Chapter 171 - Life's Surprises - Fears
One Year Later
Veronica
I couldn't contain my happiness at this moment, even if Roland was burning with anger, I couldn't be happier. Luckily, he left in the morning with Miguel and Simon to oversee the purchase of the new livestock. The year spent by his side had been the greatest gift life had given me. So many things happened, all were divine blessings. Three months ago, the Moreno twins were born, and Roland was overjoyed with his two nieces.
That gave me some hope for the news I had to share with him. Maybe he would only be a little upset. I had to be thankful and take advantage of the excitement over the girls; Milena and Andrea Moreno would be my shield. The whole family was around, although Simon already had a headache thinking about them growing up. God, please give me the right words to tell Roland about the pregnancy. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my belly was still flat.
I had the irrefutable proof of pregnancy. Diana, who went to the doctor yesterday, brought the tests. For over a month, I had been feeling strange, and only my assistant had the suspicion to consider the possibility of pregnancy. I doubted it because I had always been careful with the quarterly injection. The last one hurt a lot, could the clinic assistant have made a mistake?
Luckily, it was Roland who took me, he was the one keeping track of the times. We chose that method because I only had my period every three months. This left me wondering, because I didn't know how far along I was. I caressed my belly. God, this was your doing. You know why you made us parents now, thank you, Lord. I caressed it again, I couldn't wear anything tight.
I could be two weeks or two months along. It was true that for the past month my appetite had increased, I wanted to sleep more, I desired my husband intensely, and some foods made me nauseous. Like last night's dinner that didn't sit well, and Roland pampered me a lot.
"Roland, we're going to be parents."
I whispered in front of the mirror. I left the test with the two lines on the bathroom counter while I showered, then I looked for a loose dress. From now on, I didn't want to squeeze my baby.
"From now on, take things easy. Sweetheart, mommy already knows you exist. Should we tell daddy today?"
I seemed crazy talking to myself… I wasn't alone anymore, there was a tiny being growing inside me. Now we were two.
"Better wait a bit," I looked at myself in the vanity mirror, my eyes shone differently. I went down to have breakfast.
"Good morning, Ines."
I kissed her on the forehead. She rotated between the three ranches and had forbidden Roland from giving her a farm. Like a grandmother visiting her grandchildren. She arrived three days ago, she was at Miguel's ranch, and two months ago she was helping Luisa with her diet. Now she would be supporting me with my ogre of a husband, and she would act like one upon hearing the news.
"My Vero." She cradled my face. "Are you feeling better?" I nodded. "Carmela didn't add anything different to the food, we don't know what made you sick."
"If I tell you a secret, will you keep it until it's public?"
"Of course, what's going on?"
"You'll be a grandmother for the sixth time."
Her eyes widened in astonishment, she covered her mouth, and with her other hand, she touched my belly, and I nodded.
"I have no idea how it was possible, you know I've been careful, I wanted to have children in a couple of years."
"God's timing is perfect." She responded, hugging me. "The cousins won't be too far apart in age. Last week Diana stopped breastfeeding Isaac and started treatment with a gynecologist. Most breastfeeding women don't get pregnant because they don't menstruate. Now that her period is back, they can determine her ovulation days and try for another baby. Miguel wants more children, they're thrilled with the twins."
"Yes, Roland has become more sensitive about the topic, he might not get so angry."
"He'll get over it, I'll see him smitten with his son or daughter."
"Whatever it is, Ines. Keep the secret for now, in the coming days, I'll prepare the ground and figure out how to tell him. I'll tell my family after telling him. Knowing my father, he'll come over tomorrow, and Santiago will call to congratulate him, welcoming him to the dads' club, of which he's the founder."
I remembered the gathering at the twins' baptism, where we were Milena's godparents and the Garcias were Andrea's. It was an incredible party, who would have thought? A party in Blanco, Texas. That time we all gathered as a family, and since then, we decided to have an annual meeting where the managers and representatives of our businesses in Colombia would attend. It was a three-day celebration two months ago.
Daniel was with his family, Gustavo, who apparently managed to tame Gladis's strong personality. She was an excellent administrator, and they had a bit of a back-and-forth. I knew from her that she was very attracted to that tan-skinned man, but his background left her doubtful. At that meeting, Aníbal introduced us to his fiancée, a slender white woman. It was a lovely contrast, Shirly and him. We liked the girl, she adored her "morocho" as she affectionately called him. She was a lawyer for one of the companies in Colombia.
The only single one so far was Arnold, who was organizing everything to specialize in this country. He also wanted to pursue another degree. For the next few months, he will visit us very often, and he already agreed to ask for lodging every week. Raúl, my skinny husband, kept talking to him daily. He was the manager of the new jam and preservatives factory. All that fruit that Roland used to sell is now bought by the new company, and with my best friend's recipes, the results have been satisfactory.
In the six months he's been with the company, it has already started to make a profit. My husband has a very good advertising campaign for him. I saw him at the baptism where he made friends with Roland's cousin. We'll see how that turns out. PRV Manjarrés was the company specialized in selling purebred semen, and like everything he does, they were being recognized worldwide. At the last fair, it was a success. It was quite profitable, the ranch was running wonderfully.
My father, although he wouldn't say it, was interested in Roland's mother. They talked a lot. Luisa was happy for her. Since arriving in the United States, her mother had been punishing herself for abandoning her son. Mrs. Consuelo needed to live, and if my father could provide that emotional stability, I was happy. Dad, although grumpy, was a good man. The one who frowned sometimes was my husband. Inés made me a delicious breakfast.
"Are you going out today?"
"Yes, I want to know how much time I have. Besides, I rode Hathor at a gallop yesterday. Roland is going to mate her with Amón again. He says he will give a horse to each niece. Let's see, he also has Chocolate, pregnant with Pomposo. Until yesterday, I didn't take care of myself. I want to know if my baby is in perfect condition. Will you accompany Luisa?"
"No, Diana is bringing Isaac to me in the afternoon. She wants to talk to me. Today the girls are getting their vaccines, and Consuelo will accompany Luisa because Simón is no good for that. The last time he accompanied the lady, he ended up scolding the nurse, saying she was rough."
"He adored his late son, but with his daughters, I see him as overprotective. He drives Luisa crazy. He will take them, but he is forbidden to enter the consultation."
"These men are quite a contrast. I'll go to the library. I have a virtual conference with the managers."
I spent the whole morning working. I had scheduled an appointment with a gynecologist after noon. I had just finished the meeting with them. I had to tell the partners that it was time to create an administrative company for Gustavo, Arnold, and each manager of the companies.
The appointment was at three in the afternoon. Soon, they would call us for lunch. Inés must have been waiting for Roland. We always ate together. In the morning, he dedicated himself to the ranch, and I to work. In the afternoons, he was in charge of the other businesses or dedicated himself to designing beautiful houses while I surveyed the animals.
Now that I live with him, I understood Simón when he said he was an intellectual prodigy, doing a thousand things at once. I turned off the laptop. As I got up, I heard someone calling—or rather, shouting—my name.
"VERÓNICA!"
What could have happened? Why is Roland shouting like that? I left the office, and Inés came out of the kitchen. We shrugged when we saw each other.
"I'm calling you! DAMN IT, VERÓNICA!"
"I'll see what's wrong with the madman now." I went upstairs. He was still shouting from our room. "Roland, what’s going on with you? You sound like a lunatic."
I said calmly. He came out of the bathroom with the damn pregnancy test in his hand. Damn! How stupid of me.
"What? What’s wrong with me?" He raised the test. "Tell me this isn't yours!"
His look was a bit scary. I took a deep breath, knowing how difficult this topic would be. Have patience, I told myself.
"What if it is mine?"
My husband's expression changed. It became expressionless, cold. He walked slowly, and for the first time, I felt fear—not for myself, but for my baby. No matter what, our child would be born. I didn't look away, didn't show fear.
"You're pregnant? You’re going to fix this problem right now."
Fear was pushed to the back of my mind and replaced by anger. Did he think I was that kind of woman? Before I stopped taking care of myself, I would convince him to accept it.
"I'm not the Virgin Mary to get pregnant by the Holy Spirit. It takes help to get me pregnant." He was red with anger, his fists clenched. "And according to you, how am I supposed to fix the 'problem'?"