Painful Deception

Jacqueline looked over at the baby’s room, it was finally complete. The walls were a soft yellow that contrasted beautifully with the ornate crown moldings around the room. The beautiful crib with the beauty and the beast carving sat across from the French doors that led to the balcony. A rocking chair that had once been her great great-grandmother’s sat in the corner next to a bookcase that was already beginning to fill up with books. The room was beautiful and she couldn’t wait for the arrival of her daughter. There was only one more month to go and she could feel the effects on her body. Her ankles were swollen, she had to pee every five seconds and her back was aching. To add to that was the 20 pounds that she gained and the Braxton hicks contractions that occurred every now and than. But she was happier now than she had been at any point of her pregnancy. Things with Mark had been going well; so far he kept his word and had not laid a hand on her nor yelled at her. He’d even been going with her to her childbirth classes, being supportive and helpful during the various exercises. During the days that passed they’d had pleasant conversations, sat down some nights reading together pleasantly or just sitting in each other’s company. Though she was slow to admit it to herself, she found herself thinking of things to say to Mark and getting excited over their time together. Tonight however, they would be at his mother’s house discussing the baby shower.
Mark walked into the manor and called out for Jacqueline, they were late to dinner. “I’m coming Mark, I’m just getting a sweater,” Jacqueline called back. Her heard her slow footsteps coming towards him and opened the door calling for the driver George to get the car. He looked over at Jacky while she walked, or actually waddled, up to him. He now looked at her in a different light. He felt a tenderness towards her that wasn’t there before, the past month that he had gotten to know her he learned again how kind she was, how intelligent and funny she could be. He felt the first stirrings of what could be deep feelings for her beginning to form in his heart. On more than one occasion his thoughts drifted to her, thinking about her long elegant neck, her small kinds and beautiful smile. The way her eyes crinkled delicately when she smiled, the one dimple that appeared when she laughed, that tinkling low laugh. He had asked himself on more than one occasion why he hadn’t treated her right and gotten to know her better when they first married? They could have been madly in love right now; so much was lost by his actions. He was brought out of his thoughts by Jacky’s voice. “Mark….hello, Mark. What were you thinking about?,” she laughed when he finally pulled out of his musings. He smiled down at her, “You, of course”. She smiled back at him softly. He bent down ad kissed her forehead and offered his arm, “Come on, let’s go before Mother lectures me about the importance of punctuality”.
They arrived at his mother’s house twenty minutes late, Caroline ushered them into the foyer. Immediately she gushed over Jacqueline. “Why look at you dear, I haven’t seen you since the early months. Look at your little belly. You have that glow. Oh you look beautiful dear, pregnancy really suits you. Let’s go and have some dinner and talk about my new granddaughter,” she said giving her a hug. At the dinner table, Mark talked briefly about his business than it turned to the baby. “So, you’re due next month. Are you excited?,” Caroline asked. “Yeah, I can’t wait to see her. The baby’s room is completed and it’s beautiful. I picked the room with the balcony so on warm nights; we can open the doors on warm days and maybe at night sit up with her and look at the stars,” Jacqueline said. “It sounds lovely, you two must have me over for dinner one night. I haven’t seen the manor in at least a year and a half. Have you two decided on a name?,” Caroline asked taking a sip of tea and looking at the two of them.
“Actually mother we haven’t really talked about it,” Mark said.
“Well actually, I thought that Gwendolyn would be nice. After my grandmother, she was my favorite person growing up,” Jacqueline said look at Mark briefly.
He looked surprised but nodded his head, “That’s lovely Jacky,” he said and squeezed her hand.
The exchange wasn’t lost upon Caroline, who had noticed a change in her son’s behavior towards his young wife. She would ask him about it later. “Well, I’ve been talking to the decorators and the baby shower will be in two weeks. I thought having it in the solarium would be wonderful,” she said smiling.
“How many people are attending?,” Mark asked.
“Oh just one hundred and fifty,” she said casually. Jacqueline’s eyebrows shot up, that was half of the quests who attended the wedding.
“Mother, don’t you think that’s a little excessive?,” mark said.
“No, we have all of the family and lots of friends of the family,” she said.
“I don’t even know one hundred and fifty people and I’m sure Jacqueline didn’t want that many people to attend,” he said.
Both Caroline and Mark looked at Jacqueline, “I was thinking more along the lines of maybe 20 people. I don’t really have any people to come for me, so it would be uncomfortable for me to have to sit with all those people”.
Mark looked down, he felt horrible that she had become isolated from other people during the durations of their marriage. “Of course dear, maybe we can make some corrections. I’ll go and get the list,” she said.
When she left the table, Jacqueline turned to Mark. “I want to maybe contact some of my cousins that I’ve fallen out of touch with. I want to get closer to people. I want the baby to know my side of the family also,” she said.
Mark took her hands, “Of course Jacky. I think that would be good. It’s getting late; do you think it’s ok if I tell Mother that we can finish this later? I have a long day tomorrow,”.
Jacqueline nodded, “Oh yes. I’m getting tired also, these days I can’t stay up to late. Plus the books say to have a sit bedtime so when the baby comes we don’t have to stay up such long hours. She’ll already be on a sleep schedule”.
Mark smiled and put a hand on her belly, “You’re going to be a great mother Jacky”. She smiled at him and put her hand over his on her belly. The baby kicked and they both laughed.
“Gwendolyn seems to agree,” Mark said.
“Well isn’t that lovely,” Caroline said when she came back with the list.
They both smiled, “Well Mother I’m sorry but we’re going to have to leave. I have a long day tomorrow at the office and Jacqueline is tired,”.
Caroline frowned, “Well, that’s fine, I suppose but I want to look over these at some point. I’ll just come over tomorrow, is that ok with you Mark?”.
Mark shrugged, “It’s not up to me Mother, and the shower is for Jacqueline”. Caroline looked briefly surprised than looked over at Jacqueline who nodded. “Of course, that’s fine with me. You can see the baby’s room also,” she said.
After saying their goodbyes, they got back into the car and headed home. That night in bed, Mark sat up reading a book while Jacqueline laid down. He had on glasses perched at the end of his nose and he looked comical to Jacqueline. He noticed her giggling and smiled.
“And what is so funny?”, he asked.
“It’s just your glasses….” She giggled.
He frowned and took them off. “Oh no, don’t take them off, their cute. I just never imagined you with glasses,” she said, sitting up with some effort and putting them back on.
“Well you’re cute too,” he said.
Leaning down to kiss her, her lips were soft against his. This was the first real kiss that they had in what seemed like forever. He was surprised when he deepened it and felt her slowing winding her arms around his neck. He put his book down and wrapped his arms around her and slowly led her back down on to the bed. It was a bit awkward with her belly but he slowly climbed on top of her. She stopped kissing him and looked up at him, “I’m sorry Mark, but I can’t, not just yet, she said softly.
He kissed her forehead, “Its ok Jacky, I won’t force you to do anything. I’m just happy we are where we are right now”.
She smiled, “Thank you”.
He just kissed her again and when she turned over he turned and turned off the lamp, than he turned and wrapped his arms around her. Feeling her warm body next to his made him feel truly content, his hands sought her belly and he rubbed small circles over it. He stayed a wake for a long time pondering where their relationship was going and when he felt her breathing even, he whispered in her, “I think I’m failing in love with you Jacqueline”. He was mistaken about her being asleep, when she heard his declaration her eyes widened. She couldn’t stop the butterflies in her stomach.

A/N: Well here it is. Chapter fifteen finally. Tell me how you like it please! I love to hear what you guys think and your suggestions. Please red & review!