I looked the woman over. She wore a leather jacket, and dark jeans and her hair was swept back up into a ponytail. My hand rested on my belly as I listened to Enzo go over her credentials.
“Can you shoot straight?” I finally asked.
She narrowed her eyes. “Ma’am?”
“You heard me; can you shoot straight?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she replied. “In another life I was an ex-navy seal.”
“Good,” I stood up, tired of the chit chat.
The craving for some vanilla ice cream with carrots was outrageous. I had just a few days before my due date and there was nothing that was going to stop me from carrying this baby to full term. I had a list of things to get done.
“Enzo, fill her in on the rest. I need a snack.”
My brother in law’s mouth dropped open but he nodded. He was probably sick of my shit, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t planned on running two crime empires just my own.
Taking the steps slowly, I felt like I was stepping on balloons. My feet felt so swollen and as I passed by a floor length mirror in the orange dress I was wearing, I looked like the Great Pumpkin. A sigh escaped my lips.
Baby Scarpetta had turned me in a round woman with big boobs. “I’ll have you know sweet child, that I will be snapping this body back the minute you’re out.”
I had just cut up a carrot when Treyanna came in with mail. “Morning.”
“Morning girl,” I replied.
“Oh look, another cotillion invite,” she smiled widely and handed over an envelope.
Pausing in my action, I sat the knife down on the island, and accepted. It was a black and gold embossed envelope. I was actually on the committee for this particular event. Glancing over Trey’s shoulder, I saw that cotillion season was just about in full swing.
“Remember when our parents thought this shit mattered?”
“I mean it does,” Trey responded. “Are you eating that with ice cream again.”
She eyed my carrots, and I tossed the invite aside.
“I most certainly am…. this child wants it and what my baby wants, he’s going to get.”
She smiled. “So, are you going to go?”
“To?”
“The cotillion bitch,” Trey rolled her eyes.
“Maybe.”
Ice cream, thick and frozen fell into a clear glass cup. I scooped out exactly two balls of vanilla before putting the tub back into the freezer.
“You need to get out. And by the time it rolls around the baby will be out. Aren’t they talking about inducing next week if he doesn’t make an appearance before hand?”
“Wow, you are really in my business.”
My best friend rolled her eyes and I noted that she was already dressed for the day. Her hair had been pulled into a sleek side ponytail and she wore her usual white button up and a pair of black trousers.
“And I’ll never stop,” she gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Naomi is gonna have you in for another checkup today, right?”
“Yes….it was just a panic attack,” I replied.
“Still…. call me after,” she threw over her shoulder.
