so nervous, I'm practically vibrating. I've chosen to wear a maternity duo that doesn't look like a maternity outfit. The top skims my breasts, which are now slightly larger; beneath my breasts, the top falls down over my hips and slowly growing belly. The pants are a sleek not-quite-form-fitting pair. From my hips, they fall to the ground, making my waist look tiny. I'm wearing a pair of low-heeled boots. Already, my center of gravity has begun to change and I find that lower-heeled shoes are more comfortable and, indeed, safer for me to wear.
I am carrying the family gifts that I found and bought during our U.S. tour. The closer and closer we get to my parents' house, the stronger my heart begins hammering. It will be all right. Daddy will yell, but, in the end, he'll accept this baby with love.
"Mum, dad, I'd like to introduce my fiance, Marcus Hadley, to you," I say, smiling.
"Fiance? How long have you been dating?" my dad asks.
"Since last March," I tell him. "I bought gifts for everyone. Mum, here is yours. Dad..." I hand out the gifts and every one oohs and ahhs over them.
"Johanna, are you...expecting?" my mum asks.
I see my dad's head whip around as his eyes go wide.
"Yes. About four-and-a-half months," I say.
Dad's mouth drops open and I wait...but nothing comes out. Then, "I'm going to be a granddad again?" He smiles widely.
I look at him in complete shock. I had expected him to yell! But he's melting! I gaze at my mum. I see her smiling, melting and crying. Oh, my God, they're happy! I have just enough time for this fleeting thought, and then I am enveloped in both of my parents' arms. I begin to cry with happiness as my sisters and brother-in-law whoop and holler.
After this, Marcus and I explain how we met and started dating. Let's keep this G-rated!
"So, Marcus, what line of work are you in?" my dad asks.
"I'm a technical writer, sir. I freelance." Marcus says.
"You work from home? How does that work for you?"
"Very well, actually. I'm able to set my schedule and accept as much work as I'm able to handle. Any funds I earn over my immediate needs, I bank for future needs," says Marcus.
Oh, he's just endeared himself to my dad! I am so happy.
"Johanna, when is your baby due?" my sister asks. Her baby was born right before we left on our U.S. tour. He's now nearly three months old and getting so big!
"January next," I say.
Eventually, we sit down to my mum's delicious dinner. Marcus is sitting next to me, fielding questions from my entire family. He's explaining the kind of technical writing he does as my brother asks him questions. Meanwhile, my mum, sisters and I talk about my hopes for the baby.
"I just want this little one to be healthy. I suffered from altitude sickness in Denver and that, combined with my morning sickness, really scared me," I say.
"Altitude sickness? What is that?" my sister asks.
"Your body needs to get used to higher altitudes. We went from a lower-altitude setting in Dallas, Texas straight to Denver. I had no time to get used to the higher altitude, so I got deathly sick. I was in the emergency room and received an I.V. to rehydrate myself and another to give me medicine to settle my tummy."
By the end of the evening, Marcus is a full-fledged member of the Williams family. Mum and I have discussed my wedding plans. She promises to get in touch with the vicar and we decide that, as soon as Marcus and I ring her up with a wedding date, she'll let the minister know.
At my flat, I sit down, exhausted. "Oh, my God! That went much better than I thought," I say.
"Yes! I was afraid your father would have a go at you - but he cried!" Marcus gathers me into his arms and I nestle into his solid, muscular chest. "Now. A wedding date." His large hand covers my rounded belly. "Soon, I would think."
"Yes, soon. Two or three weeks?"
"I suppose we have to wait, don't we? I'd love to marry you tomorrow!"
I giggle. "My mum needs time to arrange things! The vicar. The church. The
I am carrying the family gifts that I found and bought during our U.S. tour. The closer and closer we get to my parents' house, the stronger my heart begins hammering. It will be all right. Daddy will yell, but, in the end, he'll accept this baby with love.
"Mum, dad, I'd like to introduce my fiance, Marcus Hadley, to you," I say, smiling.
"Fiance? How long have you been dating?" my dad asks.
"Since last March," I tell him. "I bought gifts for everyone. Mum, here is yours. Dad..." I hand out the gifts and every one oohs and ahhs over them.
"Johanna, are you...expecting?" my mum asks.
I see my dad's head whip around as his eyes go wide.
"Yes. About four-and-a-half months," I say.
Dad's mouth drops open and I wait...but nothing comes out. Then, "I'm going to be a granddad again?" He smiles widely.
I look at him in complete shock. I had expected him to yell! But he's melting! I gaze at my mum. I see her smiling, melting and crying. Oh, my God, they're happy! I have just enough time for this fleeting thought, and then I am enveloped in both of my parents' arms. I begin to cry with happiness as my sisters and brother-in-law whoop and holler.
After this, Marcus and I explain how we met and started dating. Let's keep this G-rated!
"So, Marcus, what line of work are you in?" my dad asks.
"I'm a technical writer, sir. I freelance." Marcus says.
"You work from home? How does that work for you?"
"Very well, actually. I'm able to set my schedule and accept as much work as I'm able to handle. Any funds I earn over my immediate needs, I bank for future needs," says Marcus.
Oh, he's just endeared himself to my dad! I am so happy.
"Johanna, when is your baby due?" my sister asks. Her baby was born right before we left on our U.S. tour. He's now nearly three months old and getting so big!
"January next," I say.
Eventually, we sit down to my mum's delicious dinner. Marcus is sitting next to me, fielding questions from my entire family. He's explaining the kind of technical writing he does as my brother asks him questions. Meanwhile, my mum, sisters and I talk about my hopes for the baby.
"I just want this little one to be healthy. I suffered from altitude sickness in Denver and that, combined with my morning sickness, really scared me," I say.
"Altitude sickness? What is that?" my sister asks.
"Your body needs to get used to higher altitudes. We went from a lower-altitude setting in Dallas, Texas straight to Denver. I had no time to get used to the higher altitude, so I got deathly sick. I was in the emergency room and received an I.V. to rehydrate myself and another to give me medicine to settle my tummy."
By the end of the evening, Marcus is a full-fledged member of the Williams family. Mum and I have discussed my wedding plans. She promises to get in touch with the vicar and we decide that, as soon as Marcus and I ring her up with a wedding date, she'll let the minister know.
At my flat, I sit down, exhausted. "Oh, my God! That went much better than I thought," I say.
"Yes! I was afraid your father would have a go at you - but he cried!" Marcus gathers me into his arms and I nestle into his solid, muscular chest. "Now. A wedding date." His large hand covers my rounded belly. "Soon, I would think."
"Yes, soon. Two or three weeks?"
"I suppose we have to wait, don't we? I'd love to marry you tomorrow!"
I giggle. "My mum needs time to arrange things! The vicar. The church. The
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