Page 38 of The Doctor's Promise
“Even more, Fatty.”
She laughed out loud. “So cruel, but I love you.”
“I’m gonna spoil you, pretty girl. Anything you want: pickled ice cream at midnight, scrambled eggs and surströmming at three a.m.”
“What the hell is surströmming?” Noemi was giggling at the mischief on his face.
“Fermented herring. Smells like death.”
Noemi gagged, and Rafa grinned. “Still waiting for the morning sickness?”
“I hate you.”
He blew her a kiss, and she laughed as Zani came into the room. “Hey, Zani.”
“Hey, Noe, Rafa. Everyone good?”
“Of course.” Rafa looked at his brother. “So, I’m going into the office this morning. Want to come with and discuss what use we can put you to?”
Zani smiled thinly. “Whatever you say, brother. I’ll go get changed.”
He slunk from the room and Rafa frowned. “You think he’s acting strangely? I mean ever since we got back?”
Noemi shrugged. “I don’t know him well enough to know, baby. What do you think?”
Rafa sighed. “I don’t know… I guess I could talk to him today.”
“You think he really wants a job?”
Rafa shook his head, smiling ruefully. “No, but what can I do?” He kissed her. “I’m going to get Bepi up.”
“I can take him to the kindergarten if you like.”
“I bet he’d love that—” Rafa was walking towards the door, then stopped and returned to her. “And maybe while you’re doing that… you could think about moving in with me.”
Noemi’s eye widened. “Wow. Wow. I mean… wow.”
“Just think about it is all I ask. I would very much like to raise our child together, but if that’s too soon…”
Noemi chuckled. “I think we’ve thrown ‘too soon’ out of the window.”
“Is that a yes?”
Noemi grinned. “Yes, you beautiful man, I’ll move in with you. But, one condition.”
“Back rubs and dirty sex nightly?”
Noemi pretended to look affronted. “I would hope that was a given. No, my condition is I pay rent. I’m not freewheeling from you, Rafa. No way. And it’s not like I can’t afford it, I’m a surgeon for Chrissakes. So… whatever your mortgage payment is on this every month, I pay half.”
Rafa’s lips twitched. “You want to know how much my mortgage is per month?”
“Yes.”
He told her, and Noemi paled. “Well… how about I just rent a room?”
Rafa threw his head back and laughed. “Girl, listen. Money is just… stuff. Who cares? We’ll work it out! No one will think you’re a gold digger! You’re a surgeon, remember?”
“Gah. Trapped by my own words.”
