Life Goes On–Part 11
By Nancy F. Thysell (The Nifty Lady)
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New Year’s Day--1978
Chris rolled over and reached out for Johnny and awakened when she found him missing. She lifted her head and looked around the room as her eyes adjusted to the available light.
"Johnny?" she called softly. She sat up in bed and suddenly realized she was naked and instinctively pulled the sheet up to her chin. She smiled, remembering their lovemaking and then frowned at the memory of Van Kessler. She looked at the alarm clock and saw that it was nearly three a.m. "Where are you, Johnny?" she wondered aloud. She slipped out of the bed and drew on her robe. She made her way downstairs. She could see that the light was on in the kitchen and there were subtle noises emanating from the room. Quietly she crossed the room and from the shadows of the living room peeked into the kitchen. Johnny, now dressed only in a T-shirt and a pair of boxers, stood at the sink as he vigorously cleaned up the party mess. One could almost imagine his pounding one hapless Van Kessler as he scrubbed the stuck on food from their platters. His face was dark with anger over the actions of his fellow paramedic. Between his intense scrubbing and the hot steam from the sink, beads of perspiration formed on his forehead. He wiped them away with the sleeve of his T-shirt. He was so absorbed in his chore that he didn’t hear Chris’ approach. She padded softly into the room to stand beside him.
"Happy New Year," she said as she approached. Startled, Johnny nearly dropped the platter in the sink and turned a surprised look to her.
"Chris?"
"Careful now! We haven’t even written the thank you note on that one yet," she cautioned in a teasing tone. Johnny grinned and leaned over to give her a peck on the lips.
"Good morning! What are you doing up so early?" he asked as he wiped his dishpan hands off with a towel. Chris moved closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I found myself all alone," she said simply. "I was wondering what had happened to my husband."
Johnny turned slightly away, his left hand clenched into a fist and avoided Chris’ eyes. "I...I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d get a start on the clean up," he explained lamely. He didn’t want Chris to know how still upset he was over Van’s actions. Besides it hadn’t been that long since their last guest had gone.
Chris had her suspicions as to why Johnny couldn’t sleep. She rested her head on his chest and hugged him. She felt him kiss the top of her head. She lifted her head so she could look at him.
"You know, I think I have a better way for you to spend your energies if you can’t sleep," Chris said suggestively. Johnny, taken aback at her forwardness, grinned down at her.
"You do, do you?"
"Hmm-hmm," she replied and pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. As Johnny responded to her kiss, he was more than aware that she was naked beneath her robe. That thought alone was enough for Johnny. Together they moved into the living room, knowing they’d never make it up the stairs and fell unto the sofa.
Later they sat, side-by-side on the sofa, wrapped in the blanket that had adorned it. Johnny had placed his cast on the coffee table and leaned his head back and laughed.
"Girl! Are you trying to plumb wear me out?" he teased.
"Me? What about you?" Chris giggled. "It’s no wonder I’m so tired all the time!"
Johnny chuckled at her comment and then thought about what Chris had just said.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked in all seriousness.
"What?" she asked perplexed.
"What do you mean that you’re so tired all the time? Are you? Tired all the time?" he pressed.
"I...I guess I have been. I really hadn’t thought too much about it, you know. So much has been happening. It’s not like I’ve had much of a chance to relax!" she responded, defensively. Johnny felt her body stiffen.
"Now, now. It’s okay. I’m just concerned. That’s all. Because you have been through so much, I worry about you!" Johnny told her plainly and he felt her relax again. "I love you Chris. I’d die if anything happened to you!"
"Oh, honey! I love you so much!" she responded. She hugged herself against him. She did love him! She needed him! He was her whole world! A tear ran down her cheek and Johnny brushed it away with a gentle finger.
"What’s this?" he asked as he rubbed his hand against her cheek.
"I guess I’m just so happy."
"Me too. You make me happy. Happier than I ever knew I could be," he admitted. They snuggled for a few minutes then Johnny moved to get up.
"Where are you going?" Chris asked sleepily as he rose to his feet. He reached down a hand to pull Chris up as well.
"We’re going to bed," he informed her. Chris nodded as a yawn escaped her lips.
"Okay." Sleepily, she followed him up the stairs.
Dawn was breaking as they crawled back into bed. In moments they were both sound asleep. But Chris awoke an hour later feeling nauseous. Quietly she eased herself from Johnny’s arms and hurried into the bathroom. She shut the door before she turned on the light. She leaned over the toilet and retched. When it was over, her body shook from the exertion and she slipped to the floor and tried to calm her breathing. The door opened and Johnny looked at her in concern.
"Chris? What happened? Are you sick?" he asked as crossed to her and helped her to her feet. She swayed a bit unsteadily as she rose.
"I’m okay. Just a little nauseous. That’s all," she attempted to minimize it but Johnny wasn’t buying. Too many years as a paramedic was setting off all kinds of warning bells. He led her back to the bed and had her sit down. He started an assessment.
"Really, Johnny. I’m okay. I feel fine now. It was probably just something I ate last night that didn’t agree with me," she said in an attempt to belie his concerns
Johnny considered that. "Okay. What did you eat last night?"
Chris stalled as she tried to recall what she had eaten. She knew she had served plenty of food but now that Johnny was asking her, she really couldn’t remember eating anything in particular. "I don’t know. Chips and maybe one of those sandwiches. I don’t remember."
Johnny frowned as he looked her over. She appeared fine now but it worried him considerably and Chris could tell how worried he was. She placed her hand on his arm.
"I’ll make an appointment and get checked out, okay?" she promised him. She had to admit that she’d been worried. This way she could relieve both their concerns.
"First thing Monday morning," Johnny insisted.
"First thing Monday morning," Chris agreed. She ran her fingers up his arm and hooked her hand behind his neck. She leaned into him seductively and batted her eyelashes at him. "Now how about some...breakfast!"
Johnny burst out laughing. "Sure! Let me get cleaned up a bit and I’ll meet you in the kitchen."
Chris looked at him shyly. "I dunno Johnny. Last time we did that, we...uh . . . " She let the sentence float away with a crimson blush. He laughed again. He tweaked her nose.
"Well, this time, behave yourself!" he teased. As he turned to enter the bathroom, Chris stuck her tongue out at him which Johnny caught in the mirror.
"I saw that!" he chuckled. Chris planted her hands on her hips and made a face at him as she moved out of his line of vision.
While Johnny washed up, Chris entered the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. The rich aroma of the brew suddenly caused her stomach to churn. She rushed to the half bath off the kitchen and tried to vomit but her stomach was empty. She went back into the kitchen and found that the smell of the coffee was more than she could stand. Holding her nose she took the pot and poured it down the drain. After running water after it, she filled the pot with water. Maybe Johnny wouldn’t mind a cup of tea? She pulled out a can of air freshener and sprayed the room to dispel the coffee aroma.
Johnny arrived in the kitchen to find a breakfast of cold cereal, toast, juice and hot tea. He looked at Chris, questioningly. She shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess my tummy is still a bit queasy," she explained. Johnny sniffed the cup of tea. It smelled flowery.
"What kind is this?" he asked as he looked at it.
"Chamomile," she answered as she sipped from her cup. Johnny nodded and tasted it. It was okay but what Johnny really wanted was a cup of coffee.
"Thanks anyway, Sweetie. But I think I’d rather have some coffee, instead." Chris started to protest but Johnny waved her to sit back down. "That’s okay. I’ll make it."
Chris watched him as he measured the grounds out and filled the pot with water. She didn’t want Johnny to see her get sick again so she got up.
"I’ll go check on Peggy Sue. She probably needs to go out anyway," Chris reasoned. She hurried to the basement stairs as the fragrance of the brewing coffee began to fill the room. She closed the door behind her and was met by excited yipping from the young dog.
"Good morning, Miss Sue," she called. She walked over to the stairs that lead to the outside door, with the pup following on her heels. She bent down, picked her up and carried her up the stairs. Once Peggy Sue had the freedom of the outdoors she ran. She stopped and sniffed. She barked and bounced around. Suddenly, Chris realized that Peggy Sue was not in need of this "walk" and groaned as it occurred to her that there was most likely a mess to clean up in the basement. She retraced her steps and before long, her nose detected the spot. Funny how, this odor didn’t nauseate her the way the coffee had. She set about cleaning the spot.
By the time Chris returned upstairs with Peggy Sue right behind her, Johnny had finished his breakfast and was relaxing with a cup of coffee and the morning paper in his recliner. Peggy Sue made a beeline for her supper dish, which Chris filled with food for her. Then Chris sat down to eat her breakfast, but try as she may, the lingering smell of the coffee made it impossible to eat. The phone rang and Johnny picked up the extension by his chair. It sounded like to Chris that it was Roy on the other end of the line. She gathered her cereal bowl and juice and slipped out onto the patio. She placed her breakfast on the patio table and pulled up one of the chairs and sat down. About the time she ate her last spoonful, Johnny appeared at the door.
"Who was on the phone, honey?" she asked. Johnny leaned against the doorjamb.
"It was Roy. He and JoAnne would like us to come over for dinner tonight. Are you up to it?"
"Are you kidding? A meal I don’t have to cook myself, especially a JoAnne DeSoto meal! What time?" Chris responded eagerly.
"They said we could come over whenever we wanted. The kids are watching the parade and then I guess Roy and I’ll watch the game. Dinner would be after that. So, when would you like to go?"
"Well, since neither one of us has to work tomorrow, why don’t we leave the rest of the cleanup from the party until then? That means as soon as the horses are fed, we could go."
"Sounds good to me," Johnny grinned. Chris smiled back at him as she rose to return to the kitchen. Johnny headed off to the barn while Chris put her dishes in the sink. Holding her nose again, she poured the remaining coffee down the drain and hoped Johnny wouldn’t notice. That done, she hurried off to shower and dress.
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JoAnne and Chris sat on the DeSoto’s deck and watched Jennifer and Chris playing in the back yard with a couple of neighborhood kids. Roy and Johnny had become engrossed in the bowl game so the ladies left the men to their entertainment. Roy had relinquished his recliner so that Johnny could elevate his leg. Plied with a couple of beers they cheered their team on enthusiastically.
"I never got to thank you properly for the party last night," JoAnne said apologetically. "I hope you’re feeling better today."
Chris studied her hands a moment before answering. "Yeah, I’m fine. It was pretty awful what..." she couldn’t say Van’s name, "...what he did. But Johnny! He was so wonderful! He was really there when I needed him." JoAnne noticed Chris got a faraway look in her eye and smiled.
"Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything?" JoAnne teased. Crimson rose to Chris’ cheeks as she blushed.
"Well, we did make love. It...It was so special!" she responded dreamily. JoAnne smiled, knowingly and then looked at her watch.
"Oh, my! Look at the time. I need to get dinner started. You want to help me?" she asked as she rose to her feet.
"Okay, as long as I don’t have to make coffee," Chris half-laughed. JoAnne looked at her sharply.
"Why is that?"
Chris suddenly felt stupid. "I’m finding the fragrance unsettling to my tummy," she explained lamely.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Since this morning," Chris admitted. JoAnne studied the younger woman a moment and then her eyes grew wide.
"Chris! Are you pregnant?" JoAnne asked excitedly.
Chris stared back at JoAnne in disbelief. "You’re kidding? Right?"
"When was your last period?"
Chris thought for a moment. "It was right before the wedding. I just figured with all the stuff going on that I..." She was mentally taking inventory of the dates and times and when it all added up, she stared back at JoAnne. "That can’t be possible! I mean, we’ve taken precautions."
"Didn’t you tell me before that sometimes you hadn’t?"
Chris blushed. "Well..."
"Then, I’d say that in all likelihood, you’re pregnant. Chris! You could be four or five weeks along!" JoAnne figured going back time-wise to the wedding. Chris stared, trying to comprehend. Her hand fell to her mouth.
"Oh my! JoAnne. You might be right! I haven’t been feeling that good lately. But if I’m that far along, wouldn’t they have found that out when I fell?" she tried to reason.
"Good point. They may not have run a pregnancy test then. So I guess we have to do a pregnancy test now, huh?" JoAnne resigned herself to the wait.
"How long will that take?" Chris asked out of curiosity. JoAnne shrugged.
"I don’t know. Things have changed a lot since I had Jennifer. They’re coming out with all sorts of new methods to speed up the process. My OB-GYN even said they’re talking about marketing home pregnancy tests."
"Really? Won’t you still need the doctor to confirm it?" Chris asked wondering how one would do a home test.
"I guess. I think the purpose is for you to find out earlier so, oh I don’t know, so you know how long before the baby is due?" JoAnne shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, that’ll be something to see!" Chris commented.
"Listen! You’ll have to let me know as soon as you find out!" JoAnne requested of her friend. Chris giggled.
"Is it okay if I let the father know first?"
"Sure and then you can tell me right after you tell Johnny," JoAnne teased. Chris shook her head and they headed into the kitchen. The game was nearing its end and the day was growing short. JoAnne and Chris set the table with an assortment of cold cuts, salads and chips. They set out more beers for the guys while everyone else drank milk.
It was a good meal. Johnny thought it a bit odd that JoAnne didn’t offer after dinner coffee but decided not to ask. The kids were sent off to bed early as school resumed the next morning. The couples relaxed on the deck and enjoyed each other’s company. Finally, noting Chris seemed to be tiring, Johnny suggested that they head for home. They were only a few miles from the DeSoto’s when Chris asked if they could stop for ice cream. That surprised Johnny as Chris didn’t seem to go for desserts that much. It surprised him more when she said she wanted a large, chocolate/strawberry malted milkshake. And heavy on the malt. They stopped at the Foster’s on the way home and Johnny ordered a chocolate milkshake for himself and Chris’ unusual request. It amused Johnny to watch Chris greedily consume her shake. But she did seem quite content once she had finished it.
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Chris drove Johnny to Rampart General for his checkup with Dr. Brackett. They entered the ER and found Dixie working at the base station desk. She glanced up and smiled at their approach.
"Well, if it isn’t the Gages," she said warmly. "Oh, great party by the way if I failed to tell you."
"Thanks Dix. Is Doctor Brackett around?" Johnny asked. Dixie gave him an inquiring look. "He said he wanted to check me out today."
"Did you make an appointment?" Dixie asked in all seriousness.
"Huh? An appointment? Uh, no. I just figured..."
"You just figured you could waltz in here any old time and he’d see you. Right?" she said sternly.
"Well, yeah. I guess so," Johnny replied awkwardly. Chris was beginning to feel the effects of the coffee pot at the back of the base station. It’s aroma assaulting her senses. Dixie took in Chris’ changing complexion with alarm.
"Chris?"
"Excuse me," Chris mumbled and stumbled off to the ladies room. Johnny turned and went after her, with Dixie on his heels, as Chris disappeared into the ladies’ restroom. Johnny stopped at the door while Dixie pushed her way into the room. She could hear Chris vomiting in the stall and stood by until she finished. When she helped Chris up, she found her pale and trembling. Dixie guided her to the sink and held her as she washed her mouth out with water.
"Sorry," Chris apologized as she wiped her face with the paper towel Dixie had handed her. "Thanks."
"Come on, I think I’ll have Kel take a look at you while he checks out that husband of yours," she informed Chris. Chris smiled weakly.
"Okay. I don’t mean to be so much trouble."
"Never! Now, Johnny...well that’s another story," Dixie joked. Chris laughed and allowed Dixie to escort her to Treatment Room Four. Johnny was upset and worried as they exited the restroom and followed, impatient for an explanation. Dixie put Chris on the exam table and made Johnny sit in a chair. Efficient as ever, Dixie put together a chart and began asking Chris about her symptoms and other pertinent information. As Johnny sat listening to the exchange, he began to occur to him that Chris might be pregnant! His anticipation grew and was nearly beside himself by the time Dr. Brackett appeared in the room.
"Hello, Johnny. Chris. What brings you two here today?" he asked lightly. Then he looked at Johnny’s cast. "Oh right, I told you to, didn’t I?" He half laughed at his own forgetfulness. "By the way, Johnny. The department wants you to help with the next paramedic class until you’re able to return to active duty."
"When does it start?" Johnny wanted to know.
"Tomorrow. You up to it?"
Johnny grinned. "You bet, doc!"
"Great! Let’s get this exam over so I can get back to my real patients," Brackett teased. Then he realized that Chris was waiting on him too.
Dixie handed him Chris’ chart and he looked it over. He raised a suspicious eyebrow and asked Dixie to prepare Chris for an examination. In the meantime, he pulled Johnny into another room to check out the healing of his injuries. Johnny had protested but allowed himself to be moved. Then Brackett left Johnny alone as he went to examine Chris. Waiting and not knowing, that was the hardest part for Johnny. He sat on the exam table, wondering what was happening to his wife even though he thought he knew.
After an eternity of a few minutes, Dixie came into the exam room where Johnny waited. She smiled as she crossed to him and handed him a couple of prescriptions.
"Kel wants you to get these filled and start Chris on them right away," she instructed.
"How’s Chris?" he asked anxiously.
"I believe she’s just fine," Dixie responded. Johnny tried to read Dixie’s expression but she had on her professional, head nurse face. He wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.
"What’s wrong, Dixie?" he demanded. Dixie looked at him in surprise.
"Who said anything was wrong?"
"I just thought...If...Well, if she’s okay..." Johnny stammered and waved the prescriptions at her.
"Kel’s waiting on the results of a few tests," Dixie explained.
"Tests! What kind of tests?"
"Calm down, Johnny," she said soothingly. "They’re standard blood tests. We should have the results in an hour or so."
"An hour! Dix!" he groused.
Dixie pointed a firm, no nonsense finger at the young paramedic. "Listen here, John Gage. You know as well as I do that blood tests take time and you will be patient. You hear me!"
"Yes ma’am. Can I see her?" he asked meekly. Dixie demeanor softened.
"Yes. You can see her. Come on."
"Thanks Dix."
"You’re welcome," Dixie responded as she escorted Johnny back to the other treatment room. She rapped on the door before she opened the door. At Chris’ response, she opened the door and ushered Johnny inside. "Sit," she ordered and left them alone in the room. Johnny perched on a swivel stool and turned from Dixie’s disappearing form to Chris. She was adjusting her clothing, standing on the far side of the exam table. Johnny looked at her, questioningly.
"So?" he finally asked. Chris shrugged her shoulders.
"I’m not sure," she answered honestly. She looked a little worried. She crossed over to Johnny and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. He held her close. A few minutes later Dixie opened the door again.
"Hey you two. We need this room for sick people. Okay if I move down you to the lounge?" she asked brightly.
"Sure Dix. No problem," Johnny answered for them both. They moved out of the room and down the hall to the lounge. Johnny grinned as he inhaled the fresh brewed pot of coffee as they entered the room. Chris also got wind of the coffee and her stomach responded accordingly. She spun on her heels and ran for the ladies’ room. Unaware, Johnny made his way over to the pot and poured himself a cup.
"Hey Chris! You want a cup..." he asked as he turned to find her gone. "Chris?" Johnny walked back into the hall, leaning on his crutch with one arm as he sipped his coffee. He looked up and down the corridor, wondering where Chris had disappeared to. He got his answer a moment later as Chris came out of the ladies’ room. She looked much paler than she had moments ago and that alarmed him. He met her half way.
"Chris! Are you all right?" he demanded. Chris was about to answer when the smell of Johnny’s cup of coffee assaulted her senses. She turned on her heel and fled back into the restroom. Johnny watched her flee, perplexed. Dixie was passing by and saw the exchange.
"I’ll go check on her," she said as she pushed the door open. Dixie returned a moment later and guided Johnny down to Kelly Brackett’s office.
"What’s going on Dixie?" Johnny demanded as she pushed him inside. Dixie gave him a stern look.
"I want you to wait here!" she informed him and as an afterthought, she took his coffee cup away.
"Hey! I was drinking that!" he complained.
"Not anymore," she told him and shut the door behind her as she left. Johnny crossed his arms in frustration. He was about to get up when the door opened again and Dixie ushered Chris into the room.
"Sit!" Dixie instructed Chris and shut the door on the couple. Chris crossed over to Johnny and sat down beside him.
"Sorry," she said meekly. He put his arm about her shoulders and kissed her head.
"Nothing to be sorry for," he said. He wished someone would tell them what was going on. It scared him how pale Chris appeared but he could tell that she wasn’t running a fever. He hoped Brackett would tell him what was causing Chris to be so nauseous. As if on cue, the doctor in question entered his office, carrying several charts with him.
"Hey. Dixie told me she’d moved you two in here," he said with a laugh. He made his way over to his desk and sat down in his leather chair. He opened the chart on the top of the stack and looked over the information. Johnny couldn’t stand it any longer.
"What is it Doc? What’s wrong with Chris?"
Kel looked over at the anxious paramedic and a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth.
"Well, Johnny, I’m afraid that she’s..." Brackett began in a serious tone. The color drained from Johnny’s face and he felt a tightening in the pit of his stomach. Johnny reached out and held Chris’ hand, bracing himself for the "bad" news. A bemused expression crossed Kel’s countenance as he continued, "...pregnant." He waited for the news to sink in.
Johnny looked at Brackett for a moment, uncomprehending. Then he looked at Chris, tears were filling her eyes and then he looked back at Kel, trying to find his voice.
"Pregnant?" he asked hoarsely. "We’re pregnant?"
Kel laughed, "Well, technically, only Chris is pregnant but I assume you had something to do with it."
Johnny grinned broadly. "She’s pregnant? We’re expecting!" He pulled Chris into his arms and kissed her. Chris trembled, happily, tears streaming down her face.
"Congratulations," Kel offered.
"So, how far along are we...I mean...is Chris?" Johnny asked. Chris looked intently at the doctor for his answer as well.
"It’s a little early to be precise but I figure it to be at about four weeks. So we’ll be looking at a due date of somewhere near the end of August," Kel concluded.
Johnny turned to Chris. "We’re pregnant!" he beamed. Dr. Brackett went on to encourage Chris to begin prenatal care with her own obstetrician.
"Let’s go tell Roy and JoAnne!" Johnny suggested. Chris smiled her approval. They thanked Kel and headed for the parking lot. Dixie gave them each a congratulatory hug as they passed through the ER.
Johnny was being very solicitous as he guided Chris to the driver’s side of the pickup. She was pensive as he slid in the passenger’s seat.
"What’s wrong Sweetie?" he asked in concern.
"Uh...I think I know what’s triggering my morning sickness," she said quietly.
"Oh yeah? What?" he asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Coffee. I can’t stand the smell of coffee," she told him and watched his reaction. He turned a confused looked at her.
"What are you telling me, Chris?" he asked in all seriousness. She placed a hand on his arm.
"I mean, you can’t have coffee around me," she said gently. Johnny struggled with that thought. No coffee?!!!
"Okay but I can’t promise I won’t go without it," he half chuckled. "But I’ll try."
"Thanks, honey," Chris responded genuinely. Contentedly, the Gages drove over to the DeSotos to share the news.
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END PART 11--TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 12
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