It'll Come Naturally

"What's the matter with being tanned? It's healthy to get some vitamin D," Edward replied. He handed her a bottle of water while he started the car and drove out of the army base.

"I know that you are right. But I can't help but worry about him. What if he was bullied or had some altercation with someone," she said with growing concern. Daisy had become extremely sensitive of late. Maybe it was due to her pregnancy. "He will be fine, stop worrying! You know how clever he is and besides, he is my son. Who would dare bully him," said Edward with confidence. His confidence, after all, wasn't just based on idle gossip. He had his own qualification and strength.

"It's because you always fill his mind with such talk and I fear that he may start to become over-confident," said Daisy frowning. Daisy's concerns were justified. Justin was entering puberty and if he wasn't properly guided, he could become like one of those cocky second- generation rich kids, with no compassion for others or skills of his own.

"Well my lady, don't you think that you are over worrying? I mean, if you don't believe in Justin, you should believe in yourself. After all, it was your strict guidance that has set the boundary for him," said Edward trying to calm her worries. Edward felt helpless. Ever since Daisy had become pregnant, her demeanor had greatly changed. Instead of being the confident, secure and positive person that she used to be, she seemed to be plagued with second-guessing herself and unnecessary insecurities and just worrying about everything all the time.

"Well, I don't believe in you. It's you that is corrupting our son," said Daisy. Like many women in the pregnancy, she was experiencing a lot of mood swings and body changes. Although, being a soldier she thought that she would've been able to cope with the changes much better than she was, she could see that she was losing her agility and that all had been adding to her low self-confidence.

"Me? What about me? I not only listen to every order that you give me, but also take over the driver's job to pick you up every day," Edward said a little hurt and confused. In the past, Edward would never have dreamed of being so submissive to a woman. But this was Daisy whom he loved dearly and was willing to do anything for.

"Even if you didn't come to pick me up, I have my own driver," she said pouting. It was because of him that Mark had lost his position as her driver.

"But I am free of charge and I also love and care for you," said Edward firmly as he drove the car slower and more careful than usual.

Daisy didn't continue with the conversation. Instead, she took in the scenery outside the car. S City was always so breathtakingly beautiful, especially at dusk.

By the time they got home, Justin had already arrived. As soon as he saw his mom and dad he ran to greet them excited.

"Mom, dad, what took you so long?" It was the first time that Justin had been away from home and it was for a whole month. He found that he missed his family and home a lot.

"Justin, come here. Let mom have a good look at you. How come you have become so thin?" Daisy said pinching his cheeks gently. Before he went camping, he had been plump and now he was much thinner.

"Mom, if you have a better look, you'll see that I am not thinner but sturdier," he said proudly. But all the while, he was exchanging silent looks to his father as if asking, "What's going on? Why isn't mom like the former high spirited and vigorous senior Colonel that she used to be?"

Edward shrugged his shoulders as if he had no idea. He had to endure her changes in silence because he was the one that tricked her and made her pregnant again at that time.

"No, you really are skinnier. The food at the camp couldn't have been very nice and they had no snacks available. How hungry you must have been," said Daisy with watery eyes. She was particularly sensitive now.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"No mom, the food there was fine and they had plenty of snacks. Of course nowhere near as good as at home," said Justin trying to comfort his mom. But inside Justin felt smothered. He wondered if the woman fussing over him was still his nonchalant mom as before. He was really wishing that his mom was just pretending to behave like that.

"What kind of activities did you do? Did you win any prizes or competitions?" asked Daisy suddenly. It was so unlike his mother to ask him such trivial things, yet another surprise to Justin.

"I joined in a lot of activities but there were very few opportunities to win a prize," replied Justin honestly. He felt like he belonged with the kind of teenagers that knew a little about everything but weren't really good at any of them. He didn't really regard the camp as a starting point to his success.

"Well, let me cut in for a moment." Edward cut in before Daisy could drag the conversation out with trivial questions that would further uncover her state of mind.

"Dad thanks for saving me from mom's questions. But I'm confused. Why has mom changed so much?" Justin asked concerned. He had only been away for a month and when he came back his mother had changed so much.

"Don't worry about it. Your Uncle Tom said that it's called pregnancy syndrome. She will be back to her normal self once the baby is born. So, there is nothing to concern yourself with," said Edward in a low voice. When Edward had noticed the change in Daisy, he was too worried that something terrible might have been going on with her. So he specifically asked Tom for advice.

"That's all right. I was worried that she would be like that all the time. It scared me a bit," said Justin taking a big relieved breath. He was shocked at his mother's unusual behavior. He was used to her being solemn and stern.

"What are you two talking about behind my back? Are you talking about me?" asked Daisy eyeing them suspiciously. Daisy knew that they were concerned about her odd behavior. She was doing it all deliberately to punish them for putting so much pressure on her to have another baby.

"No, absolutely not!" The two of them answered spontaneously. However, that only deepened Daisy's suspicion about them.

"Really?" asked Daisy skeptically. Daisy was actually playing them for a fool. Now that they were all fussing around her because she was pregnant, she decided that she was going to enjoy all of the attention. After the baby was born, she could no longer fool them and use pregnancy syndrome as an excuse.

"Really! We are not talking about you. Justin, Come on and take out the gift you bought for mom," Edward suddenly blurted out. That was really sneaky of dad to throw Justin into the firing line, just so he could escape from Daisy's inquiry.

"Really! That's so nice of you Justin," said Daisy looking at Justin pleased. When he saw how happy his mother was, Justin didn't have the heart to tell her that he didn't buy anything. He gave his father a disappointed look. He wondered how his father could do such a thing to him - trapped him and put him in an awkward position like this. He had enough of that!00