Chapter eighty-one: Baby Registry

Chapter eighty-one: Baby Registry

Jessica

There are two weeks remaining before we go back to the doctor to find out the baby's gender. Today we were currently in the mall looking for cribs and a few other things that I suggested we put on the baby registry.

"We don't need a baby registry." Jeffrey chuckled.

"I am perfectly capable of purchasing everything our child needs."

I gave him a look as we walked by a mahogany wood crib that would look perfect in the house, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him back towards me.

"Don't I get a baby shower?"

"Of course, my Princess can have a baby shower." He smiled teasingly, leaning down and kissing my nose.

"But people bring gifts to baby showers, Jeffrey. So that is where the registry comes in."

He sighed through his nose and I knew he hated having other people buying him things but he is going to have to get over it.

"You don't have to do anything. Whatever we don't buy today, I will put it on the registry."

"Fine," he mumbled.

"Small things, I will deal with the big things myself." I rolled my eyes.

We continued browsing the store. I kept the list of everything to add to the registry, even a few little arguments with Jeffrey on what to add and what he could just purchase himself.

"Oh, my goodness." I giggled, pointing to a little pair of denim overalls and he looked over with a small grin.

"Look at how cute these are."

"We aren't buying outfits yet. My love." He chuckled.

"I am just looking." I shrugged.

"Besides, I could see our son wearing these all the time."

"Daughter," he corrected me and I refrained from rolling my eyes when I looked past him and noticed a man with a camera down a few aisle.

"There is a paparazzi guy behind you." I said quietly and he took a deep breath, rolling his lips between his teeth.

"Come on, let's go back to the cribs, okay?"

He placed his hand on my back, leading me away and we walked back to the cribs. I pointed at the mahogany I saw earlier.

"I really like this one."

"Is it safe?" He asked, examining the bars of the frame.

"It doesn't seem like it would be easy to unlatch and everything, right?"

"Jeffrey, this crib doesn't even open like that." I laughed.

"What? Are you afraid our baby will be an escape artist?" He shrugged sheepishly.

"I just want the crib, okay. I do like the style though." He side-smile.

"Well, how about we look into it?" I suggested.

"Why don't we look online for cribs that don't open?" He nodded, glancing around at the other cribs.

"That's fine. Did you get everything written down for your registry?" He smirked.

"Yes, I did. Why?"

"I am thinking of having the baby shower maybe two months before the due date. Does that seem too early?" He shook his head, mindlessly grabbing my hand and loosely lacing our fingers together.

"No, my love. I think that is fine. We will have to talk to the doctor about when will be the right time, though."

"Yes, of course."

*****

As soon as we got back home, I immediately sat down on the couch to relieve my feet.

"Can we order takeout?" I asked as I heard walked over to me.

I had left him in the car to bring the stuff we bought into the house.

"I am really craving it."

"Sure, sweetheart. What do you want so I can call for it."

"A chicken pepper soup." I replied.

"Okay, I will go order some now. Oh, also has Jorge talked to you about the shoot?"

"A photo shoot? I am not doing one while I am pregnant, Jeffrey. It is not happening."

"It is not planned or anything, Princess, don't worry." I felt a little bad for being slightly snappy about it.

"He just wants to see if you are ready."

"Maybe," I shrugged.

"Okay, I will call him tomorrow and ask for details."

"Okay, my love. Just sit here and look cute while I go order some food."

He left and I grabbed my laptop off the table. I logged into my Facebook to see if any of my old classmates were doing anything fun with their summer and then my eyes landed on a newly posted picture of Jeffrey and I.

It was exactly taken when Jeffrey was leading me away from the paparazzi and this photo was definitely taken by that guy. My back was to the camera, Jeffrey's arms protectively on my waist as he made eye contact with the man snapping the picture. He looked very intimidating and sometimes I forgot that the cheeky, adorable Jeffrey that I know also had a slightly darker side of himself.

I clicked on the article that followed because I couldn't help myself. Basically, they were talking about Jeffrey and I rushed to start a family which wasn't true. They also said that we stole Rose's big day for her, they display us as this media and publicity hungry couple who simply wanted to be in the spotlights at all times. They even added that Jeffrey was never a limelight type of guy until he started seeing me.

I closed the laptop, frustrated with those stupid new articles that I shouldn't even read in the first place. They never came to us for the actual story, they just put us in a bad place and me in a bad mood.

"What is wrong, sweetheart?" Jeffrey asked once we returned to my side.

He sat down on the arm rest and I released my arms from having them crossing over my chest.

"Stupid articles." I shook my head with a sigh.

"Princess," he said, giving me that look.

"I told you not to read those, they aren't even true in the first place." I groaned, leaning back against the couch.

"I know but I can't help but wonder what they say about me."

"It doesn't matter, their perception of you will never be as important as how you see yourself and you know that."

I pressed my lips together, knowing fully well that he was right and I needed to quit worrying so much about what others thought of me.

"Did you get my chicken?" I asked him quietly, not making eye contact and twiddling my thumbs. He reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Yes, my love, I ordered your chicken." I leaned my head into his hand.

"I love you,"

"I love you more." He responded.


*****

"Okay, maybe chicken was a bad idea." I said just before I vomited again.

I was so happy to have some food in my system, only to have it emptied out of my stomach an hour later.

"I am sorry, honey." He said, rubbing my back.

"If I could do anything to help you at all, I would."

"Can I just lay here forever?"

I wanted to sleep in our bed but another part of me didn't want to leave the floor and was perfectly fine with just sleeping where I was.

"Princess, you are pregnant." He chuckled.

"You should really sleep in a bed, not on the bathroom floor."

I breathed out through my nose, grabbing the counter beside me and trying to pull myself up and Jeffrey quickly put his hands under my arms, helping me stand up straight. I went to the sink to wash my mouth.

Jeffrey carried me to the bed and pulled the sheets back on my side and I smiled at him as he climbed into bed next to me.

"Feeling okay? Should I put the bin beside you? Let me go get a glass of water…."

"Jeffrey, I am fine." I grabbed his arms before he could leave the bed.

"Just lay here with me."

His eyes softened and he settled himself back under the sheets.

"Only two weeks until we find out." He said placing his hand on my stomach and tracing a small design on my skin.

"Have you got a sick gender reveal planned?" I asked as I mocked him, he grinned confidently and nodded.

"I have got the best gender reveal planned. We do need to send invites though. If it is in three weeks, invite the girls." I shrugged.

"I am not sure if they are back in Paris yet but I will contact them."

I wanted to invite Janice as well but I wasn't sure if she would be able to make it unless we paid for her ticket.

"What do you have planned?" I asked.

"Now if I told you, it would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" He smirked.

"Jeffrey?" I gave him a look.

"Don't go overboard on this."

"I am not going to go overboard but it is going to be memorable for sure." He reassured me.

We cuddled up to each other and I let sleep over power me.