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Justin got up first. The heat was penetrating, even with the window air conditioner, it was going to be unbearable soon.
“We’d better think about springing for central air,” Maggie mumbled, her back to him.
“These old swamp shacks aren’t exactly insulated for that,” he said. Do you want to do the whole renovation thing?”
“I think we have to,” she said. “We can do it and maintain the character of the cottage. But this heat isn’t going to cut it.”
Giving up, she worked her legs over the side of the bed. Her due date was one week away. They had everything ready for the baby. A corner of their bedroom had a bassinet and a changing table. Justin had installed shelving for supplies and had painted an old cupboard to store diapers and baby clothes.
But it was thenurserythat had everyone over the moon, and it was all Justin’s doing. They were having a baby girl. Justina Marie.
“What’s wrong with Magdeleine? That’s your name,” Rose asked, upset.
“Mother, no offense, but really? No.”
“It’s a good Cajun name,” she argued. “My father, Lonnie, named you.”
“Thank you, but Justina is perfect. We’ll call her Tina.”
“I thought we were calling her Justy,” Justin remarked.
Maggie looked at him sidelong. In everything, she had deferred to him.Everything.
“Look, I know I’m just the incubator here, but can I have a say in anything?”
Sputtering, Justin got it right away. “Tina it is.”
So on that morning, a week before she was due to give birth, Maggie was in a minute-by-minute surrender.
“If I can ever get this huge ass up, I’ll make your coffee.”
He ran his finger down her back. “Stay. I’ll get it myself.”
“No. I’m going riding this morning.”
“Maggie…”
“The doctor said I can ride until I go into labor. I want to see Raven and Lightning. They were sandwiching me yesterday, and it felt good.”
“Don’t let them squeeze the baby out of you,” he said, frowning.
“I won’t.” She finally stood up. “Look at this thing. Is it my imagination, or did I drop?”
He walked around to her side of the bed and felt her belly. “You have dropped, by the looks of things.”
“It is,” she said, sitting up. “Now I’m guaranteed to pee myself.”
They laughed, teasing each other while they brushed teeth and got dressed.
“I wish I could stay home today,” he said. “I’ll be happy when my vet tech can start full time.”
“Who’d you end up hiring?”
“I told you. Amber.”
She put her toothbrush down on the sink. “Uh-ah.”
“Just kidding. A guy from her class though. She’s not going to work because she’s getting married to Phil Adler.”
