Chapter Five #3
Ithal smiled, and Alody gave her a soft smile.
“So, Alody, do you have questions about how I managed to get into business with Keska?”
Alody chuckled. “She explained about Avagail and Caska. So why a playpark?”
“Because there is nothing like the frustration of your body changing and needing to stretch and run and having no place to do it. This will ease the minds of parents and caregivers and give the kids more confidence. Retired peacekeepers and some agents love working with the younger ones to keep things safe. They have kids themselves and are loving the option to have something other than movies to take the kids to.” She paused as the squeeze came again.
She blinked. “That was under four minutes. Oh. Dear. I have to head to the maternity centre. Fast.”
Keska blinked. “Your water didn’t break?”
“Nope. I am so sorry, but I have to get going. I promised them that I would summon a ride the moment that I hit four minutes.”
Alody nodded. “We will meet you there. Well, Ithal and me.”
Ithal nodded. “I want to be there when the baby is with its parents.”
Sorooth inhaled. “I hadn’t thought of that part.”
Keska came over to hug her. “We will clean up and head out. Call me when you want to talk.”
“Or take over another country?”
Keska giggled. “You do party hard. Remind me to stay away during menopause.”
Diena laughed. “Lovely seeing you, Kessie. Nice to finally meet you, Sorooth. You say your goodbyes, and I am going to call my ride.” She pressed the button on the bracelet, and it started flashing, a number counting down on the face.
She exhaled slowly. “Okay, here we go.”
Keska asked, “Will you need help getting into the transport?”
“Um, no. I am getting a flier. The parents-to-be are high profile.”
Sorooth blinked. “How high profile? There is nothing in your thoughts.”
Ithal glared. “You shouldn’t be in our thoughts. It isn’t good.”
“Ithal, I let him. No, I don’t have anything in my thoughts. Just shows that I am a master of concealment.”
He inclined his head.
“When the baby is out, it will be safe.” Diena checked the timer, and thirty seconds were all that was left. “It will be cared for and loved. And needing a soundproofed room.”
He blinked. “I still have no clue in my mind or yours.”
A golden streak approached the house, and Diena lunged and slapped the bug zapper off. Keska was laughing, and Diena met the man, who was tattooed with golden vines all over his face and neck. “Hey, I think you might be here for me.”
He smiled. “It seems so. How far apart are you?”
She grunted and paused while she panted. When it was easing, she said, “Three minutes.”
“It was supposed to be four.”
“I fell asleep.”
He chuckled and lifted her against his chest. “Then this should not be difficult for you.”
“Here’s hoping.”
Ithal was watching as the man turned his back, and as Diena looked at her little brother, he shouted, “He’s sparkly.”
The man lifted off, and they glided rapidly. He spoke quietly near her ear. “Does he have a fascination with things metallic?”
“Uh. No. He’s a bit of a seer, and he saw me with a sparkly man. This fits the bill, I think.”
He chuckled. “It does indeed.”
She smiled. “Are you related to Dr. Jenaki?”
He grinned. “I am. This is my eveningwear when I have to pull duty for emergencies.”
“Oh. Darn. I am sorry I didn’t recognize you out of scrubs.”
He laughed. “I am just glad you didn’t recognize me because I was between your thighs.”
She blushed. “Oh. That is a little more flirting than I would expect of an obstetrician.”
He grinned. “Well, I know that you have no partner. I have looked over your files and found that your genetics and mine are compatible, so I would like to be able to court you once you have recovered.”
“This is really odd.”
He laughed. “My people know a match when we meet them. Convincing the match that we are sincere is why courtship exists.”
Their slow glide was steady, and when she held her breath through another contraction, he held her while letting her twist.
“You are doing well so far. Few can actually sleep once the contractions start.”
“I have mad skills.”
“And you have a lot of tattoos.”
He chuckled. “They are rank markers.”
“Oh. What kind of rank? The shiniest in the land?”
He laughed. “Something like that.”
He landed gently, walked into the maternity centre, and his clothing and face shifted back to scrubs and his normal, attractive appearance, gold hair, and tanned skin.
She muttered, “Geez, like I am going to be able to focus on the baby.”
They walked inside, and he whispered, “Now who’s flirting?”
She snorted, was checked in with her number, and a nurse led them deep into the facility. The room was lovely, warm, and spacious. She said, “I am expecting my mother and brother. She looks exactly like me, and he’s eight.”
The nurse smiled. “We will make a note of it.”
Dr. Jenaki smiled. “Let’s get you changed, monitored, and into bed.”
The nurse snorted and left the room.
After she was in a maternity gown with monitors on her, Dr. Jenaki suggested a walk.
He promised not to let her fall, so they went for a walk.