“Yes,” Josie carried on, “I was just telling my Angel that very thing.”
“Wonderful, class!” the midwife exclaimed. “You’re all doing so well. Keep at it. Remember your breathing, ladies.”
The two women focused on her breathing again.
“Did you enjoy that, Lover?” I giggled and poked Josie in the stomach with my elbow.
“What? Are you ashamed of our love?”
“Shut up, you fool.”
“It's good to see you smiling. I much prefer this Angel to the grumpy chops who moved into my guest suite.”
“Haha. Aren’t you the funny one?”
“Hey, that’s why we’re having a baby together. But, seriously, Angel. You need to destress. It isn’t good for little Prince Bump.”
“I’m trying to. At least Max is heading in the right direction.”
“Talking to The Man, is he?”
“Yup.”
“Good.”
I felt silly, talking in code, but it was either that or announcing to my entire Lamaze class that the father of my child was a wanted drug smuggler in bed with the Russian mob. I’d sooner chew off my arm.
“Let’s go for a drink after this. I’ll have big people juice while you and junior enjoy a shake. Then you can fill me in,” Josie smiled. “In the meantime, breathe, sister!”
“Hee hee hee…hoo hoo hoo,” I breathed extra loudly, to appease my bossy partner.
“That’s my girl.”
Josie and I got out of there as soon as the class was over. We didn’t feel much like bonding with Mrs. and Mrs. Second Kid.
“Bloody hell. Now my back hurts,” Josie moaned as we sat down in a coffee shop close to the Lamaze venue. “I bet no one ever feels sorry for the preggie partner. It’s a lot of pressure, you know,” she grinned.
“You’ll be fine. One glass of wine and you’ll bounce back.”
“One? I’m planning on having at least three cocktails.”
“I hope I get to torture you when you’re unable to see your feet over a round belly.”
“I have to find a man first.”
“Yeah, turns out that’s not as easy as it looks.”
“Not true. Max is a decent guy. He’s gonna come through this with flying colors, Angel. You’ll see.”
“He’d better. I don’t want to raise our baby by myself.”
“You said he called you.”
“Yeah. This morning. He’s talking to the DEA.”
“That’s great. What are they offering him?”
“I’d think that keeping his ass out of prison alone would be plenty of incentive. I don’t know, exactly. Max will keep me posted.”