TRINITY
The sonographer presses the transducer on my exposed tummy.
Bash squeezes my hand harder, unbeknownst, while his eyes are pinned to the monitor.
"What does it say? Is everything okay? She's pregnant, right? Is it a twin? When will we gonna find out the gender of our baby or babies?" He has been babbling since we came to our appointment.
The sonographer stops and looks at smiling Bash. "Mr. Hughes, I know you're excited to find out, just like any other soon-to-be dad. Just relax, and Dr. Lee will answer all your questions."
Bash releases a deep sigh.
"And you've been squeezing my hand, Bash. Relax. I should be the one feeling nervous because I'm the one here having a baby inside my tummy."
"I'm not nervous. I'm just excited. I agreed with you to get a check-up here and not in Paris or Greece or Italy." Bash scratches his head. He only stops when Dr. Lee walks inside the ultrasound room.
We drive back to the office. The doctor said I was okay to work, which contradicts what Bash wanted. I'm only seven weeks pregnant, and staying at home always will bore me to hell.
"Bash, you can't lock me up at home. I have to work," I speak up.
He's been rubbing his chin since we arrived, and by the looks of it, he's planning something in his head. He doesn't like the doctor's advice.
"I just don't want you stressing out, Trinity." He steals a glance at me.
"I'm not gonna let the stress eat me alive, and besides, I started yoga classes."
"I don't like that yoga thing."
"Seriously, you're being overprotective. It's nonsense. I'm gonna be okay, and we're gonna be okay," I say, rubbing my still-flat abdomen and rising from my seat. "I should go back to work. See you later, boss." I walk closer to him, leaning over to kiss him on his cheek.
He turns, cups my face, and kisses my lips. "Thank you for giving me a baby, Trinity."
"We did this together, and you've already said that one hundred and eight times." I kiss him back.
"I will say it every day." He kisses me again.
"Thanks for being a supportive husband."
"My pleasure."
"I should really go. I love you."
"I love you."
***
"So, the doctor said there are no precautions?" Aunt Abby asks.
She knows that I have a retroverted uterus, and there is a myth that I would have difficulty getting pregnant in some cases like mine.
According to studies, five percent of women who gave birth suffered from severe blood loss or bleeding.
"No, Aunt Abby. Everything is fine. I'm healthy, and the baby too." I smile at her.
"Don't you feel something, K?"
I shake my head.
"I was like you when I gave birth to Bash. My uterus was damaged, and they had to remove it. Not that I'm scaring you, but just be careful. I'm glad to hear that you're okay."
"I don't feel anything weird so far. Unlike last week, I felt lightheaded, but since I started the prenatal vitamins, I feel good as new."
"Wow, good for you. You'll feel horny because of those hormones." She laughs.
I look at Bash on my left side, and he groans with color blossoms on his cheeks.
"What? It's normal to talk about sex, and besides, both of you are married." His mom scoffs.
Giggling, I look at her again. "Really? Pregnancy makes me horny?"
"Curious much, Tri?" Bash asks, "I'll see if that's true."
His mom laughs with me. "Well, we should throw a party."
"Mom, maybe later when her pregnancy grows."
"It's okay, Bash. At least we can relax later. We can go shopping and choose baby clothes, mittens, beanies, and cribs, and we have to prepare a room for her. I want to see my parents too."
"Her?" He arches his brow.
"I can feel it."
"I bet it's a boy."
"Oh?" I feel disappointed.
"Yeah. Regarding the shopping, Trinity. I told you we would ask someone to shop and redecorate the room for our baby. Don't stress too much. About your parents, they can always come anytime," Bash says.
My face falls.
"K, you have to understand that it's in their blood to be overprotective and take all the responsibility. Bash has money. If you want to shop, you can do it online. Why stressed-out yourself when you can have everything in a click?"
I smile timidly at his mom. She gives me a sympathetic nod.
"I gave her a card, but she didn't even touch it." Bash complains to his mom.
"Then you're lucky that you marry a good woman. What If you marry someone who loves to throw a party, shop, and drains the money you earned with her friends in the Caribbean or the bar or Fifth avenue, Milan, London, Italy, Germany, France, and whatnot? And then cheats on you."
I freeze in my seat. I don't know how to react, listening to their conversation.
"But Mom, I work hard for her. I'm away from her to earn money so that she can enjoy shopping for herself."
"Don't worry, Bash. Tomorrow, I'll buy jewelry worth your penthouse, a sports car, clothes that a boutique would be like a thrift store, and shoes that could break the Guinness book of records," I say sarcastically.
"Really, baby? You'll do that?" He grins instead of getting upset.
I roll my eyes. His mom smiles and looks amused.
"You should pamper your wife, Bash. Don't wait till she goes shopping by herself. Buy everything for her instead."
He points his finger at his mom. "That'll do. Thanks for the advice, Mom." He leans closer to me to kiss my head.
***
We both slept without having sex.
Bash was upset when he offered his iPad to me, and I pushed it back because I was not in the mood to scan baby clothes online. He finally said to ask someone to shop for me, but I disagreed with that idea.
I wake up with pain in my lower abdomen. I check the clock on the nightstand, and it's 3:34 AM.
I press my hand where it aches most, and I slowly stand up and walk to the bathroom.
The pain is bearable.
I started to feel some symptoms Aunt Abby told me during her first trimester. She used to pee a lot. I wash my hands and pat them dry after emptying my bladder.
I slip under the blanket slowly to avoid waking my husband, but it's too late. He places his hand on my abdomen, touching my skin. A sweet shiver crawls down my spine.
"Hmm, horny?" he teases me with his groggy voice, and I can hear a smile in it.
"Or are you?" I ask back, moving closer to him.
He flicks the lamp open. "I'm always horny with it comes to you, Tri. Can't get enough of you." He leans closer to me, and I can feel his warm breathing on my face. His eyes glimmer with lust, and his erection proves it.
"Make love to me." I feel comfortable voicing out my needs to him.
"Yes, ma'am." In an instant, he's kissing me like crazy.
My hands are busy pushing his boxer down, pumping his now hard and satiny cock. His hands are already stripping down my panties.
He succeeds in yanking off my nighties in a flash. He's on top of me, presses, and teases my sensitive spot with his shaft.
My head arches back.
"Sensitive?" he whispers.
"Very." I whimper underneath. "Move, please."
He sinks inside me slowly, and I feel his length inside my warm, slick walls.
I bite my lip at the sensation.
It's overwhelming.
He stops moving, but my body already shudders under him.
He moves slowly, groaning.
"Oh, God!"
His thrusts turn faster and harder. In and out, hitting my most sensitive part.
I grip his ass to press against me, but it's not enough.
"Bash, don't stop!" I feel I'm on the verge of my orgasm.
"I won't, Tri." He presses his thumb on my sensitive spot, and I whimper under him.
"Bash," I moan, holding his arms tighter as if my life depends on it. My muscles clench, and I can't hold it anymore.
I let go.
I come undone so hard.
He thrusts into me harder until he falls on top of me, breathing harder and dripping with sweat.
"Are you okay? Was it too much?"
"I'm good, and it was perfect," I answer, running my fingers on his back.
***
My hands grip tighter on my lower abdomen. When the cramps are nearly unbearable, sweats start to form on my forehead, and I curl into a ball to hold the pain.
"Oh, God! Please, help me!" I yell at the top of my lungs and tap the bed for Bash, but his side is empty.
"Bash! Help!" The pain is getting worse. I feel a warm liquid running between my thighs, making my breathing stop.
My hand quickly touches my soaking panties like it has its own brain.
I feel a chill crawl down my skin when I realize what it is.
Blood.