“We’ll be fine, and our healer doesn’t charge that way. I think that’s a human thing. The healers generally understand that people’s time is also valuable and make allowances.”
This wasn’t our first appointment, but I had not been aware of this policy. “They’re awfully nice in the office there, aren’t they?”
“They are that.” He ushered me out the door and down the street to the healer’s offices. “Convenient that it’s so close to the restaurant.”
“Sure is. Even if they will forgive lateness, I hate to make them wait.” I reached for the door, but my mate beat me to it. “Thank you, alpha.”
“You’re welcome.” We entered the office to find the front desk empty, but a voice called from the back, telling us to come right in.
It was just a regular monthly visit, but the healer was a little confused when he listened for the baby’s heart and heard the noises created by eating such a big lunch. But he said no harm done as long as I didn’t eat that much for every meal. It wassuch a thrill to hear the heart, I reached for Corvus’s hand and squeezed. “That’s our baby in there,” I crooned, stroking the side of my belly.
“Also a taco/enchilada combo plate and fried ice cream,” the healer said, shaking his head. “Remember, eating for two is just an expression.”
A few minutes later, we were back out on the street and heading for the baby furniture store. Despite my interest in lunch, this was the highlight of our trip. The nursery was all painted, but until we figured out what furniture to put in it, it wasn’t going to be much of a bedroom for our little one.
The store was well stocked for such a small town, but they had quite a website, so perhaps that was where they did most of their sales. The floor was set up with various rooms, each complete with furniture, wall decor, rugs, the works. I was enchanted, darting from one to the next, each cuter or sweeter or more engaging. “Don’t they say babies like black and white?” I asked, pausing before a room designed in only black, white, and gray with touches of red. “Isn’t it supposed to help their minds develop?”
“I don’t know.” Corvus looked at the geometric patterns. “But that doesn’t look much like a baby’s room, does it?”
“Maybe not. Well, how about this one?” We went from circus to baby animals to trains before deciding we didn’t need a big, bold theme. The baby would probably love soft neutrals, or at least I did. We could create our own art with our shiny findings. After all, the baby was half crow, and even his human father loved sparklies.
Of course, everything we picked had to be special ordered, but it would be there before the baby came, so that was all that mattered, really. We went home tired but happy, another step on the way to welcoming our little one accomplished.
Chapter Nineteen
Corvus
“The furniture’s here.” Joshua waddled into the bedroom where I was getting dressed for the day. “It’s all in boxes and needs to be put together.”
“What? I thought they put it together as part of the service.”
“Well, if they do, they didn’t.” He blew out a breath. “I guess it’s up to us.”
“Considering they were delivered from the next town, it wouldn’t be easy to get them back, I suppose…but is it wrong if I like the idea of us building the furniture together? I’m so bored, I don’t know what to do.”
“I understand.” My mate was so large, he didn’t fit behind the steering wheel of his truck and that meant he couldn’t go anywhere on his own. He was trying to be patient, but even with the due date approaching, there was not a single contraction. “It’s a little exercise too, good for both of us.”
“I knew it. You think I need to exercise. I’m so…” He glanced down. “But I can’t even see my feet, so it’s not like I can take up aerobics or anything.”
“Mate, you know the healer wanted you to do some gentle exercise, like a walk after dinner to help you digest your food. It has nothing to do with looks, although yours are perfect.”
He parted his lips, seeming inclined to argue some more when the strangest look came over his face.
“Omega!” I leapt across the few feet between us just in time to catch him when his knees buckled. “What’s wrong?”
“You need to put the furniture together right now.”
“Okay, but that’s no reason to get upset. I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning.”
“No, not tomorrow. Today. Right now. I’m not going to the healing center to have this baby until their room is fully ready.”
“No need to hurry. You aren’t due for two weeks. I’ll have it all done tomorrow by lunchtime.”
“Alpha? Listen carefully. I don’t want to repeat this again. I’m not having this baby until their room is ready. I don’t want them to be born and believe that we didn’t care enough to build their crib.”
“But the baby won’t think… Omega, is there something you’re not telling me?”
He let out a moan and grabbed for my arm. “The baby is coming, and we need to build their furniture.”
