That Baby: Part 1 – Chapter 19

“I think I’ll go jogging with you this morning, Phillip,” I say as he rolls out of bed.

“Really? Are you sure you’re feeling up to it?”

“Yeah, I didn’t feel as sick yesterday, and I want to try to stay in shape. They say it makes both your delivery and recovery easier. Plus, I miss running.”

He pulls me up. “I’ve missed running with you. Dress warm though; it’s pretty chilly.”

I put on my winter running gear and follow Phillip out the front door.

“Whew, it is pretty cold!” I say, practically seeing my breath crystalize before me.

“It’s not bad once you get going.”

As we’re jogging around the lake, Phillip says, “So, our one-month anniversary is the day before Valentine’s Day. I think we should do something special since it’s our first Valentine’s Day as a couple.”

“You’ve given me flowers for as long as I can remember.”

“That’s because I had a big crush on you. Do you have anything you want to do, or should I plan something?”

“Let’s plan it together. Our anniversary is Tuesday, and Valentine’s Day is Wednesday.”

“Yeah, it’s during the week. I was thinking we could take a couple of days off. Maybe spend one day looking at baby stuff. I know you’ve been looking at ideas on how to decorate the nursery. Are you excited to buy all that?”

“I am, Phillip, but I don’t want to get anything yet.”

“Why not?”

“I’d like to wait until after our ultrasound. Make sure everything is okay.”

He solemnly nods his head. “I’ve been flipping through the pregnancy book. There is a lot that can go wrong, isn’t there?”

“Phillip, you’re not reading worst-case scenarios for the first trimester, are you?”

He shrugs. “You know I like to be prepared for the worst.”

“I don’t even want to consider the worst.”

“That’s fine. You let me worry about all that.”

“Is it freaking you out a little?”

“No, not at all. So, back to our anniversary, I was thinking maybe we could go shopping. Maybe get a couple’s massage. Come back to our house for some fun.”

“Do you remember when we first got together—how we did it in every room in my condo?”

He grins. “Oh, I remember that well. It was like the Around the World basketball game we used to play. Only I was scoring in every room.”

“We have a lot more rooms in our new house,” I suggest.

“And that’s how you want to spend our two days?”

I give a casual shoulder shrug. “It’s just a thought. Depends on if we can be alone.”

“I’ll make sure we are.”

“I love the idea of sleeping in, shopping, having a long and leisurely lunch, shopping a little more, and then coming home and relaxing. Maybe a picnic in front of our fireplace.”

“A naked picnic?”

“I was thinking you might like to go shopping for some lingerie, too.”

“Oh, I like that idea. It’s a date.”