.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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbSxrtGBay
Clove told herself this, over and over again, almost as if it would be a reassurance to her.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyke107oDlz
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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLOPyZO58l
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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zijKQ9Edi
Later that night...
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w30IQHqXY
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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi2OLJV0Rh
"So..." He began, reaching over to sweep her tresses behind her ear.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtKbO7l0YU
"Yes?" Clove acknowledged, slightly taken aback by the edge in her voice.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD2ti8B2oS
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."
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpnZjqS6gt
"I'm fine." She insisted, staring back at him with her unyielding green eyes.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRiluMtVgO
"I don't believe you," Cato told her.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZudtPsyUB8
"I'm fine!" She turned over to face the wall, unquestionably not satisfied with Cato's response to her reply.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKKlfUQd7e
Cato sighed, scooting closer to her and encircling his arms around her middle.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp5eYnDGuv
She stirred stiffly in his arms. "Cato...can you just get your damn hands off of me...?!"
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA2eJzkbe0
"You are not alright...Clo, I'm your husband; you can tell me anything."
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQbWrD8EHG
"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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBOw1ZyE1w
"Oh, Clo, why are you crying?" Cato appeared perplexed but began to rub her back nevertheless. "Baby...can you please talk to me?"
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaqDUIYSbZ
Clove shook her head persistently, her shoulders tensing at Cato's touch.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2BVOkZWQN
"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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowyl12gRRk
"Can you tell me why you've been so distant lately?" Cato murmured, stroking Clove's hair.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDxo1LitTu
"I'm not ready yet." She muttered back as Cato laced his fingers with hers.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBweVEdX5G
"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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUNgbGGV5S
"Cato...I..." She began, her voice shuddering. "I've got something to tell you."
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJP7Xsia4z
"What is it, Clo?" Cato whispered, his voice soft and gentle.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y4jgOllip
She caught a breath. "Cato, you're going to be a dad."
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EVIaz0GfT
"You're kidding me..." He stared up at her as she propped herself up to observe his expression.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgITnmRcauB
"Does this look like I'm kidding?" She challenged him, dragging up her shirt to expose her bump.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUw2oJXxBS
"Oh my God..." Cato beamed, drawing her close again. "Clo, we're having a baby!"
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIenjimeSU
"Yes, Cato, we are..." Clove smiled, binding her arms around his neck as pressed her close.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9449Ijh00P
"I'm...I'm going to be a father...oh wow..." Cato began to murmur, sounding astonished.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFXIQ3zdPg
"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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RkFSWXvWS
Cato caught her hands, shaking his head firmly. "Why would I be mad at you?"
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwkMnBs1qy
"I...I don't know..." Clove stuttered, a stubborn tear slipping down her cheek.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr6pM1nyoc
"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."
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZT8q8Lk1o
Clove smiled. "And I am honored to be carrying Cato Edward Hadley's child."
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfSbROnMqM
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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jP9HEAWhD
"What's bothering you, Clo?" Cato asked her softly, noticing her anxiety.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x6gASW0zc
"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..."
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD6fZBh6LH
"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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFhRhcGEPh
"Are you sure?" She asked him in a trembling voice.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFzgFUW5cI
"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.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVP6iOlV4Y
They both settled down beside each other, Cato's arms encompassing Clove's waist, Clove's hands pressed to Cato's chest.
401Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oEiHtbZPs
"We can do this, Clove," Cato murmured as his wife began to doze off. "We can do this."
ns216.73.216.205da2
