make that kind of promise.”

He shushed her. “Yes, I can.”

He didn’t know what else to say. He’d shake the very earth to give her everything she needed. To make sure Jack’s kid grew strong until birth and beyond.

Starting with food. “Did you eat anything today?”

“Some toast.”

He gently pushed back her hair and kissed her forehead. “How about some eggs?”

“Matthew—”

“Look, I said I’d help and I mean it. I’m going to take care of you.”

“But—”

“We’re going to do this together. We’re going to see to it this baby makes a strong appearance come November.”

Her eyes grew wide. “Why?”

Feelings surfaced he couldn’t examine or share. “Because I loved Jack like a brother, and that makes you my family, too.”