Lost in Translation

He put his arms around her and said, "You mean more bitchy than normal?"

She hit him playfully and said, "Don't be mean, okay?"

He was looking into her eyes and it looked like she was tearing up. "Hey? What's the matter? Are you okay?"

She nodded as she blinked away her tears. "I was at the doctor's," she told him. She reached for the bag next to her and pulled out a box of nicotine patches.

"You don't have to quit smoking for me. I was just kidding you about..."

"I'm pregnant, Ken," she said interrupting him. "I'm not quite three weeks but I'm definitely pregnant."

"What? You're pregnant? Are you sure?" he asked her.

"I'm sure. I was late and took a home test a few days ago. It was positive. I took another one the next day. It was positive, too. My doctor just confirmed it. I'm having a baby." She looked up at him and said, "We're having a baby."

"We? What are you saying, Chelsea? You want to keep the baby?"

"Yes. That's what I'm saying. I'm pregnant and I want to keep the baby."

"Oh, my God. This is...this is...amazing."

'You're not angry?" she asked with genuine concern. "I'm the one who wouldn't let you wear a condom. If you're angry at me...if you think I'm trying to get at your money...I promise I'll never ask you for anything. But I do want to keep this baby."

"Money? I don't give a damn about money. Chelsea, I'll provide for your...our baby—always. Okay? That's not even an issue."

He saw a tear fall from her eye and said, "So what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

She wiped her eyes with the back of the sleeve of the sweater she was wearing and said, "Because..." She looked up at him and said, "Because I know our baby's father won't want to keep me. Not after all the shitty things I said about love and marriage and..."

The feelings inside him boiled over and before he knew what he was saying told her, "I love you, Chelsea." He put his arms on her shoulders and said, "I'll never leave our baby...or you. I want you...both of you...to live right here...with me."

She'd managed to stop crying and said, "As your...girlfriend?"

"Yes. Unless...unless you'd like to be something more than that."

Her eyes were darting back and forth at his and her hands were trembling. "Is that even possible after everything I said? Would you even consider..."

"Marrying you?" he said filling in the blanks.

"Yes," she replied softly. "Would you? Consider it at least?"

He took her pretty face into his hands and said, "Chelsea, I don't just love you. I'm in love with you. I wasn't going to ever tell you that precisely because of what you said in Moscow, but...I am in love with you."

"You are?" she said her voice again choked with emotion. "If you don't mean it, please, please don't say it. It would kill me if you're teasing because...because...I'm in love with you. I'm so in love with you, Ken. So please..."

He kissed her and then held her tight. "I'd never joke about something like that. I do love you, Chelsea, and yes, I am very much in love with you."

She wiped her tears again and trying to be her old self said, "So are you going to ask me to marry you or do I have to do everything around here?"