like handkerchiefs at a magic show. I blinked at her blankly, as Joe stepped forward and grabbed the end of it from me. “It’s a Comfort-U. A special mom-to-be-pillow for when you aren’t snuggled up to that sexy man of yours. Trust me, it’s hard to get comfortable when your legs start to swell and your belly is the size of a watermelon.”
“And here’s your gift basket. The salesladies at Motherhood gave us some ideas. They’re up on all the newest stuff.” Mom chimed in, handing me an oversized basket that Joe ripped out of my grasp. It had books, something called a ‘Bellyband’, coconut oil lotions, and even Ginger flavored Altoids in it.
“Oh, my goodness. You didn’t have to go all out.” I replied, unsure of what to make of the incredibly generous nature of their present.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re only a first time mama once.” My mother scoffed and came over to hug me. Joe vanished into the building with the basket and three mile long pillow. She whispered in my ear. “How’s Joe dealin’?”
“It’s hard to say.” I whispered in return, hoping Granny couldn’t hear me.
“If you ever need me, you know where I am.” She kissed my cheek and I felt tears sting my eyes for the seven billionth time.
Joe came out of the building with a couple of bottles of water for them. “Are you sure y’all don’t want to come inside?”
“Unless you’ve put an elevator in that building, darlin’, there’s no way in hell.” Granny laughed.
“I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you.” Joe offered dryly, and Granny flushed deep purple. Granny was a bit of a flirt and Joe’s appeal transcended generations. I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing out loud.
“Mama Hildebrandt, we need to go. Molly’s tired.” Mom interjected with a conspiratorial wink at me and I wanted to give her another hug.
Minutes later, Joe jumped in the shower and I collapsed into bed. He’d unwrapped the giant body pillow when he brought it inside, and I snuggled into it, instantly seeing the appeal. It coiled around me, supporting my back and cushioning my knees. I’d nearly drifted off when I felt the motion of Joe climbing into bed. There was a shift in the weight of the pillow behind me and I felt his warm, rock solid body spoon against me. His arm came around me, and his fingers splayed over my womb. This simple action slayed my defenses and I relaxed back against him with a huge sense of unexpected relief.
“Baby girl.” He murmured into my hair.
“Hmmm?” I shifted slightly, and he rolled me over onto my back so that we could lock eyes.
“I can’t wait to see them.” His earnestness was undeniable as he took in my face. He ran his thumb across my cheek, and traced his index finger down my nose, “Little pumpkins that are part me and part you…I can’t imagine anything more perfect.”
His words touched me so deeply that I found I couldn’t reply. Instead, I simply tilted my lips up to meet his.
“UNFORTUNATELY THAT’S ALL we have time for today.” Dr. Greene gestured his head toward the clock and removed his wire-rimmed glasses. His longish greying hair flopped in his eyes and he flipped it away as he looked up from one last scribble in his beloved notebook. “Come back on Monday. That’s not a request, Joe. When I asked you to stop skipping appointments, I meant it.”
I nodded slowly. I deserved his ass-chewing. It had been a little over a month since I’d told him Molly was pregnant, and it was my first time back. I wasn’t ditching on purpose; there was just too damn much to do. Even with two price hikes, we were busier than a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest, and we’d finally been forced to hire another guy.
Graham recommended Nick Marshall, the son of a guy I’d once worked for back before ‘the dark era’. Only twenty years old, Nick was a bit of a punk with his giant ear gauges, Fu Manchu facial hair, and permanent smirk.
“And here’s your gift basket. The salesladies at Motherhood gave us some ideas. They’re up on all the newest stuff.” Mom chimed in, handing me an oversized basket that Joe ripped out of my grasp. It had books, something called a ‘Bellyband’, coconut oil lotions, and even Ginger flavored Altoids in it.
“Oh, my goodness. You didn’t have to go all out.” I replied, unsure of what to make of the incredibly generous nature of their present.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re only a first time mama once.” My mother scoffed and came over to hug me. Joe vanished into the building with the basket and three mile long pillow. She whispered in my ear. “How’s Joe dealin’?”
“It’s hard to say.” I whispered in return, hoping Granny couldn’t hear me.
“If you ever need me, you know where I am.” She kissed my cheek and I felt tears sting my eyes for the seven billionth time.
Joe came out of the building with a couple of bottles of water for them. “Are you sure y’all don’t want to come inside?”
“Unless you’ve put an elevator in that building, darlin’, there’s no way in hell.” Granny laughed.
“I can throw you over my shoulder and carry you.” Joe offered dryly, and Granny flushed deep purple. Granny was a bit of a flirt and Joe’s appeal transcended generations. I bit the inside of my lip to keep from laughing out loud.
“Mama Hildebrandt, we need to go. Molly’s tired.” Mom interjected with a conspiratorial wink at me and I wanted to give her another hug.
Minutes later, Joe jumped in the shower and I collapsed into bed. He’d unwrapped the giant body pillow when he brought it inside, and I snuggled into it, instantly seeing the appeal. It coiled around me, supporting my back and cushioning my knees. I’d nearly drifted off when I felt the motion of Joe climbing into bed. There was a shift in the weight of the pillow behind me and I felt his warm, rock solid body spoon against me. His arm came around me, and his fingers splayed over my womb. This simple action slayed my defenses and I relaxed back against him with a huge sense of unexpected relief.
“Baby girl.” He murmured into my hair.
“Hmmm?” I shifted slightly, and he rolled me over onto my back so that we could lock eyes.
“I can’t wait to see them.” His earnestness was undeniable as he took in my face. He ran his thumb across my cheek, and traced his index finger down my nose, “Little pumpkins that are part me and part you…I can’t imagine anything more perfect.”
His words touched me so deeply that I found I couldn’t reply. Instead, I simply tilted my lips up to meet his.
“UNFORTUNATELY THAT’S ALL we have time for today.” Dr. Greene gestured his head toward the clock and removed his wire-rimmed glasses. His longish greying hair flopped in his eyes and he flipped it away as he looked up from one last scribble in his beloved notebook. “Come back on Monday. That’s not a request, Joe. When I asked you to stop skipping appointments, I meant it.”
I nodded slowly. I deserved his ass-chewing. It had been a little over a month since I’d told him Molly was pregnant, and it was my first time back. I wasn’t ditching on purpose; there was just too damn much to do. Even with two price hikes, we were busier than a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest, and we’d finally been forced to hire another guy.
Graham recommended Nick Marshall, the son of a guy I’d once worked for back before ‘the dark era’. Only twenty years old, Nick was a bit of a punk with his giant ear gauges, Fu Manchu facial hair, and permanent smirk.
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