Branch One Hundred and Ninety One
“Good morning,” Xavier said as he walked into the kitchen and put his hand over Jessica’s shoulders. She had regained her strength after receiving the words of reassurance from Xavier and the good news from Alicia that she decided to cook.
“Good morning” she murmured again as she took in his scent. It was obvious that he had taken a shower just now because she could smell his aftershave and his cologne was stronger than when he had it on for a long.
He pressed his lips on her ears where he could reach and left multiple kisses at once. “What are you doing out so early and on your feet?”
“I thought to make breakfast for you,” she said. The gesture touched him but he did not like her on feet while she was pregnant.
“You can allow the house staff to do that, that is what they are here for, they get a salary every month but you do not allow do their money’s worth. Or should I lay them off?” he asked.
Even if he did not know much about Jessica as he would want to one thing he knew was that she would not like them to get fired from work because of her. She shook her bead in his arms.
“So then let them do their money’s worth and you can get off your feet”
“Okay then I will let them start tomorrow,” she told him. She knew he had just guilt-tripped her but she did not know what other way to get out of the situation she had to just agree with him.
“No you would let them start today,” he said playfully massaging her shoulders.
“But I already started this meal,” she said wiggling in his hands. His grip loosened and she turned to face him with her hands crossed across her chest with a pout on her lips. Xavier could not help but think of how cute she looked.
“And I am sure they can finish it perfectly well,” he said once again massaging her shoulders.
“You are pregnant so you should not be stressing yourself so much anymore. I know how much you want to cook for me but I do not want anything to happen to the baby or you”
The tone in which he used to say it could convince anybody to do what it was he was trying to get them to do. He sounded so gentle that she had no idea but to agree with him.
“But I am perfectly fine, ” she said trying to see if she could convince him.
“I never said you were not. The stress is not good for you and the baby, ” he said again.
“You are not a doctor so how can you be so sure?” she teased.
“I read it in that father guidebook on how to take care of your wife during a pregnancy,” he said with a smug expression. He seemed to be so proud of himself that he was reading so much about the process.
“Okay then you win, I better go get ready for work then”Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
“Oh no you don’t”
“What?” she asked stunned. Up until now going to work while pregnant had not posed any problem why was he not allowing her to do anything?
“I can not go to work?” she followed up with a question.
“I want you to get as much rest as possible before the baby comes, you can hire a management specialist who would help with the restaurant for the time being”
“Would you also stop going to work?” she asked.
“Why? Do you want me to stop?” he asked back. She sighed in annoyance because that was not the reaction she was expecting from him. She thought he would go on and on about how he was a man and deserved to be treated differently but here he was willing to stay home if she asked.
“I am perfectly fine at work and I take occasional breaks to rest my legs whenever I feel tired,” she tells him dropping her hands crossed across her chest and holding his hands.
“I know you are fine. I do not doubt it but you are five months along already and you have four months to go I think you should get good rest”
“First of I am four months and a few weeks pregnant, secondly check around you I am sure you would have women who work till their ninth month before they take a rest at your office”
“That may happen for them but not for my wife,” he said patting her head before bending down to carry her bridal style.
“Xavier put me down” escaped from her lips in a shriek.
“From now I will carry you and you can only work if you want to exercise and I will work from home so I can keep an eye on you”, he told her.
“You know the last visit to the gynecologist and he told me that I have a perfect and healthy pregnancy so you do not need to go all out like this”
“When is your next visit?” he asked changing the topic as he climbed the stairs.
“Next week Tuesday but I am fine”
“I am coming along and I am sorry I have not been going with you all this while”
“It’s no bother, I know you wanted to come but could not,” she tells him.
“Xavier, can I at least walk from here to the room by myself?” she asked and he shook his head. He walked in and placed her on the bed gently.
“Thank you” she murmured. She knew she must weigh more than normal and he carried her like she was a feather.
“Xavier you are not letting me have any control over my life,” she said out of the blue as he was standing up. He sat back down where she was.
“I am sorry I made you feel that way. I did not mean it. It is just that this is my first time” he said in a low voice.
“First time?”
“Yes, first time to be a husband to a pregnant wife and I did not want to make mistakes”
“That is so cute”