“And Maeve’s not? She has like a bajillion followers on Instagram. I’m sure she could easily find something better to do than being here if…” Jessica trails off.
“If?”
“If she wanted to.”
My gaze falls to my hands and my mind circles back to the thoughts I had in the car. Thoughts that I still can’t quite make sense of.
“I need to go wash up,” I say, standing and walking away from Jessica but taking my confused head with me.
*****
An hour later and our bellies are all full. I watch as Maeve pierces the last few kale leaves and a chunk of chicken with her fork and places it in her mouth, her eyes closing to savor the taste.
“I swear if you say you didn’t enjoy that salad I will…” I begin, standing up and collecting dishes.
“You’ll what?” she asks me with a brightness in her green eyes as they land on me.
“They’ll blame it on the Gemini in your birth chart,” Jessica answers for me as she hands over her bowl to me.
“Well, before you do, I will admit that I didn’t hate that salad,” Maeve concedes before shuffling forward to get up and follow me.
“You didn’t hate it?” I tease. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re licking the bowl behind me right now.”
“Ew, it’s a cardboard bowl. I have some standards, you know,” Maeve says, and I feel a poke in my back as we get to the kitchen.
Mom is already in there on the phone with a client who called a few minutes ago. Talking in hushed tones, she moves out of the way as I start stacking the dishwasher with the bowls and cutlery Maeve and I are carrying.
“Mom’s a doula-midwife,” I explain to Maeve.
“Yeah, you said. That’s a cool job,” Maeve says. “Marty and Jenna will have a doula.”
Mom hangs up the phone. “Shit,” she says with a soft sigh.
“Problem?”
“I think one of my clients could be miscarrying.”
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“Oh no,” Maeve says, and I feel her move closer to me, close enough that our arms touch.
“Do you need to go?” I ask Mom.
She glances toward the living room, toward Jessica. “I’d like to but I can call Marie. I told you I’d take care of Jess.”
I shake my head. “But now I’m here.”
Mom stares out of the window into the darkness that has now fallen. “She’s only eleven weeks but a loss is a loss. She’s had it happen before too so that’s why she called me. She doesn’t want to go to the hospital if she can avoid it.”
“Go, Momma,” I say quietly but firmly. “I can look after Jess.”
“You’re finished at your conference?” She raises her eyebrows.
“Yes, definitely. One day was more than enough.”
“I can concur,” Maeve says with a nod, the side of her arm still touching mine. “Way too much latex in one room.”
I huff out a soft laugh.
