GLOWING

         Faith sat there looking at the woman who was talking to her, hearing her but was not really listening to her. She was carried away by her thoughts, Ethan. Now that she had accepted him, he was actually more handsome than she had thought. All that was on her head that morning were thoughts of him. His smile, the way he talked, when he looked at her, how he made her feel. How could she have waited so long to realize it? How could she have missed it for so long? 

       Even when her common sense was trying to warn her that she didn't know who he really was, she didn't care to listen. Within her, she had that feeling of certainty, she was convinced that he was a good man. Even though she had once had the principle of not having anything to do with a man without potential, people change, views change, and mindsets change, that is why they are humans, change is always constant. 

       She kept smiling as she recalled last night when she and Ethan had talked and played like a real couple, not fake pretenders or a one-sided love. They were both in it now. She smiled as she recalled his laugh, his smile... 

        "Excuse me ma'am are you laughing at my predicament?" the woman asked. 

       Faith came back to reality and refocused on the woman in front of her. Her smile gradually faded.  Oh, shit! She was so done for.   "No, no. I wasn't laughing..." 

       "You were smiling, I bet I saw you." 

   Faith was trapped, this could spoil her reputation for all she knew. She opened her mouth to talk but nothing came out. The woman glowered at her and expected her to say something but Faith didn't have any excuse to give. What was she going to say? Oh, I just realised I have been in love with this cool guy but I didn't want to acknowledge it all this while because I was scared and trapped in the past, but now I have broken all bounds and  I am ready to go on miles with him? Shit, that was so bland, stupid and unnecessary. 

      "This was a waste of my time. To think I was referred here," the woman scoffed and rose from her seat. 

       Faith not knowing what to do rose with her, the woman picked up her handbag and started toward the door.  

       "I told Ginna that I wanted to travel to San Francisco and meet that renowned therapist but she said this would do, now look how unprofessional she is," the woman kept murmuring to Faith's hearing as she went to the door. 

      As troubled as Faith was, she couldn't resist a smile. She smiled to herself. The woman was actually talking about her. How could she not know that she had left San Francisco and people travelled from there to come and meet her in LA? As the woman placed her hand on the door handle, Faith blurted out something that surprised even herself. 

        "I'm pregnant!" 

     The woman stopped and turned to look at her. Faith raised her hands in the air and feigned happy tears. 

        "God, I'm pregnant, after waiting for so long." 

     The woman started returning to her seat and Faith sat down, took her napkin and started to dab her eyes. The woman went closer. 

      "The doctor said I should keep it a secret, for now, I shouldn't go about telling people until it is at least eight weeks. But I can't even contain my joy, I am so overwhelmed by it that I want to scream it to the whole world that I am pregnant. I'm sorry I had to be so distracted by it. "

       "Oh my, that is a thing of utmost joy, my dear. I know that feeling. I have been through it before." 

       "You have?" Faith looked up at the woman. 

       "Believe me, I know the euphoria that comes with finally getting something that you have wished for, for so long." 

       "You know right?" 

       "Believe me, I do," said the woman. 

  Faith agreed with her, not because she was truly pregnant but because she applied it to her situation with Ethan. She had not felt this sense of peace and calmness before. For the rest of the woman's session, all she talked about was her pregnancy journey and Faith had to sit there and listen to her talk about things she had not heard before about being pregnant. 

      When the woman's session was over and the woman left, Faith picked up her phone and dialled Ethan's number. Ethan answered almost immediately. 

        "Were you sitting by your phone waiting for this call?" she asked. 

     Ethan chuckled at the other end.  "Would it be so weird of me to do that?" 

        "It's not just weird, it's bizarre," Faith teased. 

       "It's bizarre to miss me too much. It's only an hour you left for work and here you are calling to hear my voice." 

      Faith bit her pen while smiling shyly.  "Actually, that's why I called. Can you tell me why I keep thinking about you?" 

      Ethan remained silent for a moment.  "Because there is no one else like me on this planet." 

       "Don't flatter yourself." 

        "Don't deny the truth." 

        "You are distracting me...but I think I kind of like the distraction."   Ethan was silent for a while again.  Faith spoke again.  "Are you there?" 

         "Yes, yes," Ethan said and gasped in a long breath.

        "Are you alright?" 

        "I am, it's just that... Sometimes, I feel I'm still asleep like I would wake up to reality..." 

        "Is it that unbelievable? Like you don't think I am capable of carrying on?" 

         "I just want to be sure you are not pressured." 

         "Dude, I just confessed my love for you. I practically asked you out." 

         "What?" Ethan burst into laughter. 

      Faith smiled, closed her eyes and tried to imagine him laughing.  "What?" she asked. 

        "Jeez, Faith, I confessed to you a long time ago. Isn't that valid?" 

        "It is but I need to hear it again." 

         "Congratulations, you have just won yourself an everyday confession." 

        "All I am saying is stop messing with my head, I almost lost a client today because you were everywhere in my head." 

        "Isn't that a good thing?" 

        "I will punish you when I get back. You know what I am going to do with you right?" 

         "I love punishments... God, you are so bold, Faith." 

          "No, I'm not." 

          "This hidden part about you is driving me crazy... So sexy." 

          "You are still messing with my head and you are doing that on purpose." 

   Her assistant came in and signalled that her next appointment was here. She signalled the assistant to wait. The girl nodded and left her office. She leaned back in her chair. 

        "What are you up to?" she asked. 

         "I'm just here, picking out some flowers to visit Charlotte." 

         "Oh, that." She sat up in her seat. They had decided to visit Charlotte's monument that day.   "I will be as quick as possible. This is my last session for today, I will come down to you. I hate it but I have to go. I love you, bye." 

         "I love you too.  Bye, my love." 

    She rang her assistant to let the client in. The woman came in with a smile. Faith's smile was broad. 

        "Mrs Duncan," she called.  "Have a seat, please. You look gorgeous today." 

         "You look radiant today," Mrs Duncan said and took a seat in front of Faith. 

        Faith beamed with smiles. 

       Ethan came before Mrs Duncan's session was over and waited at the reception. He texted Faith that he was around and she became so excited.  Mrs Duncan noticed her excitement. 

         "I knew you looked so excited today." 

         "I have always been excited." 

          "This is the first time you have listened to me with smiles and had even cracked jokes, you are free today. Did you get yourself a husband?" 

         "Mrs Duncan." 

       "Or are you expecting a baby?" 

Faith snickered in fits of laughter.  "Mrs Duncan, I am not married yet." 

       "Well, whatever it is, I am glad that you are happy and I wish it always keeps you this happy." 

        Faith beamed.  "It will. Bye, Mrs Duncan." 

       "Bye, Faith."  The woman stood up and left the office. 

      Faith quickly readjusted herself, reapplied lipstick and opened the front button on her shirt. She sat crossed legged, which pushed her skirt up and exposed a chunk of the lap. A knock came at the door and Ethan poked in his head before stepping into his office. 

       "Ma'am, can you tone down on the sexiness? You are seducing a client," Ethan said as he entered and walked toward her. 

        "I am glad this client is seduced. Come here." She stood and went over to him and hugged him. She placed her head on his beating chest. 

        "The woman that just left here kept staring at me like she was contemplating something," Ethan said. 

      Faith raised her head and smiled.  "Was she? A lot happened here today. So much drama that I have not experienced in my whole career years." 

     He held her shoulders. "Some days are like that. How are you?" He asked, looking at her with renewed interest. 

        "Do I need to answer that?" 

     He cupped her cheeks with his palm and kissed her lips.  "You don't need to answer that," he mumbled as they kissed. Then he pulled away.  "A new chapter has been opened to us, from now henceforth, it's all about us." 

      Faith nodded and repeated,  "All about us." 

        "Let's go and get all the permissions and blessings we would need."  He disentangle from the  hug and grabbed her hand. 

       She smiled at him, took her coat from the headrest and they started out of the office.