“Lenora, you grow more beautiful every day. The sun rises each day in your smile, and the moon shines in your eyes when you look at me. I’ll love you as long as there is air to breathe.” Lincoln always spoke the most beautiful words of love to me, and my heart would give a little jolt every time.

“When you walk into a room, my heart sings with joy, and I want to dance a jig,” I replied while we relaxed on the bed together. Like Grandda’s my Irish accent thickened when I felt deep emotion.

Afterwards, we’d talk some more and then fall asleep. I can’t remember a night when I didn’t fall asleep in Lincoln’s strong arms. I felt safe and loved, and I didn’t think life could get any better.

All our hard work paid off in the end, and Lincoln and I were on the Dean’s List and did graduate early. By then, my books and short stories were selling very well, and I was hired by the local newspaper to write a small column. Lincoln got a residency at the nearby hospital. For a young couple starting out fresh from University, we were doing well and felt very blessed. Lincoln’s parents and Grandda threw us a big graduation party, and Mathilda bought us a two week cruise on a luxury ship. “I wanted to give you the honeymoon you two never had,” she explained. 

The cruise was so romantic, but it was even more special because our son was conceived. Upon our return, I began to feel ill most mornings and couldn’t keep breakfast down. I could see the worry in Lincoln’s eyes, but I had a hunch I knew what it was. I bought a pregnancy test and prayed I’d get the results we wanted. Lincoln and I wanted a big family and were looking forward to a possible pregnancy.

My hands shook the entire time I unpacked everything. It seemed to take an eternity for the test to process, and when it did, I stared at the little window, afraid to blink. I checked and double checked just to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me. Then, I shrieked and ran to the phone.

“Hello Lenora! How’s your day?” Mathilda’s voice rang cheerfully in my ear. 

“Oh my God! Mathilda!” I screamed and did a little tap-dance across the room, unmindful that I probably scared the bejesus out of poor Mathilda. I thought of her hearing only after I heard a clanking on the other end and an oath that sounded like it came a few feet away from the receiver. I could tell she’d dropped the phone.

“Lenora, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” she asked, her voice sounding closer now. “Are you hurt? Has Lincoln had an accident?” Her voice grew sharp with worry, and I imagined her dark eyes snapping to full alert as she whipped out a notepad to write down vital information.

I willed myself to calm down, but I was grinning like a moron. “No, nothing like that. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to alarm you. I just had to tell someone, Mathilda, and you’re like a mother to me, and, oh!” I gave a contented little sigh and felt tears of happiness spring to my eyes. “I’m pregnant, Mathilda! I’m actually pregnant! Can you believe it? It must have happened on the cruise and–” I couldn’t help but squeal again but quieter this time. “Linc is going to flip! Oh gosh, I have to think of the perfect way to tell him. Oh, Mathilda, isn’t it wonderful?” I knew I was babbling a mile a minute, but I was riding high on blessed euphoria.

Mathilda’s low musical laughter rang in my ear, but I could tell it was laced with tears. “Congratulations, sweetheart! I’m thrilled for you both. I couldn’t be happier or more touched at what you told me. I’m so proud of you, and you’re the daughter I never had.”

I had one more call to make, and that was to Grandda. I was a little nervous about telling him because he still thought of me as a little girl. I needn’t have worried though. He was thrilled and told me I’d better make Lincoln treat me right. “He already treats me like a queen, Grandda,” I laughed. “Linc’s going to be over the moon, I can tell you that.”

I decided to make a special romantic dinner for Lincoln and me, but the plans changed when he arrived home a few hours early. Apparently, Mathilda had taken it upon herself to call Lincoln and said if he knew what was good for him, he’d go home then and there because his wife needed him. Apparently, she scared him senseless because he looked grim as he blew through the door and came right to my side. He unceremoniously took the mixing bowl from my hands and hauled me into his arms. “Lenora, darling, what’s wrong? I was told you needed me. Darling, are you ill?”

I held onto Lincoln and breathed in the familiar scent of him. I smiled up at him and kissed him softly. “I’m fine, but we do need to talk. Let’s go outside. It’s such a beautiful day and I want to look at your handsome face in the sunlight.”

I shooed Lincoln outside, quickly prepared a cheese plate, and brought out two glasses and a bottle of sparkling cider. Lincoln raised an eyebrow as I set it up on the patio table. “No wine?” he asked. He knew how much I enjoyed sipping a glass of wine while we talked and enjoyed the sunset. I just smiled a mysterious little smile and continued what I was doing.

I kissed him softly after handing him a glass of the cider. He returned my kiss but gave me a puzzled look. “Darling, you’re worrying me a little. Something strange is going on and I don’t know how to act. Put a guy out of his misery and give over. Darling, if you’re ill, I’ll do my best to make it go away. I just need you to level with me.”

I smiled and positioned myself on his lap. I gave him a lingering kiss and then framed his face with my hands. “Sweetheart, I’m not ill so stop worrying about that. There is a little something, but it’s something that’ll take nine months to cure.”

It took him a few moments to digest it. I grinned as I both watched and felt him go through a series of emotions. Puzzlement turned to disbelief. Then, disbelief turned to shock. Then, shock turned to utter joy when I nodded and grinned. I laughed delightedly when he roared like a triumphant lion, swept me into his arms, and spun me around.