Page 107 of Hell Hath No Fury

We haven’t been back for long, but between the time difference and the travel time, it’s already closing in on midnight, so we decide we may as well head to bed.

I’m in the bathroom, washing my face, when Antonio says from the bedroom, “Are you going to find it weird?”

Frowning at my reflection in the mirror, I pat my face dry, then place the towel on the counter. I scoop a good dollop of face cream from the jar, twisting the lid back on before exiting the bathroom, still rubbing the cream into my face. Then I stand in the middle of the room, staring at him quizzically. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

His smile is somewhat sheepish as he explains, “Carolina and Tony basically having our child running around. Will you find it weird?”

“No,” I reply frankly. “They may have our DNA running around, but she will be their child.”

The relief on his face is instantaneous. “Oh, good. That’s how I think of it as well, but then I wondered if it may be different for you, being a mom and all.”

Waving my hand dismissively, I respond, “Maybe if I went through pregnancy and all that, I’d feel differently, but honestly, at my age, I couldn’t even imagine having a baby again.”

“Having never been around babies at all, I cannot give much of an opinion.”

“Obviously, my circumstances weren’t even close to being normal, but it was difficult on the best of days. It’s amazing how you can love a little person so much but at the same time mourn your previous existence.”

He’s watching me from across the room, the warmth in his eyes sending a slight shiver down my spine. I squint at him, turning to the bed and pulling the duvet down as I say, “I’ll laugh if they end up with another Antoinette. Now that would be hilarious.”

Antonio laughs then asks, “Did you really ask them not to name her Deidre?”

“Yes, I did,” I reply with a nod. “And all I got for my trouble was them declaring her Mickey and calling it a day.”

Antonio chuckles, not at all bothered by my disgruntled demeanor. “I think Mickey is a cute name for a girl.”

I open my mouth to argue but then immediately press my lips together, my face twisting in what I’m sure is a less-than-attractive expression. Antonio cocks his head at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

The smile drops from his face, his eyes narrowing. “Uh-oh. That can’t be good.”

“Oh, stop. It really is nothing.”

“Maybe so,” he responds quietly. “But you’re going to have to tell me, or else I’ll worry all night about nothing.”

“Okay, I sometimes wonder what it would’ve been like,” I reply, keeping my tone even because though I wonder, I don’t wonder in the sense of it causing me distress.

He pulls his shirt over his head, making a show of dropping it on the floor, so he’s now standing there in just his slacks. “What what would’ve been like?”

“Doing the whole family thing like Carolina and Tony are doing.”

“You mean in optimal order with the full support of your partner?” Antonio asks.

Nodding, I reply, “Yeah, though I doubt it would do anything for how badly I felt through every single one. Not at all sexy.”

“I’m sure you were ridiculously sexy.”

The laugh that falls from my mouth is humorless. “Only if you think puking my guts up all day and night is sexy. Barely slept, rarely showered.”

His expression turns grim as he responds, “Lil, you’re not doing a very good job selling this to me if that’s your goal.”

I laugh loudly, making a round motion in front of me as I joke, “Want me to get a big fake belly?”

He eyes me warily. “A what?”

A giggle escapes at his suspicious look. “A fake pregnant belly.”

“Now, why would you do that?”

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