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“Yeah, who knew Dad dying and her moving a thousand miles away would bring us closer?” She laughed, then abruptly stopped. Blake didn’t have to ask why to know. “Blake?”
“Come on,” she sat her plate down and extended a hand out to Alexis, “I’ll get you cleaned up.”
“I got her, Blake.” Sophia waved her off. “Lex and I have been through all this before.”
“Thanks, Soph.”
As Sophia helped Alexis into the bedroom to change her pants, Blake quickly inhaled her sandwich. Time alone these days was slim to none and she hadn’t even found time to eat breakfast that morning. By the time Alexis and Sophia rejoined her in the living room, Blake was finished with her sandwich.
Sophia hung around the apartment for a few hours, giving Blake time to finish work before she had to pick up Harper from school. She took Harper to the Pizza Parlor and let her play in their small arcade before they headed home.
But when they arrived back at the apartment, Alexis was nowhere to be found. Blake checked the bedroom, bathroom, and the small balcony and nothing. She darted across the hall to Sophia and Emily’s apartment where she finally saw Alexis in the middle of their living room balancing on her birthing ball.
“There you are. You gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry, babe. I needed a change of scenery.”
“It’s okay,” Blake walked over to her and kissed her. She tucked her hair behind her ears. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I am. Where’s Harp?”
“Here I am, Mommy!” Harper came running into the apartment and hugged Alexis. She nearly knocked Alexis off the ball, so Blake helped her regain her balance.
“Harper, be careful.”
“She’s okay.” She kissed her on the cheek. “Did you and Mama have fun at the arcade?”
“Yup! We played air hockey and I won.”
“That’s awesome!”
Tenderly, Harper placed her hand on Alexis’s stomach. She’d started talking to the babies as soon as Alexis started showing, and Alexis thought it was the cutest thing ever. Alexis shifted her position slightly, and Harper leaned into her. Blake quickly stepped in, pulling Harper back.
“Hey, careful. We don’t want to push Mommy off the ball.”
“Blake, she’s fine,” Alexis said through gritted teeth. It wasn’t the first time Blake had scolded Harper when she was around Alexis. But Blake couldn’t help it; she was worried about Alexis and the babies. “Harp, why don’t you help Nonna and Emmy in the kitchen, okay?”
As Harper ran off into the kitchen, Alexis looked up at Blake. The look alone told Blake she was in trouble. She crossed her arms over her stomach.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You just snipped at me and Harper, so clearly something is wrong.”
“I didn’t,” Blake started to defend herself but couldn’t. “I'm just tired and worried about you and didn’t want her to hurt you.”
“She’s not going to hurt me.”
“She might if she knocks you off there. You could get hurt or hurt the babies or go into labor.”
“Blake,” Alexis had pulled out her Mom Voice, “come on. Harper hugs me every day on this thing and it’s been fine. You’re just on edge for some reason today.”
“I’m not on edge,” she snipped.
“Okay.”
Alexis’s look told her it was anything but okay. Not wanting to start an argument, Blake headed back to their apartment to finish up on some work. Opening the refrigerator, she saw they were out of Alexis’s favorite Powerade. She grabbed her keys and wallet and headed down the street to the store. After picking up a few other things they needed, Blake returned home.
