Page 80 of Road to Absolution

Grrrrrrr.

I smirked.“Was that your stomach?”

She giggled. “I’m hungry.”

Nothing else needing to be said, I asked, “What can I get you?”

“There are fresh Georgia peaches in the fridge.”

Careful of her leg, I rolled out of bed. “Uh, interesting. You like peaches now, babe? When’d this happen?”

“And I’ll need a towel.”

Walking toward the bathroom, I teased, “You got them kind of skills that a towel is required?”

“And you can’t watch.”

I searched through cabinets. “Babe, if you’re going to mow down on another woman so aggressively she needs a towel, not even God himself will be able to stop me from watching.”

She laughed so hard she was suddenly running past me. “Don’t make me pee!”

Watching her frantically yank down maternity drawers that resembled a hot air balloon, I tapped on my chin. “I think I’ve figured out where Puddles came from.”

She threw a roll of toilet paper at me. “I hate that name!”

Once she was back in bed, sitting up and propped against pillows, and with a towel in her lap, she eyed the bowl of washed peaches in my hands with such an appetite, I became afraid.

I set the bowl on my side of the bed then pushed it closer to her, careful to withdraw my hands when she reached out for it. Setting it in her lap like the creepy dude from that movie who is always wanting his “precious” she growled, “Look away.”

Sure not to take my eyes off the creature in my bed, I walked backward until I felt a chair behind me. Then I sat to watch a real-life gremlin be fed after midnight. I covered my mouth as juice started flying and spraying like a dinosaur ripping into its prey.

“Mother of God.” I watched in horror. “I am afraid.”

Only the time on my cell phone told me it was afternoon. We had no windows so could easily get lost in a day. There was plenty of food and drinks in the heavily stocked fridge, so we had no reason to leave. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

Truth?

I knew if I left the room, I’d have to face the real world again. I preferred staying hidden away with Lilah. So, I burrowed under the blanket since the pregnant woman had the air-conditioning so cold I felt we were living in an igloo, and I begged my body to sleep.

I was exhausted.

Later on, I woke to the sound of Lilah hissing. I propped on my elbow. “Talk to me.”

She was holding her side. “Just Braxton Hicks. Very normal.”

“Braxton who?”

She rubbed the spot on her belly. “Just my body preparing for birth.”

“You nervous?”

Eyes still closed, she smiled. “After the month I’ve had? Birth should be a walk in the park.”

“Your poor vagina.”

“After the baby, you’ll finally fit.”

Laughing, I nuzzled her neck. “You are the best for my shallow ego.” I kissed her soft skin. “Need water?”