wondered.
“Em, did Caleb send you the photos of the building?” Colin passed his phone to Gina, and she cooed.
“He did. It looks amazing. I’m really proud of him.”
“We all are.” Colin straightened and caught my eye. God, he was tall. Like his brother. I hoped the baby would get their height. “Well, I need to get to the office. Em, see you around. Gina, I’ll text you tonight. Maybe we can catch a movie or something.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she called out in a higher-pitched voice than usual.
As Colin walked out, I shuffled through the mail. Gina came up next to me.
“I won’t go out with him if you don’t want me to. If you think it would be awkward.”
I looked at her, puzzled. “Why would it be awkward?”
“Because you’re my boss and he’s your brother-in-law.”
I shrugged. “You’re free to do whatever you want.”
“But?”
“There’s no buts.” I paused, then smiled. “Okay, there is a but. And I’m telling you this woman-to-woman. As a friend, not a boss. I’m not sure Colin is, um, the best choice for anything but a fling.”
Gina grinned. “Who says I want anything more than a fling?”
I rubbed my stomach and burst out laughing at Gina’s words. I’d said the same thing once upon a time, right in this very store.
----
I didn’t stop moving all day. There was the baby clothing shop, where I intended only to look but walked out with a dozen organic cotton mint-green onesies, each with a different animal embroidered on the front. I spent two hours at my new bookstore, talking to contractors who were finishing an annex to the main sales floor where I planned to throw romance-themed parties and hold book signings. I dropped off a check to the interior designer of the nursery, drank a fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, bought two oatmeal cookies and ate one, went back to the bookstore to pick up checks, and then ran to the bank before it closed. After, I was famished and ate an entire gluten-free vegan pizza.
Along the way, I sent Caleb photos.
Do you like the onesies?
I ate this entire pizza.
And this cookie.
Do you still have a headache?
He responded immediately each time.
When’s your massage? You need to slow down and relax.
Yes, I am still feeling a little weird. I think it’s something I ate.
Can’t wait to be home.
Why did he always have to push himself?
Don’t drink too much tonight. I’m going into massage place now. Don’t worry about me!
After the two-hour rubdown, I felt boneless and spent. The shred of energy I had left was spent on driving home, and when I arrived, I stripped off my clothes, peed, drank water, peed some more, and then flopped on the bed. I looked at the time. It was already six o’clock.
Are you at the party? I texted to Caleb.
Yes, check out the food and flower spread.
He sent several photos of the tropical displays, each one more beautiful than the last.
Ohhh I wish I could be there.
I do, too.
Have fun and don’t worry about texting me over the next few hours. I’m going to nap. Or maybe go to bed for the evening. I’m sleepy. Make sure you get enough rest.
I hoped Caleb would work less when the baby came. We’d have to have a talk about it when he got home.
Yes, I will. But please relax, my love. And take your blood pressure at some point. Don’t forget. I miss you. Quero passar minha vida te amando.
I grinned and tapped on the screen. I’m so impressed with your Portuguese. What does that mean?
I want to spend my lifetime loving you.
I sighed. Could I have married a better man?
I love you so much. Text me when the party’s over and you return to your hotel room.
I didn’t even have the strength to set my phone on the nightstand. Instead, I held it as I drifted off.
Chapter 7
M y bladder was on the verge of exploding, and I woke from a dead sleep. I flung myself off the bed and into the bathroom, groaning as I relieved myself. It seemed like the more pregnant I became, the less my bladder
“Em, did Caleb send you the photos of the building?” Colin passed his phone to Gina, and she cooed.
“He did. It looks amazing. I’m really proud of him.”
“We all are.” Colin straightened and caught my eye. God, he was tall. Like his brother. I hoped the baby would get their height. “Well, I need to get to the office. Em, see you around. Gina, I’ll text you tonight. Maybe we can catch a movie or something.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she called out in a higher-pitched voice than usual.
As Colin walked out, I shuffled through the mail. Gina came up next to me.
“I won’t go out with him if you don’t want me to. If you think it would be awkward.”
I looked at her, puzzled. “Why would it be awkward?”
“Because you’re my boss and he’s your brother-in-law.”
I shrugged. “You’re free to do whatever you want.”
“But?”
“There’s no buts.” I paused, then smiled. “Okay, there is a but. And I’m telling you this woman-to-woman. As a friend, not a boss. I’m not sure Colin is, um, the best choice for anything but a fling.”
Gina grinned. “Who says I want anything more than a fling?”
I rubbed my stomach and burst out laughing at Gina’s words. I’d said the same thing once upon a time, right in this very store.
----
I didn’t stop moving all day. There was the baby clothing shop, where I intended only to look but walked out with a dozen organic cotton mint-green onesies, each with a different animal embroidered on the front. I spent two hours at my new bookstore, talking to contractors who were finishing an annex to the main sales floor where I planned to throw romance-themed parties and hold book signings. I dropped off a check to the interior designer of the nursery, drank a fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, bought two oatmeal cookies and ate one, went back to the bookstore to pick up checks, and then ran to the bank before it closed. After, I was famished and ate an entire gluten-free vegan pizza.
Along the way, I sent Caleb photos.
Do you like the onesies?
I ate this entire pizza.
And this cookie.
Do you still have a headache?
He responded immediately each time.
When’s your massage? You need to slow down and relax.
Yes, I am still feeling a little weird. I think it’s something I ate.
Can’t wait to be home.
Why did he always have to push himself?
Don’t drink too much tonight. I’m going into massage place now. Don’t worry about me!
After the two-hour rubdown, I felt boneless and spent. The shred of energy I had left was spent on driving home, and when I arrived, I stripped off my clothes, peed, drank water, peed some more, and then flopped on the bed. I looked at the time. It was already six o’clock.
Are you at the party? I texted to Caleb.
Yes, check out the food and flower spread.
He sent several photos of the tropical displays, each one more beautiful than the last.
Ohhh I wish I could be there.
I do, too.
Have fun and don’t worry about texting me over the next few hours. I’m going to nap. Or maybe go to bed for the evening. I’m sleepy. Make sure you get enough rest.
I hoped Caleb would work less when the baby came. We’d have to have a talk about it when he got home.
Yes, I will. But please relax, my love. And take your blood pressure at some point. Don’t forget. I miss you. Quero passar minha vida te amando.
I grinned and tapped on the screen. I’m so impressed with your Portuguese. What does that mean?
I want to spend my lifetime loving you.
I sighed. Could I have married a better man?
I love you so much. Text me when the party’s over and you return to your hotel room.
I didn’t even have the strength to set my phone on the nightstand. Instead, I held it as I drifted off.
Chapter 7
M y bladder was on the verge of exploding, and I woke from a dead sleep. I flung myself off the bed and into the bathroom, groaning as I relieved myself. It seemed like the more pregnant I became, the less my bladder
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