Here is to love

Here is to love


The next morning found Catcher in his office. He had just finished talking on the phone making arrangements with someone from NASA for his next story. When his door opened to reveal Peter McManus, his feathers were clearly ruffled. Catcher wondered what had rattled his highly strung best friend and boss.

“Peter what is the matter, who or what as ruffled your feathers this time?” Catcher leaned back and looked at his friend questioningly. He wondered how Vicky managed being married to this interesting if not most of the time highly strung man.

Peter sighed and ran a nervous hand through his hair and then fidgeted with his hands in front of him, as if not knowing what to do or where to put them. Catcher recognised this to be a sign that something was really winding Peter up.

Peter moaned and replied “I am so worried about Vicky; I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Catcher sighed and asked “Why what is the matter with Vicky? Barbara has not said anything to me.”

Peter looked suddenly afraid. He said “Catcher I think there is something seriously wrong with Vicky. She is constantly being sick, she is tiered and emotional. Wow she is even smoking less, other wise she ends up feeling even worse. I do not know what to do Catch; I have no idea what is wrong with her.”

Catcher suddenly smirked, making Peter narrow his eyes at him. He exclaimed “Catch I hardly find this to be an amusing situation. No not at all, this is my wife; she could be life threateningly sick.”

Catcher shook his head before picking up his phone and saying to Peter “Honestly Peter I think your worrying over nothing. I have a feeling Vicky is going to be just fine. Trust me.”

Catcher called Barbara. She answered after the third ring.

‘Barbara Novak-Block’

Catcher smiled at hearing this. He still loved to hear Barbara when she answered the phone like that. It told him there was finally a Mrs. Block. He loved the sound of his name long side Barbara’s.

“Barbara love. I need a favour. No I’m fine love, really I am. But I’m not to sure I can honestly say that about dear old Peter here.”

‘Why what is the matter with him? Vicky hasn’t mentioned them having any problems. Of course this is Peter and he is naturally nervous over most things. But then, it is usually something you’ve done that has him sweating’

Catcher laughed and replied dryly “That love I am not even going to dignify with an answer. But I will say this, something is bothering Peter. He says he thinks Vicky could be seriously sick. Could you please talk to her, and then get her to call Peter or come to his office? If she doesn’t I think Peter is going to lose it.”

Barbara sighed on the other end of the line. She looked at the woman in question, who was currently sitting across from her. She sighed again and eyed Vicky and nodded, having silently confirmed something for herself.

‘Catch, I need for you to occupy him, and I’ll have a talk to her and try to find out what is going on. I’ll either call back or I’ll get her to call him later once I’m through with her’

Catcher nodded and replied “Thank you love. I really appreciate it. He won’t get anything done other wise and of course he’ll annoy me and then you’ll have to deal with me when I get home at the end of the day, same old as usual.”

He hung up after another moment. He then turned to Peter and raised an eye brow and commented “Well, there you go, that wasn’t so hard now was it? Barbara will speak with Vicky and ask her what is going on. Then Vicky will either call or come to your office.”

Peter gushed “Oh Catch you really are the best friend” Catcher held up his hand cutting him off and commented “Yes I know. I’m not your best reporter for nothing. I never got to where I am now, without being quick and getting things done when they are needed.”

Meanwhile Barbara had replaced the phone in its cradle and looked straight a head at Vicky. Vicky asked “Was that Catch? Oh what has Peter done or said to him now?”

Barbara narrowed her eyes and replied “No Vicky the real question is what is wrong with you? Obviously something is bothering you, seeing as Peter has noticed. He’s worried about you, enough that Catch has noticed.”

She added “In fact you look incredibly pale and tiered. You’ve been like this for the past couple of months, especially in the morning. A few of the sectaries have mentioned to me that they have heard you being ill constantly every morning in the women’s room, whilst freshening up.”

Vicky frowned and said “Those nosey gossips. They had no right.” Barbara shook her head and held up a hand and said “No Vicky there honestly isn’t any need to become defensive, they were just worried about you, as am I. I want to know if someone who is apart of my work force is ill. I worry for all of my girls.”

Vicky sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She looked so tiered and weary. Vicky said “I saw a Doctor last Thursday and my results from the blood tests they insisted on taking came back on Friday.”

Barbara asked “What did they find? Are you ok?” Vicky replied “I should be in five and a half months time.” Barbara’s eyes widened before she beamed and asked delightedly “Oh Vicky, are you pregnant?”

Vicky smiled shyly and nodded. Barbara let out a laugh of delight and stood up and went around the other side of the desk and hugged her best friend. She gushed “Oh Vicky this is so wonderful. How far along are you and why haven’t you told Peter yet? He’s going to drive Catch insane if you don’t say something very soon.”

Vicky replied when Barbara pulled away from their embrace. “Oh Barbara I don’t know what to do. I’m three and a half months pregnant and I’m due the first of March next year.”

Barbara commented “Which means you conceived in mid July. But you and Peter have been married less then two months, you could still be considered as newly weds. Why haven’t you told him, seeing as you’ve known since last Friday?”

Vicky closed her eyes before replying “The baby is definitely Peter’s. what worries me is what people are going to think. I got pregnant before I and Peter were even married Barbara. And Peter, well I wonder if he is ready to start a family so early into our marriage?”

Barbara smiled sympathetically at her and said “Well, Vicky there is only one way to find out. You’re going to have to tell him. Don’t call him, that would be far too impersonal, to tell your husband he’s going to be a father over the telephone. Go to him at lunch and tell him then.”

Vicky nodded before she and Barbara got down to business, setting up for the up and coming meeting that morning.