Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 60: one honeymoon later . Gael walks back up to their room with a tray holding two glasses of orange juice, coffee, and as many danishes as he felt comfortable stealing away from the hotel’s continental breakfast. He could have just stayed in bed and ordered up room service, it’s not like they can’t afford it, but Gael had woken up this morning and looked at Arabella’s face on the pillow next to him, peaceful and deeply asleep, and felt like he might burst. It filled him with too much energy to stay in bed, but he couldn't wake her either, not when she looked sweet as honeycomb dripping in sunlight.So Gael had left the quiet stillness of their honeymoon suite in search of sustenance for both of them. It occurred to him on the way back that he might be following some unconscious, primal instinct, fulfilling a caveman desire in the back of his brain to provide for his wife or something like that. It didn’t make much sense, because G
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 59: bigger version of them both . Gael followed orders to change into a pair of scrubs so he would be able to join them in the delivery room. He was attentive to Arabella whenever she called out for him. He gave her a message and got her a glass of water whenever she needed it. His nerves were there, lingering underneath the surface as he watched Arabella scream through a few painful contractions. He couldn’t imagine the pain that the other woman was going through. Gael whispered to her words of encouragement, but he was sure that the other was far too focused on breathing to really hear him. Right as they were being taken to the delivery room, Arabella held Gael’s head between her hands. They stared at each other before Arabella kissed him. “You know I love you, right?” “I know.” She nodded before her face scrunched up into another pain expression. It happened a lot faster than they thought. Honestly, giving birth was harder t
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 58: a Christmas miracle, then? . The following weeks were rough, but all was fine. Hudson was taken in by Faye until his parents could take him home with his baby siblings. The boy did well in the final week of school. He smiled when he got to spend more time at the hospital with his momma. Faye took him, bringing along toys and other things for the boy to play with while she knit and chatted with Arabella. Gael would come and gather the boy before practice and they would all have dinner together before leaving. Afterward, Hudson goes back with Faye and Gael goes to the hospital to stay with his wife. Arabella has been gaining color back and, despite the huge round stomach, the woman moves as much as she can. She complains afterward about her back hurting or her ankles being swollen. She complained she was ugly and bloated, but Gael kissed her silent. Ian offered to pay for a private room when he heard that Arabella didn’t want G
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 57: together . Hudson comes running out of his room, dressed in his new outfit Gael got him when the younger grew out of the last one he had. It’s a nice crisp black like one of Gael's old favorite outfit. Gael chuckles as he sets up the zoom meeting. He isn’t sure if his father will be there, he still hasn’t come around to Arabella fully. He knows that his mother probably has informed him of everything already. He knows she wants them to fly out to that country for the wedding and to visit family since Arabella will be a part of their family soon, but he really doesn’t want that. Sighing, Gael makes sure Hudson’s laptop is facing the couch and plugged in to save battery as they call. It is later than either would like Hudson to be up, but it is the only time that they can call. It’s nearing 10 pm and Hudson really should be in bed, but tomorrow is Saturday and they aren’t going anywhere other than practice and Arabella’s appointm
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 56: family can be more than two . “Friends and family, guests and competitors!” The announcer comes over the PA again, “Welcome to the Featherlight Finals! We will now announce the finalists. In red, hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing at 124 pounds is Drake Fowller.” As the man walks out, a large roar from the crowd comes. Arabella remembers what Gaby told him about Fowller. He is slightly smaller than Gael, but only by an inch. He is 21 years old and won last year's competition. “In blue, from Eugene, Oregon, weighing in at 130 pounds exactly, is Gael Laurent.” Arabella claps and cheers along with their section. She wants to believe her ears when the cheers for Gael are more powerful than the other, but she isn’t sure. Maybe Gael is more popular than she thought. The man walks out, the blue gear on him. He looks bigger with those on him, though he is slender. He has the same face as earlier. This time, he looks up right awa
Stranger! Please be my Child’s Father .Chapter 55: finals. As they went into the second round, Arabella saw a shift in Gael. As the second round started, Gael went on the offensive right away, attacking with a strong kick and backing Trevor into a corner. He was able to get a hit in and the crowd roared again, but something didn’t get called right and the round was paused as Gael’s coach called out the missed point. Gael backed away, chest heaving. Trevor looked ready to continue, not taking the moment to rest. Gael stood with his hands on his hips, trying to steady himself. Arabella knew the other was nervous. He’s been nervous this whole weekend. He confided in her, a few nights before they came, that he used to not get nervous. That the last time he remembers being this nervous was the night before his match that would decide if he got onto the Olympic team or not. Now, the artiste was nervous for every match, as if he knew that this could be his last at any moment. The po