Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Chapter 72- My bridesmaids.

A stab of pain cut through Michelle’s heart like a knife cuts through butter.

She was expecting Graham’s reaction but it didn’t make it hurt any less.

“You don’t have to do anything. I can take care of myself and the child. I just wanted you to know about it,” Michelle said and turned to leave.

That seemed to snap Graham out of his trance. Indeed, he had freaked out when he heard the news. For someone who had vowed to never get married or have kids, such news was shocking to him.

For a moment, his throat became parched and his stomach twisted with nerves. His heart rate accelerated as his mind raced with thoughts.

A father? He had no idea how to be one. His busy schedule didn’t give him the luxury to spend time with his wife and kids. How was he supposed to do this? How was he supposed to start a family, knowing he would be away most of the time?

The racing of his heart became deafening as he thought about the future... his fears. He knew first-hand, what it meant to have a spouse in the military.

Nonetheless, when Michelle turned to leave, he came back to his senses and a sense of crisis enveloped him.

He realised at that moment that he didn’t want to lose her. Regardless of the future, he wanted her by his side and he wanted this child that they were having.

Graham ran after her and when he found her, he grabbed her wrist and said, “Don’t go. We need to talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Michelle’s words came out muffled as if she was about to cry.

A pang of guilt shot through Graham. He knew his reaction wasn’t right.

“I didn’t mean to freak out like that. I was shocked but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to be part of the baby’s life,” Graham said.

Hearing his words, Michelle whipped around and stared at him. Her eyes were blurry with tears. She asked, “You want to be part of the baby’s life?”

Graham nodded, replying. “Yes. I’m the father, not so?”

“Yes... but... you didn’t want kids-”

“I thought I didn’t. But knowing I’m going to be a father has ignited that flame of wanting to have a family,” Graham claimed, looking down at her. He continued, “Let’s talk, hmm?”

Michelle nodded. “Ok. Let’s go for a walk-”

“No. It’s too cold and you’re carrying our child. You need to keep warm. Let’s go to the restaurant,” Graham quickly suggested.

His demeanour had taken a complete 360 turn. His usually cold and stoic face had a bright smile. He placed his hand on the small of Michelle’s back and carefully led her into one of the restaurants at the resort.

When they reached, he took out a chair for her and helped her sit. He then called for a waiter and told Michelle, “Order whatever you want to eat. Do you have cravings?”

Michelle smiled, feeling butterflies in her stomach. “I’ll just have a cup of fresh juice. I don’t really have an appetite.”

Graham furrowed his eyebrows. He glanced at her and asked, “Are you sure? Are you feeling sick? A pregnant woman should eat.”

“I’m nauseous and can’t stomach most foods...”

“Come with me tomorrow. We should go to the hospital and see an obstetrician,” Graham proposed.

The waiter served the juice and some doughnuts and muffins that Graham had ordered, hoping Michelle would eat. However, she wrinkled her nose at the sight of the cream, recalling how the carrot cake had made her sick.

“So what did you want to talk about?” Michelle asked, taking a sip of her juice.

“About us,” Graham said while gazing at her.

“What about us?” Michelle asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well... we are pregnant. But we were not in a relationship-”

“I know that! You don’t have to point it out at every chance you get!” Michelle snapped, interrupting him.

Graham sighed. He explained, “I’m trying to say... I don’t want to raise my child in separate homes. How about we restore our engagement?”

Michelle gasped and her heart did a backflip. She rounded her eyes at Graham and questioned, “What did you say?”

Graham leaned forward and responded, “Let’s get married like we were supposed to.”

The next day while Aaron and Tony remained at the resort with the ladies, Graham took Michelle to the hospital.

“Doctor, is she ok? Why can’t she eat anything?” Grabam asked after a series of tests was done on Michelle.

They were preparing to do an ultrasound but Graham couldn’t help but ask since Michelle couldn’t stomach her breakfast in the morning.

Doctor James smiled. He looked at Graham and said, “First time Dad?”

“Yeah...” Graham chuckled awkwardly.

“There’s no need to worry. This is normal in the first trimester. She might only crave sour food and suffer from morning sickness.

But we need to get her to eat for the baby to be healthy. I’ll prescribe some vitamins for her and write down some food that she can eat to avoid nausea,” Doctor James advised.

Michelle lay down on an elevated bed and raised her shirt. A cold gel was smeared on her belly and the Doctor began to do the ultrasound.

Soon, a small thudding sound could be heard coming from the monitor.

“That’s the heartbeat. The baby is yet to develop but it has a heartbeat. It’s healthy too! Congratulations!” Doctor James exclaimed.

Graham stilled for a moment. His eyes were fixed on the screen and although he couldn’t interpret it, his heart felt warm.

‘I’m going to be a father!’

His excitement got the better of him. He suddenly leaned down and pecked Michelle’s lips.

Silence befell them and Michelle’s face flushed. She wasn’t expecting him to do that. He had said they should restore the engagement but they hadn’t done anything intimate or shared a room last night.

The Doctor laughed and said, “It feels good to be new parents.”

When the two left the hospital, Graham suggested, “We need to tell our parents.”

“No! Let’s not do that... we can tell them about the engagement. My father looks soft but he’s actually very strict. He won’t let us off if he finds out about the pregnancy,” Michelle quickly said.

Graham’s heart skipped a beat. He was in the same situation. For someone in the military, he was expected to get married and have children. Not having children without getting married. He could lose his position and get demoted if they found out.

Looking at Michelle, he proposed, “Then it’s best we get married before you start showing.”

Deciding to announce the news of their marriage after their friends’ wedding, the new couple returned to the resort.

What was supposed to be a ladies’ retreat ended up being a couple’s outing. Tony and Celia were the only single ones but that didn’t stop them from having fun.

Tessa glanced at Graham and Michelle as they ate lunch and asked, “Are you two officially together now?”

Michelle blushed. “Sort of.”

Graham frowned. He glanced at Michelle and asked, “Sort of? What is that supposed to mean?”

Didn’t they agree to get married as soon as possible? Her answer confused him.

“Well... you are yet to take me out on a date. Or buy me flowers. When you do that, I’ll confirm our relationship,” Michelle replied.

She meant it as a joke knowing they had already agreed to get married but when they separated the next day for the bachelorette party, she received a bouquet of roses and a note saying, [Let’s go on a date after the wedding. I would like to know my future bride more.]

“Awwwww.... how sweet,” Tessa remarked as she read the note with her. “I told you it would be ok.”

Michelle bit her bottom lip and replied, “I hope so. Everything is happening so fast. I don’t know what to make of it. He doesn’t even love me.”

“Just go with the flow,” Tessa said. “What matters is he suggested you get married. I’m sure he loves you for him to say that.”

The ladies were having a small party at the Adams’ residence.

Michelle’s parents, Richard and Julia Adams, had opened up their home for Tessa to have her bachelorette party and for her to get ready for her wedding the next day.

The party was in the backyard. Fairy lights hang in the trees with pink and white balloons. On the left, there was a buffet and a fountain of chocolate. A few of their female friends were invited.

It was lively and everyone was having fun, enjoying the night breeze and the music.

Celia had a surprise for Tessa. She put a blindfold on her eyes and guided her to sit on the chair in the centre of the garden.

When the blindfold was taken off, Tessa screamed when she saw a half-naked man dancing in front of her.

“Oh my god!” She didn’t expect her sister-in-law to hire a male stripper for her.

The ladies cheered and threw confetti on them while Tessa laughed her lungs out.

“Give him some dollar bills, Tessa. Put a few in his boxers!” Celia urged.

The male stripper ripped off his pants and remained in blue tight boxers.

He rolled his hips and moved closer to Tessa, showing her his six-pack up close.

Tessa couldn’t deny that he was good-looking and had a great body. But he couldn’t be compared to her man.

However, since they were having fun, she put a few dollars in the band of the strippers’ boxers and the ladies cheered.

It was a wonderful evening. They had drinks and food. The ladies danced until after midnight when they called it a night.

When they went to Michelle’s bedroom, Tessa took out two white boxes and gave them to the two women, saying, “I prepared a little something to thank you for being my bridesmaids.”

Michelle and Celia shared a look, smiling. They each got a box and opened it.

“Wow!” Michelle’s. eyes watered and Celia hugged Tessa.

There were embellished heels in the box, a diamond necklace and a bottle of wine. For the pregnant momma, there was a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkly wine.

“This is so sweet, thank you, hun,” Celia said.

“We are honoured to be your bridesmaids. Thank you for choosing us,” Michelle said and joined in the hug.

Meanwhile, Aaron and the boys were having a bachelor party of their own.

However, it wasn’t as lively as the ladies. They were just having some whiskey while playing poker in the game room at the Wentworth mansion...

“Seriously? You call this a bachelor party? Where is the music? Where are the strippers? I wanted to see some booty!” Tony complained.

“Do you want me to get divorced before I even get married?” Aaron narrowed his eyes at Tony.

“You’re not cheating. Celia told me she hired a male stripper for your bride-”

Aaron squinted his eyes. A flare of jealousy rushed through him but he held back and said, They are just having fun.”

“What? Are you crazy? In movies, the bride ends up in bed with the male stripper!” Tony exclaimed.

Aaron chuckled and shook his head. “My bride wouldn’t do that. I trust her. However, I have a history of not making her feel secure. If she heard I allowed strippers close to me, her mind ”

Chapter 72- My bridesmaids would start racing with questions. Besides, I have my own personal show...” He remarked, recalling how he had Tessa’s photos of her in a bikini on his phone.

Tony shook his head and sighed. “I don’t ever want to be this whipped in my life.”

The men laughed and continued to play poker as they waited for the big day.

Before sleeping, Aaron gave Tessa a video call.

“I can’t wait to marry you. I’ll be waking up with you next to me, every day,” he said.

“I can’t wait to be your wife too. It feels like a dream,” Tessa replied.

“Are the kids sleeping?” Aaron asked.

“Yeah... it took a while because of the excitement but mom managed to put them to sleep. They can’t wait for us to be a family,”

Tessa responded with a smile crossing her lips. “I’m sleepy too. We have a long day tomorrow.”

“I want to watch you sleep,” Aaron proposed and Tessa giggled.

“Ok. Goodnight, babe.”

The two stared at each other through the video call until they slept off.

The next day, Tessa had already worn her gown and done her makeup. She was in the room, waiting for the time to depart when she felt a presence behind her and a hand suddenly covered her mouth.

“Hello, Tessa. Missed me?”