Page 22 of Omega's Secret Baby
She motioned to my mountain of vitamins on the counter and smiled. “I said congratulations. I recognize all those bottles. I know it must be scary right now, but you’ll do fine.”
I blinked several times in confusion. “Um…”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure I walked around with that same terrified expression for weeks after I found out.” She patted her prominent baby bump. “He wasn’t exactly planned, you know? It took me weeks to tell the alpha. But it’s worked out so far, and you’re already on the right track.”
“What do you mean?”
She waved at my vitamins again. “You wouldn’t be buying all of those if you didn’t want the best for your baby. It means your heart is in the right place. Trust the love that you already have for your baby.”
I looked down and touched my stomach again. Trust the love?
The cashier cleared his throat, and I hurriedly pushed my mountain of bottles closer to the scanner.
“Um, thank you,” I said to the pregnant woman.
She smiled. “Enjoy this. Some of the pregnancy side-effects are hell, but there are moments that make everything worth it. Those first flutters of movement, and the first time you’re both annoyed and proud of your baby for kicking your insides hard enough to hurt. There’s time to address your fears, but you only get so many firsts.”
“I think I get it.”
“That’ll be fifty-eight twenty-two,” deadpanned the cashier.
I turned sheepishly to him and slid my debit card into the terminal, then waited for the transaction to finish.
“Thanks again,” I said to the woman as I collected my bag and stepped aside so the cashier could start scanning her purchase.
She nodded. “Trust the love.”
“I will.”
∞∞∞
~Thanksgiving~
I pulled my favorite sweater over my head, then examined myself in the mirror.
“You’re going to love Uncle Cody’s cooking,” I said as I wandered around my apartment, gathering everything I was taking to dinner. “His papa taught him how to make a turkey that’ll knock your socks off. I know you can’t taste it yet, but I’ll enjoy a bit extra for you.”
I grabbed my cranberry relish from the fridge and carried it out to my car, then returned for the pan with the green bean casserole, which only needed to be popped into the oven at Cody’s house to cook.
Well… one of the ovens.
I did have to admit that his sudden wealth made some things easier. Houses meant for entertaining often meant enough kitchen space to cook large meals. Both Corey and I had been informed that we didn’t have to attempt to lug around hot pans. We could just bring over anything and pop it into an oven.
At one point I’d been worried that Jordan might be there, but Cody had informed me that he had declined the invitation. Apparently he always spent the holiday with his parents.
I loaded my casserole pan into my car, then was on my way. A few minutes later I pulled into Cody’s driveway, where somebody from his staff rushed out to take the casserole from me and carry it inside.
I didn’t know if I’d ever get used to that, but at the same time I was grateful for the help. I was already feeling the pregnancy fatigue, but was trying not to show it.
“Guess who’s here!” I proclaimed as I strode into the kitchen and placed my bowl of relish on the counter.
“Theo!” Cody responded with a hearty laugh. He started towards me, and I took my first deep breath, ready to smell the turkey.
Unfortunately, that was a mistake.
I bolted towards the nearest bathroom and immediately started my sacrifice to the porcelain gods. I hadn’t had any sort of nausea or morning sickness until then, but the turkey smell was enough to set it off.
Once I’d finished dry-heaving I sat there for a moment, mourning the loss of the meal that I’d been so looking forward to, and that now seemed I would be unable to eat.
