Kinko de Mayo by Tymber Dalton Page B

sure I want to have a baby. Not right now, at least.”
    Essie frowned. “Are you pregnant?”
    “No.”
    “Then I’m confused. What’s the problem?”
    “We’d talked about maybe having one. Now, with the business and everything, I’m not sure.”
    “Then don’t get pregnant.”
    “It’s not that easy.”
    “Yeah, it is.”
    “Says the woman who was on birth control at the time she got knocked up.”
    “Well, that’s true. There is that.” She stroked her belly. “Be glad it’s not contagious.”
    “Yikes. Don’t even suggest that.”
    “So why the sudden change of heart?”
    “It’s just that now I feel like I really have a great life, everything I wanted. I’ve got the guys, a business that’s doing well, and I’m worried adding one more complication to that will throw things off-kilter. Life won’t be the same.”
    “Kind of the point.”
    “I’m afraid to rock the boat. I’m not even sure if I’d be a good parent.”
    “Go babysit for Clarisse with her two kids,” Essie said. “Or better yet, wait until she pops the girls out. Think about those odds, four against three. They’re outnumbered. At least we’ve got the odds in our favor.” She smiled. “Four against one. I think we’ll be okay.”
    “Don’t be so sure about that.”
    “In our line of work, it’s a little different. You know, you could always hire someone to take over the manufacturing part. And work on the website while the mini-you is asleep.”
    “Yes, because that works sooo well for people. I’ve heard the stories. Not exactly how it happens. You can take your baby to work. Well, at least to the office.”
    Essie and her men ran a commercial cleaning and disaster recovery business, in addition to doing hoarder clean-up jobs. Some of which were filmed as episodes for a show on the gO! Network.
    “Why is this something that’s weighing on you right now? Why the sudden urgency to decide one way or the other?”
    “I don’t know. Just seeing Sean swinging from the bondage frame this morning, covered in paper-mache, drove home the fact that we don’t have a child-friendly home, much less a childproof one.”
    “And again I counter with, why decide right now? If you’re happy with the way things are, why change them?”
    “Because the last time I didn’t do some forward thinking and advanced planning, I ended up kicked out of my house while my boyfriend ran off with someone he met on FetLife.”
    “Aaannd?”
    “And what?”
    “And then you eventually ended up with the two hunks you have now. Had Shane not been a dick, you wouldn’t be with your guys.”
    “Yeah, but I would have preferred a more direct path to happiness, bypassing the bullshit. Why does it feel like everyone else has their lives figured out far better than I do?”
    “Think of it as giving you a better appreciation for the riches you now have. And what do you want me to bring to the party tonight?”
    “Just yourself. And your guys.”
    “Want me over there early to help out?”
    “No, I think we have it covered. As long as I can get the Bobbsey twins to focus. Sometimes they’re like a couple of ADHD squirrels.”
    “They wouldn’t be as much fun as they are if they weren’t.”
    “I think you derive entirely too much pleasure from my misfortunes.”
    Essie laughed. “What else is a bestie for, bestie?”
     
    * * * *
     
    By the time Cali returned home, Sean was de-piñata-ed and grabbing a warm shower.
    “Tilly called,” Max said. “They’re going to get here around five with the loaner furniture.”
    “Okay. Thanks.”
    He put out a hand, stopping her before she could walk past him to the office. “Are you okay, sweetie?”
    “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    “Then why do I get the impression you’re not?”
    “I’m just tired, and it’s going to be a long night with everyone here. And then… that this morning.”
    “You’re not mad, are you?”
    “No, I’m not mad.” Why, exactly, was she stressing over this