Chapter Twenty-Nine-Anna
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE-ANNA
M y face hurts from smiling.
Mrs. Pirillo is helping me set up my brand new sewing machine in the bedroom. This one is lightweight and compact.
It fits perfectly on the rolling side table Nico ordered for me along with a bunch of other thoughtful gifts that just make me love him all the more.
There are spools of brightly colored thread, yards of fabric of all patterns and textures, and books on quilting and sewing crafts.
I already started on the baby’s quilt, and I think Nico will like it. I chose soft blues, greens, and ivory for the colors, with the occasional burst of butter yellow .
The design is a simple Maypole pattern. Mrs. Pirillo is helping me, so it’s done in time.
I send all this to Nico via text, and he always responds immediately. He oohs and aahs in all the appropriate places.
Giselle visits me. Maria comes with her, and I learn the two of them have formed a friendship. It seems some things have been happening while I’ve been confined to the condo.
“Wow, you look, um, swollen,” Giselle blurts, and that’s it.
I just start crying. Like full on, body wracking sobs.
“Sisi, are you for real?” Maria scolds her and wraps her arms around me.
“No, she’s right,” I try to say, but my voice is garbled with all my crying.
“Hush. You look great.” Maria lies.
“I’m big as a house. This baby is gigantic, and he’s going to break my vagina when he comes out. Everything is swollen, and I can’t even fit in any of my maternity clothes. And I miss my husband. I just want him back home.”
“Hey, it’s okay. Anna, you’re growing a person. You look fucking gorgeous,” Giselle says .
“Yeah, and Nico will be back soon. Luc told me they’re almost done,” Maria adds.
“Luc told you?”
“Uh, yeah, it’s complicated.”
“What about you? How’s Angel?” I ask Giselle, but my best friend turns her head.
“I don’t know how Angel is. Why would I know? He’s not my boyfriend and I am nothing to him,” she snaps and just like that I am done crying.
“Um, I guess I missed something while I’ve been here, huh?”
“Yeah, you could say that,” Maria confesses.
They stay and we eat steamed veggies and roasted chicken without salt, since I have to avoid it. It’s okay, but it makes me want to cry again.
An entire week passes, and I miss Nico even more.
Working on the baby’s room helps, but it doesn’t make up for him being away. I show him pictures of the little teddy bear I just finished.
The phone rings, and I answer.
“Wife.”
His voice is so clear, and I close my eyes, savoring it.
“Nico,” I reply .
“Talk to me, Rosebud. I need to hear your sweet voice.”
“What’s going on over there? Are you almost done?”
I hate that I sound so needy. But I am needy. And I miss him.
“I’m afraid things got a little complicated, but it shouldn’t be too long now. We, uh, we found who got to Sammy, Baby.”
“You did?” I whisper, and my heart squeezes.
“Yes. It’s the same group causing trouble in other areas. Seems like your brother borrowed money from one of their guys, and they aren’t the type to take IOUs.”
“Poor Sammy,” I say, and offer a silent prayer for my brother’s soul.
“Yeah. These guys are bad news. You’re staying put, right?”
“Yeah. I’m just plugging away. Growing like a weed, too. You won’t recognize me when you see me,” I mutter.
“I’m sorry I’m missing it. I’ll be back soon as I can. Shit. I gotta go.”
“Okay, love you?—”
But he already hung up, and I frown.
It’s not like him to hang up without saying I love you , but I let it go. Maybe someone walked in or something.
I frown as Mrs. Pirillo comes to say goodnight. She shows me the final pieces we need to put together for the baby’s quilt, and I smile.
“We can start the curtains tomorrow,” I tell her, and she nods.
“Yes, Mrs. Fury.”
I’ve asked her to call me Anna, but she won’t, so I just smile and tell her goodnight.
I turn on another classic film, seems I’m addicted, and Nico has such a wonderful collection to choose from. I lay back and sigh, missing my husband, and I think about how big this bed is without him even as I snuggle my body pillow, wrapping it around me to support my back and belly.
“Love you, Husband,” I whisper, hoping wherever he is, he can feel my love for him.
The next day, I’m crampy and achy, and when I get up to pee, I almost fall down. There’s a red smear in my panties.
That’s when I start to panic.