Those Violet Eyes

Just a Dream

“What do you mean you're not finding out what you are having?”  Lexie is clearly not happy that I’m going to wait till the baby is born to find out if it’s a girl or boy. With her hands on her hips, one perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted up. Giving me the look, that makes most people crumble. I just roll my eyes at her, which makes her eye twitch and I laugh just a little. 

“Yea! How are we meant to plan your baby shower if we don’t know what you're having? That’s half the fun” Charlotte admitted holding up a tiny little pink dress over the rack of baby clothes for me to see. 

“Look I need to buy stuff. I need to know if it’s a prince or a princess” She finished as she held up a little boy's suit to match the dress. 

We had been shopping for hours now and my feet were starting to hurt. Looking around for somewhere to sit, I know we are going to be here for some time yet, as Charlotte goes through every item of newborn clothing this store has, as she has in every other store while complaining that she needs to know what my baby is going to be. 

“I don’t know why I don’t want to find out” I shrug “It doesn’t matter to me if it’s a boy or girl, so why not wait?” I finish, but I don’t think the girls like my answer, cos they are both looking at me like I’m crazy. I finally find a stool under one of the racks and pull it out to sit on. At 20 weeks my feet are starting to hurt if I’ve been on them for too long. My little baby bump is showing now, I give it a soft rub. My heart swells just looking at it, thinking about the tiny person inside. Resting my hand on the top of my stomach I feel a tiny like bump, up and down. So soft and gone just as fast as it comes. My face must have given something away because both Lexie and Charlotte stopped digging through the racks and looked at me worried. 

“Are you ok?” They both asked at the same time, their faces turning white. 

I look up at them with a big grin on my face, and I see them both let out the breath they were holding. 

“I think I felt the baby move” looking back down at my bump, hoping to feel another movement. I hear Lexie push Charlotte out of the way as they drop what they have to get to me. In a split second, they are both in front of me. 

“Can I feel please?” Lexie asked in the sweetest voice I have ever heard. The look of awe and love on both their faces makes me almost cry. I love sharing these moments with my best friends. 

“Of course” Smiling I take her hand and place it on top of my bump. Lexie closes her eyes and waits. After a few seconds, her eyes fly open. 

“That is amazing!” She whispers softly 

“Stop hogging her, it’s my turn” Charlotte pouts and Lexie moves to the side to let her. Charlotte does the same, placing her both hands on the top of my bump and closes her eyes. It takes a little bit longer but I feel the tiny movement and see the smile growing on Charlotte's face, her eyes still closed. 

“It’s like magic,” She says eyes slowly opening.  

We must have looked crazy standing in a circle grinning at each other. Lexie wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight. 

“Thank you for sharing this with us,” she says into my ear. Lexie is not normally the hugging type, so I know this meant a lot to her. 

“Thank you all for going through this with me” That’s it the pregnancy hormones are kicking in and I start to cry. 

“Lexie, you broke her, now we have to go home” Charlotte rolls her eyes before hugging me too. 

I flop onto my bed, dropping my bags onto the floor. I get so tired sometimes I worry I won't even make it to the bed. I wriggle my way up to the pillows and under the covers before my eyes get too heavy and sleep takes me. 

A few seconds later my eyes flutter open and I’m back at the waterfall. This has happened a few times now, so I’m not as shocked as the first time. I look around me, this place seems to get more beautiful every time I come here. Each time I look around for Arwen, but unlike the first time he’s not here. I walk toward the pool of water, running my fingers along the trees as I pass them. This place feels like home like my soul is meant to be here, but my brain tells me I’m being silly it's just a dream. I can feel warmth when the sun hits my face as it breaks its way through the trees. I feel the breeze like an embrace as I get closer to the water. The sound of bird song gently floats all around, reminding me that I’m not alone.

As I do every time I came now, I slowly take my clothes off and make my way into the water. I’m surprised every time how warm the water is and I make my way to the waterfall. It is so crystal blue in colour it looks as if it could be artic water, but feels as warm as a tropical lagoon. I wade in till the water is over my waist, then start to lower myself into the water. It feels wonderful, taking away all my aches and pains. Leaving me feeling refreshed and weightless. Going a little deeper I close my eyes and just float in the water, letting my body relax. Nothing but the cool breeze on my skin and the sound of falling water helps clear my mind. I don’t know how long I float like this. After a while, I stand up and make my way to the waterfall. Slowly I step under it, feeling the water hitting my face as I tilt my head up to the sky. A wonderful but strange feeling washes over me as I stand under the falls. It’s like my soul is being recharged like I’m an empty cup and only these waters can fill it. Once I feel at peace, I step back out of the water and put my clothes back on. Just like every other time I’ve been here, once dressed I head to a small clearing of wildflowers. I lay down and watch the clouds as once again my eyelids grow heavy and I know I’m heading home again. Hoping next time, I find Arwen here again. 

“Tell me again, about your dreams,” Ashlyn asks. I had not long woken up when she had arrived. I was still in bed and she had climbed in with me like we did when we were five. Rolling over to face her, I tell her all about the waterfall and the pond. 

“It sounds magical, I wish I had dreams like that” she mused “I guess that’s what people mean when they talk about pregnancy dreams” she added.  

“They did start just after I found out I was pregnant, but I really don’t know. These feel so real” I answered remembering how the water felt hitting my face.  

“Right sleeping beauty are you ready to go get some dinner?” Ash said as she throws back the covers and jumped out of bed. Trying to pull them back over myself, but it was no use. She was too fast for me, and all the covers were on the floor, leaving me wriggling on the bed like a two-year-old who doesn’t want to do as they are told. 

“Nooooo I was nice and warm” I whine making my body go stiff as a broad, arms and legs as straight as I can get them. Ash just laughs and heads out the door. 

“You have five minutes” She calls over her shoulder. I love our childish moments. I grin to myself as I slide out of my bed and head to the bathroom to freshen up. I had promised the gang we would all go out to dinner tonight. It’s been weeks since we were all together, so tried or not I’m going. 

We had all argued for about half an hour about what to eat before finally settling on a little Chinese place downtown. An hour later we were all seated at a round table at the back of the restaurant. Lexie and Lee were fighting already about something Lee had done that had annoyed Lexie. Something he does at least ten times a day. Charlotte was showing Ash some photos of her weekend away with her new friend Dan. I just looked at this unlikely bunch and smiled. Rubbing my belly, I silently talk to my baby “They might be  crazy little one, but these people love us” 

The waiter comes over and takes everyone's orders. It’s just a nice night, with great friends. We talk and eat. Sometimes someone throws something at someone else and the rest of us laugh. 

“Hey Eva, I was just wondering. With the baby coming are you going to stay with Aunt Lily? She only has two bedrooms, won’t it be a bit small?” Lee asked while twisting his noodles with his chopsticks. 

Everyone stopped eating and looked at me. I had been thinking the same thing in the last few days but didn’t know how to talk to Aunt Lily about it. I took a second before I looked up at them all. 

“Your right Lee Aunt Lily’s house will be a bit small for us all, I haven’t really thought about where I’m going to go, or what I’m going to do.  I just don’t want to break Aunt Lily's heart” I sighed they all gave me sympatric looks. They all love Aunt Lily as much as I do, the thought of her being upset breaks all our hearts. 

“But I will have to talk to her, this baby is on its way. I’m running out of time.” I add 

“My parents just finished building a little guest house in our backyard, maybe you could stay there. It has two bedrooms” Charlotte said clapping her hands together. 

“That is a great idea” I start and Charlotte starts beaming “sorry Charlotte, not staying with your parents, but building a small house in the backyard” I finish and her face falls a little. 

“Aunt Lily does have a huge section, you could easily fit another small house back there” Ash agrees and the conversation moves to what kind of house I want to build. Charlotte wants to be chief interior designer, Lexie adds she would love to do the interior design as well, Lee snorts and gets an elbow to his ribs. I love how excited and supportive my friends are, but now I have a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach about talking to my Aunt.