I stand in the doorway and scope out the place. The last thing I need is to run into someone I know. Kristina and Ned already think I'm crazy after yesterday. After my fit of giggles Kristina spent the rest of the day watching me closely as though I were on the verge of a breakdown. So far the coast is clear. I grab my bag and head to the room. Room 104, the last place on earth I ever thought I would be spending my Tuesday night. Still I need to be here, all the magazines I've read say that next to nutrition, exercising is the most important thing. So here I stand, outside room 104 where any minute the pregnancy fitness class is about to begin. Well I did sign up for a three-year membership. I might as well use it while I can since I know I won't have time after the baby arrives. I walk into the room and memories of the first day of boarding school fill my mind. There are about fifteen women in the room, all standing in little groups of three or four. Some glance at me before returning to their conversations. I feel extremely out of place and am about to leave when she approaches.
"Let me guess, first baby?" I smile slightly and nod. The woman before me has red hair and is obviously very pregnant. "Hi, I'm Kate, and this is Linda and Maureen." She gestures to the two women standing near her. They also smile and I begin to relax.
"I'm Alexis."
"How far along are you?" Linda asks. She is a tall brunette who is just beginning to show.
"About six weeks," I answer. It feels weird to be talking about the pregnancy as though it were just a normal thing.
"Ah, still in the morning sickness phase", she smiles sympathetically. "I just got over it myself a few weeks ago. It was a lot worse this time than when I had Sarah, she's my daughter. My husband told me boys are supposed to cause greater morning sickness but I think that's just wishful thinking on his part."
"Well I can tell you I was really sick with all three of my boys, but I don't have anything to compare it to." Kate says.
"You have three boys?" I interrupt with disbelief.
"Yeah my husband and I wanted one of each, three boys later we're still trying for a girl. Though if this is another boy I think we'll just be happy with what we've got."
"Four children?" Suddenly one does not seem quite so bad even if it is a boy, which it will undoubtedly be, if my morning sickness is any indication. Plus I've just gotten used to the idea of a girl, which means it must be a boy since any child of Sonny Corinthos is sure to be contrary.
"Here I've got pictures." Kate reaches into her purse and soon pulls out several photos. "This is Christopher, he's nine, that's Mark, seven and the little one covered with pudding is Ryan, he'll be three in a month." I looked at the photos and listened to Kate, would this be me in a year's time, proudly showing off photos of my little angel covered in pudding? Linda got out a photo of Sarah from her first ballet recital clothed in pink from top to bottom and I actually smiled wistfully. What is wrong with me I'm getting sentimental over a baby covered in pudding a five-year-old ballerina? Now that I've decided it's a boy, I guess ballet lessons are out of the question. It's not that I'm sexist I just can't picture the son of Sonny Corinthos on a stage wearing tights. The son of Sonny Corinthos, why does that phrase automatically bring to mind a baby trench coat?
"So Maureen, do you have any pictures, or is this your first too?" I ask mainly to get my mind off Sonny. Maureen looks as though she's trying not to laugh.
"This is my second pregnancy." She tells me smiling and I can tell there's something more, she's not saying. Kate gives her a look and Linda tells her not to frighten me. She just smiles and reaches into her purse. I begin to get nervous and then she shows me her photo. There are, one, two, three identical teenage girls standing together in front of one birthday cake.
"Triplets," I gasp.
"I told you not to scare her". Linda scolds.
"Don't worry", Kate says. "Unless of course triplets or twins run in your family".
"No, I don't think so." At least I've never heard about any Cassadine twins. I have no idea about Sonny's family. Maybe I'll ask him next time we talk, I'm sure that would go over well.
"Alexis?" Kate looks at me with concern. "Are you okay?" I'm saved from having to answer since our instructor has just walked in.
"Okay ladies, let's get moving".
A little over an hour later I have showered and changed and am standing in the lobby area with Kate.
"So we'll get together on Saturday then to go shopping, she's saying but I'm suddenly not paying attention. Kate looks over her shoulder to see what I'm staring at and then turn back to me. "He's gorgeous, isn't he? I've seen him here a few times. Can you imagine going home to a man like that every night?" she whispers. Before I can answer the man in question sees me and heads over. I can see Kate's eyes getting larger as he approaches and larger still when he kisses me on the cheek.
"How's my favorite ex-wife doing?" He asks lightly draping an arm over my shoulder and Kate looks like she's about to faint.
Step Three - When All Else Fails, Go Shopping!
The Plan
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