I stopped at a traffic light and rolled my eyes.
“You’re only sixty-one, Mother. You’ll probably outlive us all.”
“You might be right. I heard about this rejuvenating vaginal cleanse procedure that claims—”
“Too much information, Mum,” I barked, my stomach lurching.
“No, tell me more, Hazel. That sounds absolutely fascinating,” Stella interjected immediately.
I shot her a glare, but someone behind us laid on their horn and I had to turn my attention back to the road instead of violently throwing up all over myself.
“Wait until we get home,” I muttered darkly.
Stella just smiled sweetly, patted my thigh, and joined in with my mother’s madness.
I was absolutely surrounded.
???
It was late, and Stella had dozed off halfway through a movie she’d been so excited to watch. I didn’t mind. Her head rested on my lap and her belly was within easy reach.
The more I talked to our daughter, the better the chances of getting her on my side.
The final trimester was crucial.
Her brain was undergoing rapid development. The cerebral cortex was beginning to function, the characteristic folds forming as it matured. The split between the left and right hemispheres might even be happening right now while the cerebellum continued to develop.
But more importantly, she should be able to process sound and detect light.
I frowned.
It must be dark in there.
Poor baby.
“Don’t worry, sweetie, you’ll be out in a couple of months,” I murmured, gently massaging the side of her mother’s belly.“The great escape.”
I frowned again.
Kids had it rough.
First stuck in a ballsack.
Then trapped in a womb.
After that it was a gamble on who your parents were.
I smiled to myself, thinking of my parents bickering the way they always did. My mum had me young, but she went on to study anyway.
My own clients were high-end and demanded absolute privacy. The brain was a remarkable thing, and helping people understand themselves—or simply deal with life—was rewarding work.
Except for the occasional entitlement, I genuinely enjoyed it.
My mother’s endlessly curious mind had eventually led her into sex therapy.
A story of her awakening I’d heard more times than I could count.
I smiled again and stroked Stella’s hair.
