*  Children are a gift from God. *
 
****
Joseph watched Mira check out herself in front of the full body mirror as he read a book titled, the power of habits. 
    It seemed like she had completely forgotten about his presence in the room as she examined her breasts and still flat stomach. 
     “ Why does it feel different? ” He heard her say, as she stared at the mirror with a pout.
He found it funny that she still didn't know she was pregnant, though it's been over a month since he found out. He decided not to tell her not until she asks. 
   Wouldn't it be better if she found out herself, instead of him throwing the bomb at her? 
    “ Jose. ” Mira covered herself up before walking towards him.
  “ Um. ” He folded the page he was reading and gently placed the book on the bedside table. 
    She sat on the bed right in front of him.  “ I feel different. ” His heart skipped a bit hearing her. ‘ Here it comes. ’ he thought to himself.
“ How? ” 
“ I find it difficult to control my urges when it comes to you. It almost feels like I can't have enough of you. ” The red blush that appeared on her cheeks following her words was the confirmation he needed to know how shy she was. 
   “ That's not a bad thing, is it? ” he teased her, whilst talking about the tendril of her hair, behind her ear. 
“ It's not, but. ” Her thoughts drifted. “ It's just unlike me. ” 
“ Um… okay. ” He nodded.  “ What's the other weird thing? ” 
“ I have been eating a lot and I think I am getting fat as a result. ” 
“ And busty too. ” He winked at her, making her blush, though they've been married for over Four months, she still felt embarrassed whenever he made such comments. 
“ Um… ” 
“ What's the other weird thing? ” 
“ My nipples have been super sensitive. It hurts to touch. ” Her tone carried a sense of confusion. 
“ Okay. ” 
“ What else? ” 
“ Um. ” She averted her gaze from him.  “ I have missed my period twice. ” She stared back at him as if waiting for validation. “ But that's normal, right? Since it happened a lot before we got married. ” 
“ Yeah… ” He trailed off, he decided long ago not to do the thinking for her when the time came. 
“ What do you think is wrong with me, Jose? ” Her tone carried traces of fear and confusion.
“ What do you think? ” He threw her question back at her. 
“ I don't know. ” As they locked their gaze, he could see the innocence in her orbs and he sighed. 
Slowly, he pulled her into his arms. He felt her relax a bit and he sighed. 
  After some minutes, he lifted up her chin and placed a long kiss on her lips. Before she could react, he carried her in his arms and made her stand in front of the full body mirror. 
   She stood confused, wondering what he was doing until he started unbuttoning her long shirt. 
   “ What are you? ” She stopped when he got to her stomach and stopped, he took her palms and placed them on her flat stomach before placing his and hers. “ You…? ”
“ Just keep silent and listen. ” 
She laid her back on his chest as he held her closely. Mira did as she was told. “ For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. ” That verse came to her mind and almost immediately, she covered her mouth in shock before turning to him.  “ Am I pregnant, Jose? ” 
“ Hm… ” He nodded slowly, awaiting her reaction. 
Contrary to what he was expecting, she jumped on him and embraced him tightly. “ Wow. I can't believe this, Jose! I am going to be a mother. ” She then released him before turning back to the mirror. 
“ So I have a baby growing in me? ” She slowly caressed her stomach. 
“ But why didn't you tell me, Jose? ” She turned to face him with accusing eyes.  
   “ Because… I wanted you to find out yourself. ” He replied as a matter of factly. 
“ But you should have told me. What if I have been eating what I'm not meant to? What if I had been stressing myself out? ” She ranted.
“ You are not. ” Facing her gaze, he sighed.  “ I made sure of that. ” 
    “ Do you think the baby is okay? ” 
“ Yeah. ” 
“ How do you know that? ” 
“ I had you checked, Hon. How can I not worry knowing how careless my baby girl can be at times? ” He chuckled. 
“ But…. ”
“ We'll head to the hospital first tomorrow to do a scan, okay? ” He assured her, pinching her soft cheeks.
“ Um… okay. ” She turned towards the mirror and examined herself  for another minute. 
Ding. 
The sound of the clock reminded Joseph that it was late. “ You need to head to bed now, Babe. Sleeping well will be good for the baby. ” 
“ I don't think I'll be able to sleep. ” She didn't look at him.
“ I know how to make you. ” He lifted her off the ground before she could react. 
    “ Is it alright to do this now? ” Though the desire in her eyes was obvious, she was more worried about the baby.
Joseph was amused how quickly her motherly instinct was kicking in.
“ Yup. ” he said, loosening her hair. “ As long as we are careful. ” Her eyes widened hearing his words, and she was suddenly filled with understanding. 
   “ When did you find out? ” 
“ About five weeks ago. ” Mira suddenly remembered the changes she noticed since then, how he suddenly started being extra careful and protective of her.
She never would have thought, he knew something she didn't.
   “ You could have told me earlier. ” She sighed, pinching his cheeks. 
“ I didn't know how you'd react. ” 
“ I know. ” Her smile bloomed, before it finally died now.  “ You'll be taking care of two people now. ” 
Joseph, who knew where the conversation was going, silenced her with a kiss. “ We'll leave that for later, first we have to get you to bed. ” she chuckled at hearing him.
    Joseph watched Mira place a protective arm on her tummy as she slept, he found it amusing how protective she was already of her unborn child. 
He made a call to the hospital and found it funny when the doctor inquired about Mira's reaction. “ She was elated. ” 
“ I told you, didn't I? ” Her words were filled with enthusiasm then understanding. “ I understand your concerns though. But she'll be fine. ”
“ Really? ”
“ She will. ” 
The call ended with the doctor assuring him that everything will go as planned. 
   Mira's cell phone rang and seeing it was Evelyn. He picked it up.  “ Is Mira asleep? ” 
“ Yeah. ” 
“ Does she know? ”
“ Yeah. ”
“ Why are you being so cold? ”
“ Because you are meant to be with your husband and not trying to disturb my pregnant wife. ” He said as a matter of factly. 
“ Meanie. ” She hung up, knowing how right he was..
Joseph chuckled, as he placed his phone on the phone stand and wrapped his arms around his sleeping wife. 
She stirred in his arms. “ Jose? ” 
“ Hm? ” He stared at her sleepy eyes. 
“ You did great. ” It took him seconds to understand what she meant. “ I love you. ” 
“ You did great too. ” He pecked her on her lips. “ I love you more. ” 
“ Hm… ” she nodded before going back to sleep.
Joseph switched off the bedside lamp as he went to sleep. 
“ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. ” The verse reminded him of God's faithfulness and he said a short prayer of thanks before finally going into the dream life. “ Thank you Lord for the gift of love and life. ” 
…
A/N : Wow! I enjoyed writing this! What do you think, guys?