“I don’t need money, Mo. I need to work.”
He looked down at my stomach. “Can I feel it?”
The drastic change in topic sent my head spinning. A moment of gathering myself later, I consented, leaning back to give him access. Slowly, he brought his hand to my belly, first letting it rest there, then roaming over me, feeling my newly rounded shape.
“It’s going to getsobig,” I whispered as I forced my eyes not to roll back at how good his hands felt. “My sister-in-law’s belly stuck so far out, she had to move her seat back in her minivan, then she had trouble reaching the steering wheel.”
He smirked. “Well, your brother is a giant, so I’m guessing their babies were massive.”
“They were all over nine pounds. My dad is a giant too, but my mom’s diminutive genes counteracted his. Our child has a chance of being average-sized, but my dad’s Scandinavian DNA could sneak in there, so you never know.”
His hand settled on the roundest part of my belly, and he smiled. “We’re having a fucking baby, Mic. It’s gonna look like you and me, together.”
I smiled back at him, my heart doing another low swoop. “It keeps hitting me. Now that you know, it feels more real.”
“I’m going to take care of you, however you need me. You got that? Call me, text me, I’ll give you Yael’s number too. I want you to know I’m in this with you.”
I nodded, emotion caught in my throat. We’d been all over the place during this lunch. I was leery about Mo as a husband or partner, but I believed he’d make a good dad. I felt that truth in my bones.
Mo walked with me to where I’d parked my car a few blocks away, catching my hand to stop me on the sidewalk. “Come here.”
“Moses,” I sighed.
He frowned down at me. “I just want to hug you, Mic.”
Not having any argument to give, I allowed him to pull me into his arms. I wrapped mine around his waist and let myself settle into his warmth. But he felt too good, reminded me way too much of that night, so I pushed away.
“I’ll call you,” I said.
He tucked his hands in his pockets. “Let me know you got home.”
“I will.”
I drove away from him, and the floaty feeling he gave me slowly fled as I put space between us. As it should be. The ground was where I belonged.
When I got home, I was greeted with a spray of sunflowers in a hand-painted vase sitting on my tiny stoop. I took them inside and set them on my kitchen counter. There was a card with my name on it tucked between the blooms.
Michaela!
Moses just spilled the news! I promise you to love that baby to the moon and back. And my brother will be such a great dad. The dad to end all dads. I hope we can be great, great friends. Good job on creating such a kickass baby.
Love, Yael
P.S. I didn’t know about the arms and legs thing either.
Just like that, the floaty feeling came back.
Me:I’m home, and your sister sent me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers with a super sweet note.
Moses:Glad to hear it, and yeah, she has her moments. I think she was showing me up.
Me:You did give me the baby, so I think you win forever.
Moses:*fist pump* Can’t wait to rub that in Yael’s face. When am I going to see you again, friend?
Me:I’m mostly working from home the next two weeks. Maybe I’ll invite you over for a swim.
Moses:Maybe I would like that very much.
Me:Okay. I’ll text you.
Moses:You do that, Michaela.
I tossed my phone away before I asked him to come over now.
I poked my belly. “I think this is all your doing. I had no intention of asking him over, but it hasn’t even been an hour, and look at me. You have to be sending me baby brain signals.”
Energy sapped, I laid down on my little couch, turned on Unrequited, and fell asleep listening to Mo’s voice. Strictly for the baby, of course.