Reason to Live

“How's my makeup?” I asked.
“I'm not going to lie to Audrey... you've looked better," Marie giggled softly. “Do you want a tissue?” she asked. I nodded. Marie walked towards the table near the door to the main room where the party was held, got a few tissues then panicked.
“Have you seen Audrey, Bob?” I heard my sister ask.
“Quick!”she whispered as she rushed me out the back door. She pushed me outside into my grandmother's garden. I gave her a surprised look.
“It's probably for the best if we talk about this before anyone sees you crying," she explained.
“Okay, but here's probably not the best place either – my Father always ends up out here," I replied.
"Dude, your father is hilarious," Marie laughed.

I ended up leading Marie to the beach that was only a five minute walk from the party. The night was perfect, warm, still at 9.00pm. We sat on top of a sand dune as the warm breeze gently tickled my skin. I squashed sand between my toes, took a deep breath, closed my eyes and let the soothing sounds of the ocean calm me. This was my favourite place in the world.
“This is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been," Marie said, mesmerized by the ocean's beauty. "Oh man, listen to me going all mushy for nature."
“There's no place I'd rather be right now, but here," I said, smiling at her.
“Are you okay?” she asked, looking at me as if to see if I had stopped crying.
“Yeah. It's just so overwhelming ... really bad timing to find out that I'm pregnant, ya know?”
“It's a good thing Audrey, really... I can't imagine life without my baby. Plus, you love kids anyway, right?” she asked, hugging me tightly.
“Yeah,I love children, and I would love to have a baby... It's just... not how I pictured it happening. I always thought I'd have a baby when everything was right, ya know? Like.. married to the perfect guy, one hundred percent ready for it... being sure that my husband is the father...”
“As soon as we get back home, I am taking you to see a doctor. We'll find out when the baby was conceived and sort this mess out. There's no point in worrying until we know exactly what's going on. Besides, It doesn't matter what happens because the bottom line is I'll always be here for you, and so will Bruce because he loves you too.” What she said was so sweet, I couldn't help but smile.
“Thanks Marie, you're such a great friend," I replied. She just smiled back. I could hear familiar voices behind us. I knew the peace and quiet wouldn't last too long.

“Told you she'd be here!” I heard Debbie yell. I didn't bother looking up, I just kept watching my toes as I squashed sand between them. Suddenly I felt myself being picked up.
“Bruce! What are you doing?”, I yelled as he ran down the hill carrying me. The next thing I knew, I was coughing up salt water as he tossed me into a wave.
“Be careful you idiot!”Debbie yelled as she shined a torch in our direction. Marie was laughing.
“What the hell were you thinking?”, I yelled as I pushed my sea soaked hair out of my face. He stood there smiling, his hair was covering his face too. I couldn't help but laugh, he looked so funny. He walked towards me as waves crashed against our legs, wrapped his arms around me and kissed me with plenty of enthusiasm.
“Like I said before babe, I'll do whatever it takes to see you smile," he said as he pressed his forehead against mine.

A week and a half later I sat in my kitchen, nervously waiting for my doctor's appointment. Bruce walked into the kitchen and sat at the table across from me. He gently placed his hand on my chin and lifted my head, which was down as I stabbed my toast with a butter knife. I looked at him curiously and he pouted. "What?" I asked quietly.
"I woke up alone," he smiled, pretending to be sad.
"I couldn't sleep," I replied, standing up to take my plate away. He stood up too, putting his arms around me loosely.
"Something's wrong," he said, watching me closely.
"I just feel a little sick."
"Today you've got your doctors appointment, don't forget."
"Why would I forget?" I asked, slightly annoyed.
"I'm just saying. Please don't worry. I'll go with you," he offered nicely.
"No!" snapped, not realising how horrible I sounded. He looked at me with surprise. "Debbie and Marie are going with me, it's okay Bruce," I said as sweetly as I could to make up for my foul mood. The last thing I wanted was for Bruce to be there when I found out that I was pregnant. Obviously, in a perfect world, I'd want nothing more than for him to be there, but I was so unsure about the pregnancy.
"As long as you go, I'm happy," he said, then kissed my forehead.

Bruce didn't have a clue what was going on, but was glad that I was finally seeing a doctor. He assumed I had a virus or something.
“Stop freaking out!” Debbie snapped, as I quickly flicked through a magazine. Sometimes it bugged me how she always knew what I was thinking, she knows me that well. Debbie even guessed that I was pregnant the night I found out, which was very surprising.
“I'm fine, really," I smiled.
“Liar!” Marie laughed.

“Miss Moore?” the doctor asked as he opened his office door. I took a deep breath and walked in his direction. He was a short, funny looking man with grey hair and huge glasses. He looked more like an evil professor than a doctor.
"Hi. Do you mind if my friends come in too?" I asked. He grunted, as if to disapprove while he stared at a notepad. He changed his mind pretty quickly once looking up to see behind those awful lens, the two blond bombshells I like to call my best friends.
"Of course not! Come in ladies, come in," he said loudly.
"Thank you," Debbie said, lightly touching his hand. She lent in so closely to him, smiling, that I thought he was going to have a heart attack. I was always jealous of how easily she attracted men.

"I'm doctor Pickle," he introduced himself, sitting at his desk. "Please take a seat." As I went to sit down, I looked across at Marie. Her bottom lip was trembling like mad and her face was going a dark shade of red. She was trying really hard to not burst out in laughter. Apparently not hard enough. Debbie started laughing too, more so at Marie than the name "Pickle."
"Oh god, that's the funniest thing I've heard all day," Marie gasped, leaning against me.
"He's serious," I whispered, trying so hard not to laugh myself.
"Excuse me for just a second," Marie said, running out of the room.
"Will she be alright?" the doctor asked.
"She'll be just fine," I giggled.
"Okay, Faye. This is your second visit, you had stomach ulcers?"
"Faye? No, no. I'm Audrey Moore, you've mistaken me for somebody else."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"What do you mean? I think I know my own name," I said very shocked.
"My apologies Audrey. So what seems to be the problem?" he asked, leaving his computer alone.
“Umm, well I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant," I said, trying not to laugh. He picked up my left hand, and looked closely at my engagement ring.
“Pregnant... but not yet married? Hope that doesn't break a few hearts," he joked.
“Haha, yeah... “ I replied awkwardly as he sat back at his computer. He basically asked some typical questions, like when my last period was, symptoms, stuff like that.
Marie returned looking exhausted from laughter. Wiping a tear from her eye she took her seat, trying hard to listen patiently.
“I don't think that you're pregnant," doctor Pickle said shaking his head.
"You don't?" I asked.
"No. The symptoms you've experienced are fairly vague. It simply could be that you've just burnt out from stress. Women often can experience exhaustion, or even sometimes find a pause in their menstrual cycle," he explained.
"..so she's okay?" Debbie asked.
"Absolutely. I do suggest that you get more iron in your diet however."
"But the tests all were positive," Marie said.
"Bleh. They're a waste of money if you ask me. Almost never accurate," he replied.
"How many have you used?" Marie asked, raising an eyebrow.
He didn't answer, but instead stood up and walked to the door. "Thank you for your visit ladies."

When we walked back to the car, Debbie sighed with relief. "Wow, for a minute there I thought I'd have to be a frickin baby sitter. That was a close call. Damn Audrey, tell Bruce to control himself, I don't want you getting knocked up," Debbie laughed, getting into the car.
"I can't believe that guys name is pickle. Haha, can you imagine if he had a wife named Olive? Olive Pickle! That's hilarious," Marie laughed.
"I... I still don't feel right about all this," I worried.
"It's okay Aud, we'll get Bruce neutered," Debbie joked.
"Aww Aud, you wanted a baby didn't you?" Marie asked, hugging me.
"I feel pregnant," I said to her.
"Don't forget that I cooked you like a tonne of Bacon for breakfast... And you ate it all," Marie smiled.
"Yeah, between the two of you, there'd be a billion nacho people around if food babies were possible," Debbie laughed.
"Yeah, I guess," I sighed. It's funny how I missed something I never had.