Daphne sighed and shook her head. “Whatever. I like her. I like what she has to say. It resonates with me.”
Sasha looked at Jay, and he gave her a smile and a shrug.
“Happy wife, happy life, am I right?” he said.
“You’re a good man, Jay,” Sasha said.
“Wait, did she tell you about the giant tub?” he asked.
“I haven’t told her about the giant tub,” Daphne said.
“What giant tub?” Sasha asked.
“Oh shit,” Jay said. He stood and set his bowl of chili on the coffee table. “You gotta see it to believe it.”
He started walking down the hall, and Daphne got up to follow him. Sasha, behind the two of them, assumed they were going to the bathroom—giant tub?—but Jay went toward the garage door. He opened it, switched on the light, and said, “Ta-da!”
Sasha peered around Daphne to see a giant inflatable tub in the middle of the garage. So that was why their cars were parked out front.
“I don’t get it,” Sasha said.
Her first thought was that it was a play pool for the baby, but she couldn’t figure out why they had this before they’d even acquired a crib.
“I’m going to have a water birth,” Daphne said. “At home.”
Sasha must have still looked confused, because Jay jumped in to clarify: “She’s going to have our baby in this tub.”
Sasha looked at her sister. “You serious?”
“I’ve done my research, and it’s what I want to do,” Daphne said. Sasha could tell by the tone of her voice and the way she jutted her chin slightly upward that there was no changing her mind.
“It’s because of Angelini Luna,” Jay said.
“Angeni,” Daphne corrected.
“Is it safe?” Sasha asked.
“Of course it’s safe. It’s childbirth. It’s a very natural process if people would let it be,” Daphne said. She sounded rehearsed, unlike herself. Sasha knew she had to tread lightly. Her sister could be very stubborn.
“Are you going to have a midwife or whatever?” Sasha asked.
“Yes, we have someone,” Daphne said.
“Daph found her on the internet,” Jay said, dubious.
“Does Mom know?” Sasha asked.
Sasha knew there was no way their mother would agree with this.
“I haven’t told her yet,” Daphne said.
Jay couldn’t suppress a laugh. “I hope I’m involved in that convo.”
“This really isn’t that crazy of a thing. Women do it all the time,” Daphne said.
Sasha went to the giant tub, lifted a leg up and over the side, and stepped into it.
“Angeni Luna had a water birth,” Jay said.
