Chap 6: Waiting

So for months they tried to concieve.  Test kit after test kit kept coming up bad news.  The local pharmacy had to order in more pregnancy tests, so frequently was Ruby buying them out (they were only a small town chemist after all).

What was I thinking?!? decided Ruby; The lab is no place to carry a child.

So, hoping against hope that a change from the toxins and what-not at work would help, Ruby scrutinized the papers every day for a fortnight.

The forensics team at the police station need a dogsbody.  I bet they don't use half the chemicals we do.

Ruby reached Mr. Bagley, who invited her for an interview the following Tuesday.  A week later she was on the payroll of the local police department.

Of course, the job consisted of filing, fetching coffee, relaying messages and other low-level office-style work, but Ruby was content.  It couldn't be nearly as harmful to her body.

Getting into bed next to a sleeping Craig, two months later, Ruby just "had a feeling".  The next day she pulled out one of the little boxes and went into the bathroom to do her thing.

Craig had gone to the consignment store to drop off some more paintings and to run a few errands in town.  When he came home, Ruby was waiting for him.

"I took another pregnancy test today." Ruby started, deliberately keeping her voice even and nonchalant.

Craig's face took a moment to register interest, then he looked prepared to comfort, then questioning

"It was positive!" Ruby grinned, throwing herself at her stunned spouse.

"That's ... That's great" Craig stuttered.

A quick blood test confirmed Ruby's pregnancy and then, to leave no room for doubt, she was beset by dreadful morning sickness.  Dr. Wilson assured her the nausea was normal for many woman and that everything seemed to be progressing nicely, despite Ruby's comparatively advanced age.

 Once the morning sickness abated, Ruby rather liked being pregnant.  She'd often spend long minutes cradling her stomach and talking to the baby.

With her appetite back, came the cravings.  Ice cream, cookies; it appeared this baby was a sweet tooth even before birth!  Ruby's waistline grew and grew, though it was difficult to tell whether it was perhaps outpacing the growth of the unborn.

As an expectant father, Craig was as excited as a child at Christmastime.  He was solicitous and attentive.  He did however escape to his studio whenever Ruby's raging hormones got the best of her and sent her into a crying fit or a sudden rage.