“Hello, Mr. Whitehill, what can I do for you?”
“I just came to say congratulations on the wedding,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“And on your promotion.”
“Promotion?” She asked carefully.
“Yes. Kim and I discussed it while you were away and we think you’re ready. We’re making you a partner.”
Chelsea sat stunned. Her finger was still poised over the touchpad of her laptop. Was she hearing things? It was surreal. Being partner had been her dream for years, to see it come true made her freeze. Slowly, she began to come back to the real world.
“Really?”
Mr. Whitehill laughed. “Really. I’m retiring soon. I’ve been here for a long time and I’m more than ready for someone to take over for me. I think you have what it takes.”
Chelsea’s face broke out into a grin. She stood up so quickly, her chair nearly tipped over in her excitement. She held out a hand which he took as he stood as well.
“Thank you so much, sir. I know you’re going to be happy with your decision.”
“I don’t doubt it. I have a meeting, but we’ll talk later and make everything official. Congratulations again.”
Chelsea couldn’t wait to call Matthew. She sighed, content. All of the excitement gave her heartburn. She reached into her drawer, pull out an antacid and called Matthew to tell him the good news.
Matthew threw together a little celebration dinner for her that night. A few close friends and family at one of their favorite restaurants. Chelsea didn’t think she could smile anymore without permanently damaging her lips. Her mom and dad even took time off to show up. That was the best gift. After plates were cleared, they all sat around at the table, talking while they waited for desert.
“So, it’s going to take a while for me to get some grandkids now isn’t it?” Her mom asked.
Chelsea laughed. “We’ll revisit the issue in five years or so.”
Matthew pouted. “I’m more than willing to have a few now. Six, maybe seven.”
Chelsea glared at him. “Not even in your dreams.”
Chelsea dug into her raspberry cheesecake and sighed. It was delicious. As soon as she swallowed, her stomach turned. She held a hand over her mouth, one on her stomach to calm it. Matthew looked at her concerned, rubbing her back softly.
“What’s wrong?”
Chelsea shook her head. “I’ve just been having awful heartburn all day.” The feeling passed just as quickly as it started. “I think we’d better call it a night. I have a long day tomorrow.”
They said their goodbyes before Matthew helped her into the car. He drove slowly as she fanned herself, her head pressed up against the cool glass. When they got home, Matthew promptly stuck a thermometer in her mouth as he touched her forehead.
“I’m not sick,” she tried to say around it, but he shushed her.
The thermometer beeped before he slipped it from between her lips. He checked it, then looked at her with concern written on his face. Matthew pressed his hand to her forehead one more time.
“If the thermometer says I’m fine, I’m fine Dr. Rawlins. Too much excitement, that’s all. I’ll be okay in the morning.”
Matthew gave her two more antacids before they slipped into bed together. She drifted off quickly listening to him talk. The rise and fall of his chest mixed with his heartbeat lulling her into an easy, deep sleep.
The next morning, she didn’t feel better. Chelsea stumbled out of bed, slamming the bathroom door as her knees hit the tile of the bathroom hard. Matthew knocked softly, but she was too busy to answer until she’d flushed her dinner down the drain. Taking a moment to compose herself, she wiped her mouth and brushed her teeth. When she opened the door, he watched her carefully.
“You don’t think you’re…you know?”
“I probably just have a bug. I’ll be fine.”
Chelsea walked back into the room before she climbed into bed. The twisting in her gut hadn’t stopped yet. She fell back to sleep before she even knew she was tired. When she woke up again, there was a note on Matthew’s pillow. She picked it up gently before opening it.
Made an appointment for you at your doctor’s office and called in to work to let them know you were sick. I went to get some soup for you. Be back in a little bit. Love, your husband.
Chelsea groaned. She really wished he wouldn’t have done that. She hated going to the doctor’s, it was always a last resort. Rolling out of bed, she pulled out a pair of her jeans before slipping them on. She tried to zip them up, but it only went halfway before it stopped.