“It could be anywhere from tomorrow to a week from now. You know how those guys can be with their fishing trips. How are you doing, anyway?”
“About as well as can be expected.” Bernie pressing her fist into her back. “I feel like I’m carrying around an entire football team.”
Bernie really did look like she was about to have a baby at any time, although her due date was still several weeks out.
“Do you want to sit down?”
“In a minute. I was just sitting down in the car, and that’s not very comfortable either. The doctor says it’s not twins, but right now that’s hard to believe.” Bernie laughed suddenly. “At this point, I’m not sure it isn’t a moose. I swear the baby is teaching tango classes in there. Also, the ligaments in my pelvis have all let go and it feels like I’m walking around on unstable Legos—” She became aware that Inga was staring at her in horror. “Sorry. Are you planning on having kids, by the way?”
“Not anymore.”
“You get used to it. It’ll all be worth it when we have the baby in our arms.” Bernie smiled. “We’re still figuring out names. What do you think of Inga as a middle name if she’s a girl?”
Inga blushed. “I’d be flattered, but you must have other names to choose from.”
“Name him after the cat!” Tor’s voice called through the half-open door.
Inga’s big, blond brother came in with his bulging arms hauling so many canvas shopping totes of groceries that he had to turn sideways to get through the door.
“We are not namingherafter the cat! We are not naming anything after that cat. I deeply regret even having that cat,” Bernie said. Her voice was suffused with fondness that suggested anyone who tried to mess with her terrible cat was going to have to deal with a very angry pregnant woman with a very protective mate.
The cat’s name was Pennywise, and Inga reflected that Penny wouldn’t be a bad name for a girl, but decided not to point it out. She didn’t want to think about having to explain to a school-age child that you were named after your mom’s cat.
Especially that cat.
“Isn’t it bad to deal with litterboxes when you’re pregnant?” she asked, taking some of the groceries off Tor’s hands.
“That’s why my sweet honey lover has been doing it for me,” Bernie said, smiling at Tor.
“And I have the battle scars to show for it.” Tor displayed his forearms, where cat scratches were already healing with shifter speed. “Pennywise and I have a relatively friendly truce, but apparently the litterbox is considered off limits if he happens to be around when I’m cleaning it.”
“They’re love taps,” Bernie said.
“Then he must love me dearly.”
“Are you bringing the cat?” Inga asked. She hadn’t thought about that, and she suddenly had concerns. The household furniture and rugs would probably be fine—they’d survived three kids and a procession of childhood pets, after all—but she had seen what Bernie’s cat could do to an item that he took a particular dislike to.
“No,” Bernie said. “We tried, but he was having none of it. We’ll just go up there to feed and love on him once or twice, and he’ll be all right. He’s an independent cat.”
“Were you leaving right away?” Tor asked Inga.
“Yeah, as soon as I can cast off.”
“Be careful,” Tor said seriously. “There are some reports of heavy weather coming in. The forecasters aren’t sure it’ll hit us, but if you’re going out in that little dinghy, keep an eye open.”
Inga snorted. “Remember how we used to toodle around everywhere in that thing when we were kids? Including a lot of places we shouldn’t have gone in a boat that size.”
“Yeah, but we were kids and didn’t know any better.”
“And we were fine,” she pointed out. “Anyway, if I do get into trouble, I’ll just shift and swim ashore as a polar bear. No harm done.” She kissed his cheek. “Now stop being a worried big brother. I’m going to get on the road.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Bernie offered. “I need to grab my water bottle out of the car.”
Tor immediately looked anxious. “I’ll get it, hon.”
“No! I need the exercise. Unpack the groceries.”
Inga grabbed her bag and they went out, with Inga moving slowly in deference to Bernie’s condition and her unhinged hips.
