Here is to love

Here is to love


Vicky had called and had arranged to have lunch with Barbara. Barbara agreed to meet her a one thirty at their usual café near central park. So Vicky met Barbara at one thirty just as they planned. Barbara had already been sitting there waiting for Vicky to arrive. And as Vicky had expected, her friend looked tiered and sickly.

Barbara smiled weakly and asked “So Vicky, how are you doing, and how is baby doing? It seems strange not having you at work.” Vicky nodded knowingly. It felt strange not being at work.

Vicky replied “Oh I’m fine and so is she. She is constantly kicking now and keeping me up at night. I constantly need to use the bathroom it is really annoying.

And of course it does feel strange being on maternity leave. I’m used to working; I’m finding it difficult to just stay at home or go shopping. I’m a woman with a career; I’m not a house wife Barbara.”

Barbara nodded and replied “Yes I know I’m the same. I’m no house wife and Catch is more then aware of this. He accepts it, knowing I’ll never turn into one of those women who run’s around popping out babies and picking up and washing his laundry. Or cooking and cleaning the dishes.”

Vicky asked “What system have you both agreed to? I and Peter have agreed to share the duty of who cooks and cleans. If Peter cooks I’ll wash the dishes. And if I cook Peter washes the dishes.”

She added “We never leave any of our dirty washing lying around the bedroom. Every night I place my clothes and he places his own in the dirty clothes hamper. Then we take turns on who gets to take it to the dry cleaners.”

Barbara nods and replied “Catch and I have a similar system. Only I do most of the cooking as Catch is not much of a cook. But he does balance that out by being the one who mainly takes and collects our clothes from the dry cleaners. Our other house chores are taken care of by a cleaner that Catch pays and I hired.”

Barbara asked “Have you and Peter figured out how you’re going to both work and have a baby?” Vicky nodded and replied “Of course. It was one of the first and main things I and Peter have talked about. We’ve both decided that we will have a nanny who will take care of the baby during the day in the week. Then at weekends I and Peter will take care of her. Then when she is old enough she will go to kinder garden.”

Barbara raised an eyebrow and commented “You keep saying she. You seemed convinced it is going to be a girl. I thought you and Peter decided to wait and see what the gender of the baby would be?”

Vicky replied “We did. But I’ve just got this feeling that I’m having a little girl, while Peter being the typical male that he is, insists that we are having a boy. He wants a son to carry on his name and to hand ‘Know’ magazine over to when he decides to retire.”

She added wistfully “But I want a little girl, I really, really do Barbara. A beautiful little girl with my brains and personality, but with Peter’s sweet and loving nature, who can help with one of your children take over ‘Now’ magazine when she is older and you and I have retired.”

Barbara smiled gently and closed her eyes as she said “I don’t mind what I have. I’d be happy with a beautiful little boy with his daddies pretty blue eyes and his heart melting smile. Or even a little girl with my personality. I don’t care as long they are health and their mine and Catch’s.”

Vicky raised an eye brow and said “You speak like someone who is expecting already. Barbara Novak-Block what are you not telling me?” she watched as the other woman guiltily bit her lower lip and refused to meet her eyes.

“Barbara?” Vicky asked “Are you pregnant? Is that why you’ve been ill of late? Why you’ve been so tiered and emotional? Catch is worried about you Barbara. He is mentioned this to Peter. Peter drove Catch crazy when he had been worried about me, and now Catch is returning the favour.”

Barbara chuckled weakly at hearing this. She sighed and swallowed as she looked up at Vicky and revealed “Vicky I went to see my Doctor the other day and this morning I received the results back from the blood tests the Doctor took.”

She trailed off and smiled slightly. It was all Vicky needed before she let out a squeal of delight she beamed as she exclaimed “Oh Barbara, how far along are you and when are you going to tell Catch. The poor man is going insane with worry?”

Barbara replied with a smile “The Doctor told me I’m just over eleven weeks pregnant. That’s why I’ve been so ill over the past couple of weeks. I’m going to have a baby. And Catcher Block, ex ladies man extraordinaire is going to be a daddy.”

Vicky let out a giggle and said “Oh my, Catcher Block the daddy. I never thought I’d see the day that Catcher Block became a father. He was such a ladies man, hardly the type to want to settle down become a husband and now a father. Wow wonders do never cease.”

Barbara laughed and true laugh since Vicky had arrived at the table. Barbara sighed and leaned back in the booth, and took a sip of her ice tea with lemon.