"No, that will be perfect actually. It will give me a chance to make my rounds for the day."
"Okay. Oh, I notarized the application, and Joy has it in her purse. We'll be back shortly," she says, and when Joy runs into the office to give me a kiss goodbye, she turns to chase after Krista. I love this new spring in my girl's step.
When I set out to make my rounds, I decide to swing by the education center to see about getting Joy scheduled to attend lessons here beginning immediately.
After spending time with Chloe, I head next door to meet up with the girls and what I find is my mother, Joy and Krista, sitting on the floor, having wine in red plastic cups, surrounded by paint chips and strips of fabric samples.
"Ah, Matthew," my mother calls out when she sees me at the door. Come see the beautiful color scheme your wife selected for our reception area. I grin at her reference. Afraid to look, considering Joy's only had her eyesight for only a day, I see the pile of calming greens and blues with mauve accents. I look at Joy's blush and smile my approval.
"Come on, baby. Let's get a marriage license and go home," I say, helping her off the floor.
"Don't forget, Joy, lunch on Saturday and then dress shopping," my mother says as we are about to leave.
"I won't, Lillian. I'll see you at the house at twelve-thirty."
As soon as we say our goodbyes, we head out to get the license.
"Just think, Joy. In three short weeks you’ll be my wife," I say, pulling her close into my side as we walk toward the parking garage.
"Matthew," she says, frowning, holding her stomach. "I don't feel very well," and as soon as those words are out of her mouth, she runs to a nearby garbage can and throws up in it.
"Are you all right?" I ask before she empties her stomach again. "Come on, let's go inside and get you some water."
"That chowder I had must have been bad," she says just before she runs back to the garbage can.
Once Joy's stomach settles down, we finish our errands and head home where she promptly removes her clothes and climbs in bed for a nap.
As soon as I let Conrad out for a little exercise, I remove my clothes, climb in behind my girl, and pull her close to me.
Tomorrow, I think to myself, I need to examine her eyes. No doubt she needs lenses, and we should get those for her as soon as possible. I put that at the top of my to-do list.
My procedure works.
Joy can finally see.
Chapter 14
I wake up still feeling the effects of the bad soup I ate yesterday. Laura offers to come over to nurse me because I can't seem to make it from my bed to the bathroom and back.
"Did anyone else have that soup?" I ask, emptying my stomach for the umpteenth time today.
"No, just you, babe," Laura answers, holding my hair out of my face. "Let's get you back into bed, and I'll make you a cup of tea," she offers.
"I've been doing this for two days now, and it's really getting annoying. I just got my eyes back, and I want to go outside."
Wiping the sweat off my brow, I stand up straight and realize that I’m feeling a lot better, but don't want to push it. Laura suggests that I go downstairs with her and lay down on the couch while she makes me that cup of tea. I can hear her on the telephone giggling, probably with Jessie.
"Here you go, sweetie." She offers me the cup along with a plate of crackers to settle my stomach. I chew and take small sips of tea, and my stomach begins to feel much better. Laying my head back on the arm of the couch, I take a deep breath enjoying that for the first time in days, I’m no longer sick.
"Thanks, Laura. I feel much better," I say, putting the cup down on the coffee table. "Hey, do you think that Chef Luca will be available for the wedding?"
"Um … Joy? Lillian is flying in her favorite chef from Chicago. He’ll be here a few days before the wedding."
"Oh, well then, what about the decorations? Let's go online to …"
"Um … Joy? Maddie has the decorations already ordered. They’ll be here a week from today," Laura explains.
"Oh," I mutter. "I guess there's nothing for me to do then." Suddenly, I remember there is something I can do. "What about the cake? Has somebody picked out the cake too?"
"Well, Lillian thought raspberry filled cake would be good. Would you like that?" I look at her and realize that everyone is having fun with my wedding but me. I guess all I have to do is show up. I'm startled when Conrad starts to bark as soon as the doorbell rings.
"I'll get it," Laura offers as she runs toward the door.
"Hey, Maddie. Come on in. Joy's feeling a lot better, so maybe we should talk to her now." I hear Laura whisper.
"Hi, Joy. Laura called me this morning and had a thought about why you might be feeling sick." I look at them both as they grin from ear to ear, about ready to burst into a full-blown giggle. That's when Maddie, in all her excitement, holds up a box.
"What is it? I can't read yet, Maddie," I say, somewhat annoyed. I don't like that everyone is planning my wedding without me, and now my two best friends are sitting in front of me, giggling at my expense.
"Oh,” Laura says. “Maddie and I think that maybe … perhaps … you might be … sorta …"
"Oh, for God's sake, Laura, spit it out," I command, folding my arms over my chest.
"We think you may be pregnant," they say in unison.
"Oh, hell no!" I shout. There's no way. I'm on the shot.
"Oh, no," I choke. It's been at least two months. "But my shot..." I try to think again when it is due. "Oh, god," I choke out again.
"Don't panic, Joy. Go take this test before you freak out," Maddie suggests and hands me the box.
"I don't know how to do this!" I cry out, looking at the box. I’m about to go into a full-blown freak out. "How am I going to tell Matthew? He will never forgive me. He's not ready for kids. We aren't even married. I just got my sight, and we need to spend time alone. He's going to be so pissed at me." I'm about ready to lose it when the girls escort me to the restroom.
I watch intently as Maddie opens the box, hands me this weird-looking stick and says, "Pee on it." I burst out laughing thinking she's joking, but she's not.
"Seriously?"
"Yep. Start to pee, hold this under the stream and wait. If you get a plus sign, you're preggers. If it's a minus sign, you're not." Maddie bounces with nearly every word spoken.
I kick them out of the bathroom, and do what I'm told; I pee on the stick. I rip off a piece of toilet paper and leave it on the counter. Trembling, I nervously walk out, sit on my bed and wait. It doesn't take them long to run to the bathroom and come through the door, holding the stick for me to see.
"Is that a plus sign?" I nervously ask, my hands twisting in my lap.
"Yes," they both say in chorus. "Joy, you're pregnant. I'm going to be an aunt." Maddie screams.
"Me too," Laura joins her, and they both jump around the room.
Shouldn't I be jumping around the room too?
I cry instead.
"What's the matter, Joy? You don't want this baby?" Maddie asks sympathetically.
“Matthew is never going to forgive me. Does he even like kids? I think he must, because he fell in love with Chloe, right? He's a good doctor to them, so why wouldn't he want his own, right?” I ask, rambling.
"Maybe I shouldn't tell him —"
"Joy! You stop that talk, right now," Laura shouts.
"I know. You're right. I need to tell him. I don't know how to, though. But I will." I look at both of them, and they have pity written all over their faces. "You guys, you can't say a word to anyone. You promise?"
"We won't," Maddie answers. I look at Laura, and she nods.
"I mean it, not even to Brian and Jessie, you two. I need to tell Matthew first, and then we need to figure out what we are going to do. I need to tell him before the wedding. This might alter his decision to marry me," I say, choking on my words.
"Joy Marie Johnson!" Laura snaps and three-names me. "You stop that
kind of talk right the fuck now. That man would marry you under any circumstance, and you know it, so you just … just … stop it!"
Whoa, she's really mad.
"I know. I just don't know how, or when," I say, nervously fidgeting with my fingers.
"Tell him tonight. The sooner the better is my motto," Laura chimes in. "Just say 'Matthew, we're pregnant.' It's better to make sure he knows he's part of this too, and it takes two to have a baby, right?" I nod and throw my body down on the couch. And moan. Loudly.
"I'll tell him. Maybe not tonight, but I will … before the wedding. Just in case he wants to change his mind," I say through the tears that are starting to fall pretty steadily now. I wipe them away, sniff, and straighten my ass up.
"What time is he going to be home?" Maddie asks, looking at her watch. "It's almost noon."
"He's bringing me lunch, so anytime now." I watch as they get up from their seats and come over to kiss me good-bye.
"I'm going to be the best auntie ever," Maddie exclaims. "Uncle Brian and Auntie Maddie," she marvels. I watch as she looks up toward the ceiling, and I know her mind is churning out ideas for the nursery.
"Hey, don't forget Uncle Laura and Auntie Jess." Maddie and look at her, absorbing what she just said then burst out laughing.
I stop when I hear the garage door open, and quickly tuck the stick into the box, then stuff the evidence into the couch cushions.
"Remember, not a single word," I demand through a whisper. They both confirm their promise before Matthew walks into the room.
"Hey, babe," he calls from the kitchen
"We're in here," I call back. I watch as he comes around the corner, and I gasp at how beautiful he is. I don't think I will ever get enough of watching him walk into the room, or smiling that half grin, or that dimple in his chin or that mess of hair that is sexy as hell to me. And he loves me.
"Hey, girls," he greets Maddie and Laura, before bending to kiss my cheek.
"Hi, Matthew," Laura replies. "Well, I guess I better go. I'm meeting Jess at Julia's. Joy, you take care of yourself. Eat more crackers and drink some tea. That helps settle the stomach." I nod in agreement that I’ll do as she says.
"You still not feeling good, baby?" Matthew asks, concerned.
"Yeah, a little. I'm feeling better now."
"Do you need to see a doctor?" I look at my friends, and they are grinning behind his back.
"I'm seeing one right now," I say, touching his beautiful face. He smiles at my double entendre.
"Okay, Joy, we need to scoot. I'll call you later, or you call me, all right?" Laura calls as she heads for the front door with Maddie. I nod as I see them both wave.
"Are you feeling okay, babe? You’re pale."
"I had another bout of throwing up this morning when Laura got here. I'm better now though," I say, running my fingers through his thick mane.
"Are you well enough to eat something? I brought sandwiches from your favorite deli. Does that sound okay?"
"Yeah, sounds good," I say, feeling queasy just thinking about eating anything. I follow him into the kitchen, and as I watch him prepare our plates with sandwiches and soup, my stomach takes a turn for the worse, and I barely make it to the bathroom.
It’s is going to be a long nine months if this keeps up.
"Joy?" Matthew calls from the other side of the door. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'll get over this soon. I promise," I answer, rinsing my mouth under the faucet.
"Can you eat?" he asks, when I finally come out of the bathroom.
"I'll try. I'm really hungry since I've been throwing up everything I ingest. I'm almost afraid to eat this." I sit, hold the sandwich in my hands and gaze at it, looking at a Panini for the first time in my life, and pray that I keep it down.
"Here goes," I say, taking a big bite, making sure I chew it good before cautiously swallowing.
One down, I count.
I watch Matthew devour his lunch while I can barely get through mine. I eat slow and deliberate, knowing that if I continue to throw up my meals, he will notice and put two and two together.
After eating half of my sandwich, I wrap it in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. I focus on my stomach and determine things are well, and I just might hold this down after all.
"Joy, I stopped by the Education Center at the hospital and asked if they had room for you to begin some classes. You know, just some of the intermediate stuff. Are you interested? They said you could start on Tuesday morning, if you want."
"Sure. Whatever you want." I look up at him and see that his smile is gone. He looks disappointed. I smile at him to show a little more enthusiasm. It doesn't work.
I watch as he places his dishes in the dishwasher and turns to look at me. I turn away because I know if I try to tell him, I will start crying, and I don't want to disappoint him.
"Joy, what's the matter?" He comes to stand directly in front of me, brushing his finger over my cheek. "Are you not happy? I thought you were excited about seeing again. You know, some people have adverse reactions to the change. Is this why you are ill suddenly?"
I shake my head and turn away from him. I can't. I just can't face him, and I run up the stairs to our room, shutting the door behind me. I feel myself begin to hyperventilate at the thought of telling him. How do I even begin to tell him?
'Guess what, Matthew. You're going to be a daddy!' No, that's too casual. I pace the room. Good Lord, how do I tell him? I suddenly stop in my tracks when I realize what I've done. I've run out on him, leaving him standing there. I've done to him exactly what I hate that he does to me. I walked out on him, rather than talking about it. I open the door, and he's not in the room. I go downstairs and find him in his office. He's on his phone and has his back to the door.
"I don't know, Mom. She's not happy anymore. I don't know if she isn't happy that she can see or maybe she doesn't want to marry me. Oh, God! That's it, isn't it?" He sits up in his seat, thinking he's found the answer to my problem. "Okay, mom … I won't … sorry. I don't know what else it could be though. I told her about classes, and she wasn't excited about that either."
I approach him quietly, and my heart breaks in two with him thinking I don't want to marry him. When he sees me, he tells his mother that he will call her back.
"Matthew, I'm sorry," I say, kissing his warm lips. I hug him hard, and he wraps his arms around me. "I … I'm … I'm just a little upset that everyone is planning our wedding without me," I lie. "Your mother has planned the dinner menu and is bringing in a chef from Chicago. Maddie has planned all the decorations, and I wasn’t even asked what colors I wanted. I feel left out of my own wedding."
My heart breaks, and then the tears come, and they won't stop. I cry because half of what I've said is the truth.
"Oh, baby, no wonder you’re upset. I can't imagine any bride not invited to plan her own wedding. I hear that's the best part. Outside of the honeymoon … which is the groom's favorite part." I have to chuckle at that. "There's my girl. I love to hear your laugh." He holds my head tight against his shoulder as he dials his cell.
"Mom? Yeah, I know what's wrong. She's feeling a little left out of planning the wedding. Okay." He nudges his shoulder, makes me sit up and hands me the phone. I shake my head because I don't want to talk to anyone. I now feel like a whiner and cry baby.
"She wants to talk to you, Joy." I roll my eyes and take the phone.
"Hello," I say pathetically.
"Joy, dear, I'm so sorry. I thought you would want to spend your time reacquainting yourself with Matthew and the world with your new eyes. I didn't mean to overstep. Let's meet as we planned on Saturday, and you can tell me what you want, all right, dear?" I feel like a spoiled brat.
"Lillian, I'm the one that's sorry. You’re being wonderful and generous, and I'm being a brat. You and Maddie are only trying to help, and I had a moment of … of … jealousy. Please, forgive me?" I can be such a shit sometimes.
"There is n
othing to forgive. You’re right. It's your wedding, and you have every right to want to be part of it. I'll come by at eleven o'clock, and we can talk menus and desserts, and then we can go out and find the perfect dress. Does that sound good to you?"
"It sounds perfect, Lillian. Thank you so much for everything, and I apologize again for my pity party. I'll see you on Saturday then."
"Okay, dear." I hand the phone back to Matthew, and I lay my head on his shoulder again.
"I feel like a shit. She's doing so much for us, and I have to behave like that?"
"Joy, don't. You have the right to want to be involved in your own wedding, for crying out loud,” he says holding my face, looking me in the eyes, an action I’m still not used to.
"She's coming over, so we can go over the menu together," I answer, rubbing my nose to his. I kiss him, running my tongue along his warm lips.
"Um, I thought we would take a little road-trip on Sunday. Maybe you'd like to get out of the house, so you can see some of the town where you lived, where you've been," Matthew suggests. My eyes widen with excitement.
"Really? I would love that!" I throw my arms around him and kiss him soundly. "Where are we going?"
"Kennewick."
My excitement wanes a little, and my arms loosen. I see the concern on his face.
"You don't want to go? I thought you'd like to see something familiar, where you grew up, went to school, the house that you lived in. I thought maybe you'd like to visit your mother and father," he suggests. "You seemed happy to visit your grandmother. I thought you'd enjoy seeing where your parents are."
"I would, Matthew. I'm sorry if I seem ungrateful to your idea. I just had a memory of the accident and … losing my parents. I would like to go, really," I say, kissing his cheek. "It's very thoughtful of you."
"Okay, good. I think you'll love the drive. It's about a six-hour round-trip, so if you'd like to stay the night there, we can return on Monday." I nod in agreement, and he moves me from his lap.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"I have an appointment with my tailor for my new suit. You see, I'm getting married in a few weeks, and I want to look my best for my beautiful bride. I can't have her outshining me too much." I giggle at his sweet jest and follow him into the kitchen where he finishes cleaning up the lunch mess. "Would you like to go with me? I thought you might like to help me pick it out."
I See You (Seeing You #2) Page 21
