in as a matter of fact tone of voice that she could muster. ‘There is something that we need to talk about.’
Richard stops chewing mid mouthful and looks at Jeanette over his plate. He sits up straight and finished chewing as she continues. ‘I don’t want this to spoil your homecoming, but there is something that I need to tell you.’
Richard manoeuvres some potato into his mouth, and starts chewing on it, but does not take his gaze from Jeanette. ‘I’ve been not feeling well, lately. Debbie said I should go to the Doctors and have a check-up. I thought nothing of it but took her advice. I got the results back from the Doctors the other day.’
Although he was exhausted, Richard knew he was about to hear something that would change his life. Time had slowed. There was nothing else in his world. He had stopped chewing but could not swallow. His eyes locked on Jeanette.
Jeanette was struggling to get the next words out. She was very nervous about what Richard’s reaction will be. And the way he was looking at her now, she knew that he was taking everything in. Her mouth was dry, as she moistened her lips. She looked at the floor as she said, ‘I’m pregnant.’
There was a stunned silence. Richard had turned to stone. Jeanette glanced up at him then back to the ground, and just started blurting out, ‘You’ve been the only man I’ve been with. And you remember the nights we spent together? They were the best nights of my life. I’ve been really sick, and out of energy, and I’ve been really scared. It’s not something I wanted to put in a letter,’ Jeanette erupted and couldn’t hold it back. The tears began to come, as much as she didn’t want them too, but they did. ‘I didn’t plan it like this. I didn’t think this could ever happen to me. But it has, and I’ve got a little life growing in me, and it’s your little life too!’
She gathered her breath, and then looked up at Richard. The sparkle in his eye, and the radiance of his smile lit up her heart. ‘Oh Button!’ he cried as he sprung to his feet, knocking the table and chairs out of the way as he wrapped her in his strong arms. ‘I’m so happy!’
Jeanette managed to free her arms and return the embrace. She had been so wound up in worry about how Richard would react. What would he do? Would he be happy or angry? How would this change their blossoming relationship? There was such a well of emotions that had opened, and she had been falling headlong into the darkness keeping it all to herself. This one moment, while wrapped in his arms, made her feel that everything was right. She instantly breathed an overwhelming sigh.
‘How could you keep this from me?’ Richard eased his vice like embrace. ‘This is so exciting. What has been going on, are you ok?’ Richard released the hug and dragged his chair next to Jeanette, then took hold of her hand. Gripping it firmly, he looked expectantly into her eyes.
‘Well, I’d been sick a couple of mornings, but just put it down to being so worried about you. It wasn’t until I collapsed while at work and Debbie called the Doctor that I really found out what was going on.’
‘And what’s going on?’ Richard shuffles a little closer.
‘My body is not handling this little bundle of joy too well. The Doctor says that we are still in a very early stage, and that we have to get past three months before we are in the clear.’
‘Well, don’t worry, Button. I’m here and I’ll do everything I can for you’. With that, Richard gave Jeanette another hug. This time Jeanette could feel his tears on her cheek. She wrapped her arms around him, too. Everything was going to be alright.
The Calling
The next morning Jeanette and Richard headed toward the cafe together. While Jeanette was not rostered on, they felt they needed to share their news with Bill and Debbie.
‘Debbie already has her suspicions,’ Jeanette had told Richard, ‘But telling Bill and Debbie together will just make it easier. And it will be good to do it together.’
As they walked along the street, Richard asked, ‘How do you think Bill is going to take it? I mean, you’re his daughter. Is he going to want to rip me limb from limb?’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Jeanette assured him, ‘he’ll probably just cut you up with one of his knives and put you into one of his special pies. May even put you out at a special price?’
Richard choked, and spluttered at the thought. Jeanette chuckled, as she pushed open the cafe front door.
Bill was stacking the front display cabinet with freshly delivered sponge cakes from the bakery as they entered. ‘Joey!’ he said when he looked up. He was so surprised to see them that he banged his head on the top of the counter. ‘Sweetheart, what are you doing here? Didn’t expect to see you till tomorrow. G’day Greasy, good to see ya.’ Bill had given Richard a nickname that suited his working in the shearing sheds.
‘Good morning, Bill,’ Richard replies, ‘it’s good to be back.
‘Is Debbie around somewhere, Bill?’ Jeanette says as she walks around the counter and gives Bill a hello hug. Bill wrapped his arms around her in return. She loved Bill’s hugs. They made her feel safe.
‘Yeah, she’s just in the kitchen. Why?’ he said as they unwrapped.
‘We’ve got something we need to tell you,’ Jeanette said sweetly as she skipped toward the kitchen. Bill shot Richard an inquisitive look, and then followed Jeanette. Richard trailed along behind.
Debbie was in the office, filing away the morning order dockets. ‘Hi Debbie,’ Jeanette said as she skipped up to her and gave her a welcome hug.
‘Good morning, Jeanette. What are you doing here?’ Debbie said as Bill and Richard enter the room.
‘Good morning, Debbie’ Richard says as he closes the office door behind them.
‘Alright you two,’ Bill says as he manoeuvres to lean on his desk and puts and arm around Debbie. ‘Something is going on, and it’s time to spill the beans.’
Jeanette steps back to join Richard in the middle of the small office. Richard puts an arm on her shoulder, similar to Bill and Debbie. They look at each other. Jeanette is very thankful to have Richard with her. She appreciates his support. She can see it in his eyes that he is a little scared of sharing the news, but Jeanette couldn’t help clenching her teeth tightly together and a huge smile coming over her face.
‘We’re pregnant!”
It felt instantaneous, Bill had Jeanette wrapped in his arms, and squeezing her tightly. ‘Oh, Joey!’ he bellowed as he scooped her off her feet and swung her around. Just as quickly he put her down and wrapped his arm around Richards head in a headlock. ‘And Greasy you little devil,’ Bill roared as he rubbed his knuckles on the top of Richards head.
Debbie stepped up to Jeanette and looked her square in the eye. ‘I’m happy for you, Jeanette. And we are so proud of you too.’
Bill released Richard from the headlock and punched him in the arm. ‘What a way to start the day!’ Richard sheepishly stepped back, trying to get a little space between himself and Bill. He was dangerous when he was excited.
Bill turned back to Jeanette and gave her another hug. This one was a lot warmer and Jeanette could feel Bill\s love envelope her and give her strength.
‘Well,
