I stroked his hair and murmured, “I know.”
“Caleb, look at me,” Benji said. Caleb listened with a frown. “You got through your other surgery just fine. Right?”
“Right,” Caleb mumbled. “But - “
“No buts. This isn’t any different. You’re gonna go in, get your pain knocked out, and have your baby. You won’t feel anything.”
“Mypain?” Caleb yelped. “You mean I’m gonna beawakeduring the whole thing?”
Benji winced, not realizing his brother hadn’t known that yet. “Yeah. But look on the bright side - you’ll be awake to see the moment your baby enters the world.”
Caleb’s skin was pale and glistened with sweat at the mere idea. “Can someone pass me a bucket? I think I’m gonna be sick.”
* * *
“Tellme what’s on your mind,” I asked.
The room was dark and quiet. Caleb lounged on the couch, so big he barely fit on it anymore. On the table beside him were a pile of handwritten papers and pen, just out of arm’s reach. He seemed constantly uncomfortable, no matter which position he assumed, and was beginning to get fed up not knowing when the pregnancy was going to end.
Caleb groaned. “Everything sucks.”
I sat on the couch armrest so as not to disturb him. “Everything?”
“Yeah.” He pouted at me. “Everything.”
“Say it isn’t so,” I murmured with a smile.
“I’ve been working on my book idea since I quit my job,” Caleb said. “But with how big and uncomfortable I am lately, it’s hard enough to sit up and write. So I just sit here like a lump wondering when this baby’s gonna come out of me.”
My smile faded. A few weeks had passed since our talk with Maxwell, and still Caleb hadn’t mustered the courage to book a date for his c-section. The dread about another medical procedure was just too much for him to handle.
I wanted to broach the topic, but not too soon. Instead I gestured to the pile of papers. “May I?”
Caleb perked up. “Uh… Sure. It’s just a draft, so it probably sucks.”
“Most drafts do. Even mine.”
He shyly returned my smile.
My eyes raked over the words and the content surprised me. It wasn’t what I was expecting - a romance novel, like the ones I wrote - but instead some ideas for a children’s book. The most prominent ideas starred two young female bats and their adventures, mixed with humor and life lessons. In the corner of the page was a doodle of the bats.
I smiled at Caleb. “Are they cousins, too?”
Caleb blushed. “You figured it out, huh? Actually, I made them sisters. But they’re based on Lark and our baby.” He chuckled. “I just hope they get along as well as these bats do.”
“I’m sure they will.” I kissed his forehead, which felt warm. When I pulled away, Caleb grabbed the front of my shirt. “Hm?”
“Wait,” he mumbled. “I… I need your help.”
“Yes?” I asked.
Caleb glanced down. “I know I need to talk to Maxwell. About the… You know.”
“The c-section,” I said gently.
“Yeah.” He bit his lip. “I’m just really nervous about it, so I thought maybe you could help me with that. Again. Um.” He paused. “Remember?”
Recalling the situation with the blood, I nodded. “Yes. But I think it would be inappropriate for me to give you a blowjob while you meet Maxwell, don’t you agree?”
