“On Wonder?This will be the first.On the other islands, about forty deliveries in the last year.We are in the middle of a baby boom.”
Iro chuckled.“I know.”
“Oh, stop looking so smug, Iro.Orla is still weeks away from delivery.”
“Are you sure?”
She looked at him and let the glow of her eyes cast his features in an eerie light.“Yes.I am sure.She is going to go off around the thirtieth.”
“I will arrange a locum at the clinic.”
“Do what you like.”She smiled and kept hiking toward the hospitality building, which had an incredible audience at it.
She walked up to the crowd, and they began to part as she moved toward Serin.Serin was sitting with Deno wrapped around her, and they were both laughing.
Calypso came in with her eyes glowing and aura bright.“Hello, mama.You want to walk around?”
Serin nodded.“Hell yes.”
“Okay, I am going to get your bed ready.Deno, take her for a walk.”She turned to the crowd.“Support is great, but no one get in her way.This is not a spectator event.”
Deno was helping Serin up, and Kekoa and Alohi looked excited.Calypso looked at them.“Calm down, Your Majesty, and whatever you are, Alohi.”
Alohi grimaced.“I have known you since you were five, Calypso.You know what I am.”
“Annoying.”
Kekoa looked at her and frowned.“You look...”He glanced toward the crowd.“Oh, my gods.”
Calypso chuckled.“Yes, I know they are here.I am glad they made it to the islands.”
“Do they know about...”
“The scars all over everything?Nope.I am surprised that the folks out here in the islands are so welcoming for me to deliver their little ones.”
Kekoa was struggling for a reason.“You look wise.”
She cackled.“Oh, that’s good.I have to remember that.”
“You have delivered a lot of children?”
“I have.All home deliveries with family and community rushing in the moment the mother was ready.I am guessing that will be the case here as well.”
“How did Serin get in touch with you?”
“She was in the book club.She and I had met.I have met many of the women who are new arrivals to the islands.They find me comforting and were willing to give me good references.”
Calypso smiled and felt the scars pull.“They don’t mind the scars.They know what they are.”
“But you look like the two new ladies.”
“Oh.I know.There were three of us, different families, same embryo bank.Raised separately, but they got to be cousins.I was born to a friend of their family who moved out to the islands.I have only been back once, and this happened.I went through therapy, joined the book club, and got my butt back to Emerald for nurse-midwife training.”
He smiled and noticed that she was watching Serin.“She said she won’t deliver until late tomorrow.”
Calypso grinned.“Right.Glad to know it.But I think she is moving to transition really fast.Gotta go.”
She walked past him and headed for her patient.She was at Serin’s side and smiling.“Honey bear.I need to check a few things.Deno, support her as you have been for a moment more, please.”
