Tina's Story Chapter 18 The Blessing
#5 of Tinas Story
It was a beautiful Fall morning, and everyone in Tina's office got in early. As usual, they began the day in the break room. KC was at the table, reading a copy of Vogue, Rosa was talking to Tina, and Lydia was making coffee, hoping to fully wake up. Colleen then walks in, and joins the group....
"Morning, ladies..."
"My, aren't you cheerful" was Lydia's dour reply.
"You look great, Colleen!" KC chirped "New hairstyle?"
"Not so much; I just set it last night. How's that doctor?"
"I got a date Saturday night!"
"KC got a ducktear!" Rosa teased.
"Coffee, Tina?" Lydia inquired.
"No thanks; my stomachs not so good lately"
KC turned to her friend "What's the matter, honey?"
"I don't know, my stomach just won't settle down in the morning these days" Tina replied.
The girls all gave each other a knowing look
"Any other problems?" Colleen sat down next to her.
"Just, I don't know. I feel all swollen. My breasts are real sensitive. It feels funny, you know, down there. I seem to be peeing a lot"
Once again, the girls exchanged knowing looks. This time, Tina caught them....
"What? All right, what's going on....?"
"Joor praygnant!" Rosa blurted out. Her accent got heavy when she became excited.
"What did she say?" asked a confused Tina
"It looks like you're going to be a mom..." Colleen informed her gently, touching her hand.
Tina seemed genuinely confused.
"But, that can't be......"
KC inquired furthur "When was your last heat?
"It started the same day as my first date with Ray."
"Er, did you....
Tina blushed, and nodded her head
"More than once?"
Tina looked up briefly, then just blushed more
"No protection?"
Tina didn't even look up this time
Colleen gave Tina a motherly hug. the girls had a thousand questions. Tina had a thousand questions of her own. like how Ray would take this, and what would he do....
The day passed in a fog. Tina met Ray, who was driving her home, in the lobby
"Hey, Princess, ready to go home?"
Tina kissed Ray "I need to go to the drugstore, mind picking me up on the corner?"
"No, sure....
Tina went to the drugstore on the corner. She went in, and picked out a home pregnancy test. Was it her imagination, or did the clerk smile at her? She stepped outside to find Ray waiting. She got in the car, and drove to Tina's apartment. They went upstairs. Ray put down his briefcase. She sat down on the sofa.
"Ray?"
There was something in Tina's voice that got Ray's immediate attention. He walked over to the sofa, and joined her there.
"What is it Princess?"
"Ray, I think I'm pregnant....."
Ray took her hand. "Are you happy?
Tina nodded her head "And scared....."
Ray hugged his love. "Are you sure?"
Tina shook her head "The girls seem to think so. I bought the test."
"Well, let's find out..."
They unboxed the test and read the direction. Ever modest, Tina supplied the sample, Then they sat down to wait. In a matter of minutes, the little "+" sign appeared, indicating she was, in fact, pregnant.
Ray took Tina in his arms, and picked her up "I love you so much....."
Tina looked at him, and smiled back. "I love you, too. I'm glad you're happy. Can I...ask a favor?
"Anything."
"I'd just like to be with you tonight. Can we go out on the hammock?"
"Of course we can."
They went outside with the fur blanket, and cuddle under the stars....After a while, Tina spoke...
"I've never been happier, and.....more scared....."
"Why, hon?"
"I didn't know how you'd be with this; not everyone does well. It's all happened so fast. There's so much....so quickly...."
"Do you want to be a mom?" Ray asked tenderly
Tina smiled "I always wanted to be a mom" She got a faraway look, and a broad smile appeared "From when I was little....I had this doll. It was a little anthropomorphic Poodle. How I loved her! She was...like me....she was soooo pretty, and she always smiled. I would dress her for bed every night, and I even had a little school uniform for her, just like mine. I would dress her for school every morning....."
What happened to her?" Ray asked, clearly touched by the memory...
"Don't know, just lost track one day.....
Ray kissed Tina "Can you excuse me a minute?" She nodded, and Ray jumped out of the hammock. He looked around in his briefcase, then came back with a gold box, with a big, gold bow.....
"I got you a present....."
"Why, Ray?"
"Just....because...."
Tina was still like a child in so many ways. And like any child, she loved presents. She opened the box quickly. When she lifted the lid, she stopped, and gasped......
"Oh, Ray!...."
Inside the box was a little anthropomorphic Poodle doll. She wore a tiny school girl's uniform.....
By the time Tina took the doll, and pressed it to her chest, the tears were flowing freely,
"Ray...how....how did you ever know?
"Lucky guess. I found her on Ebay. It just seemed like something a little Poodle girl would love..."
"But, why now?"
"She has a present for you. Look in her hand." Tina looked in the doll's tiny hand. Clasped therein was a magnificent gold and diamond ring. It had two large diamonds, flanking a huge diamond. the rest of the ring had many many smaller stones....
"Ray.....I never......You mean....you were planning this all along?
Ray had gotten out of the hammock....
"It was my mother's" Ray said "Dad got her an even bigger one. She gave it to me...." Ray got choked up with emotion..."To give....someday.....to a girl I love very much....."
Ray dropped to his knees
"Tina, will you marry me?"
He looked up, with hope and fear in his eyes. In a moment, he had his answer
"Oh Ray! Yes, yes, a hundred times yes!
Tina held out her arms to embrace her love.....and fell out of the hammock.Tina dropped into Ray's lap, knocking him over, causing him to bounce off the patio wall. Tina hugged Ray, Ray hugged Tina, and they laughed and laughed on the patio floor.
"Hey, we've got to be a little careful, now. We've got to look out for the babies...."
"Babies? Raymond, do you know something that I don't?"
"Just a feeling. I know you were a single. I just sense more than one...."
Tina kissed him. "So, already connecting to your new family?
"I was there from the start. Didn't you invite me to make some pups that first night?"
Tina thought back "So I did" and she smiled. "Can we go to bed? I'm a little tired. Will you hold me? I just need to be with you tonight...."
Ray kissed her back, took her hand and lead her to get ready for bed. Tina lay down with her head on Ray's chest, never to move all night. There were many things to talk about, but they could wait. Tina just wanted to spend the night with the father of their children...and her future husband