Chapter 3 #3
Victoria wiped the gel off Janey’s belly and helped her to sit up.
“We’ll keep an eye on it and make some delivery decisions when you get closer to thirty-six weeks.
In the meantime, I’d like to see you next week for another check of your blood pressure.
It was a tiny bit elevated today, so we’ll need to monitor that, too. You’re not working anymore, are you?”
“No, my last day was Friday. Joe wanted me to relax for a few weeks before the baby gets here, and I’ve been so tired he didn’t have to twist my arm.” Doc and the staff at the vet clinic had thrown a shower for her and invited many of their patients, which Janey had loved.
“Good. Take it easy, stay off your feet, no stress. Relax. That’s your job now, Mom. Dad, your job is to make sure she does nothing too strenuous and keeps the stress to a minimum. Here’s your chance to earn some major points.”
“Hear that?” Janey said to her husband. “Keep the stress to a minimum.”
He scowled at her. “I heard it.”
“Hang in there, Janey.” Victoria patted Janey’s arm. “You’re in the home stretch.”
Stretch seemed to be the key word, and she wondered at times how much more her skin could expand without bursting open. How her mother had ever done this five times was beyond her. This baby would be lucky to get a sibling, let alone four of them.
As Joe helped her into her tent of a sundress, Janey acknowledged to herself what she hadn’t shared with anyone else, even Joe.
She hated being pregnant. She hated feeling fat and bloated and swollen and achy all over.
She hated not being able to work or have sex comfortably or even hug her husband without the big old belly getting in the way.
The baby couldn’t get here soon enough for her.
When she was dressed, Joe lifted her right off the exam table, like she didn’t weigh an absolute ton, and deposited her gently onto her feet, giving her a minute to gain her bearings. Her balance, like everything else, was out of whack.
“Are you okay?”
“I think so.”
“Do you want to sit for a minute?”
“No, let’s go so you can get to work.”
Janey waddled through the clinic, thankful there was no chance of running into her ex-fiancé when she looked like a beached whale.
Not that she cared what he thought of her, but still.
A big reason why they’d planned the delivery for the mainland was because neither of them wanted David involved, not that they’d ever spoken of that subject. It was understood.
By the time Joe drove up to the house they’d recently bought near Mac and Maddie’s, Janey’s eyelids were drooping. The appointment had sapped most of her energy, and she was going to need a nap. Soon.
Joe escorted her inside and waited patiently as she greeted her menagerie of pets and used the bathroom.
He tucked her into bed and sat on the edge of the mattress to look down at her.
“I’m sorry I’m being such a jackass over all of this baby business.
The thought of you in pain or in danger or anything other than perfectly healthy makes me crazy. ”
“I’m perfectly healthy, and I’m going to stay that way.”
“Promise?”
She smiled at his boyishly handsome face and the adorable pucker of his lips. “I promise,” she said, crooking her finger at him to bring him down for a kiss.
“Don’t worry about dinner,” he said. “I’ll grab something when I get back. Any requests?”
“Whatever you want.”
He kissed her again. “Sweet dreams. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Be careful out there.”
“Of course I will. I’ve got my beautiful wife waiting for me at home.”
Janey snorted with laughter. “She’s sooo beautiful. Like an elephant is beautiful.”
He leaned over her, his blue eyes intense and heated.
“You are as beautiful as you’ve ever been, and I’ve never loved you more.
In fact, if you’re a very good girl and get some sleep while I’m gone, I’ll show you how much I love you when I get home.
” A waggle of his brows indicated his intentions.
They’d become very creative when it came to lovemaking, and he’d shown how imaginative he could be.
“Mmm. I’ll be very, very good.”
Smiling, he kissed her one more time and left her to rest. As she drifted off to sleep with no work or school or dinner or anything else to think about, she decided maybe there was something to be said for being pregnant after all.
Sarah Lawry called Daisy as she was leaving work and asked if she had dinner plans.
Since Daisy had nothing at all on the agenda for the evening, she accepted Sarah’s invitation with pleasure.
Sarah had been a huge support to her since the incident with Truck.
Sadly, Sarah had lived for years in a violent relationship with her soon-to-be ex-husband and would testify against him in court this summer.
She could relate all too well to what Daisy had been through.
Knowing the court date was weighing heavily on Sarah, Daisy relished the opportunity to give something back to the woman who’d been so good to her.
After the long day cooped up in the hotel, Daisy enjoyed the walk into town in the bright sunshine. The rain earlier in the day had left behind a sweet scent, and the late-day heat had dried the puddles.
On the way home, she popped into Ryan’s Pharmacy to pick up her allergy prescription, which wasn’t ready quite yet. Since she now had insurance, she was able to afford the good stuff, rather than the over-the-counter allergy meds she’d relied on for years.
“So sorry for the delay,” Grace Ryan, the island’s pharmacist, said. She was working alone behind the counter in the back of the store, which they had all to themselves. “We’ve been crazy busy. I swear the entire island decided today was refill day.”
“Whoops. Sorry to add to the load.”
“Not a problem. Is the hotel getting busy?”
“Starting to. We’re fully booked this weekend, so here we go.”
“I officially survived my first winter on Gansett,” Grace said. “I’m very proud of that.”
“As you should be. Winter on Gansett isn’t for sissies.”
“That’s what Evan says, too.”
“How’s his studio doing?”
“Really well. They’re booked through the end of July and getting more calls every day.”
“I think it’s so cool we have a recording studio right here on the island.”
“I think it’s so cool that he’s found something he loves to do that also keeps him right here with me,” Grace said with a wink and a smile that made Daisy laugh.
“Can’t say I blame you for being happy about that. Glad it’s working out for you guys.” Daisy couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous ring on Grace’s finger. “Any wedding plans yet?”
“Not quite yet. We’re thinking about going somewhere warm this winter and getting everyone to go with us.”
“That sounds like so much fun.”
“And how are you doing? Feeling better?”
Grace’s empathetic question didn’t bear a trace of pity, which Daisy appreciated. “Feeling stronger every day and more determined to move forward with my life. Everyone has been so supportive and helpful.”
“I love that about living here. You feel like you’re surrounded by a big family, even though you’re not related to most of them.”
“Yes, that’s it exactly. I came for one summer at the hotel and here I am, still here six years later for that very reason. There’s something special about the people on this island.”
“I completely agree.” Standing before her computer, Grace said, “I’m seeing that you have an unfilled script for pain meds. Do you need that?”
“No, I can’t take narcotics. They make me loopy. I’m getting by with the over-the-counter stuff.”
“I’m glad that’s working for you.” Grace rang up the prescription and handed it over to Daisy. “You should come to one of our girls’ nights. They’re always a lot of fun.”
“I’ve heard Maddie talk about your adventures. I’d love to come sometime.”
“Great. I’ll make sure she lets you know about the next one. It usually turns into date night when the guys crash, but it’s still fun.”
“Sounds like it. Thanks for the meds and the chat. Good to see you.”
“You, too. Take care, Daisy.”