“Yes. I wanted to know how your father was doing.”
Had Roger told her? “Better. They had to insert stents in a few arteries, but thankfully he didn’t require open heart surgery. Tomorrow we take him home.”
“Do you need any help? Or your mother?”
Gia really didn’t know how they were going to manage everything. The biggest issue right now was how they were going to financially make ends meet. That wasn’t something she was going to share with anyone, not even Roger.
“My brother, Gary, lives close by. But thank you.” She really did appreciate Lena’s offer. She knew it wasn’t said just to be nice. Lena was genuinely a nice person. “So you’re due—”
“Any day. Hopefully today. That’s why I’m here. Hoping we can go for a walk.” Lena lowered her voice even though there wasn’t anyone in earshot. “Don’t tell anyone, but I had a few contractions early this morning.”
“You’re in labor?” Gia asked, trying not to show her panic.
“Early stages I guess. But walking helps speed things along.”
And that’s a good thing?“Maybe you should call your doctor, or go to the hospital or—”
“Just take a walk and get ice cream.”
“Not craving Thai?” Gia teased.
Lena made a face. “Goodness no. I think I’ve eaten ice cream for dinner for the past three days.”
“I know my stomach will be happier if we stop. So where do you want to go? Boston Commons?”
“Actually I’m thinking the wharf. Nice breeze and we can watch the boats come and go. And they have a place that lets you make your own ice cream.”
“And how far is it to the hospital from there?” Gia asked.
Lena shrugged. “I’m not worried about it.”
That makes one of us.Gia had a feeling if she declined the offer, Lena would go on her own. Even though the limo driver would be close by, it wasn’t the same thing. “I could go for some rocky road ice cream.”
“Yum. Anything chocolate, or nuts or . . . heck, let’s be real, I’ll eat just about anything right now.”
On the way to the wharf, Gia talked about the interview and how impressed she was with Brittney.
“She definitely knows her stuff. You should’ve heard the questions my mother asked me, thinking it would prepare me better.”
“What kinds of questions,” Lena asked.
“The illegal ones. Are you married? Are you thinking about getting married? Any children in your future? Any health issues?”
Lena laughed. “Your mother asked you those?” Gia nodded. “I don’t think she was talking about the interview. I know how my mother used such tactics to get me to settle down. I was afraid to bring Brice around. Once she got her claws in him, it was all over.” Patting her stomach, she added, “And the rest is history.”
“Oh, I have a feeling your story is still in the making.”
“You might be right.” Lena moaned.
“Are you okay?” Gia asked. She saw Lena’s expression change.
“I think you were right.”
That’s not what she wanted to hear. “Do you want to go to the hospital?”
She shook her head. “I want to stop at Henderson Towers. If I have to drag Brice out of that meeting kicking and screaming, he’s coming with me.”
“Maybe you should call ahead. Have him meet the limo when you pull up.” Gia never had a baby, but from Lena’s breathing, things were moving along faster than Lena may have hoped.