Just living

Just under the weather

Martha P.O. V

A month has passed since the night Chub encountered Kenneth, but I still couldn't stop thinking of the wonderful night we shared.

And there's still been no call from Joseph. I mean, he could have at least checked up on his kids, for heaven's sake.

I sat behind the dinner counter, feeling exhausted. Lately, I've been feeling sick and tired, so I think I need to see a doctor.

Mrs. Williams walks into the dining room and approaches the counter.

"Oh, Martha, my dear."

"Hello, Mrs. Williams, how have you been?"

"Oh, I am as well as I can be, but look at you. You've gained a lot of weight, though I heard you haven't been feeling well lately."

"Ahh, yes."

"Any nausea?"

"Sometimes, mostly in the mornings."

"Mmh. I hope it's not what I'm thinking, Martha," she said, giving me a stern look.

"Not at all, Mrs. Williams."

"Okay, good. I came to check up on you because your dad told me you haven't been feeling well. I will look after the dinner, and you can go take some rest, okay?"

"Oh no, Mrs. Williams, I wouldn't want to bother you."

"Ahhuh, you should have said that at 8 years old; then I would have been less stressed. Go on, go get some rest."

"Okay, thank you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever," she said, dismissively waving her hands.

On my way home, I couldn't stop thinking about what Mrs. Williams said. Maybe I am pregnant. No, no, no, that can't be possible. But it can... Kenneth and I that night. No, no, huh, silly me.

I haven't seen my periods this month, though. Ahh, it's probably just late; that's it. Ha! Pregnant? Hahaha, me? No way.

Anyway, I'd better hurry back home and spend some time with my babies.

I stopped by the supermarket to grab ice cream, milk, and cereal for the twins before heading home. I also grabbed a few pregnancy tests just to clear up my doubts.

After a few minutes' drive, I arrived home, and the twins were asleep on the couch while SpongeBob SquarePants was on.

So, I quickly prepared dinner and freshened up. When I saw the pregnancy tests that I bought in the bag next to the medicine cabinet, I decided to take the test— all four of them.

I paced on the tests and waited for a few minutes that felt like forever. I checked one, and it came out positive. Still remaining calm, reminding myself that it could be wrong or just some error, I checked the remaining three, and they were also positive.

"No f*****g way, not again," I said to myself, holding my face in my hands. "Shit."

Before I could process everything, the twins woke up and started banging on the bathroom door, so I hid the pregnancy test in the medicine cabinet. They can't read yet, but they like to play with anything, and I'm afraid Dad might see it.

"I will be out in a minute, sweeties!" I shouted.

I helped the twins freshen up, had our dinner, brushed our teeth, and then went to bed.

I woke up in the morning throwing up—the typical morning sickness. Not only that, but I've also been experiencing really sharp pains, but I thought it was nothing important, not knowing I was growing a human inside of me who was meant to be affected until yesterday.

After preparing breakfast and taking the children to daycare, I decided to send Lindah a pic of the pregnancy tests.

Within seconds, she replied with a shocked emoji. "How did it happen?" she continued.

"What do you mean by how? Hello...the freaking club!" I retorted.

"What? Kennedy?" she asked.

"Obviously! I haven't slept with anyone else," I texted, starting to get a bit upset.

"You are f****d. We don't know a thing about him," she texted.

"Oh really? I THOUGHT WE DID!" I sarcastically replied.

"You do know sarcasm will not get you out of this, right?"

"Oh, I didn't realize!" I replied sarcastically again.

"I'm sorry, okay? I will try to find out whatever I can find on him, but it won't be easy because the only thing we know about him is his first name," she replied with sincerity and concern.

And it kind of made me feel bad for taking it all out on her when she's just trying to help.

"I know, I'm sorry too. I'm just so confused and stressed."

"I get it," she replied.

"Thank you," I simply stated, feeling a bit more relaxed.

With that, I stopped texting and drove off to work. I've worked under many different circumstances— sickness, heartbreaks, hangovers— but never have I ever felt this bad and nervous.

What if my dad somehow notices something and finds out? Or what if Miss Matthews tells him? I will be screwed!

Nothing scares me more than seeing a disappointed look on my dad's face. I remember when I first got pregnant and tried to hide it. I obviously failed, but I had never seen him more disappointed in my life.

Of course, he fell in love with the twins the second my bump was visible, as did I—his little Grammnybears.

The strange thing, though, is that I don't feel any kind of love or anything for the baby growing inside of me.

Maybe I should get rid of it?

I walked into the café, putting on the best smile that I could, and stopped midway when I saw my dad happily talking to Miss Matthews, whilst holding a scotch bottle.

I took a deep breath in and out and approached them.

"Hey," I greeted them.

"Hey, baby," he happily greeted me back.

"You came straight here after the trip" I asked him

"Well yes, I figured I would share the first glass of this 1987 scotch with my very good friend Matthews, she used to be quite a drinker back in her old days" he truthfully jokingly said

"You bought a bottle again? "I asked examining the socket bottle now in my hands

He took a deep breath before he dramatically replied clicking his

tongue

'Yes, I... Something good always happens when I buy this socket, it's like I anticipate good news and buy it for the celebration moment. Remember, the last time I bought it was before your graduation, and it came in perfectly handy for the celebration. Maybe good news is on its way.

"Yeah if I'm pregnant for the second time it's good news" I mumbled to myself

"What?" he asked

"Nothing.., you two enjoy your scotch and I will get to work, love you both," I said, blowing them a kiss and walking away.

After a month

I got a call from Lindah while I was still at work

"Hey" I greeted her answering her call

"Hello, Lindah here"

"I know who the hell I'm talking to Lindah" I replied to her obviously stupid remark

"Jeeesh, your pregnancy hormones are really starting to kick in" Anyway, I found out Kennedy's address, well, his work address."

she continued

"What? Really?" I asked standing out of my seat unable to hold my surprise and rather relief

Yes, meet me at your place in five and I will tell you everything"

I left work and went home immediately.