Anna wiped at the tears that started from laughing so hard. “Are you going to check my moisture levels next? Like your plants?”
Atlas recorded the sound of Anna laughing, then dropped his voice. “Only if you’re lucky. But I won’t use the glove then.”
“No. You wouldn’t, would you?” Breathing hard, she forced out between giggles, “Because the sensors are in your fingers, huh?”
“You’re right.” Atlas rubbed a hand down her face, lingering on her cheek. “I promise when I’m with you for real, it won’t be this amusing.”
She reached up to give him a kiss, surprising him. “Yes. Yes. I’ll be so serious.”
He pushed forward, instinctively deepening the kiss against her tentative touch, before she chuckled and ducked her head.
“So . . .” The grin stayed as she caught her breath. “How much longer until the baby is born?”
“I’d say you’re going to have this baby next week.” Saying that aloud stunned him. Next week. Immediately he stiffened. “She’s head down, in position . . .” His voice trailed off.
The rest of his monitoring tools were within easy reach. A non-stress test machine was on the kitchen table, tracking herlow-level contractions. There weren’t any at the moment, but his hands trembled, thinking of everything he should check and do. And everything that could go wrong. The warehouse was cluttered now with the testing supplies in addition to the furniture.
“Hey now, Mr. Serious.” Anna reached out, peeling off his glove and holding his hand. “We can do more tests later, okay? The important part is that I’m ready, Atlas. It’s all gonna be okay.”
The grin had faded from Anna’s lips, but her eyes still sparkled. She was nine months pregnant, tired, and sweaty from working all day, but he couldn’t help but stare.
“Yes.” Atlas wet his lips. What else could he say?I’m nervous?She already knew that. “I’m excited to meet her.”
“Me too.”
He put a hand on her cheek. “How’s your head?”
“Oh.” She pressed her lips together. “I tried really hard to stay calm all day.”
Atlas regretted asking, seeing her fingers start to fidget with each other. “Did that help?”
“Yeah. I saw the baby cow too. It’s hard to get mad around something so cute.”
He closely looked her in the eyes. “Are you saying that so I won’t worry?”
She half laughed again. “Is that possible for you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Anna.”
“I hung out with Nora all day. I think we’re regular dairy farmers now.”
“Excellent.” His body relaxed. “Good.”
“Why are you so worried?” She reached for his hand. “I know childbirth is dangerous, but you can fix everything.”
Not everything. But she was right in that he was acting illogically. He smoothed down her hair. “You feel fear whenthere’s something you care deeply about.” Then he tilted his head. “Take pity on my overworked circuits.”
“Oh.” Her expression grew soft. “Now I feel like a jerk for laughing.”
Anna pulled him closer for a hug. There didn’t need to be words sometimes, and those were the moments he enjoyed the most. After stroking her side, he whispered, “I did have a surprise today. Can I show you?”
“Hmm what? Is it a good surprise?”
He lifted her up off the bed, helping her pull her underwear back up and folding down the pajama top over everything. “Here. Let’s get you decent again first. No more dilation checks tonight.”
“What’s the surprise?” Anna said. “Is it the lighting Zero installed? Because here, look, he already showed me.”
She reached over and pushed the button to a switch on the wall, dimming the light low without turning it off. Then grinned at him. “Ta da! It’s not solar powered either, so it doesn’t have to recharge. He even put a sensor on it so all your plant lamps wouldn’t overheat.”
