Colossal Jump

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Did you hear his heartbeat?"

"No, the doctor couldn't find her heartbeat." I correct. "I don't think the placement of the baby was in the right spot for it. Otherwise, everything looks really good," I explain.

"Can I see the picture?"

"Just give me a second," I huff.

I walk to the end of the bench and grab the scan out of my bag. I pass it to Blake and I see the biggest smile overcome him. He gently strokes the image with his thumb before he looks at me.

"I can't believe it . . ." Blake brushes a stray tear from his cheer. "That's our baby."

"Yeah." I press my hand against my stomach and smile. This is my little family right in front of me, well, almost all of us.

Blake puts the picture on the bench before storming towards me. He tightly embraces me in his arms and snuggles me close to his chest.

"I love you so much, Ava."

"I love you!" I kiss his cheek.

Blake pockets the scan as he walks around the counter to take a seat. I get back to chopping, which is a dulling job.

"I asked Tori if she could look after London for one more night," he explains.

"Why, what's wrong?" I frown.

"I invited Mum and Dad over for dinner." The sound of his parents coming over instantly makes me sick.

"I think I might just throw up," I say.

"Hey, I thought it would be nice if they came over for dinner once in a while."

"You're not, are you? Blake, promise me you won't tell them!"

"What?"

"I thought we agreed to wait until we were ready to tell our parents."

"It's just dinner, okay?"

"Your mother is going to offer me wine, and then when I don't drink it, she's going to start asking questions."

"What if I don't drink with you?"

"Then she'll have confirmed her suspicions."

"Just calm down, Ava. My parents will come over for a nice dinner and then they'll go home. They won't find out because we'll tell them when it's right, okay?"

"I can't believe you're waiting until now to tell me," I grumble.

I march towards the fridge and grab out more ingredients for my chicken stir-fry. I continue chopping the vegetables while Blake buggers off to shower. It's only when he returns that big onset of sickness overcomes me.

"I can't do this, can you cook?" Blake jumps up from his stool and walks around.

"Are you okay?" he asks, worry plaguing his facial features.

"Just feeling sick, I'll be fine once I sit down." I walk around the bench and take a seat. Blake commands the kitchen easily. He chops the last of the carrot up and then adds it to the large wok. Very easily, Blake adds in the sauce and cooks up the ingredients without fault.

When the meal is cooked, Angela and Thomas arrive. They don't bother knocking, they just come straight through to the kitchen – which I guess it to be expected since they were invited for dinner. Usually, Angela knocks or calls out.

Thomas isn't much of a hugger, he walks to the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge. Angela races to my side to envelop me in a tight hug before making a beeline to Blake. She scolds him on his punctuation and how dinner should be on the table – but in a teasing, somewhat funny way. I'd laugh, but the sickness swelling in my stomach is pulling me down like an anchor.