Her Diagnosis of Fear

For almost a week, there had been buzz in town about a new restaurant. So Ryan and Valerie were determined to have it checked out. They decided to invite their best friends, the Fisher’s, Ivy and her husband Jason. They, of course, agreed to have dinner at the new restaurant downtown. On walking through the door, they all immediately wore similar looks of admiration once they took in the pulchritudinous embellishments the restaurant had erected.

“It is up to the hype,” Ryan was the first to speak, still taking in the beauty of the restaurant, with the rest of them nodding in agreement. Everything was going well till Jane noticed something odd; Valerie kept excusing herself multiple times to use the restroom. Jane knew her friend was not one to be up so many times in a gathering, so Valerie’s behavior was definitely unusual.

“Are you okay?” Ryan whispered, slightly leaning towards her.

“Yeah,” Valerie responded sharply. Ivy noticed that her sister, Valerie was looking pale and had lost a few pounds too. She excused herself and followed her sister, Valerie on one of the occasions she took excuse to go to the restroom. She had never seen her sister look that way except the time they had lost their brother, James.

“Sis, are you okay?” Ivy asked with great concern

“Yeah.” Valerie responded sharply Ivy expressed a worried look “Why would I not be?” Valerie asked, in an attempt to dismiss Ivy’s raised eyebrows and suspicion

“I find it hard to believe that you are okay,” Ivy voiced out her disbelief

“Well, I am.” Valerie replied impertinently

“Has Ryan not told you once that you look very pale?” Ivy queried her sister as she felt perturbed

“I am telling you this, like I have been telling him too, I am fine.” Valerie said, almost shouting

“I still don’t believe you. Come to the hospital as soon as possible, let me conduct some tests for confirmation.” Ivy scolded Valerie.

Upon hearing this, Valerie was beginning to get irritated so she said as she rolled her eyes, “Here goes the doctor!”

“I am not joking with you nor am I taking No, for an answer.” Ivy sternly spoke to her

“Chill, I have heard you. There is no reason for you to be tensed up,” Valerie uttered, in an attempt to coax her sister

“Well, I am because I can not afford to lose you too. You know fully well that you are the only sibling I have left.” Ivy spoke out loud and when Valerie heard this, she froze and kept mute for a while as she remembered how hard it was for the both of them to move on after James passing.

“Okay, I will come to the hospital for check up,” Valerie whispered when she came back to reality

“You had better! If not, I will conduct the tests at your home.” Ivy replied hushly

“I said I will come. Could you please excuse me?” Valerie clamorously said to her

Ivy stormed out of the toilet to join the rest of them at the dinner table. Ryan noticed Ivy’s expression and knew instantly that they had a fight,

“Are you good?” He quickly whispered as she sat down beside him

“Yeah,” She looked at him and responded with a spurious smile. He didn’t believe it for a second but he figured it was best to give it a rest. After much rehearsed smile in the bathroom, Valerie returned to the table, just as she was about to have a seat Jane joked with a laugh, “I hope you are not pregnant,”

Valerie shot her friend a look as she replied quicker than normal, “Well, I don’t think so,” After Valerie’s response, Jane gave her a suspicious look and sipped her wine.

“There’s nothing to brood about, it is probably something with the food that does not sit well with my stomach,” Valerie claimed, trying so hard to change the topic because deep down, she had a hunch of what the cause might be.

“Okay, if you say so.” Jane said, still studying her best friend because she was never one to let things slide without having to confirm it by herself

At 9:30pm, they both bid goodbyes with Zach jokingly saying, “Too bad we are not as free as we were back in the day but it was nice while it lasted.” They all laughed in agreement and parted after another round of goodbyes. On the way, Ryan kept trying to initiate conversations with his wife. “Do you remember Mike from the office? He was caught—” Ryan tried to explain further but stopped when he noticed that she didn’t respond or show interest in what he was saying.

“Are you okay?” He asked with concern, lacing his voice. He noticed she was barely even aware of her surroundings.

Valerie was lost in thoughts. She also felt guilty because she had blatantly lied to her best friend, who would surely have her head once she found out the truth. After a while, she noticed the car was not moving and her husband was staring at her. She looked around then turned to stare at him for the first time since the trip started and asked, “What is the problem?”

“You tell me.” He retorted, giving her a pointed stare.

“I don’t understand,” she responded in confusion.

“You haven't been yourself since this week and you didn't even touch your wine, you are not yourself. I know how much you love wines, Val. Is everything okay with you?" He asked with concern evident in his voice.

“There is nothing to be worried about. I just had a long day,” She quickly said knowing fully well that it was not convincing enough but she hoped that he would at least buy it for the night.

“I will let it slide for now because I know once you are ready, you will tell me. Right?” he said with a stentorious voice, looking at her.

“Sure, ” she replied without hesitation Throughout the ride she pinched herself not to zone out even though all through their ride back home was quiet. As the days went by, it became clear to her that she was pregnant but at the same time, she was too afraid to jinx it or tell anyone. She decided to visit the hospital where her sister worked as promised. After a series of tests had been conducted, her sister came back with a gloomy face knowing fully well how Valerie had been adamant on having another baby.

“What’s wrong?” Valerie asked with great concern

“Does your husband know?” Ivy asked stentoriously

“Nobody knows I am here, what’s wrong?” Valerie asked, trembling because her greatest worry is about to happen. Ivy paused for a few minutes to think of a subtle way to relay the news to her sister but all was futile.

“Stop! you are scaring me.” Valerie said in a cranky manner

“Sis, you are pregnant.” Ivy asserverated

“What?” Valerie asked her with fear

“I am sorry sis but here is the result that proves it,” Ivy said with a disconsolate look, handing her the envelope. Valerie snatched it away from Ivy’s hand and quickly scanned through the paper. After having to read it countless times just for confirmation, she immediately cupped her face, crying.

“Sis, I don’t understand why you feel this way but need I remind you that babies are blessings,” Ivy voiced out in anger

“I know and I am happy. It is just that being pregnant now, it is not part of the plan,” Valerie spoke out feeling helpless

“I understand.” Ivy said to her.

Even though Ivy said that, she understood the angle Valerie came from but she still found it infuriating. There was no reason to be alarmed or make it a big deal because both Ryan and Valerie are well to do.

Going home and having to face Ryan was scary for Valerie because she had not the slightest clue on how he would react upon hearing the news. Prior to that, they had agreed and planned, from the time she would conceive to the number of children they would have and getting pregnant. It was not tallying with their plan. So she drove around hoping that when she got back home, everyone would be asleep but little did she know that her husband stayed up late, worried sick.

He picked up his phone and dialed Ivy, “Hello?” He said once she had picked up “Sorry to call this late but have you seen or heard from Valerie?” he asked with worry evident in his voice

“Did you guys have a fight?” she inquired curiously

“No.” he replied sharply but wasn’t even sure himself

“Oh, I think I may know the reason for this her behavior but not too worry she will be back,” she quickly said

“What is it?” He asked in a distressed tone

“It is not in my place to tell you but I am sure she will tell you at her own will, just give her some time,” she advised him

“Okay if you say so. Thanks.” He said, only half relieved

“Sure,” she responded. Albeit, she felt uneasy keeping a tight lip about it

“Good night.” He ended the call

Sitting in the living room, absent-minded. Immediately, he could hear car noise coming from outside of their home and he was sure, without a doubt that it was his wife. He sat patiently waiting for her to come in, as she sluggishly opened the door. She began to tip toe when suddenly she turned her head and noticed her husband was seated in the living room. On seeing her husband awake, with the lights switched off, left her startled.

“You awake!” she shouted out of shock

“Yes, I am.” he replied, giving her a scornful look

“The hell, Valerie, you made me worried sick!”

“Where were you?”

“Why didn’t you call or pick up?”

“What happened?” He flared up each time he questioned her

With the flow of questions she knew he had been very worried. “Calm down,” she quietly spoke

“I can’t be calm when I am clueless as to the reason for this your new behavior.” he stated in agitation

“Can you please tone your voice down, so as not to wake Selena up? I understand well enough from your perspective why you are upset,” she said calmly, gesturing to him to sit down. He sat quickly, looking at her with his face giving no clue on what he thought or how he would react to what she had to tell him.

“What I am about to tell you is far from our plans but trust me it wasn’t intentional so please don’t get mad,” She pleaded

“Okay, let me hear it.” He said whilst looking at her

“No, promise me you won’t be mad,” She protested. Without hesitation he promised, and that made her feel at ease a little

I am pregnant.” she asseverated

“What?”

“How?”

“I thought you were on pills,” He asked so many questions as he struggled to believe what he just heard

“Yeah, I was but those pills were making me nauseous so I talked to Dr. Kate about it and she suggested that I take a break. I am sorry,” She softly explained to him

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked calmly

“Because I didn’t know how you would react,” She voiced out her fear. He laughed out of excitement because he had planned to bring up the discussion of babies but he too didn’t know how she would react and coupled with her new strange behaviors

“Is that why you have been distant lately?” He inquired

“Yes,” She lied

He took a sit next to her and looked at her and said, “I am heartbroken that you couldn’t tell me but it’s fine. I guess I should be getting ready to pick up your weird orders.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” She rhetorically questioned him with a laugh

“Nothing.” He responded with his arms up

“So does that mean you are not upset with me?” She abruptly asked him

“Are you seriously asking me that? Baby, I am excited.” He responded and kissed her passionately, only then was she relieved .