Chapter 26

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE here! I thought..."

My soft sniffles turned into uncontrollable sobs. I couldn't control my body from shaking. Art lifted me slowly, made me sit on the bed, and pulled me into a tight embrace. "I'm here now. What you thought was wrong, and making you feel that way was stupid of me."

I shook my head multiple times. "It was my fault. Your reaction and your feelings were valid." I lifted my chin and looked at the man who always caused my heart to beat fast and loud. "I hurt you," I whispered.

Art gently wiped my tears as he said my name in whispers. "You can never hurt me." He cupped my face and looked me in the eye. "I was worried sick and reacted badly." I clasped my hand on his. "I hurt you, but you hurt me too. How can you not talk to me for a month? You made me think that you don't care."

Art nodded. "And I'm so sorry for doing that. I wanted to call to talk to you and see your face very badly. But if I saw you for one more time, I knew I would take the next flight back." His lips were on mine in a swift motion, gentle and soft. "You have no idea how hard it was for me. But I had to. Every day, I tell myself one month, and I'll be with you."

Art's lips on mine erased all the doubts and fears that had lingered in my mind for the past four weeks. It wasn't just a kiss. It was our love language. All his devotion and concern streamed into the kiss. And when I kissed him back, it poured all the longing and apologies I'd kept for months.

"Get a room, you guys! It's too early to expose my godchild into this mockery!" Avery's voice echoed in the room. "You don't want to make out in front of the baby watching you from the ultrasound monitor!" Auntie Jenny and the doctor's laughter followed.

***

Seeing Art in the clinic, feeling his touch, and savoring his kiss made all the months of waiting and anxiety worth it. From the OB visit to our Connecticut apartment, Art wasted no time explaining what happened after our last phone call. He was supposed to tell me their Munich lab enlisted him for a three-month collaboration/research at MIT LAB. So, instead of wallowing in regrets and blame, he finished and completed everything he needed for his flight to Boston. He confirmed his mom had been giving him updates from my daily routine to my doctor's appointments.

On our first night back together, Art checked the baby book Avery and I prepared. His eyes glistened, looking at my first ultrasound picture. It amazed him, touching my very pregnant belly. And as if the precious human inside me knew a father's touch, they made quite a spectacular exhibition of multiple somersaults and kicks. Art couldn't contain his excitement and disbelief.

His hands were all over my stomach. He wanted to feel all the baby's movements, big and small. I couldn't believe he was here with me, that we were both feeling and talking to our baby. If I could paint happiness, it would be Art's face. And if I had one wish, that is to keep him happy always.

The first week since Art arrived, we got into a routine. He stayed with us in the campus apartment and drove back and forth to MIT for his five hours on weekday assignments. As expected, he cared for me, from food prep, vitamins, and daily pregnancy reminders. It was everything I dreamed of. Since he arrived, I felt his care and love confirmed what I knew: Art would be a great father.

As a mother, I would want nothing for my child but to experience a father's loving presence. But despite it all, the anxiety of not knowing where our relationship stands stayed in me. Since we talked about his reasons for not contacting me for a month, kissing all the regrets, and blaming goodbye, we haven't discussed ourselves.

"Don't tell me your pregnancy hormones are acting up again." Avery's voice ended my silent reverie. Her brows lifted as her eyes scanned my face. "Maybe. Maybe not," I answered.

Avery sighed aloud. She took the seat beside me. "Tell me what's bothering you. I thought you wouldn't be hormonal since your baby daddy is here now." I answered with a pout. "Baby daddy doesn't sound nice!" Avery nodded. "True! Though you guys had been playing house since Art returned, he hadn't put a ring on your finger yet."

My shoulders sagged hearing what my best friend said. She was right. Art and I were playing house. And I can't claim him, the more that he didn't mention anything other than his concern and love for the baby.

"Hey! I'm just kidding, okay?" Avery patted my shoulder. "Knowing Art for sure, he had made plans already. So stop being hormonal!"

I shook my head. "I don't know. Since he came, we never talked about us. But I'm glad he's so concerned with the baby. His actions are assuring me that he will be a great father." Avery squeezed my hand gently. "I'm sorry, Shells! I shouldn't have mentioned about baby daddy or playing house." She slapped her mouth. "Me and my big mouth!"

I held Avery's hand and removed it from her mouth. "It's fine. You're right, anyway. I've been thinking about it." I looked away to avoid the tears I felt coming. "I guess one of our wishes won't come true." I glanced back at Avery. She nodded. We are best friends and sisters. No words are needed. We both get what each other thinks and feel.

In middle school, we made our wedding scrapbook and pre-wedding bucket list. We swore in each other to fulfill the list and follow what we wrote by the number. And one of those was to get married before giving birth to our future babies. Avery and I valued the importance of being born to a complete family. But I guess there are exceptions to the rules. We don't always get what we wish for.

When I felt my tears falling, I immediately wiped them and laughed aloud. "I hate it when I get hormonal! Why would I even think of our wedding scrapbook and bucket list? We were so young then!"

"God! I so want to kill Art right now!" Avery started wiping my tears with her fingers. She cupped my face and looked me in the eye. "We may be young when we wrote the list. But we meant it word for word. And we deserve all our wishes to come true. You fucking deserve it, Shells!"

"Thank you! You are the greatest best friend in the world! You never leave my side. I couldn't ask for anyone!"

"That is so freaking right! And if I have to bang the skull of Art to remind him, I'll surely do! Just watch me!"

"Oh, please, no! It would be best if you didn't do that. And I don't want to pressure him into doing something he wouldn't like. That will be unfair to all of us!" Avery crackled her knuckles. "Well, I don't play fair! If it comes to my best friend and favorite godchild, I wouldn't play fair!"

"Please, Ave! Promise me you won't say anything to Art. Him taking care of me and the baby is enough. I should not ask for more." When I reached for Avery's hand, she pulled away. She started pacing in front of me. I knew her mind was concocting a plan. And I couldn't let her. Because my best friend planning something means it will concern Art getting an earful from her.

When she stepped away, I stood up and followed her. She grabbed her phone from the charging dock and opened her contacts. I tried to take it from her hand, but she was fast. She shook her head multiple times and grinned at me. "Na ah. I will call Art and break his eardrums. How dare he think he is better off just a baby daddy! And how triple dare he keep playing house with you!"

"Oh God! Ave, please! I was being hormonal. I didn't mean anything with what I said. Bringing up the scrapbook and our bucket list was a stupid idea! It was my mistake!" I felt helpless. I couldn't grab the cell phone from Avery's hand. She was determined to give Art a call. And her arms were stronger than I thought. Every attempt I made, she blocked strongly. I didn't get even a chance to touch the phone.

"There's nothing you can do to stop me! If the tables were turned, you would do the same for me. Because that's what sisters are! That's how we care and protect each other."

I sat on the couch watching Avery hit a contact on her phone. Once the ringing started, she put it on speaker. After three rings, Art answered, "Ave, is Shelly okay? What happened?"

"Shelly is fine." Avery sighed aloud. "Your stupidity happened!"

***