I have a lot to lose, but so much more to gain. And I wish more than anything that my mom was still here.
Another false contraction hits, and I pull away from Fiona with a wince. Rubbing my stomach, I breathe through the pain as she looks on.
“Damn, that one was strong. Guess baby girl doesn’t like me crying,” I try to quip, but it falls flat in the wake of the contraction. I breathe in and out slowly, waiting for it to subside. When it finally does, I shake my head. “Wow. If that’s what practice contractions feel like, I’m not looking forward to the real thing.”
“Better you than me,” Fiona says, taking my arm and threading it through hers. “C’mon, preggers, let’s get you home. I think you’ve walked enough today.”
Back at the apartment, Fiona makes me sit down on the couch while she puts together some lunch. As she chatters on about something she’s dealing with at work, I nibble on a sandwich, not really hungry but knowing I need to eat something. The Braxton Hicks are still coming, but I do my best not to let it show. Still, I’m relieved when she leaves a short while later.
Exhaustion catches up with me, and I end up falling asleep on the couch after Fiona goes home. Next thing I know a pair of strong arms are sliding beneath me, and I’m being lifted into the air.
“Wh-what?” I mumble, blinking my eyes open slowly.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you. Just moving you to the bed so you’ll be more comfortable.”
Brady’s voice is a soft rumble, soothing and familiar. I nuzzle into his chest, feeling warm and safe. When he gently sets me down on the bed and moves to step back, I grab his arms. “Stay? I’m awake now.”
He gives me a soft smile, stroking my hair back from my face. “Sure.”
With a muffled grunt, I shift onto my side. “God, I’m like a beached whale,” I complain. “This is ridiculous.”
Brady stretches out beside me, one hand coming to rest on my belly, the other tucked under his head. “You’re the sexiest beached whale I’ve ever seen.”
An indelicate snort escapes me as I roll my eyes. “Yeah, okay.”
Leaning forward, he kisses my lips. “You calling me a liar, Hurricane?”
“No. Delusional, maybe? Hallucinating? Living in an alternate reality where I don’t have swollen ankles, stretch marks, and no belly button?”
“I happen to love swollen ankles, stretch marks, and no belly button.”
That makes me laugh so hard I have to hold my belly. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy in love with you.” Brady leans forward andkisses me again. “You’re beautiful, Sage. If anything, your pregnancy has made you even more so. Those marks on your body? Those are just proof of your strength. Evidence that you alone are capable of carrying our child and bringing her into this world. Nothing could ever be more beautiful than that.”
I blink rapidly, trying to stave off more tears. “Brady,” I whisper, reaching up to cup his face. He moves in for another kiss, and I clutch at him, holding him as closely as I can with my bump in the middle.
“I love you, too,” I say when we break apart to take a breath. We kiss again. And again. Until a loud grumbling, gurgling sound has us pulling apart.
“Was that you?” I ask with a giggle.
Brady blushes bright red. “Ah, yeah. Sorry. I haven’t had anything to eat since practice. Do you want to go back to sleep or get up for a bit? I stopped at the store and grabbed some stuff to make stir fry for dinner.”
“That sounds good. We better feed the beast in your stomach.” I take his outstretched arms and let him help lever me up to sitting.
“I think the thing I’m looking forward to the most, other than meeting our daughter, is being able to move my body easier. It’s wild how difficult something as simple as sitting up is right now.”
I shuffle to the edge of the bed and push up to stand. Brady drapes his arm over my shoulders as we walk to the kitchen.
“I kinda like heaving you up. Makes me feel useful.”
I slap at his chest. “Trust me, there will be a lot ofways for you to be useful that don’t involve acting as a human crane.”
Out in the kitchen, cloth bags full of food sit on the counter, along with a smaller paper bag with a familiar logo.
“Another book?” I say, arching a brow at Brady, who avoids my gaze. “Brady. The bookshelf is already full and she isn’t even here!”
“There’s no such thing as too many books,” he replies, finally looking up at me with an unrepentant grin. “Besides, wait till you see it.”
