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Rose: What happened?
Me: Suds had a bad dream.
Rose: Should I ask Hands to call?
Me: Not yet.
Without warning, my stomach heaves. Hand to my mouth, I race down the hall, and reach the toilet just in time. When a broom handle taps on my floor, I moan and check the incoming text.
Rose: I heard you.
Flushing, I lean my back against the wall and send a sick face emoji. Shit. I hate this part of pregnancy.
She rings me and before I can saybuongiorno, she asks, “Did you tell him?”
“No. And don’t give me grief. He doesn’t need any more stress. I will soon. I promise.” I hang up, puke once more, brush my teeth, and put on warm clothes.
By the time Mikey wakes and we’ve eaten breakfast, I feel almost normal.
“Ready to take the train, tiger?” Suds tosses our Eveready Bunny in the air and when he sets him down, the boy runs into his bedroom.
“Rarw!” Our independent dresser returns wearing his favorite shirt inside out, and while my husband turns it around, I pack a knapsack.
By the time I’m done, they’re dressed for the cold and waiting at the door.
“Love you sugar, and don’t fret none. I got this.” At my husband’s hang dog face, I hug him to my chest.
“Don’t you worry, either. I’m going to spend the whole day sending invoices. Divorces-R-Us is not a charity and people need to pay up.”
For the first time today, he seems more like himself and smiles. “Because nothing says the holidays like cheatin’ spouses caught with their pants down.”
“Correct.”
After I kiss my men goodbye, my husband opens the back door, and winks. “If Slate don’t have work for me, guess I’ll earn a few bucks as a gigolo.”
“If you want a stellar recommendation, let me know.” Waggling my brows, I smirk until he grins and trots down the back stairs.
Once they’re out of sight, I slip a wool scarf around my bruised neck and meander to the middle apartment’s kitchen.
“How’s Suds?” Rose scrapes her chair closer to Mia, making space for me.
Sitting, I sigh. “He’s a little stressed. There’s the shooting, of course, and I think he was counting on bodyguard work to cover Christmas expenses, as well.”
“I have savings you can borrow.” My sainted younger cousin pours herself another coffee and when she holds the carafe over my cup, I shake my head, no.
“Thanks, but you and Hands have plenty of uses for your money. We’re fine. Really.”
“Joey says business has been slow.” Rose tilts her head and like always, tries to will the truth out of me but I’ve worked for the FBI and have honed my evasiveness skills.
“With inflation at an all-time high, everyone is tightening their belts, but things will turn around. They always do.” I force an optimistic smile on my face, but my older cousin simply narrows her gaze.
“You need to tell your husband you’re expecting and stop agreeing to take on other people’s problems.”
“What? I don’t.” A cheese danish calls out my name so I snatch it off the plate.
As I moan at the deliciousness, Mia frowns. “What about filling in at my mom’s shop? She could’ve found someone else to cover vacations.”
Swallowing hard, I confess. “Actually, I was the one who approached her.”
