You refuse to put anything before your pride

 

Rafe felt he was running around like an idiot lately between taking classes, doing some work at the airport, and still driving the bakery truck on Thursdays and Fridays. And then this with Ruby. After a lot of tests at the emergency room, they were finally slumming at home in the wee hours of the morning.

He knew she didn't like the idea of being on bed rest. "I just can't."

Ruby fretted with a sad, fat lip.  She was only in a tank and his boxers.

"Well, you are going to wish that you had if you end up in the hospital again."

He didn't really want to argue with her. By the looks of things, she'd have to see her OB doctor once a week now. She would have to have a balanced diet to. Her Granola and coffee for breakfast were bad for her. It was time for low sodium, no sugar, nothing processed, and a lot of veg and lean proteins.

She swore she was a vegetarian, but she never ate vegetables. He guessed he knew who would be cooking for her. Him. A part of Rafe felt it was all his fault, but she was a Cheese n'Mac girl (that was the only way she would eat her broccoli, and generally the broccoli was freeze-dried. 

"When you get hungry, you need to eat carrots and celery with a little peanut butter," he reminded her, that he'd cut up some in prep containers in the fridge. "You might want to try eating cucumber sandwiches, too."

"What?" She gave him a disgusting look.

"They aren't that bad, Greek yogurt and cucumbers in pita bread or even on rye." 

Rafe had sampled a few thanks to Boone, who was full of recipes. Rafe had the fixings already and made up the sandwich while she lay on the couch as if she would just stay there the night in front of the TV.

Of course, she didn't like the looks of it. He showed her the quinoa salad, and she hated the look of that, even more. Before he knew it she wolfed down the sandwich. She was hungry after all. And even tasted the Greek salad with olives and feta.

"And this is good for me?" She looked at him blankly.

"I think so," Rafe shrugged with a yawn. He took the bowl from her and started eating it. 

"Hey, that's mine." She scrunched a frown. Ruby gave him a look that he had better not eat all her food.

"OK."

He was starving. He might reach for the peanut butter yet, and lick it right off the spoon. All this intense ER stuff had famished him. 

Rafe remembered the fresh fruit on the kitchen counter. She dug into the grapes as if he was seriously keeping the good stuff from her. He hoped he made it through the next three months. 

Still, once the baby got here, he wondered how much more work that would be, but he wouldn't think about it. One day at a time. Hopefully, they would be ready for their son, whom they might name Gabriel or Zachary. Or Zachary Gabriel. 

He wouldn't mention it. She discussed it sometimes, even when he was already asleep.