Page 74 of Leo

He thought about it some and nodded. “I like it. What were you saying before?”

“I want to cut back. I am thinking of having Ingrid come in and manage the place. She admitted to me that she is bored out of her skull and Ben is doing something part-time. She could come in four times a week.

I could do most of my baking here.” She turned her head to look at him. “I want to bring up my son, darling. I want to be here for his first steps and hear him say his first words, hopefully, it will be ‘mama’,” she smiled her impish smile and had him melting.

“I am not against hiring someone to help with the day-to-day duties, like changing diapers and being with him when I have to bake, but I want to be the main person in his life. What do you think?”

“I think I am the most fortunate man in the entire world.” He told her huskily. “And if that’s what you want, then I am behind you all the way.”

“Good, it is settled. I love you so much, Leo.”

“That’s handy, because I happen to love you too.”

*****

“Honey, take the load off. You look like you’re about to pop any minute now.” Ingrid pulled out a chair and waited for her to sit. “What on earth are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be resting.”

“I sneaked out. Elly was doing some laundry, and I was bored out of my skull.” She rubbed her swollen abdomen absently. “And I cannot settle. I am restless.

The nursery is finally finished with, and Leo refuses to let me lift a pin.” She grimaced and shifted to ease her aching back. “I would like very much for this guy to make his way out and give me some ease.”

“You’re two weeks away?”

She nodded. “And I am under house arrest. My husband has not been out of town in a month, and I know it is because of me.”

“Honey, let me get you some tea.”

“I want coffee, preferably a latte.” She rolled her eyes at the look on her friend’s face. “Fine. Tea then.” She looked around the wide space and realized how much she missed being here. She had told her husband she was scaling things down, but that did not mean she did not miss it.

And she had been having twinges on and off since this morning, something she had not told her husband about. Leo tended to get paranoid when it came to her pregnancy and the closer she got to her due date, the more vigilant he became.

She just needed a breather. She had spent so much time in the lovely blue-green nursery, a mirror of her husband’s eyes, that she had folded and refolded the tiny clothing and rearranged thestuff toys until she was tired of the task. There really was nothing to do and nowhere to go.

Smiling at her friend, she accepted the lemon tea and took a sip. “Thanks.”

“Now, why don’t you tell me what’s really going on?”

“I am going to be a mother.”

“And an excellent one you will be. You also have a man who adores you and caters to you. Honey, you are blessed.”

She nodded and took another fortifying sip of tea. The place was a little bit quiet now, since it was late afternoon, and the heavy foot traffic was over. “I keep having this recurring nightmare.”

“What is it about?”

“It is silly and I know if I mention it to Leo, he is going to worry. I keep seeing myself in the maternity ward and the doctors saying that it is too late and I am losing my son. There is a lot of blood. Leo is there and he is crying. The fact that he is, tells me something is dreadfully wrong.”

“You have been to get your usual checkup, right?”

“Just last week and everything is fine.”

“It’s just the anxiety talking and manifesting itself in a dream.”

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I never thought I wanted my baby and now, if anything were to happen…”

“Stop this at once.” Ingrid said firmly. “In two weeks or less, you will be delivering a healthy baby boy and from the looks of you and that handsome husband of yours, he’s going to be breaking hearts the rest of his life.”

Leaning forward, she touched Sherrian’s hand. “Take a deep breath, go home and watch something silly on TV, read a book or do a puzzle and just relax.”

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