“The doctor said walking and exercising is good for this condition. So I’ll be walking into work on Monday like a normal person,” she argues.
“Let me talk to her,” I request.
A second later, I hear my sister-in-law’s voice. “Don’t start with me, Remi.”
“I’m not,” I say, smiling at this strong, stubborn woman. “I just wanted to hear your sweet voice.”
She chuckles. “You mean you couldn’t hear me yelling at my husband?”
“Oh, was that you? I thought he was being attacked by a banshee.” She snorts as I continue. “He loves you and this baby more thananything.”
Nicolette’s voice softens. “I know.”
“And I know you also are aware that not every parent is a good one.” She’s silent, and I think she’s starting to see where I’m going. Nicolette’s mother is a piece of crap, and I wouldn’t piss on her if she were on fire. “This baby is so lucky to havetwoparents who love him. If Helix is a little overprotective, let him be. It only means he cares.”
“And I’m more grateful than you know for him, but I don’t want to be treated like a sick person. I’m not sick. I’m pregnant.”
“And you also have a condition that makes your pregnancy a bit more complicated. It’s okay to alter things a little to accommodate that. What if you fainted and fell down a flight of stairs?”
I can literally hear her frowning. “That would be… not good. So what are you suggesting? That I just sit around the house like some kind of princess?”
Jesus, she’s bull-headed. “Not at all. How about a compromise? You can take Monday off work just to relax. That wouldn't kill you, and it would make your husband happy. I could book you two a couple’s massage as a gift from me.” Before she can comment, I add, “With one of them being fully trained in pregnancy massage.”
Nicolette makes a little grumbling sound. “What else?”
“After that, you go to work as usual, but I’ll order you a stool with a back and arms on it for the lab. That will give you a little more protection and make it less likely that you fall off your seat and go splat.”
She thinks about it for a few seconds. “Okay, fine. I’ll take a day off but only because you offered a free massage. My back aches all the time now because your brother put a behemoth child inside me.” Nicolette lowers her voice like she’s tattling on her husband. “Helix also wants to walk with me every time I have to go to the bathroom.”
“So? It’s not like he’s asking to carry you in a gold-gilded chariot. He just wants to walk with his wife. And might I remind you, it worked out well tonight that he was close enough to prevent the aforementioned splat.”
Her noise of frustration lets me know I’ve won. “I hate when other people are right.”
A laugh rumbles out of me. “I’ll take that win since it never happens. You’re the smartest person I know, sis.”
It sounds like she pulls the phone away from her mouth. “Babe, your brother said I’m smarter than you.” She returns to our conversation. “He said he’s aware.”
“Good. We all settled now?”
“No, we didn’t actually call to get impromptu mediation. We called about Mom. She said she would be there in the same hotel as you, right?”
Nicolette has no contact with her biological mother anymore. Since meeting Nic, our mother has taken her under her welcoming wing and treated her like a daughter instead of simply a daughter-in-law. Nicolette calls herMomnow.
“You’re worried about her freaking out so you want me to tell her in person about your hospital visit,” I surmise.
“Do you mind? I don’t want to hide it from her, but I know she’s going to be worried. If she sees that you’re calm about it, we thought that might help.”
“I don’t mind a bit. She’s only one floor down from me, and she should be up since she’s a night owl.”
“Thanks, Rem,” she says. “And thanks for helping me see things more clearly.”
“Try not to give my brother too much shit,” I encourage, overwhelmed with affection for my brilliant sister-in-law. “You have a real family now, so get used to us and our sometimes overzealous support.”
“I appreciate you.” I hear a door open on her end, and she quickly says, “The doctor is coming in to bust me out of this joint. Tell Mom we’ll be home in about an hour if she wants to call. Thanks again, brother dearest.”
And the line goes dead. I fill in Mindy on what happened tonight, and she jumps into action, pushing me off the bed and standing as well.
“We smell like sex, so we need a quick shower before we go talk to your mom. You turn the water on, and I’ll get us some clothes set out.” She swats me on my bare ass, and I head to the bathroom with a grin. I guess my girl is going with me.
