.jpeg)
x
Clove was lying on the sofa, watching Cato from across the living room. He was relaxing in a recliner, his and Clove's niece Lana, perched on his legs. He was reading her a story, just as she had requested. She was giggling hysterically as Cato did the 'silly' voices. Clove understood that Cato didn't dislike doing the voices of monarchs and the noises of beasts; he enjoyed acting as a father would.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiDzzDyz0l
Clove told herself this, over and over again, almost as if it would be a reassurance to her.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhAInyxxvb
No one could discern the weight she'd gained below the oversized t-shirts she would wear. Cato didn't notice when she'd creep into the bathroom in the morning to clear the contents of her stomach. Maybe, he'd noticed her mood, but also perhaps not, because she had previously been moderately bipolar.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMYGZ3yQ7C
Clove discreetly slipped her fingers beneath Cato's old Red Sox t-shirt (which she had worn because only Cato's large shirts could conceal her bump) and began to stroke her stomach. It wouldn't be long before Cato guessed what was up, so why didn't Clove just notify him that he was to be a father in only six months? The truth was, she was scared.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3f4JLnqeU
Later that night...
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKoM1vwZdJ
Clove threw on a pair of bike shorts and one of Cato's Patriots t-shirts before retreating into her bedroom and launching herself onto the mattress. Shortly after, Cato accompanied her, rolling onto his side to confront his wife.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyg4K5diZ7
"So..." He began, reaching over to sweep her tresses behind her ear.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hrWaE6ZFj
"Yes?" Clove acknowledged, slightly taken aback by the edge in her voice.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxALl4tw33
Cato raised his eyebrows, his questioning movement soon converting into a concerned furrow. "Are you alright, Clo...? You've been acting...weird...for a while now."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPOfGXjAtY
"I'm fine." She insisted, staring back at him with her unyielding green eyes.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U6e8PbVQo
"I don't believe you," Cato told her.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWtuQSA5iX
"I'm fine!" She turned over to face the wall, unquestionably not satisfied with Cato's response to her reply.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDZAjn8uQr
Cato sighed, scooting closer to her and encircling his arms around her middle.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvjDvqN1Vc
She stirred stiffly in his arms. "Cato...can you just get your damn hands off of me...?!"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3tjPwTNZK
"You are not alright...Clo, I'm your husband; you can tell me anything."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F8XnM4bnC
"I told you, I. Am. Fine!" Her voice began to crack, and no matter how hard she tried to cover it, Cato discerned her obvious uneasiness in the imposition of her tone. She began to cry, her shoulders trembling slightly with each stifled sob.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToZK2PTGNb
"Oh, Clo, why are you crying?" Cato appeared perplexed but began to rub her back nevertheless. "Baby...can you please talk to me?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wVFG41liF
Clove shook her head persistently, her shoulders tensing at Cato's touch.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J2yWDWQ6H
"Then can you come here?" Cato invited tenderly, displacing his hand to caress his wife's arm. Clove conceded, shifting to face Cato. Cato brought her close, drawing her across his chest so she was laying on top of him. She inhaled deep, placing her head on his chest.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFaLAhftXz
"Can you tell me why you've been so distant lately?" Cato murmured, stroking Clove's hair.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN7zNqS1dA
"I'm not ready yet." She muttered back as Cato laced his fingers with hers.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C9kySvGAr
"I'm here for you when you are ready," Cato assured her, setting his hands on her back and pulling her even closer to him. They simply laid there; ten minutes passed, then twenty, and just when Cato was certain that Clove was asleep, she spoke up.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41GfknKrgN
"Cato...I..." She began, her voice shuddering. "I've got something to tell you."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy6vAivbT2
"What is it, Clo?" Cato whispered, his voice soft and gentle.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT2QyhmekA
She caught a breath. "Cato, you're going to be a dad."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCM3z56aRY
"You're kidding me..." He stared up at her as she propped herself up to observe his expression.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxaecQVk9b
"Does this look like I'm kidding?" She challenged him, dragging up her shirt to expose her bump.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE4u4tjnWZ
"Oh my God..." Cato beamed, drawing her close again. "Clo, we're having a baby!"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuUCP7qyvB
"Yes, Cato, we are..." Clove smiled, binding her arms around his neck as pressed her close.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY6lzUeaJp
"I'm...I'm going to be a father...oh wow..." Cato began to murmur, sounding astonished.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoqfdaRrIx
"Are you mad at me, Cato?" Clove whispered, her eyes dimming with apprehension as she sat up, allowing her shirt to hang over her stomach again.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvu0Fl6CH9
Cato caught her hands, shaking his head firmly. "Why would I be mad at you?"
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTHh3HLLcQ
"I...I don't know..." Clove stuttered, a stubborn tear slipping down her cheek.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkosdenZeg5
"Clove Sienna Kentwell Hadley, I swear to you that I am not upset with you in any way. I am truly honored to be the father of your baby."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDZhtIBvKG
Clove smiled. "And I am honored to be carrying Cato Edward Hadley's child."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvjRqD8Grg
Cato sat up so that Clove was sitting on his lap, leaning forward to place a tender kiss on her lips. When they both pulled away, Cato caressed Clove's cheek.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRjN78iiL5
"What's bothering you, Clo?" Cato asked her softly, noticing her anxiety.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNdcnSxrua
"What if we can't do this, Cato? What if we're terrible parents...or I do something wrong...or what if I'm not strong enough to do this..."
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg3aLdKZvw
"Shh...no Clover. We can do this. You can do this. You are so strong and so amazing, and I know that we'll be great parents." Cato reassured her.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOVxn0Z0pI
"Are you sure?" She asked him in a trembling voice.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQe1EWbqvk
"I've never been so sure of anything in my life." Cato smiled at her. Clove beamed back at him as he raised up her shirt to press a kiss over the spot where their infant was developing.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUQzviFz7v
They both settled down beside each other, Cato's arms encompassing Clove's waist, Clove's hands pressed to Cato's chest.
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPLDpuspVO
"We can do this, Clove," Cato murmured as his wife began to doze off. "We can do this."
ns18.222.112.142da2
