Part Four
After three weeks of constant vomiting and always feeling exhausted, Isabelle dragged herself to the doctor’s. She had told him about the sickness and her fatigue, and suggested that maybe it was just some sort of stomach flu. He had left the room to await the results of some tests, and she was sitting in the exam room bathed in a nervous sweat.
Letters from Joe helped stem her misery, but they were becoming less and less frequent. They came once or twice a month now, and they were quickly scribbled. He never failed to remind her that he loved her, or how lonely it was without her, but whenever she finished reading the paper for the twentieth time, she was reduced to tears. She had no idea where these emotions were coming from - she’d convinced herself a while ago that it was the most she could do to be strong and go on with life. It was difficult for her to read a sentence of her husband’s letters without tears clouding her vision.
The doorknob turned and the doctor returned, startling Isabelle from her thoughts. She watched as the doctor shut the door purposefully and then strode up to her, a twinkle in his eye. “Mrs. Jonas, I have some excellent news for you, and it’s a shame your husband isn’t here to hear it. Well, congratulations - you’re having a baby!”
Isabelle’s jaw dropped open in shock. A baby? She quickly shut her mouth and let her emotions grip her; shock, happiness, sadness, all at the same time. A baby! She let a smile break across her face as she said, “I can’t quite believe this. This, this is incredible! T-Thank you, doctor.”
The doctor nodded and gave her a knowing smile. “Take care, Mrs. Jonas, and give your husband my regards.” He exited.
Isabelle took a deep breath. Her hands fluttered to her abdomen, where no visible changes showed. “I’m having a baby,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes. “We’re having a baby!”
This seemed to wake her up. She returned home and immediately decided that her family needed to know. She scrambled towards the telephone and dialed her mother’s number. When she told her the news, her mother squealed like a schoolgirl and called for her father. They were both ecstatic, and told her that Joe would be very proud. She then called her husband’s family - their family - and they were ecstatic as well. She was pretty sure Mrs. Jonas had burst into happy tears, and Kevin and Nick’s voices had gone a bit throaty as well. Mr. Jonas was at work, and would know when he returned home.
“Dear,” Mrs. Jonas told her through tears, “Joseph would probably be running down the street shouting that he’s having a baby, if he were home. Please believe that he’ll come home in time to see the baby born.”
Tears filled her own eyes and she nodded. She remembered that Mrs. Jonas couldn’t see her, and she replied, “Yes. I-I… thank you, Mrs. Jonas. Thank you.”
When that was finished, Isabelle collected herself and went out to the garden. She kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot through the rows and rows of beautiful flowers. She smiled at the memory of when she had first seen this garden. Joe had led her up to it, a blindfold over her eyes.
“Joseph, what could you possibly have planned for me this time?” she had asked through an uncontrollable smile. She willingly let him take her hand and lead her onto cool dirt with bare feet.
“Now, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, now would it?” he had replied. He kissed her cheek and then removed the blindfold. “Surprise! I know how much you love flow--”
“Oh, Joe, I love it!” she had exclaimed, excitedly taking in the colorful blooms. Their sweet smell filled her nose and she was completely intoxicated. She turned to Joe, her smile wide. “You’re amazing.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close. “Well, I am.” He leaned his forehead against hers and murmured, “But you’re more amazing.”
She woke from her reverie when she came upon her favorite flower. It was a lily. She bent and started picking a few, letting their scent waft to her nose. She breathed deeply and then skipped over to the lilacs, and then to the orchids, and then to the roses and daisies. Well, little one, she thought to the baby inside her, you’ll be helping your father and I tend to the garden, won’t you?
She returned inside and something dawned on her. She didn’t have a vase! With a sigh, she put the flowers down on the counter and searched for something to put the flowers in. She didn’t care about her dirty feet making footprints on the clean floors - she’d clean them later. She found a porcelain vase in the cabinet and skipped back to the kitchen. She filled it with water and placed the flowers inside, careful not to prick her finger on the rose’s thorns. Her mind wandered aimlessly through memories of her and Joe.
Beth had convinced her to go to a dance hall that night. “Just once, Belle!” she had said. “Live a little! Ugh, you’re going to be a spinster if you don’t go out and meet people!”
Isabelle rolled her eyes and played with the hem of her skirt. “Well, I have homework to do and -”
“I heard that the Jonas boys are performing,” Beth interrupted, “you know, those dreamy boys from New Jersey? They have some pretty good dance numbers. C’mon, Belle. Please? I’ll never ask for anything ever again. Ever. I promise!”
“Fine,” she caved. “I’ll come. Eight o’clock?”
“Yes!” Beth replied. “Eight o’clock. And wear something pretty, maybe one of those boys will catch your eye!”
Beth never failed to be correct. Isabelle had been making eyes with the middle boy, his hair slicked back with devilish but playful brown eyes that made her heart skip a couple of beats. He came down off the stage for a break and gravitated towards her. He tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Hi. You’re beautiful.”
She blushed, but worked up her courage and said with a wink, “You’re not too bad yourself, handsome.”
They had hit it off, and by the end of the night, he had already asked her on a date.
She was jolted from her memory when the phone rang. She waltzed over to it and picked up. “Hello?”
“Hi, beautiful,” his velvet voice cooed.
She gasped, exclaiming, “Joe! You… you’re calling!”
“Yeah, Belle. We’re being shipped out tomorrow morning, and I just now had a chance to use a telephone booth. Gosh, I miss you so much!”
“I know,” she whispered, feeling like she was going to suffocate, “Joe, I have some news. Some important news.”
“Really?” he asked, and she could picture him with a Cheshire cat smirk and one eyebrow raised. “Now what news is this, darling?”
She took a deep breath and a shaky smile spread across her face. “We’re having… we’re having a baby, Joe.”
There was silence for a few moments, and Belle was worried that they had been disconnected. Suddenly, she heard a loud whoop of excitement on the other end, and she melted into laughter.
“We’re having a baby?!” he asked incredulously. “A baby… wow. An actual baby.”
“Yes, Joe, an actual baby,” she chuckled.
There was shouting in the background. “Beautiful, I have to go,” he said hurriedly, but there was no mistaking the joy in his voice, “I love you more than life, sweet. Remember that.”
“I love you too,” she replied. “Be careful!”
“I will. Bye, beautiful.”
She placed the phone back on the cradle and took a deep breath. They were going to be okay.
She hoped.
Note From Jay:
Okay, I know this is like, going nowhere. Enjoy it anyway? Please and thanks. =]
