Derek proven himself, well, his sperm qualities, I mean. When the two line showed up as I secretly took the test, the feeling I had was totally different from the first one we've lost.
It was all anxiety and doubts that's prickling me, I wasn't delighted at all during the previous one. Now, when everything is going on tracks and not forbidden anymore, I felt blessed.
I must say that Camp David have help us. It's been six weeks since we left from that paradise and my monthly biological process did not show up for a week.
Derek have never initiate any question connected to pregnancy. He's not rushing me since he might do more harm than good. I can't be rushed.
The feeling was purely raw, like I got heavier, you know what I mean, not literally, but, like I am a full responsible adult now, since I am carrying a life with me. I can feel that the little peanut is there, even when it's too tiny to be discovered yet, mother instinct is strong.
I sat down at the edge of the bathtub, staring at my stomach blankly, am I ready for this? I wonder.
'Derek?' I called for him as he approached the residence area of the White House.
One look is all it takes for him to notice my anxiety. 'What's wrong?' He asked with skepticism as he set his knee on the floor and observe me.
'Look, I'm hyperventilating,' I took a deep breath.
Derek narrowed his eyes. 'You are, aren't you?' He speaks softly with a mild humor, his eyes gingerly wanders at my belly.
'I can't hide anything from you, can I?' I was disappointed that he always had an answer before I throw the news at him. 'It's so hard to give you a surprise.' I sigh.
Derek chuckles and wrap his arms around my waist, 'come on, you need some hot chocolate.' With that, he rolled up his sleeves as he stood up, like some serious business is happening.
Derek was all calm and charming when he made the chocolate, steaming the milk and pour it into my favorite red mug, the one I decided to get myself for Christmas. A dash of chocolate powder marks completion of my power drink.
'How are we feeling?' Derek place the warm goodness in front of me and he took the seat beside mine. Honestly, I'll be missing this kitchen, the White House kitchen if we happen to leave this house for good.
'I don't know, Derek, when Sarah was pregnant, she was all glowing even with her morning sickness, but after the birth, it was more complain than enjoyment, I mean, raising a baby is honestly tiring, Derek.' I took a sip, the sweetness is a good distraction from my stress.
'Do we need to take any prenatal class, prep ourselves?' Derek suggested, rubbing my shoulder as a way of calming me.
'You don't think I'm being cynical here? I wanted a baby, now we got it, and I'm hyperventilating here.' My chest stiffen.
'Well, it's natural to be uncertain, raising a baby, I mean,' he shrug, 'honestly, I know how to negotiate with leaders and talk in public, but, about baby, I'm really clueless.' He chuckles humorously.
'Really?' Somehow, I felt my mood lighten up when Derek confessed about his weakness, since I'm not the only one.
Derek nodded encouragingly. 'So, this baby is going to be born in the White House, my very first child, and I'm turning fifty really soon.' He took my hand and clasped it with his. 'Let's take it easy and enjoy the whole process before sleepless nights blends to our new normal.'
'You know about sleepless nights,' I bite my lips and snigger.
'We talk about Sarah almost everytime you check up on her, she has only, what, four hours of sleep every night since her baby took over their life?' Derek tries to reconfirm with me if he heard it wrong.
'You are listening,' I marveled.
'It's my job to listen, and I'm your husband, of course I do listen to you, even when you repeats the same stuff.' Derek shrugged helplessly.
'Oh, you're complaining now? What about your coffee habit, Derek?' I retorted as I smack his arm.
'Study shows that coffee is beneficial for our health.' He refused to surrender.
'Not when you drank six cups a day, Mr. President!' I chortled.
'The country needs the President make a good judgement, I can't do it without an alert mind.'
'Well, I need my husband too, who is going to be the daddy of my child.' My words became softer as I mentioned child.
'Rach?' He spoke and the tones shift somewhere heavy, 'he would be three years old right?' The grim on his voice is evident. As we exchange glance, I realized what Derek is referring to; it's the most painful memories that we couldn't burry. We did not want to burry it.
'Yeah,' my lips trembled, 'he or sheâwould be three,' tears clouded my eyes and my vision became blur. 'Maybe, God gave us another for the one we lost.'
'Come here,' Derek reached out to me and hug me tighter, I couldn't stop my sobbing. 'Let's take good care of this one, alright?' He rubs my shoulder, soothing me, even when he's vulnerable, Derek still manage to put on a strong face.
I nodded, rubbing away my tears and take a good look at him, 'you're right, let's take good care of this one.' My thumb began to roll away his tears, Derek hardly breaks down, but this tragedy have gave us a wound that we would never recover from.
'Now,' Derek began, 'are we or are we not going publicize with this news?' He rubs my tummy.
'No, not yet,' I shake my head, 'let them speculate it, I'm curious what would they be reporting this time if they capture a picture of me with pale lips and tired eyes,' I wondered. 'Maybe the headline would be; POTUS and FLOTUS marriage is crumbling, sources says blah blah blah.'
'You are funny, my dear wife,' Derek forced a smile.
'That's sarcastic, my dear husband.'
'Which is why I love you,' He kissed my lips and rest his forehead on mine.
'Oh God,' I gasped.
'Why? What's wrong? You need a doctor?' Derek reacted anxiously.
'No, but yes, I do need a doctor.' I recalled something.
'Why?'
'Well,' I blushed, 'I need to ask the doctor if,' I paused and bites my lips.
'Rach, you're killing me, what's wrong?' Derek eyed at me penetratively.
'Sex.' I revealed softly.
'Sex?' He questioned.
'Is it safe for us to, you know, now we have little peanut in here,' I gesture at my tummy.
'Jesus,' He heaved a sigh of relief.
'Is that you showing your weakness? Anxious daddy?' I teased him while playing with his navy tie.
'I guess?' Derek shrugs. 'You're right, we really to consult the doctor before we proceed.'
'We can always ask Mr Google, he's practically Jack of all trade working on a twenty four hour shift,' I took my phone from the table and start typing.
The page revealed tons of information, and I practically pressed the top ones. 'Sex is considered safe during all stage of low risk pregnancy,' I quoted from the web with a frown, 'how do I know if this is a low risk pregnancy,' we both stare at each other, perhaps one of us could provide an answer.
'Maybe we do need to consult with an actual obstetrician and not Mr. Google, Rach.' Derick browse the page through my phone.
It actually took me a while to figure out what is an obstetrician, because it's an gynecologist that I am visiting all the time. Perhaps they are the same? Derick is good with words, literally. Maybe we should conduct a Scrabble night when the baby grows up.
'What are you thinking?' Derek observed.
'Scrabble.' I shrugged nonchalantly.
'Scrabble?' He raised his brow.
I tried to hide my grin, 'well, I was thinking about the activities we could do when the baby grows up.'
Derek kind of understood, 'so, Scrabble is one of them?'
'Yup.' I wrapped my arms over his neck and gave him a soft peck. 'Seriously, I can't believe you are turning fifty, Derek.'
'Is that a compliment?' He reciprocate by hugging my waist closer to him.
'It could be, you don't look like one.' I giggled. 'You should be grateful for the morning run and what else?'
'Coffee, that could be one of the reason.' He shrugged.
'Oh please, Derek, we really need to negotiate about the coffee you consume, or else I'll request for national support.' I pinched his nose.
'We don't want to burden the citizens with our insider news, don't we.' He let go of my waist and took my hand as he ushered for us to move back to our room.
The hallway is such a distinctive view, I can't help but counting down how many more years do I have to enjoy the ambiance before we move out. The baby could take more photos in the White House, I thought.
Author's Note
Hi! How's everyone doing? I can't even count how many years have I been not active in Wattpad. I am really sorry about the chapters that I promise to deliver, it was way too long.
I wanted to continue my writing journey, but reality hits me and keeping up with my writing life is definitely a luxury, I really enjoy those times where ideas and words just keep flowing out. Now, it kinda rust, I can't start a scene.
Hopefully, I might have a chance to write again.
Hope everyone is doing really well. Lov y'all !!