Not just me & you anymore (G!P)

C. 26

Hello everyone! Thank you for your ongoing support, your comments (I love reading your points!) and for continuing to read. The surprises from the past are not over... ;)See you soon

In the last period I always seem to be living on eggshells, with the perpetual fear of breaking something and making an omelet. I live with the constant fear that something will happen, that suddenly there will be a surprise that is not at all welcome or that there will be a new discussion to deal with. I thought and hoped that the only thing I would do, with my gigantic eighth-month term baby bump, is to sit relaxed on the couch and let Maya spoil me. Instead, I'm always on the go, whether it's for Viviana, work, the new house we can never finalize or who knows what other errand. There are evenings that I am so tired that I just want to sleep, without going through all the previous steps, not even those involving Viviana. The same thing happens to me on weekends: since I'm ahead in my pregnancy, I've stopped working on Saturdays and Sundays, but I'm still left with a sense of dissatisfaction, of restlessness, that never makes me feel calm, even though, again, I just wish I could be at peace on the couch, with my eyes closed, with no one around.

Today, however, I made an unbelievable effort, in getting up, getting dressed, putting on makeup and accompanying Maya to this party, which will be today at Andy's house, which is a surprise for Riccardo's 40th birthday. On other occasions I would have been happy to see so many people, to give vent to my expansive side; then it's always nice to see Viviana approach others, now among our friends it's full of children, laughing and having a great time. For today I just need to make a little more effort.

We've been to Andrea and Riccardo's house so many times that I'm immediately startled when Maya turns right onto a street that seems completely random.

C < why do you turn this way?> I ask almost annoyed. Maya does not answer me, and when I turn to look at her, I find her intent on driving rather casually, her eyes fixed on her cell phone. <Maya!!> I shout and she startles. I sigh so as not to insult her, immediately meeting the slightly alarmed eyes of Viviana in the seat behind us.

M < what's wrong?> she asks confused. I sigh, feeling the fumes coming out of my ears.

C < you went the wrong way..> I just say and see her swallowing in distress.

M < no, it's just that I thought maybe it's not a good idea to go..> she says all in one breath so fast I almost don't understand.

C < what do you mean? > I ask then puzzled.

M < you're tired, there will be confusion, better that way..> she mumbles and I shake my head.

C < we're on our way now, you've got me prepared and all..> I close my eyes to take a calmer breath. < and then there's Vivi..> I remind her. Maya only seems to remember this now, looking at her in passing, which is especially strange.

M < never mind..> she just says and I turn better toward her, as much as I can with the huge belly I have: it's getting uncomfortable anything and it's over a month away!

C < Maya, what's going on?> I ask and she pulls over with the four arrows along the edge of the sidewalk.

M < I think it's better not to go..> I frown, study her expression, then extend a hand toward her, showing her my palm.

C < give me the phone..> and it's almost a demand. Maya must recognize my assertive tone, because she hands it to me without blinking, though she swallows again in distress: it always happens to her when she is under stress that she swallows empty several times. I scroll through the latest messages she has received with a seemingly algid expression and realize that they all recite more or less the same thing. Tommaso, Andrea herself, Vittoria, and even Caterina are warning her in big letters about the impending danger: at Ric's surprise party Angelica will also be present... surprise! I close my eyes, release a very long sigh, try to repeat within myself the mantras I learned in my pre-birth yoga classes, and hand the phone back to her.