The Carrier

8

    A few days have past and I can still hear snickers down the hall as I past workers.  Once again like any other day I make my way down to the dinning fall for lunch. As I step through the door it seemed quiet. I look down the table to see only Willow sitting alone no Eddy was to be found. Them two where always the first ones down to lunch, am I just early today? 

"Afternoon Alex," Willow added as I walked to my seat sitting across from her.

"Hi Willow, where is Eddy? Isn't he joining us for lunch?" I could feel my eye brows move to make my four head wrinkle. 

"No Ed isn't joining us today he had to go to the airport and pick up Ms Lewis. Did you hear she was coming back in town?" 

I haven't seen Ms Lewis since the night I was introduced to Willow. I believe she was called back to the kingdom to make her reports about the pregnancies but who the hell knows at this point. "No I haven't heard." I added putting the teacup to my lips to take a sip. 

"So Alex, how has your babies doing still cooking in there?" 

"They are doing fine." I felt short answers would be best. All of a sudden she wants to talk to me like we have been best friends. What the heck was this on about? Its been 23 going on 24 weeks and just now she wants to be my best friend. No thanks I already have a best friend I thought to myself. 

"That is so good to hear." I can feel a stutter in her voice as she takes a sip of her tea.

"Is something wrong Willow?" I couldn't image what she was thinking. Do I trust her with what she says out of her mouth? Should I try and make peace with her just for Eddy's and our babies sack? 

"Alex, I got some very bad news today," she said with a deep pause, "When it comes to the birth of this baby, there will no longer be a place for me on this earth after." 

"What do you mean Willow?" I was shocked she had said this to me.

"Alex, I had a checkup today because I was having very bad headaches, they decided it was best for me to do a brain scan since I am carrying this baby, the doctor has found a brain tumor and said that I must of been small when I got pregnant. Now it has grown, and it is pressing on parts of my brain. They are going to monitor it for now. I was given an option to do cancer treatments that can slow the growth of the tumor but I don't want to risk anything happening to the baby." 

I sat silent for a few mins I didn't know what to say to her, I started to feel so sorry for her. Bringing a life into a world is the most wonderful this a women can do, but for her she is risking her own life for someone who she nearly knows. Tears started to run down my cheeks, the thought of her not seeing her daughters first smile or first steps nearly made my heart break. 

As I blink my eyes trying to clear my eyes from the tears. I feel her hand as she grabs mine. "Alex," she says as she pulls me into her arms for a hug," I want you to take care of my daughter when I am gone, please give her strength, and courage. Please promise me you will love her as much as you love your own babies. Teach her how to crawl and walk. Teach her to become a young lady when she is grown. And give her hugs and tell her these hugs are from her mom up in heaven." 

Chocking back the tears," Willow, we haven't been to fond of each other, from now on I want you to tell me about you, tell me your stories and I can pass onto your daughter as well as mine. I will hold your daughters hand as she my own, and I will pick her up when she falls. I will hug her and tight as you do I. When she looks to the stars I will point to the brightest one and tell her it is your smiles shining down on her. I will care for her and love her as much as you do." 

We stood in each other embrace crying together, weeping for willows future she can not see. 

...........

The next 4 weeks were a blur, same old routine breakfast, lunch, dinner. Read a book her and there. Ms. Lewis would set up tea in the afternoon for Willow. We would share stories from our child hood and our favorite things. But today for tea I have a gift for Willow. I am already in the tea room when Willow walks through the door. 

"Willow, come sit," I say as I pat the empty space on the couch next to me," here I have a gift for you, and for your daughter." I handed her a quill and book, the book had rose gold leaf pages with a frame of her sonogram photo on the front with a ivory lace frame around it. " I thought you could write a letter to your daughter for each of her birthdays, and any holidays in between that we could read together. I thought having something in her moms hand writing would be the most cherished gift she would have growing up." 

"I love this Alex, Its such a great gift. Its something that she will love for a lifetime. This is so thoughtful of you I will start writing in it tonight and every night before bed," Willow pulled me into a hug but put bellies stop us so we had to settle for a side hug. We are both 28 - 29 weeks. Mine is almost twice the size as hers since there are to buns in the oven. 

As we were finishing up in with tea the door opens, Ms. Lewis steps through the door and Eddy fallows behind," How was tea ladies?" 

"Very well." Willow said looking to me giving a wink.

"Yes very well" I add taking the last bit of my cookie I've been nibbling on for at least the past ten minutes. This cookie was round with tulped edges and it was dry it stuck to the top of my mouth. I didn't want to be rude so I took my time to finish it.  

"Alex, can you meet me in the library in 10 mins," Eddy says opening the door for Willow and fallows from behind.

I wait till Ms. Lewis refills my water until I make my way down the hall. Every few steps i have to stop and take sip, I am already feeling so huge and I still have 8 more weeks to go I don't think I don't think I will make it to 40 weeks, I'm already walking like a duck. I giggle to myself as I open the door to the library. 

I noticed the desk lap was on and a few books where open. I wonder what Eddy has been reading. Me being the little bit nosey type I sit on the big office chair behind the desk. Leaning forward I shut one of the books to see the cover. '101 baby names' the page that it was turned to was the R section of the book, a few names where highlighted in yellow. Richard, Ragena, Robert......................... Eddy must of been looking at names for a while there were seveal on each page highlighted. 

As I kept reading down the list Eddy walked through the door." O, you are already looking at the books i see."

"Eddy do you think you have picked enough names on each page there are 10 or so highlights on each page.'' flipping through the pages in the book I could hear Eddy take in the beep breath. 

"We have to price out 3 names you know so I highlighted the ones I liked" he adds grabbing the book from me as I sit back into the chair. 

Suddenly baby boy kicks," hurry come here" I say motioning Eddy to come here. Quickly I grab his hand and place it on the area of my belly to where the kicks where coming from. I could see his eye light up as he moves his hand across my belly to fallow the kicks. 

"Its amazing you can feel them outside your belly, my boy is strong." gently he presses his lips to my belly and then kisses my lips. Every times his lips touch mine sparkles flow down my back like the very first time we kissed. I never want to get rid of this feeling. 

Eddy and I have been getting closer and closer spending more time with each other. We takes walks in the garden play chess and have some tea. Not to mention are bedroom rendezous during the day. 

"So what names do you think our son and daughter should have?" I add trying to blink away the movie that is playing of us having s*x before my hormones take over me.

"Well I want a strong name for my boy and for my daughters I want names that are beautiful as their mothers," he adds grabbing my chin to kiss me again.

"Have you picked out at name for your daughter with willow yet?" I wondered if she even talked to him about names yet. 

"Yes we talked a little but she said whatever you and I pick she would love." 

Me,us,we? I never thought she wouldn't want to name her own daughter with the prince. What if the names we like she doesn't. This is a big event that I don't want to upset anyone over. " Well Eddy I thought of some very cute twin names."

"Well please tell." rubbing his chin, his face turns into a thinking interesting face.

"What you you think of Presley for our son and Paisley for our daughter?" I took a deep breath as he sat thinking for a few mins.

"Alex, I think those are perfect names." placing his hand around my swollen belly,"hello my Prince Presley, hello my Princess Paisley!" 

Prince, Princess! The reality has set in for me I am caring the Prince and Princess, and sitting here in front of the future king. Prince, Princess! My breath starts to quicken. Prince, Princess! I grab the nearest book and start fanning myself with it trying to stop the panick attack that was growing up my lungs,

"Alex, are you already?" Eddy grabs my glass of water and hands it to me before grabbing another book to fan me as well.

"Just got a little over heated," quickly was trying to change the subject," Now we need one more name for a baby girl."

"Ah yes." 

"What about Pelia? The name means a marvel from god." I waiting for a moment, witch seemed like hours. 

"Pelia my princess Pea." his smile grew bigger, "Willow will love it, we should announce the names of the babies at dinner time tonight." jumping up in excitement before heading out the door.

I could hear Eddy yell down the hall ' get the pastries ready for dinner we have names' I couldn't help but laugh. 

...

Before dinner I stopped at Willows room and seen she had already left to head down to the dinner hall. Closer and closer to the kitchen my nose fills with all the wonderful smells of food. I couldn't help but to take a deep breath. A growl rumbled in my stomach as my mouth started to water. At 28 weeks pregnant all I crave is the wonderful home cooked food from the kitchen. 

As I walk thought the door to take my seat at the table Willow is sitting next to Eddy. She has a big smile on her face so I think Eddy has already told her the name we have picked out. "Good Evening." I sit as a waiter helps push in my chair. 

"Alex, I want to thank you so much for finding a name for our daughter," she says as she rubs Eddys arm like she always does. Sometime I wonder if they are more then friends but i push that thought out of my mind. She adds,"The meaning marvel of god is such a great meaning Eddy said he is gonna call her Princess Pea. When I was younger my mom would always read the princess and the pea to me before bedtime." 

" Your so welcome Willow I am so glad we could name all the babies today Presley Paisley and Pelia are going to be such wonderful babies," reaching across the table I grab Willows hand and Eddys as we say a prayer before dinner was served. 

First we eat a small salad, next they brought out butters garlic chicken with a side of mashed potatoes with white gravy on top, and for desert a tower of pastries where sat in the middle of us so we could pick and choose what we liked off of it. We chatted and laughed untill our bellies hurt it was a true celebration. 

Taking a glance over to willow we laugh and smiles turned into a blank face and worry, " Whats wrong Willow." 

"I just have a ready bad headache." she said. It felt like the room stopped for the moment. 

I watched as Willow closed her eyes and her head feel back into the chair, her hands that where resting on her belly, now limp by her sides, I heard Eddy yell for help but my mind muffed the sound as waiters came in. I felt like i was in a movie as Eddy picked Willow up, 'move' and out the door they went as I sat still. I could still hear their foot steps running down the hall when Ms. Lewis took my hand to help me up from my chair. 

"This way dear." Ms. Lewis held my right hand and placed a hand on my back to push me out of the dinning all. I wanted to turn around I wanted to help. But I just sat there not knowing what so do. "Alex please go to your room, I will send someone up with tea."

I nod my head in understanding. 

Its quiet. Waiting is Quiet. Long and quiet. 

I pace my room one, two, maybe ten times, over and over again. The tea has dawn cold, the air around me is stale. The worry in me has came out of me not once but twice since dinner. I look at the clock 3 hours have passed, when suddenly the door opens.