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I type in the passcode for the private elevator and press the button for the top floor. Like always, Tania and Alice’s workshop is bustling with people and models. If the lower levels are the hands of her company, the part making all the clothing to be sold, this top floor is its brain. It’s where the initial designs are formed and then become reality.
“Mommy!” Armani gets out of her seat and runs to Tania, who is in deep discussion with a Kaleidian model, Clytemnestra.
When she sees our daughter, Tania’s expression lights up with surprise and joy. “Armani, what are you doing here?”
“You left your sketchpad at home,” I say, handing it to her and pressing a kiss to her cheek. With my other hand, I caress her swollen belly.
Tania laughs. “Pregnancy brain, I swear. I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached to my shoulders.”
She turns to the model. “Clytemnestra, this is Armani.” She gestures to our daughter, who is hiding shyly behind her mother’s legs. Then, she takes my hand. “And this is my mate, Garet."
The model smiles and shakes my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Tania talks about you all the time.”
“All good things, I hope,” I reply with a grin.
She glances between the three of us with a sly smile. “I’ll give you some privacy. Alice wanted to talk to me about a new fitting anyway.” With that, she heads over to where Alice is helping a human model try on a new design.
“You know, I didn’t really need this today,” Tania says, setting the sketchpad on her work desk.
“I know. But I thought it would be a good excuse to drop by and maybe drag you off to lunch. Have you eaten yet?”
Her eyes widen briefly, and then her expression becomes sheepish. When she’s in the middle of a big project, she often forgets the little things like eating, drinking, and sleeping. “No wonder I was feeling so weird.”
“Armani requested Petra’s.”
“That sounds amazing right now. Before we go, though, I want to show you something.” Heading to the clothing rack, she pulls out two matching outfits. One looks as though it will fit Armani in a couple months and the other looks like it’s made for a newborn.
She smiles. “I was thinking that both our babies can participate in the next show. If that’s okay with you. If not, they can just be cute, matching outfits.”
“What do you think, Armani?” I ask, scooping her up. “Isn’t your mommy the most talented woman in the universe?”
“Stop,” Tania says, blushing.
I press a kiss to her lips. “I’ll stop when it stops being true.”
Her stomach gurgles, reminding the both of us that she hasn’t eaten. She looks down at it as though it’s personally betrayed her before giggling. “So, lunch?”
“Alice, I’m taking Tania to lunch,” I announce, throwing an arm around my wife’s shoulders. “We’ll be back in about an hour.”
“Have fun,” Alice yells back without turning to face us. “Tell Petra I said hi.” Clytemnestra takes her hand and says something softly in her ear. Tania and I exchange knowing glances.
“Will do,” Tania replies as I set Armani back into the stroller.
There are gasps and whispers as we walk through the boutique, all awed to be in the presence of the great Tania Rex. She smiles awkwardly and waves as she makes her way through the crowd.
I don’t think she’ll ever get used to the attention. Tania is a designer, an artist, but she’s also an introvert. Alice handles most of the investors and customer-facing aspects of the job, giving Tania the freedom to do what she loves best: designing and making clothes.
Like always, Petra’s Pizzeria is busy, but the hostess recognizes us immediately. She smiles and takes us all the way to the back office so that we can enjoy our meal with Petra and her family. Armani makes a beeline for Riley, who is playing with his hover blocks in the toy corner of the room while a babysitter bot watches over him.
Tania and I take a seat at the small table she has set up for guests. After a few minutes, Petra appears with a basket ofbreadsticks and glasses of water. As soon as she sets it on the table, I give one to Tania. “Eat.”
“Did you forget lunch again?” Petra asks as Tania rips into a breadstick.
She shoots her friend a reproachful look. “Like you’re much better. I remember when you first opened the restaurant. Surrounded by food and you still almost passed out because you forgot to eat.”
She shrugs. “Fair point. So, what are you craving today?”
We order two pizzas, one that Armani and I will eat and the other topped with whatever weird food craving Tania’s pregnancy had been giving her. Halfway into our lunches, Alice arrives.
