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“Do you need me to fix the sheets, or…” I start and cast a glance over the bed.
“Jesus Christ Mimi, I just want to talk to you.” She smiles.
“Sure… what’s up? I mean other than what is happening what’s up?”
“I wanted to see if you were okay. A lot has happened to you.”
“I’m okay…” It’s not that I want to lie but it’s best to just say that, especially since I don’t know what she knows about my mother.
“I haven’t really seen you since Sorcha. I heard what you did for her. You took care of her.” She nods.
“Yeah… she’s my friend.”
“I like that you say sheis. Notwas,” Charlotte points out.
It was habit that made me say that, it never really clicked in my head that Sorcha became awas.
“Yeah. I think of her as still being my friend.”
“You’re a good person Mimi. I remember how you were there for me months ago when I needed someone. It was a scary time for me.” She nods and her eyes glisten with tears.
I remember that well. It was that night when Gabe nearly got himself killed. I just did what I needed to do and stayed with her. So much has happened since it’s hard to believe it was just months ago.
“You needed me,” I reply.
“I did, and I still do. I know… you have a history with Gabe, Mimi,” she says.
My heart stills and I pray she’s not going to talk about my pregnancy. I didn’t think he would tell her about that in her condition.
“I know you were with him before I came back,” she states and the tension inside me calms.
She knows just that part, that I was with him.
“Yes. How… um... how did you know?”
“He told me. What I don’t want is for you to avoid me because of that. I really don’t want that. You don’t need to. It’s not what I want at all. We go way back too, before I was… taken so I know you and I want the friendship we had. So please don’t avoid me.” It sounds like a plea.
I nod and answer with a little smile. “Okay, and thanks.”
She’s about to answer when she gasps and smiles, her stomach looks like it’s moving and I draw in a sharp breath.
“Oh my God,” I breathe.
“Yes, the joys of pregnancy. It feels like being inAliens. Feel this.” She chuckles and reaches for my hand placing it on her stomach.
I do feel. I feel the shuffle beneath her skin and then a kick against my palm, then what I’m guessing is a stretch. I imagine the baby to be stretching because her stomach pokes out and we both start laughing.
We laugh and it’s the first time that any reference to babies has been made and I don’t feel that deep loss from my own. I feel like I can be happy for another woman who’s experiencing the joys of pregnancy.
At the same time I do think of what I would have been like at this stage if I’d made it that far.
We were so caught up in feeling the baby that I didn’t even notice that the door had opened.
It’s Charlotte looking ahead that alerts me.
I turn to see Gabe standing there watching us. While he looks like the happy father to be watching his wife, there’s a flicker of sadness in his eyes that I don’t miss.
I take note and stand.
