Chapter 6 - Sleepless nights
It was 2.00am, Cesca woke up for third time that night, she was 8 months pregnant and this baby could really move, she was trying really hard to not wake up Jonah as she got up and walked around as she found this sudden burst of energy that came from nowhere despite being so tired. She found that walking was distracting her from all the wriggling the baby was doing. Five minutes past and she hadn’t been prodded or kicked for a while so she returned to bed, this time Jonah did wake up, “Ces, what’s the matter?”, “it’s fine, the baby is kicking, nothing to worry about, just finding walking about helps”, Jonah kissed her on the cheek and went back to sleep, this time Cesca did to, she began to think about the baby, something she hadn’t done in a while, she kept thinking about the baby clothes that Ruth had bought them, she kept picturing this adorable baby in the little all in one bear coat, she couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear, these pleasant thoughts were the ones that got her back off to sleep.
The alarm sounded, Jonah quietly turned it off and carefully woke Cesca up, “morning beautiful”, “hey you, what’s the time?”, “half 7, time to get up”, Cesca hated mornings and today was definitely an extra bad morning; she had hardly slept with all that kicking. She got out of bed still half asleep, Jonah gave her a kiss and left her to get ready; he knew how to avoid pointless arguments after lots of experience. Jonah went down sorted his breakfast and sat in the lounge playing the music channel, Cesca could hear the music, which was a good thing as it put her in a good mood, well better than she was when she first woke up. Cesca put on one of her new outfits Adana had bought the day of Jonah’s birthday, she looked so pretty with her baby bump, she was huge now, she was almost ready to leave but there are some things that Cesca can’t do, one of them being, putting on her shoes. “Jonah, can you help me”, “just coming Ces”, Cesca hated having to ask Jonah to help her with such a small task, she was an independent woman for god sake. On went her rather flashy floral brogues that she had traded with her heels, they just got all too much after a while. Cesca wasn’t her normal happy self at the moment, she was happy and Jonah knew that she loved him but he also knew how much pain she was in. Jonah grabbed his car keys and waited for Cesca in the hall way, down she came each step harder to walk down than the last, “Ces, are you sure that your okay to come to school?”, “Yes, I’m fine”, Cesca snapped back, clearly finding it hard to hold everything, Jonah rushed over holding her bag, “thanks Jonah I don’t mean to be snappy, I love you”, He simply smiled back. They got into Jonah’s car and went to school; Cesca was in no fit state to drive anywhere, even if it was only to work.
They talked about the baby all the way to school, they were both as excited as each other, it wasn’t long now and they had decorated the nursery and begun to by the odd outfit, pairs of shoes and blankets, leaving the buggy till once the baby was born, they wanted it to be quirky and reflect the sex of the baby. They finally reached school parking in Cescas normal place. They got out of the car, Jonah taking her bag and coat allowing Cesca to just focus on walking. “Ces, how many lessons do you actually have today”, “2 why”, well I’m thinking that you should go home after them, you need to rest, your exhausted” “Jonah, I am, I really am, but I cant just take off”, “I’ll speak to Karen, Mrs Fisher and I’ll see if you can have your maternity leave brought forward”, “Jonah, you’re so caring”, They both walked in together hand in hand which wasn’t a new scene for the pupils of waterloo road. Jonah walked Cesca to her classroom not leaving without knowing she was comfortable, “Right, you set up and do what you need to do, I’ll speak to Mrs. Fisher and you text me whenever you need me, love you Ces”, “Love you to, I will, I will always tell you if anything happens”.
So with that Jonah walked off towards Mrs Fisher’s office, he reached for her door and knocked in politeness. “Come in”, Karen said with calmness to her voice. “ah Jonah, How’re you and what can I help you with?”, “well I was wandering if Cesca, Mrs Kirby, could have her maternity leave brought forward, I can see she is struggling, I asked her if this would be a good idea and she agreed, but it did take a lot of persuasion”, “Jonah, that is absolutely fine, we don’t want her to cause herself and injury, you’re so good to that woman, you have once again shown your maturity, I might pop in to see her lesson one see how she is doing, might encourage her to go home “, “that would be great, thanks Mrs Fisher, she is so stubborn sometimes, she wants to prove she is still capable which we all know she is but now her body is really taken its toll, she had barely any sleep last night, my poor Ces, is exhausted”, “she’ll be fine Jonah she just needs to rest. Prepare herself for the birth, you’ve done the right thing”, Jonah smiled a gracious smile and went off to his first lesson. Meanwhile Karen paid a visit to Cescas room before first period started. “Hey Cesca, how are you coping”, “fine” snapped Cesca, “good, good to hear”, Cesca breathed, she didn’t mean to snap. “Sorry Karen, I guess I’m not, I mean I am, I’m just so tired and sore”, “I have a suggestion in fact it was Jonah’s, Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and go home and sleep, the baby is due soon you need to rest up, come back to us when the baby’s born”, “thank you Karen, can I go find Jonah tell him I’m going home, I don’t want him to worry”. “Of course but be quick he is in an A level science class first thing with Chris”, “thanks for everything Karen, I’m sure Jonah will keep you up to date with everything that goes on”, “I’m sure he will, now you go rest and we’ll see you back once the baby is born”, Cesca smiled, the most sincere smile she had ever smiled and to Karen of all people, she had really helped her through this whole pregnancy obviously not as much as Jonah but her advice such as the walking around whilst the baby kicked and sleeping with a hot water bottle really had helped.
Cesca slowly waddled down the corridor towards science, she stopped by the staffroom to collect all her belongings, she opened the door and to her surprise found Tom and Adana all over each other, Cesca was so embarrassed she didn’t intend to gate crash but she didn’t know they were there. “Sorry guys”, “it’s okay” Tom and Adana said simultaneously, which led them into a giggle, “you going somewhere Ces?” Tom asked her, “yeah, Jonah thinks I should go home, go on maternity leave early, I can’t cope I’m tired all the time, my feet are so swollen”, “Well we’ll have to drop by”, Adana replied, “you could come round tonight, Jonah could cook, sure he wouldn’t mind plus you have some explaining to do”, Cesca smiled, “Yes I guess we do” Tom replied with the most cheesiest grin on his face Cesca had ever seen. She couldn’t believe her two best friends were an item, “well I better go need to catch Jonah before I leave, I’m so happy for you to”, Cesca smiled a smile to match Tom’s it wasn’t quite the same, nothing can match the smile of a lover, the all moved in for a group hug, smiling as Cesca then began to leave the staffroom.
She managed to make it to science, “hey Mr Mead, can I have a quick word with Jonah?” “Of course” Chris said with a smile that came naturally. “Jonah came out slightly confused, “Ces, What's up?”, “Just came to tell you I’m going home, your right it’s too much. Karen spoke to me she agrees with you, I’m doing far too much, I guess I’ll see you at home and while I remember Adana and Tom are coming over for dinner, I said you’d cook, they have some explaining to do”, “that sounds good Ces, but how are you getting home, you can’t drive in your condition”, “I hadn’t even thought about that”, she started to break down into to tears, “oh Ces, you’re so warn out, let me take you home”, “No Jonah, you have your exams, I’ll find someone who can take me, I’m sure Karen won’t mind, look I’ll text you when I’m home, I love you Jonah”, she gave him a soft kiss and wandered up to Karen’s office. Jonah was glad that she was finally realising she needed to take it easy but was worried as to whether she would even get home. He tried his best to get on with his science course work; he knew how important it was for Cesca, for him to do well. Cesca reached Karen’s office, her feet were getting sorer by the second, Karen opened the door to a sobbing Cesca, “Come here Cesca” Karen opened her arms to Cesca, she was one of the only people that truly knew what she was going through, “do you want me to drop you back”, “yes please Karen, my head is all over the place, I need to rest and sleep, I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in days”, Karen signalled to the door she grabbed her car keys and headed for the car park. Cesca fell asleep in the car on the short 5 minute journey to her home, Karen woke her up careful not to unease her as she did so. “Cesca, were here, do you want me to help you in”, “urmm, I think I’ll be alright from here, thanks for everything Karen you have really helped me through this, everyone has been so supportive”, “With a few exceptions”, Karen added, “anyway Cesca, you go rest, you’ll feel so much better once you have had a good night’s sleep or even a short nap, waterloo road look forward to having you back once the baby is born”, Cesca smiled one of her innocent smiles and slowly walked up to her front door where she rustled for her keys, letting herself in she kicked off her shoes and headed up stairs, ready for a well deserved nap.
Jonah had just finished last period he was gathering his stuff when he bumped in to Adana, “Hey Jonah, we’ll be over at 7, if that’s okay with you and Ces?”, “yeah that’s fine look forward to seeing you”, Jonah replied. Something hit Jonah; he had remembered what Cesca had said to him earlier in the corridor, something about Adana and Tom having some explaining to do. He reached his car, whilst working out what Cesca meant by this, until he realised that she meant they were an item. Jonah got home, jumped out of the car and let himself in, he quietly shut the door unsure of whether Cesca might be sleeping, instead all he heard was Cescas recognisable giggle coming from the lounge. “your sounding a lot more like yourself”, “you and Karen were right sleep does make you feel a lot better, my feet are still sore but I’m feeling a lot more with it and a lot more like myself”, Jonah smiled, he was happy is Cesca was happy. He carefully took his bag of and sat next to her, comforting her as they sat and watched the TV.
A few lovely hours past and the doorbell rang, Jonah got up with a spring in his step, “hey Tom, Adana, your both looking glam, especially you Tom”, Jonah liked to joke. “Come in, Ces is just in the lounge, I’m just going to serve up dinner”, Tom and Adana went through to the lounge where a very happy yet very pregnant Cesca was sitting. “that rest has done you good Ces” Adana said, “I bet you can’t wait to have your body back”, “your telling me, I can’t wait to just be able to wear my heels again”, they both chucked Tom looking at Jonah with a grin as he walked in serving up the food. The couples talked over dinner especially about Tom and Adana’s new found love for each other. “It just sort of happened, I love him” Adana said with her cheeks slowly getting redder. “Must be serious then, if the woman who has been married 2 and strongly against men is now in love”, Cesca added. “Were really happy, one step at a time, don’t want to rush what we have” Tom said smiling and ending with kissing Adana. “I’d watch this one Tom” Jonah joked, resulting with laughs all round and a slap from Jonah. The evening slowly ended, it had been a lovely night. They were a bunch of happy people in love, suddenly everything felt right. Adana and Tom left leaving Jonah and an insistent Cesca to clear up. “that was a nice idea Ces, seemed to lighten your spirits”, “yeah it did, the food was great and your great with company, might have to do it more often, think I’m getting a bit old for the party scene anyway”, Jonah continued to clear up. “Ces, why don’t you head on up to bed, get an early night the rest seems to be easing the pain, sweet dreams, I love you” he leaned for his evening kiss, as passionate as ever. Cesca went on up to bed, Jonah finished clearing up before going up to bed; it was nights like these that left smiles on his face.
The alarm sounded, Jonah quietly turned it off and carefully woke Cesca up, “morning beautiful”, “hey you, what’s the time?”, “half 7, time to get up”, Cesca hated mornings and today was definitely an extra bad morning; she had hardly slept with all that kicking. She got out of bed still half asleep, Jonah gave her a kiss and left her to get ready; he knew how to avoid pointless arguments after lots of experience. Jonah went down sorted his breakfast and sat in the lounge playing the music channel, Cesca could hear the music, which was a good thing as it put her in a good mood, well better than she was when she first woke up. Cesca put on one of her new outfits Adana had bought the day of Jonah’s birthday, she looked so pretty with her baby bump, she was huge now, she was almost ready to leave but there are some things that Cesca can’t do, one of them being, putting on her shoes. “Jonah, can you help me”, “just coming Ces”, Cesca hated having to ask Jonah to help her with such a small task, she was an independent woman for god sake. On went her rather flashy floral brogues that she had traded with her heels, they just got all too much after a while. Cesca wasn’t her normal happy self at the moment, she was happy and Jonah knew that she loved him but he also knew how much pain she was in. Jonah grabbed his car keys and waited for Cesca in the hall way, down she came each step harder to walk down than the last, “Ces, are you sure that your okay to come to school?”, “Yes, I’m fine”, Cesca snapped back, clearly finding it hard to hold everything, Jonah rushed over holding her bag, “thanks Jonah I don’t mean to be snappy, I love you”, He simply smiled back. They got into Jonah’s car and went to school; Cesca was in no fit state to drive anywhere, even if it was only to work.
They talked about the baby all the way to school, they were both as excited as each other, it wasn’t long now and they had decorated the nursery and begun to by the odd outfit, pairs of shoes and blankets, leaving the buggy till once the baby was born, they wanted it to be quirky and reflect the sex of the baby. They finally reached school parking in Cescas normal place. They got out of the car, Jonah taking her bag and coat allowing Cesca to just focus on walking. “Ces, how many lessons do you actually have today”, “2 why”, well I’m thinking that you should go home after them, you need to rest, your exhausted” “Jonah, I am, I really am, but I cant just take off”, “I’ll speak to Karen, Mrs Fisher and I’ll see if you can have your maternity leave brought forward”, “Jonah, you’re so caring”, They both walked in together hand in hand which wasn’t a new scene for the pupils of waterloo road. Jonah walked Cesca to her classroom not leaving without knowing she was comfortable, “Right, you set up and do what you need to do, I’ll speak to Mrs. Fisher and you text me whenever you need me, love you Ces”, “Love you to, I will, I will always tell you if anything happens”.
So with that Jonah walked off towards Mrs Fisher’s office, he reached for her door and knocked in politeness. “Come in”, Karen said with calmness to her voice. “ah Jonah, How’re you and what can I help you with?”, “well I was wandering if Cesca, Mrs Kirby, could have her maternity leave brought forward, I can see she is struggling, I asked her if this would be a good idea and she agreed, but it did take a lot of persuasion”, “Jonah, that is absolutely fine, we don’t want her to cause herself and injury, you’re so good to that woman, you have once again shown your maturity, I might pop in to see her lesson one see how she is doing, might encourage her to go home “, “that would be great, thanks Mrs Fisher, she is so stubborn sometimes, she wants to prove she is still capable which we all know she is but now her body is really taken its toll, she had barely any sleep last night, my poor Ces, is exhausted”, “she’ll be fine Jonah she just needs to rest. Prepare herself for the birth, you’ve done the right thing”, Jonah smiled a gracious smile and went off to his first lesson. Meanwhile Karen paid a visit to Cescas room before first period started. “Hey Cesca, how are you coping”, “fine” snapped Cesca, “good, good to hear”, Cesca breathed, she didn’t mean to snap. “Sorry Karen, I guess I’m not, I mean I am, I’m just so tired and sore”, “I have a suggestion in fact it was Jonah’s, Why don’t you take the rest of the day off and go home and sleep, the baby is due soon you need to rest up, come back to us when the baby’s born”, “thank you Karen, can I go find Jonah tell him I’m going home, I don’t want him to worry”. “Of course but be quick he is in an A level science class first thing with Chris”, “thanks for everything Karen, I’m sure Jonah will keep you up to date with everything that goes on”, “I’m sure he will, now you go rest and we’ll see you back once the baby is born”, Cesca smiled, the most sincere smile she had ever smiled and to Karen of all people, she had really helped her through this whole pregnancy obviously not as much as Jonah but her advice such as the walking around whilst the baby kicked and sleeping with a hot water bottle really had helped.
Cesca slowly waddled down the corridor towards science, she stopped by the staffroom to collect all her belongings, she opened the door and to her surprise found Tom and Adana all over each other, Cesca was so embarrassed she didn’t intend to gate crash but she didn’t know they were there. “Sorry guys”, “it’s okay” Tom and Adana said simultaneously, which led them into a giggle, “you going somewhere Ces?” Tom asked her, “yeah, Jonah thinks I should go home, go on maternity leave early, I can’t cope I’m tired all the time, my feet are so swollen”, “Well we’ll have to drop by”, Adana replied, “you could come round tonight, Jonah could cook, sure he wouldn’t mind plus you have some explaining to do”, Cesca smiled, “Yes I guess we do” Tom replied with the most cheesiest grin on his face Cesca had ever seen. She couldn’t believe her two best friends were an item, “well I better go need to catch Jonah before I leave, I’m so happy for you to”, Cesca smiled a smile to match Tom’s it wasn’t quite the same, nothing can match the smile of a lover, the all moved in for a group hug, smiling as Cesca then began to leave the staffroom.
She managed to make it to science, “hey Mr Mead, can I have a quick word with Jonah?” “Of course” Chris said with a smile that came naturally. “Jonah came out slightly confused, “Ces, What's up?”, “Just came to tell you I’m going home, your right it’s too much. Karen spoke to me she agrees with you, I’m doing far too much, I guess I’ll see you at home and while I remember Adana and Tom are coming over for dinner, I said you’d cook, they have some explaining to do”, “that sounds good Ces, but how are you getting home, you can’t drive in your condition”, “I hadn’t even thought about that”, she started to break down into to tears, “oh Ces, you’re so warn out, let me take you home”, “No Jonah, you have your exams, I’ll find someone who can take me, I’m sure Karen won’t mind, look I’ll text you when I’m home, I love you Jonah”, she gave him a soft kiss and wandered up to Karen’s office. Jonah was glad that she was finally realising she needed to take it easy but was worried as to whether she would even get home. He tried his best to get on with his science course work; he knew how important it was for Cesca, for him to do well. Cesca reached Karen’s office, her feet were getting sorer by the second, Karen opened the door to a sobbing Cesca, “Come here Cesca” Karen opened her arms to Cesca, she was one of the only people that truly knew what she was going through, “do you want me to drop you back”, “yes please Karen, my head is all over the place, I need to rest and sleep, I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in days”, Karen signalled to the door she grabbed her car keys and headed for the car park. Cesca fell asleep in the car on the short 5 minute journey to her home, Karen woke her up careful not to unease her as she did so. “Cesca, were here, do you want me to help you in”, “urmm, I think I’ll be alright from here, thanks for everything Karen you have really helped me through this, everyone has been so supportive”, “With a few exceptions”, Karen added, “anyway Cesca, you go rest, you’ll feel so much better once you have had a good night’s sleep or even a short nap, waterloo road look forward to having you back once the baby is born”, Cesca smiled one of her innocent smiles and slowly walked up to her front door where she rustled for her keys, letting herself in she kicked off her shoes and headed up stairs, ready for a well deserved nap.
Jonah had just finished last period he was gathering his stuff when he bumped in to Adana, “Hey Jonah, we’ll be over at 7, if that’s okay with you and Ces?”, “yeah that’s fine look forward to seeing you”, Jonah replied. Something hit Jonah; he had remembered what Cesca had said to him earlier in the corridor, something about Adana and Tom having some explaining to do. He reached his car, whilst working out what Cesca meant by this, until he realised that she meant they were an item. Jonah got home, jumped out of the car and let himself in, he quietly shut the door unsure of whether Cesca might be sleeping, instead all he heard was Cescas recognisable giggle coming from the lounge. “your sounding a lot more like yourself”, “you and Karen were right sleep does make you feel a lot better, my feet are still sore but I’m feeling a lot more with it and a lot more like myself”, Jonah smiled, he was happy is Cesca was happy. He carefully took his bag of and sat next to her, comforting her as they sat and watched the TV.
A few lovely hours past and the doorbell rang, Jonah got up with a spring in his step, “hey Tom, Adana, your both looking glam, especially you Tom”, Jonah liked to joke. “Come in, Ces is just in the lounge, I’m just going to serve up dinner”, Tom and Adana went through to the lounge where a very happy yet very pregnant Cesca was sitting. “that rest has done you good Ces” Adana said, “I bet you can’t wait to have your body back”, “your telling me, I can’t wait to just be able to wear my heels again”, they both chucked Tom looking at Jonah with a grin as he walked in serving up the food. The couples talked over dinner especially about Tom and Adana’s new found love for each other. “It just sort of happened, I love him” Adana said with her cheeks slowly getting redder. “Must be serious then, if the woman who has been married 2 and strongly against men is now in love”, Cesca added. “Were really happy, one step at a time, don’t want to rush what we have” Tom said smiling and ending with kissing Adana. “I’d watch this one Tom” Jonah joked, resulting with laughs all round and a slap from Jonah. The evening slowly ended, it had been a lovely night. They were a bunch of happy people in love, suddenly everything felt right. Adana and Tom left leaving Jonah and an insistent Cesca to clear up. “that was a nice idea Ces, seemed to lighten your spirits”, “yeah it did, the food was great and your great with company, might have to do it more often, think I’m getting a bit old for the party scene anyway”, Jonah continued to clear up. “Ces, why don’t you head on up to bed, get an early night the rest seems to be easing the pain, sweet dreams, I love you” he leaned for his evening kiss, as passionate as ever. Cesca went on up to bed, Jonah finished clearing up before going up to bed; it was nights like these that left smiles on his face.
