Chapter 17

Chapter 17
1996
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It had been exactly one year since Violet and John met again in the yoga studio. They were engaged after 6 months, and married after 8. They had the ceremony in the backyard of the apartment complex, and the whole neighborhood was invited, along with their closest family and friends.
Molly watched from Robert's point of view as Violet's man of honor as they held hands, exchanged vows, and had their first kiss as man and wife. She looked down to see Mystic, who was the official ring bearer, looked at her curiously. She gave him a wink and a pat on the head and he seemed to calm down. Internally she thanked Robert, she knew that Mystic still made him a little uncomfortable. But Mystic didn't seem to mind him, even though he did sense when Molly was around.

Three months after that, Molly was officially in the works. Violet didn't know it yet, but she was about 3 weeks along, although Molly was already at least a couple of months along, already developing quite nicely.  She had been laying in bed that morning, knowing her alarm was going to wake her up soon. John had already left for work, and Mystic hadn't moved from her side.
He gave her a nudge with his nose as if to say, "something's up! Figure it out!" All she seemed to sense, though, was that he wanted a cuddle. She looked at her alarm clock, she still had a good 15 minutes before she had to get out of bed. She wrapped her arms around her dog and was just snuggling into his warmth when she felt something in her abdomen. At first she decided to ignore it, chalking it up to something she ate for dinner last night.
She tried settling down again, but this time the movement in her abdomen was unmistakable... Something like a fluttering of wings. Of course it could have been nerves, or at least gas. But deep down, Molly knew that it was something more than that. While still laying down snuggling with Mystic, she laid her hand on her stomach. Then Mystic turned around so that he was facing her. With his doggie eyes he looked right at her as he put his paw on her stomach and then proceeded to lick her all over her face.
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The morning went by quickly after that. She shot up seconds before her alarm went off and pressed the off button, gave her dog a giant hug and lots of kisses, and hurried up to get into the shower. Just to be sure, she would take a pregnancy test before getting into the shower and then check it after she got out.
She turned the water on first, not wanting to prolong the agony of waiting. She peed into a plastic cup and set the test in for 5 seconds like the box said to do. Then she flipped it over so she couldn't see it. She stripped down, waiting for the mirror to steam before setting foot into the shower.
She didn't even have to look at the test to know for sure that she was carrying a miracle inside of her. All throughout her shower she pictured in her mind a beautiful baby girl with John's chocolate brown hair, her green eyes, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on. But no matter, she stood facing the water and rubbed her stomach gently as she let the water cascade down her body. She was imagining the water washing away the life she lived before this moment. She was washing away her old life, the one she had lived in shame and fear. She had a new life here. She had fabulous friends, a great and rewarding job, and a man who she knew in her heart was the one for her. While lost in her thoughts, she absentmindedly rubbed her stomach. That was when she felt it.
It was slight, the movement, but She definitely felt it. Of course it was impossible to feel anything at this stage, she and John had JUST conceived, but as she stopped rubbing her stomach she kept her hand frozen and willed her baby to move again. And that's exactly what happened.
Without even bothering to turn the water off or grab a towel she jumped out of the shower and lunged for the test. And sure enough, her hunch was validated. In the pregnancy test window, no doubt about it, was a huge plus sign. Not anything faint or questioning about it. There it was, she was definitely with child.

As quickly as she could, she turned the now freezing cold water off, wrapped her hair in a towel and dried herself off before putting on a Terry cloth robe. She had to tell someone about this and she couldn't wait for John to get home. She grabbed the test and dashed out of her apartment, leaving the door open for Mystic to follow excitedly behind her. "Robert, you better be awake," she thought as she knocked on the door of his apartment. After what seemed like hours later (but was really only about 20 seconds), a disheveled Robert answered the door. "girl, you better have some news like Brad Pitt fell into your apartment or I'm going to smack you," he said sarcastically but almost meaning it. "now, now. That's no way to treat a pregnant lady," Violet said, as nonchalantly as possible. "wait.... What?"
"here," violet answered her friend's question by handing over the test, with a still very prominent plus sign proudly marked in the window. Robert studied it for a minute, his still extremely exhausted brain taking a minute to believe what he was seeing. Then it hit him. "ohmigosh!! We're going to have a baby!!" Molly, he thought secretly. His heart skipped a beat as he realized just how special this moment was. Violet had no idea just what kind of miracle she was carrying. For a minute he wanted to tell her, but all he could think of to say was, "congratulations on your tiny miracle." before he could berate himself for being so lame, he felt compelled to touch her stomach. "oh, Robert, you really can't feel anything---" she started to say as it happened again. "how far along are you?" Robert asked, trying to pretend like what he had just felt was his imagination and not the fluttering of teeny tiny angel wings. "umm... I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't been that long."
"you sure? You look at least 2 months," Robert said, eyeing her.
"gee, thanks, like you really know what a woman is supposed to look like at 2 months," Violet said. "no, I didn't mean it in a bad way. I mean look... Your hair is shinier, your skin looks healthier, and let me look at your stomach." he parted the robe modestly around Violet's midsection to validate his observation. "you definitely have a belly. Although I don't remember you looking this way a month ago."
"I wasn't pregnant  a month ago."
"that you know of."
"look. All I know is, I remember one night about 2 or 3 weeks ago that could have been the time. Because I have felt different for about that long."
"hmmm... I would recommend going to the doctor, just to see."
Suddenly, Violet got the weirdest sensation. She knew what Robert said made sense, but for some reason the thought of going to the doctor made alarm bells go off in her mind.
"umm, you okay, Vi?" Robert asked. He hoped he hadn't said anything to offend her.
"yes, of course I am. It's just silly."
"what's silly?"
"when you said the word 'doctor,' I panicked a little."
"really?"
"yes."
"well, I can come with you if you want."
"oh, Robert, don't be silly."
"no, I insist.  Let me go with you."
"I have to make an appointment first," Violet said, suddenly shaky. The thought of going to the doctor didn't sit well with her, although she couldn't put her finger on why.
Robert knew why. He knew that one look at that ultrasound would reveal a baby who was growing at a rate too fast for the timeline Violet had described. He knew that Molly was well on her way to getting here, although he was unsure of when she'd actually get here, he could tell just by looking at Violet that she was going to get here a lot quicker than any other baby, and she wouldn't even be premature.
The most pressing reason he needed to go with was because he knew what the ultrasound would reveal. He would be glad when he didn't have to keep this secret from her, but he also knew that he couldn't let her go to the hospital on her own. He had a feeling that the doctors would not agree to a birth of a child with wings. But he also knew that Violet wouldn't be talked into anything. She'd fight for her child with every breath she had in her.
Still, Robert felt like Molly would have wanted him to go with Violet. He had not been feeling her presence as strongly lately, not until Violet knocked on the door until he opened it. He knew Molly's energy, could feel her wings fluttering. He knew she picked him because he'd protect Violet from anyone who tried to mess with either one of them.

"hmmm..." Violet was deep in thought. "what's up?" Robert asked.
"I'm trying to think of when a good time would be," Violet said.
"no greater time than the present," Robert answered.
Violet's face lit up with a huge smile. The look of panic had quickly vanished. Another reason Molly picked him, she knew her mother would need his comic relief.
"well... I could take off this afternoon..." she said, her voice trailing off.
"done. Call the doctor and make an appointment and I'll take an extra long lunch. Or just play hooky, I'm late anyway."
Violet looked at the clock. "I'm going to be late as well if I don't get a move on," she stated.
"just text me the time and I'll be there," Robert said.
"I honestly don't know what I'd do without you," Violet stated, pulling her best friend in for a hug.
"you never ever have to find out."

And with another hug and a kiss on each cheek, Violet and Mystic walked the short distance back to her apartment.