Chapter 60: Chapter Sixty

Many days later, I feel something's off. I've been late for two weeks now. Don't tell me... Am I pregnant? Oh no. I have to tell Harry about this. But first I have to make sure. Am I really pregnant? Did all the adventures we did have a yield? Being late for two weeks and a few days is already proof that something's growing in my womb, right? Why am I worrying too much anyway? I have to tell Harry about it now. I rose to my feet and immediately went to his office, where he's working. I knocked at the door.

"Come in, Georgia, if that's you; you don't have to knock," he said.

I pushed the door open and approached him. He's sitting comfortably on a swivel chair in front of his computer with his black-shoed feet on the desk, wearing a white shirt with the top buttons undone and black pants, his tie untied, revealing a part of his hairy chest. There's a black tumbler on his desk beside the computer. I still remember those days when he was my boss, but now I see him differently—my fiancé, the father of my child.

"Do you need something?" he asked, his eyes following me as I sat on the chair beside him. He put his feet down on the floor.

"I have something to tell you, Harry," I said.

"You sound so serious. What is it that you want to tell me?" he asked, supporting his jaw with the back of his fingers on the table.

"It's about us," I said.

"About us?" His eyebrow raised, he leaned on his back, showing his confusion. "Why? Are you breaking up with me? Are you here to cancel our engagement? Why? Did I do something wro—"

I put my finger on his pinkish lips. "Shhh... Listen to me first, Harry. You didn't do anything wrong, and most of all, I'm not here to break our engagement. I'll never do that, especially now that I am pregnant."

"Preg—" He paused with a shocked expression on his face. His eyes moved from side to side, as if searching for any signs that I might be tricking him. "Did I... Did I hear that right?"

"Yes, you did. I am pregnant, Harry. You're finally a dad."

"You're pregnant. I'm finally a dad," he imitated. A wide smile invaded his face. "I'm finally a dad. Yeah, I'm finally a dad," he repeated again and again. He's beaming with pride as he stood up and flexed his biceps. "I can't believe I'm finally a dad!"

I stood up. "Calm down, Harry."

"No, this is great news." He moved back and forth several times, stopped, and then held my waist and raised me up. His happiness is so contagious that I can't help but smile. I didn't expect he'd react this way, as if he's at the top of the world.

"I love you, Georgia, and I love our baby too." He turned around several times before putting me down. He let out a euphoric sigh. "I can't wait for us to get married. This is the most beautiful Christmas gift I've ever received in my whole life."

Right. It's Christmas already. It's the first ever Yule that I can't spend with anyone in my family. I want to pay my father a visit, but I don't think Harry would let me do that. Perhaps it's God's gift to give me a child after all my losses in life.

Harry finally settled down. I told him to relax, but he couldn't contain his excitement. "Is there something I can do to make it feel easier for you, darling?" he asked.

"Nope. You don't have to do anything for me, Harry. Just leave this to me. It's my duty to take care of this child as long as it's in my womb," I said.

"You're right. There's nothing I can do for the next nine months. I can't wait for our child to finally come out so that I can hold him or her," he said. "What do you think? Is it a girl or a boy?" His eyes gleamed as he asked.

"I don't really mind about the sex of our child; all I want is that it'll come out healthy," I said.

"Yeah, you're right. It doesn't matter what our child's gender is as long as it'll be healthy," he agreed. "And that's why you have to take care of yourself. You'll have to stop doing the hard work, avoid stress, and eat a lot of healthy foods."

"Yes, doc," I said in a sarcastic tone.

"That's right." He patted my head. "Now I'm starving. We should grab something to eat." He held my hand, and we got into his car. He drove to the nearest restaurant, and we had our lunch there.

At the table, I asked Harry if he'd allow me to pay my father a visit just for today. "I want to greet him a Merry Christmas and let him know that I am doing fine, and maybe inform him that I am pregnant and getting married to the most handsome man in the world soon."

"Do you really want to do that?" he asked.

"Um." I nodded, looking at the bowl of salad in front of me and a glass of still water.

"Alright, let's go there then. If it can make you happy, we'll do it. I don't want to see my bride sad on Christmas," he said.

After lunch, Harry and I headed to S.C. Department of Corrections, where my father is imprisoned. Despite everything, I still feel guilty that he had to go through this. He's my father, and I never wanted to see him suffer, but a part of me is also asking for justice, and I hope that this punishment will change him. I know it's never too late for anyone to change, to be brand-new, for the universe offers us endless possibilities and many chances to become better versions of ourselves.

It took us at least an hour or two to get to the Department of Corrections. I feel sorry for Harry that he had to drive this far. I asked him if he could teach me how to drive so that his body wouldn't go numb, but he wouldn't do that, saying that I might run away from him if I learned how to drive and that it's alright to let him control the steering wheel and to trust him. I hate this version of him, a heroic Harry, always shouldering everything. We stopped several times to change tires and refuel and eventually reached the prison.

There were many guards and very tight security, just a typical prison. We were inspected thoroughly just in case we brought some weapons with us, or maybe bombs are attached to our bodies, just like in movies, before they allowed us into the visiting room, which is a booth with a glass partition.

We were given at least 10 minutes to talk since there were a lot of other visitors since it's Christmas. I feel so sad to see my father on the opposite side of the booth. I want to at least hug him, to tell him that I've forgiven him. He didn't say anything when I told him about the wedding and that I am pregnant, just listening to my voice in the ringer and looking into my eyes blankly.