Rock My World

by Mia Ford

  “Well, we know that we’re going to be together anyway, don’t we?”

  “Yeah, I guess we do now, don’t we? You and me against the world.”

  “So, you don’t need to be nervous. It’s going to be just fine. You and I can do anything. We have been through so much already, bad stuff. This is good. Great news actually. We will be just fine.”

  He kisses me once more, sweetly and passionately all at once. I find his happiness contagious and it’s seeping into me as well. It will be good for Jace and me, we are going to be together forever, and we have nine months to come to terms with it. It’s going to be fine. I have this wonderful man by my side, life is perfect.

  “I love you so much, Addie,” he murmurs to me. “And you will make a wonderful mother.”

  “I hope you’re right. I’m going to need all the baby books in the world to prepare me.”

  He grabs my cheeks and kisses me softly, reassuring me with his lips. I fall into him, loving him desperately. This moment started off terrifying and ended up amazing, all because of him. He really is my perfect man.

  T he next few days pass in a blur. I get a lot of morning sickness, that’s what sent me flying home from work on that very first day when I discovered the life growing inside of me, but I can cope with that. The hardest thing is keeping it from everyone at work. I don’t want them to know just yet. Not until I’ve had the first ultrasound. If Luke is still after my job, then this will be amazing ammo for him. By now, I might even let him take it…

  “What is going on?” Luci asks me impatiently. “You have a weird look on your face.”

  “I know that you and Jace have sorted things out now, and I’m really glad about that, but there’s something I need to tell you.” This is going to be hard, I’m terrified of her reaction. “Something has happened.”

  “Are you married?” she immediately jumps in. “Did you get hitched in secret without me?”

  She doesn’t look mad about it, just annoyed that I didn’t invite her to this mystery wedding which doesn’t surprise me. I know she’d want to be there for it. Hopefully the real news will be less bad.

  “No, that isn’t it. Actually, I just found out that I’m pregnant.”

  I thought that by saying it quickly, it would be easier for her to hear, but now I’m not so sure. As I watch her face race through a range of emotions, I regret my choice. Maybe easing her in would have been better.

  “Was this planned?” she demands.

  “Er,, no not exactly. We just weren’t always careful.

  “Is it good news?” Her eyes run desperately all over my face.

  “Yeah… I mean I was scared at first, but Jace was just over the moon.”

  “Oh wow, so this is really awesome then.”

  I smile widely. “Yeah, it is. I’m really happy about it now.”

  She holds my hand and gives me a lovely smile. “I’m happy for you. I’m so glad that you’re sorted out now. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I just wasn’t sure that Jace could do that for you. Turns out, he can.”

  Having her blessing is amazing. I just love it. It makes everything so much easier. Since I don’t really have my family in my life, she’s the closest thing I have and I’m glad that we’re all good now.

  “So, I’m going to be an aunt now,” she teases. “I guess we’re going to have to go baby shopping soon.”

  “I need to have an ultrasound first, but yes, I will need you for that.”

  We talk for a little while longer, before Luci insists that we need to go back to my place. She’s weirdly insistent, and keeps getting a string of text messages which is weird. I really want to push her, to know what her secrets are, but since I spent a long time having my own, I don’t feel like I have the right.

  We step inside, and immediately I understand why Luci was being so strange. My entire apartment is filled with rose petals and music. It seems like Jace has been planning something romantic and Luci knew all about it.

  “Right, well I have to go,” she tells me nonchalantly. “Have a nice night.”

  I giggle and wave goodbye to her before creeping through the apartment, excitement building in my chest. Ever since I found out that I was having this baby, he’s been so sweet. He’s done so many nice things for me and it seems like I’m about to get another.

  “Jace?” I call out. “Jace, are you here?”

  “Oh, you’re back already?” He keeps his tone light. “Why don’t you come in here?”

  I head into the kitchen, and find Jace there in a suit. An actual suit, which is a surprise. A nice one, he looks hot as hell in that, but it leaves me wondering what’s going on. He never dresses that smart.

  “What’s going on?” He hands me a rose and I take it from him, inhaling the scent. “This is nice.”

  “I just thought that I would cook a nice dinner for you, since you’re growing our child.”

  He rubs my belly, getting that lovely smiling look on his face. He is so happy about our child, it’s lovely. Every time I get any kind of nerves about giving birth and being a mother, he’s there to cheer me up and remind me that everything is okay. That we will be fine. We just need to work together.

  “I am growing our child. And I’m hungry too, so this is perfect.”

  “Just before you take a seat, there’s something I want to ask you.”

  “Yeah? There is?” I narrow my eyes. “Okay, I’m listening.”

  He pulls something from his pocket so quickly that I don’t get a chance to see it. It doesn’t even cross my mind that it could be something important until he drops to one knee in front of me.

  “Oh, my goodness. What are you doing?”

  “Addie,” he starts, completely ignoring me. “I love you. I love you so much and I’ve wanted to make you my wife for a very long time, but now the time is right. We’re going to have a baby, and I want us to be a family. I want to take you down the aisle and say our vows. I want to declare to the world that you’re mine forever, then I want to spend every day of my life making you happy. So, I guess what I’m asking is will you be my wife?”

  I gasp and stare at the ring. The flashy diamond ring that will change everything.

  “Of course I will.” Tears fill my eyes. “I love you too, Jace. I would love to be your wife.”

  “So, we’re getting married?” he gushes. “Are you serious?”

  I cock one eyebrow at him. “You didn’t think I would say no, did you?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m so glad you didn’t.”

  He slides the ring onto my finger, beaming with joy as he does. As his eyes meet mine, we’re both in tears. Lovely tears though, very happy ones. We’re getting engaged, how could we not be overjoyed?

  “I want to wait until after our baby is born though, before we get married.”

  “You do?”

  “If you don’t mind.” I nod. “I don’t know if pregnancy is the best time. I’ll be an emotional wreck. I mean…” I wipe some tears away for effect. “Look at me now.”

  “Yeah, that’s true,” he chuckles. “Okay then, wherever you want, whenever you want. I don’t mind as long as you’re going to be my wife one day. I love you, Addie, and I can’t wait for our happy ever after.”

  That thought blooms around me and makes me so happy. “I love you too, Jace. More than you could ever know.”

  34

  JACE

  N ine months later…

  “So, work was good today?” Addie asks me as she cuddles up next to me on the couch.

  “Work was good. The kids are amazing, and the school show rehearsals are coming along really well. There is some amazing talent and I can’t wait for them all to show it off.”

  “You’re good at cultivating talent. That’s what you were meant to do I think.”

  Addie flicks on the TV, and we’re immediately greeted by The Puppeteers playing their new song. They are everywhere at the moment, there’s no escaping them, but thankfully, I don’t mind. I lov
e seeing them doing so well, I don’t feel any jealousy at all, I’m happy for them. That’s a part of my past, my present is wonderful.

  “The song is catchy, isn’t it?” Addie smiles. “Do you like it?”

  “I do actually. It isn’t one that I would have sung, but it’s awesome.”

  We both bob our heads automatically in time to the music. As I predicted, the moment the band got a new singer I would fade into the background. Thank goodness. It helps that the new singer is wild and head line grabbing. The whole world is obsessed with him right now.

  “So, how are you enjoying maternity leave?” I ask. “Has it made things easier for you?”

  Addie’s hand runs over her massively swollen belly. She’s so huge now, yet she looks more beautiful than ever. I know that she’s uncomfortable, but she’s so in love with the life growing in her belly that she doesn’t mind. The cogs tick in her brain, she’s wondering again what she should do afterwards.

  “Luke is doing a great job as managing editor. I think he might even be better than me. Not during my workaholic days, but now that I’m more distracted. I think I might step back and let him have it.”

  Ooh that’s good. I think that will make her so much happier. I know that she’s wrestled with this decision, just like I did with my choice to leave the band to find a career that makes me happier, and I’m sure this will be the right thing for her. If she’s in no rush to go back to work, she can really do what she wants.

  “What do you think you might do then? Have you had any ideas or are you just going to see what happens?”

  “I may become a freelance writer, so I can still keep my job, but I can be home with the baby as well. Plus, that’s something that I can do anywhere in the world, so if we ever move…”

  “That’s the same with my teaching job. I do love the school I’m at now, but I could work anywhere and be okay. I could even do private tutoring if that’s what suited us best. Then I could be around more too.”

  She snakes her hand into mine and gives me a lovely smile. Between us we have done the incredible thing of awarding ourselves more freedom. We’ve smashed down the oppressive walls that once stood around us and have now got the whole world in front of us. Anything could happen. Anything at all.

  “Oh.” She hunches forward suddenly and clutches onto her belly. “Ouch!”

  “What’s going on?” Panic balls up in my throat. “What’s happening? Addie…”

  “It’s okay. It’s just a bit of pain. It’s okay, I’ve been feeling it on and off all day long.”

  “Contractions? Addie, that sounds like contractions.”

  “No, I don’t think it is. It just hurts, that’s all. Contractions are probably a lot worse.”

  I’m not sure… it really does sound like contractions to me, but I’m not about to argue with a pregnant lady. Addie’s hormones are running a bit wild, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a tongue lashing.

  “Oh god, yep it’s getting a bit worse now.” She breathes hard. “You might be right.”

  “It is contractions, that means the baby is coming!”

  Uh oh, this is what we’ve been waiting for, what I’ve been so excited about, but now that the moment is upon me, I’m worried. This is really it. From this moment onwards, everything will be different. Better, I hope. But there’s the moment of getting to that place which will be scary.

  But this isn’t about how scary childbirth will be for me, I’m just on the side. It’s all about Addie.

  “It might not. I need to wait for… oh!”

  “What’s going on? Addie, are you okay? What can I do? Talk to me, Addie.”

  “I… I… I’m wet all over.”

  We both leap up as a pool of wetness surrounds us on the couch. Addie gives me a panicked look. Her waters have broken, and she’s freaked, which means I need to be the calm one. The one in control.

  “Okay, well then we need to get to the hospital. Right?” I reach across and grab my car keys. “Let’s leave now so we’re there in plenty of time. I don’t think we should have the baby here.”

  She nods, all the color draining from her face as she reaches across to grab my hand. I lean down and kiss her on the top of the head quickly, just reveling in the idea that the next time we come here it won’t just be the two of us. There will be another life in the mix. That’s so amazing, I couldn’t be happier.

  I lead Addie out to the car and get her in the front seat. She’s worried and filled with agony now, I think the contractions have hit her hard. Luckily, we aren’t too far away from the hospital so it won’t take me long to get there. According to all the baby books we’ve read I know I should have plenty of time, but I’ve learned through my life that nothing quite goes to plan… but it always works out perfectly in the end.

  “O h wow.” I hold the little bundle of joy in my arms, a love so boundless flowing through me that I didn’t even know I was capable of it. “Oh wow, Addie. We made this baby. You did this, you should be so proud.”

  Tears fill her eyes again. If I thought that her hormones were all over the place before, then I was mistaken. Now, she’s all over the place. Happy one minute, filled with love the next, weeping seconds later… but then I have just witnessed what she put her body through and it isn’t a surprise. That was crazy.

  “Our own little baby boy, can you believe it?” she gushes. “What are we going to call him?”

  “I don’t know. Do you have any ideas? Looking at him?”

  “Edward,” she says instantly, as if she’s been planning that name.

  “Hmm, that’s very English.”

  “I know, but that’s the name that instantly came to mind the moment I saw him.”

  “It is?” I examine my little boy’s face with this name in mind. “Actually, do you know what? I like it.”

  “You do?” She looks so happy I’m so glad.

  “Yeah. It’s great, isn’t it? Perfect for our little lad.”

  Her eyes flicker, I can see how tired she is. Again, I’m hardly surprised. I know that she wants to stay awake for our son, to spend every moment with him, but right now I think she’s better resting.

  “You have some sleep, sweetheart.” I kiss the top of her head. “I’m going to take Edward for a walk around the ward. My mother is coming to visit anyway; she’ll want to see her grandson.”

  Addie’s lips part in protest, but her argument falls away. A wave of weariness hits her and her eyes almost roll to the back of her head. “Okay sure, but don’t be too long. I don’t want to be by myself for ages.”

  She’s asleep before we even get out the room, just as I thought she might be. I’ll stick around, I won’t go anywhere too far away, but I’m going to let her sleep for as long as she needs…

  My heart stops beating as I see a man with a camera standing in the hallway, looking like he’s waiting for someone. Since the press lost interest in me, I didn’t think that anyone would know about me having a child. I certainly didn’t think I would be hounded for pictures, but it seems like I was wrong. Someone is here to ruin this special moment. I clutch my boy tightly to my chest to not let him be seen. I won’t let his face be plastered all over the papers when he is just a few hours old. That’s so damn wrong.

  “Excuse me, mate,” the guy starts as he approaches me. Anger bubbles up, I might just freak out and lash out. Addie isn’t the only one who’s on an emotional roller coaster. “Do you know where room twenty-one is? My granddaughter has just been born, see, and I want to take a good picture of her.”

  Relief floods me. Of course this isn’t a man looking for me. I’m not famous enough for anyone to care about me anymore anyway which is perfect, just as I want it.

  “I think it’s down that way,” I say smilingly. “And congratulations on your granddaughter.”

  “Congratulations on your baby too.”

  I head out into the waiting room feeling much more confident now, and I quickly find my mother there. She isn’t alone, she
has Luci with her. Addie’s family. Both of them look on edge until they see me.

  “Oh my goodness. You have the baby!” Luci rushes to me first and holds out her hands to hold him. “He’s so beautiful, he looks just like the pair of you. What’s his name?”

  “Edward,” I say as I hand him over. “Edward Fairs.”

  “I love him so much. He’s adorable.”

  Mom beams at me as we watch Luci coo over my child. She also has a real look of adoration about her. “He really is lovely. You and Addie must be so happy. Where is she?”

  “She’s sleeping right now, she’s absolutely shattered.”

  “I bet she is. I remember childbirth myself, and it isn’t fun.”

  I laugh at Mom. “Is that why you only had me?”

  I know it’s really because Dad walked out on us, and Mom hasn’t found love since, but it’s much better for us to make a joke about it.

  “Oh, it sure is. You were a horrible birth. Then you were an awful child, so this might be revenge.”

  Eventually, Luci decides that she’s going to see Addie to check that she’s alright, which gives Mom a chance to hold Edward. Immediately, she melts and I can see a seismic shift within her.

  “Oh, he’s lovely, such a sweetheart,” she weeps. “You’re so lucky. See, this is just proof of what I have been trying to tell you. You and Addie are meant to be.”

  I roll my eyes and laugh. “I know that. I always did. It just wasn’t always easy. I always knew that we were meant to be together, it was just a bit of a challenge, wasn’t it? We faced our obstacles for sure.”

  “I know, but the pain of all of that is worth it now, isn’t it?”

  I stare at Edward, melting all over again. “It sure is. And soon I will be making Addie my wife. Another step that I cannot wait for.”

  I shiver, thinking about our wedding. We haven’t done even a scrap of planning yet, not out loud anyway, but I’ve been plotting in my mind. We might not be ready to move to our cottage by the ocean just yet, although that might come soon, but I want to experience that for just a short while so that’s what I’m going to do. For her.