Reeling from nausea Laelia ran for the bathroom and was violently sick, ugh if this is how I wake up every morning for the next few months I’m going to hate waking up period. She said glumly to herself in the mirror, she brushed her teeth and rinsed.

I usually like mornings, I wouldn’t call myself a morning person but I’ve never hated them but this is just gross, I definitely need some tea to start this morning on a better foot.

Hmm, one of Andreas’s lovely Rooibos Lattes would have been amazing but I swear I’m never talking to that infuriating man again, one moment he insults me the next he undresses me with his eyes then he ravishes me with kisses and insults me again I think he has lost a few marbles along the way either that or he is right, and I want to suffer, am I really that broken?

Reaching down to cup her tummy that doesn’t yet show any signs of a bump she rubbed her hand in a clockwise motion, I wonder what you will turn out to be, I don’t think me and daddy ever talked about what gender we would prefer we just wanted lots of little ones to love.

I’m worried baby, the doctor makes me doubt that I am doing the right thing, he makes me doubt everything. She patted her belly, good talk sweetheart now I have to get ready.

Laelia got dressed at a leisurely pace she put on a teal halter neck dress that was free-flowing and leather sandals she grabbed a brush and ran it through her mane of burnished red hair and smeared some lip-gloss on her lips, then grabbed her keys and headed for the door, time to close up shop and take a vacation she said to herself more forcefully than necessary as she locked her door the music in the apartment stopped and the alarm activated.

She headed for the lift as she got on she went through her mental to-do list for the day.

1. Cancel Gynaecologist appointment for next month - Find a new OB-GYN preferably in Cape Town for now as I’ll be there a while

2. Hand in my vacation papers

3. Call the airline and book a ticket to Cape Town –

5. Call Ryan to find out if someone is in the beach house and have him refund and find alternative accommodation for any bookings for the foreseeable future.

6. Oh and tell Auntie Joan I’m going away for a much-needed vacation. (Stand firm she might cry)

Oh! I completely forgot I wanted tea, oh well I’ll stop off and speak to Auntie Joan first have a cup of tea maybe a biscuit or two, hmm maybe four and break it to her gently before I do anything else.

I’ve already told the guys last night I’ll be late today and I have no appointments scheduled, so perfect to start off with Auntie Joan, my fingers are crossed that this doesn’t turn into a tear fest.

Pulling into the parking lot at the doctor’s offices she noted that the Pickup Truck wasn’t there but the green light above the door denoting that they were open for business was on, so Auntie Joan should be here I wonder where the infuriating Doctor is.

Locking her car she made her way to the security gate and gave a quick buzz on the intercom.

Joan: Doctor Papadopoulos’s rooms how may I help?

Laelia: Hi Auntie it’s me can I come in?

Joan: Yes love I’ll buzz you right in.

As she walked in Joan came around the corner to greet her with a soft motherly hug, hello sweetheart how are you feeling today, any morning sickness? Joan always sounded so motherly.

Ugh, I woke up to throw up haha! If it wasn’t so gross and I dint feel so sick in the morning it would be fine but pregnancy seriously doesn’t seem to agree with me.

Pregnancy doesn’t agree with most people, love, I don’t know how those model types go back to looking stick thin and gorgeous in less than 2 months it’s beyond me. Joan laughed at her own little joke.

Auntie Joan, I want to discuss something with you other than how sick I feel each morning because realistically speaking I feel amazing the rest of the day it’s just the mornings that are hell. But I have something important to discuss, what do you say about a cup of tea I was too out of it this morning to have a cup and if you don’t mind some biscuits would be yummy too, I know you always have a secret stash of biscuits hidden away.

Joan laughed and said sure come on love let’s make tea and have a cookie or two while we chat.

Flicking on the kettle and grabbing the cups and a box of melting moments from the cabinet Joan made quick work of setting it all up and then took the tray through to the side room they always had their little chats in since Paul's horrible diagnoses 5 years prior.

Hmm, this is why I love you; you make the best tea Auntie.

Really even better than a certain doctor's Rooibos Lattes?

Laelia turned bright red, Auntie!

What, it was just a question, I saw how much you enjoyed the latte and I also saw how much he enjoyed you enjoying it. That boy likes you my darling and I think you like him right back you’re both just too stubborn to admit it and would both rather wallow in your own little self-made cage.

I don’t want to talk about Andreas, I am here to tell you something and you’re not allowed to try and stop me because I’ve already made up my mind.

I am going to Cape Town on an extended holiday, I will be finding an Obstetrician that side I’ll of course be staying in my beach house so you know where to find me and I will leave everything in your capable hands like I’ve done for the last 5 years unless you would like me to find alternatives of course. Laelia said this all in one quick breath hoping that she would finish before Joan started crying.

I agree wholeheartedly you need a change of pace and scenery and a holiday by the sea will be perfect love. Joan replied amiably

What? You’re not going to try and talk me out of it or cry or fight with me? Laelia was very confused, usually if anything like this happened Joan would at least cry.

I think it is best sweetheart with everything that has happened over the last few years you need a break, actually, a break is long overdue and now that you are pregnant you need that break more than ever.

Auntie, are you sure about this because I’m not used to you being so laid back about change.

My dear, there is a lot that you haven’t noticed in the last 5 years, how do you think I get to work daily love, have you seen a car outside at any time when it’s just been me here?

Well no actually I haven’t, I assumed Robert from security or one of the gardeners dropped you off and collected you after work, now I’m not so sure. How do you get to work and back Auntie Joan?

My fiancé brings me in, Laelia and he takes me home, and he spends the week with me and flies back home to Durban on a Friday evening to check on his house and see his children and grandchildren then he flies back the Sunday evening and comes home to me, his head office is here in Johannesburg but he and his wife had a house in Durban and lived there until she passed away about 10 years ago, after that, we were pen pals for nearly 4 years and decided to meet just before Paul was diagnosed sweetheart, we have been seeing each other 5 years he has a business division in Durban but opted to work from here, he will be moving to Johannesburg permanently we just bought a house together and once you have settled with your little one we will be getting married. And you will need to find another caretaker for the Gatsby.

Laelia just stared at Joan, and then she closed her gaping mouth and swallowed. Auntie Joan are you telling me that for the last five years, you have been seeing someone and I have never met him, you have never even mentioned him to me or have I been blind and deaf for  five whole years?

No sweetheart you have met Samuel many times, you have sat at dinner with him quite a few times as well and I even told you that he had practically moved in with me during the week and went to see his family weekends, I also told you six months ago that he proposed and I said yes, but my dear child you have seen only your heartache and disappointment for the last five years.

She shook her head slightly, I’ve been living in my own world this whole time, how have I been doing my job, how have I been doing anything, Auntie Joan.

When it comes to work you are a different person, the moment you step into your offices or an operating theatre you are all business and your mind is clear it’s as if you shrug off the world and wear the neurologist like a coat. No one can ever fault your work ethic or skill Laelia; it’s just your personal life that has suffered greatly.

And apparently everyone around me, I have been awful so stuck in my own grief and space that I let all this time flow by me I’ve missed so much. Auntie Joan when is your wedding please tell me I am invited I will beg if I have to, I am so sorry for how I’ve been these last few years I love you so much and I can’t believe I haven’t really been part of your life.

Yes of course you are invited. We want to get married at the end of next year sweetheart.

Laelia burst out in tears.

They hugged for a long time and Joan rubbed Laelia’s back in circles as she had always done since she was a little girl, and slowly Laelia stopped sniffing, she looked up with wet puffy eyes, Hormones she laughed!

Joan gave a snort of laughter and promptly laughed more because of the snort, Yes Love hormones are a pregnant woman’s bane, haha.

They sat and chatted a little bit more with Joan telling Laelia what she envisioned for her small private wedding and telling her about a cute baby outfit in pink and another in green, which she had seen in one of the upmarket baby boutiques at the mall. They are all too adorable I would buy them all if I knew what gender the little one will be and then regret the baby never getting to wear them all. Joan giggled.

Yes, I can just see you in the nursery staring at countless outfits unsure of what to put on because you might not get another chance to choose before the baby has outgrown them all.

Again I apologize, I have missed so much and yet here you always are ready to be there for me, you really are my mother.

Sweetheart, you may call me whatever your heart desires because you will always be my little girl.

Laelia gave Joan a quick hug and said; thank you for being there for me mom and thank you for always meddling, but you are wrong the doctor and I will never be an item we are too similar and too different at the same time.

My dearest girl that boy likes you and you like him, yes your both hurting still but remember time heals all wounds and scars fade I’m sure one day you two could make something of it, until then why not take your vacation and let your little one grow and come back when you feel you are ready, just enjoy your vacation Laelia we will be here waiting and I’m 100% sure that young man will also be waiting for you the way he lights up and he gravitates towards you when you enter a room screams I see you.

Oh! Don’t be silly I only just met the man. I will take my vacation and if I decide to come back before the baby is born we will see okay but I’m not promising I’m going to be chasing after some man you got that. Ha ha.

Perfectly fine with me sweetheart.  Joan agreed.