Gen 3- Chapter 9: Apricot Bloom

It wasn’t even three weeks after Olive left our house, that she showed back up on the door step. Looking incredibly sheepish, she confided in Peche Jr. that her mother had kicked her out when she found she was pregnant. Being the wonderful fun person Olive was, she really had no other friends. Which also meant she had no where else to go.

Unlike me, this was the first Peche was learning of the pregnancy. He was so overjoyed, I swear he almost teared up. He told her she could stay as long as she needed.

He called mom downstairs and replayed the poor experience for her. Mom was shocked by the cold and cruel behavior of and Kiwi and insisted she stay as well. I had never seen such gratitude across her face before. She thanked both Peche and my mother wholeheartedly.

From that second on, Peche was in daddy mode and I’d never seen him happier.

Now almost this exact scenario played out for me in my head the day we heard her in the bathroom that morning. So none of it was a surprise to me. That doesn’t mean I was excited about it, I just knew it was coming. I spent a lot of my time in Orange Blossom’s room, and the house was pretty big, so we did not see each other much.

Orange Blossom was such an angel. We were already trying to teach her how to talk. She was not very interested in it at first. Once she had gotten a couple words down though, she just wouldn’t quit.

“Dadeeeee! Dadeeeee!”

Little changed from babyhood to toddlerhood for Orange Blossom and Pummy. She still adored him and he we still wrapped around her finger. She looked so much like him, it was uncanny.

Olive and Peche decided to move into the old guest house. It did give them some well needed privacy, and also kept her out of my hair. She spent a lot of time napping and it seemed pregnancy had mellowed her out. I only hoped it would last.

The only time I really saw her, was when she would come into the main house to work out. Something about the TV in the living room she preferred better. One afternoon while she was getting her burn on, Peche floated through the sliding glass door. He grabbed the remote and paused the more annoying than helpful instructor on the tube. Olive stopped and turned to Peche with a more than confused look on her face.

“Olive, I think you are the most beautiful woman alive, and now you are going to have my baby. Please make me an honest man and marry me?”

Olive did not even hesitate. She accepted and Peche slid the ring on her finger.

I was at the computer the entire time, and heard the whole. I felt sick, as much as I would like to say it was from the surprise proposal, it wasn’t. I had been feeling nauseous on and off for a little while. This new medical plan we were getting through Pummy’s work offered online support. My results were in and yes I was with child once again.

I jumped from the computer to tell Pummy the good news. To no surprise he was just as overjoyed as I was!

He tried to listen to my tummy, but it was entirely too soon to hear anything. He didn’t care though and neither did I.

We got another surprise that day. Precious and Seashell were also expecting their second child. According to the doctors are due dates were going to be incredibly close, if not on the same day! I could hardly wait to find what we were having!

While we were giddily making plans, baby Bitters had plans of its own. Olive went into labor right then and there. Pummy and I were the only ones home at the time, so we took her off to the hospital. As Pummy drove, I called Peche to relay the news.

Precious offered to stay with Orange Blossom until we got back home. Orange Blossom loved her auntie dearly. Who am I kidding? Orange Blossom loved everyone!

The diner was not far from the hospital and Peche ran all the way there. It was a very quick delivery though, so by the time he arrived, the baby was already here.

Forrest Bitters was born at 11:16 pm. Peche was now the proud father of a little baby boy.

After a few days, I dared to venture into Forrest’s room. There was Olive holding her darling bundle of joy. He really was precious baby.

“Congratulations…He is beautiful.”

“Uh…thanks.” she replied as she shifted him up on to her shoulder.

I was just about the to leave the room when she said something else.

“Hey…”

“Ya?”

“I just wanted to say…sorry.”

Thats all she said, but it meant so much more than just one word. For the first time in my life I looked back at her with a smile.

She stayed in his room for hours that night. Just watching him sleep. Somewhere around midnight I heard her walk downstairs and through the sliding glass door.

After I had left Forrest’s room, Precious cornered me downstairs.

“I have an awesome idea!” A devious smile creeping across her face.

“Oh, I don’t know if I like the sound that.”

She laughed. “Lets do something crazy! After the babies are born. Lets get tattoos!”

“Wha?!”

“Just think about it! OMB Apri it would be so fun!”

It did sound fun, but terrifying at the same time. “I’ll think about it.”

The next morning Peche awoke to find Olive’s side of the bed neatly made. He headed to Forrest’s room thinking she would be there. She was not. He went back to their room where he spied a small piece of paper on his bed side table.

Peche.
I don’t deserve to be a part of your amazing family. I know you will not understand, but I am sorry.

With that she was gone.