“Terrified. I thought once I knew everything was okay, the fear would go away.”
Devlyn scoffed on the other end of the line. “It becomes a different kind of fear. And changes again after the baby is born.”
“Does it get easier?” I asked.
“Yes. Once you start feeling them move, then the fear eases a little because you know if they’re moving, they’re okay. But also no, it doesn’t because once they’re moving, the thought of losing them is worse.”
“That doesn’t help,” I said with a laugh, my eyes watering.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “Talk to your mom. She’s been through all the stages,” Devlyn suggested. “Speaking of parents… have you told your dad and brother yet?”
“No,” I said with a heavy breath. “Can’t I just wait until after the baby is in school and let him tell them?”
“I don’t think it works that way.” Devlyn was quiet for a moment. “I still can’t believe you have a dad and never told me.”
“I’m sorry, Dev. I couldn’t.”
“Oh, I get it, but your dad is the head of the Irish Mob.”
“Dev, we grew up with the Sons of Hell,” I reminded her.
“So not the same thing.”
I reached for a bowl and some herbs and brought them to the worktable before grabbing the rest of the items I needed. I set the phone on the table and put it on speaker so I could work while we talked.
“King can be pretty scary.”
“Mob, Morgan. M. O. B.”
I laughed at my best friend. “I know what the Mob is, Dev. But I’ve never been involved in any of it. It’s why I had to keep him a secret.”
I heard a noise outside the door, and called out, “Hello?”
“I’m right here.”
“Not you, Dev. I thought I heard someone in the hall.”
I listened for a few seconds and when there was nothing, I went back to my conversation with Devlyn. A few minutes later I heard it again.
“Hang on, Dev.”
I moved around the table and opened the door. Looking down the hall in both directions, there was no one.
“Hmmm, maybe it’s rats,” I said absently.
“Rats?!” Devlyn screeched. “Where the fuck are you that there are rats?”
I laughed at my best friend. She hated rats. I couldn’t blame her entirely; I may or may not have traumatized her when we were kids by letting my pet rat sleep in the bed with us.
Devlyn woke up one morning with Fievel tucked up under her chin, snuggled against her neck. I tried to explain he was looking for a warm spot, but when he started licking her, she completely lost her mind.
“I’m in the basement.”
“He put you in the basement?”
“Hedidn’t put me anywhere. I asked Zombie about a place to work, and this was the only thing available. Basements don’t freak me out the way they do you. It’s clean and dry, and that’s all I need.”
I heard it again. It didn’t sound like scratching, more like shuffling. I stared at the door, expecting it to open.
