Chloe
“HEY LITTLE MOMMY.”
“Hey there, Mrs. Adair. What’s going on?”
“Up for a girls’ night? I’ll bring the snacks.”
“Don’t forget the Tums and ginger ale. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.” Click.
It took me thirty minutes to get up. I was about to call up to my parents and ask my dad to come help me stand up. That’s the last time I sit in that chair. Now I see why my mom suggested I spend the last month of my pregnancy at their house. First thing in the morning, I’m waddling up to their house until Parker gets here.
I changed clothes and tried to get comfortable, but that wasn’t possible. “OOOH!” That sharp jab was powerful. “Parker, I thought we had a deal. No more kicking Mommy like that. I promise after tonight to take it easy.” I waddled out to the patio and the cool breeze seemed to calm Parker down. I rubbed my belly while taking deep breaths. I looked up at the beautiful sky, thinking about the future. “God, please show me how to be a good mother.”
I walked around the side of the house, humming and rubbing my belly. The bright lights grabbed my attention as the car pulled into the driveway. I stopped walking, and stood waiting for Alex.
She climbed out of the car, walked around to the passenger side and unloaded several bags and walked towards me.
“Hey there, Mrs. Adair.”
“Hey there little Mommy.” She kissed me on the cheek, then bent down and directed her attention to my swollen belly. “Hello Parker, it’s Auntie Alex.”
“Ooo.” Another sharp jab. “I think he’s glad to see you.”
“Come on, let’s get you comfortable.”
We headed back to the patio. “What did you bring?”
“Nothing low-fat,” we laughed.
We continued walking and she helped me sit down. I watched as she unloaded the bags and spread all the containers on the table. “So, we have pizza margarita, penne with heirloom tomatoes and duck sausage, fried mozzarella with marinara, meatballs, garlic bread and because we need something healthy, caesar salad.”
“I thought you were bringing junk food?”
She reached into the bag and pulled out a couple of clear boxes, and my eyes got large. “How about cheesecake, cannoli, apple fritters and lemon cookies?”
“Now we’re talking! Sit down.” After a lot of small talk, I asked the question I’d been waiting all evening to ask. “So, why are you here?”
“I thought it would be great to have a girls’ night.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What?”
“Alex, I love you. However, you have a fine man at home and yet, you’re here with me. What’s going on?” I sipped my wine.
“Should you be drinking that?”
“My doctor took away my caffeine, but said I could have a glass of red wine twice a week.” I sipped more wine. “You didn’t answer my question. Why are you here?”
“Moses is working on his new book.”
“Are you avoiding him because it’s bad?”
“No. More like he’s avoiding me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Moses has been locked up in his office for the past three weeks working. Apparently, it’s part of his process.”
“And the problem is?”
“I haven’t seen him.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I get home, he’s working. When I go to work, he’s sleeping.”
“I see.”
“We haven’t had sex since this writing ritual started.”
I smiled. “And you’re…”
“So frisky, I could scream.” I laughed at her. “It’s not funny, Chloe. I’m a newlywed with a hot husband and…”
“He has to take a break at some point.”
“We go to church, and then he comes home and locks himself back in his office.”
I looked at her, and she looked sad. I had no advice. Orlando and I never had that challenge. We constantly had sex until he decided he wanted to have it with someone else. “You need to talk to him. Try sending him an email or texting him.”
“Grams said, this is normal. She told me to stick to my schedule and it shouldn’t last much longer.”
“But that’s not working for you?”
“I’ve tried everything. Wearing sexy lingerie hoping when he comes to bed, something might happen.”
“And?”
“I got felt up once and that was it.”
“Then go to bed naked. Take the day off, so when he wakes up, you’re there, and you can get serviced,” I teased.
“Chloe…”
“Alex, trust me, it’s not that bad. At least you’re getting some or the possibility of some, soon. The only prospect I have is my doctor going up stream to pull Parker out.” We laughed. For the first time during this conversation, she looked hopeful. “Trust me honey, there’s nothing wrong with your marriage. You two just need to talk.”
“You’re right. I guess I’ll be taking Friday off.”
“Wise decision.” I rubbed my belly. “Now I need a favor.”
“Name it.”
“Will you help me go up to my parents’ house.”
“Are you okay?”
“My mother wants me to stay with them until Parker gets here.”
“I agree.”
“I was going to wait until the morning, but I think tonight would be better.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”
I smiled. “No sweetie, it’s not like that. I just don’t want to get stuck in that damn chair again,” we laughed.