Turnings (Southern Vampire Mysteries)

Chapter 4 - Spring Forward

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

For weeks after seeing Karin, Sookie became hyper-vigilant. Every passing breeze seemed to put her instincts on high alert. She'd stop, regardless of where she was and what she was doing, close her eyes, and mentally scan as far as she could. It wasn't unusual for her to pick up the faint buzz that signaled witch, or, more usually, latent witch. From time to time, she would feel the snarly red of Were, but she never found the void that signaled vampire. She'd focus, stretching out as far as she could, finding that as the days progressed, the exercise seemed to improve her span.

Days became weeks and April winds went from blustery to more gentle. The first hint of spring was on the trees in Boston Common and, with the warmer breezes, Sookie allowed her guard to slip, and then to fall, as the needs of her pregnancy became more pressing.

The visits to Rae, which had been twice a month, became weekly. Sookie had counted the calendar over and over and any way she figured it, forty weeks from the first time with Sam placed this baby's due date in June, although no one believed it.

"It's probably a fairy thing," Fran told her. Over the months, Sookie and Fran had become close. Fran knew Sookie's history and insisted that Sookie's doctor be told certain things as well. "She thinks you're Susan Hale," Fran reminded Sookie. "It's not perfect, but it's some measure of protection. If you're really worried, I can put a block on her ability to tell anyone."

In the end, Sookie relented. "I'm so relieved," Rae told them once she knew. "There were some things that weren't adding up. You know," and she gave Sookie a close look, "you're not the first Supe I've treated."

"That may be," Sookie sighed, "but I'm probably the first one of me."

Arrangements were made for Sookie to deliver in Fran's home. It wasn't optimal as far as Rae was concerned, but the doctor understood the need without having to know all the details. Supplies were laid in and the waiting began.

One of the factors that made Rae so amenable to the idea of avoiding the hospital was Sookie's health. Sookie was the poster child for pregnant women. Her skin glowed and her hair was extra shiny. Her nails grew long and strong and, even though she needed more sleep, she felt great. There was no sign of any of the medical challenges little women carrying bigger babies seemed to contract later in their pregnancies. Sookie's fingers didn't swell and she could still wear all her shoes. Her blood pressure was amazingly low and there wasn't any sign of gestational diabetes or hypertension. Everywhere she went, people just seemed to gravitate toward her, smiling first at her, then down at the huge expanse that her pregnancy clothes were not quite covering anymore.

"I can't see buying bigger shirts!" Sookie moaned. "It seems like a waste of money for only another month or so."

"We could cut up a couple bed sheets," Fran teased. "You could start wearing them like togas."

"That's mean and besides, you're too cheap to sacrifice your sheets!" Sookie sassed back.

Still, since the baby was large, contingency plans were made. The local hospital was less than fifteen minutes away, as long as it wasn't rush hour. "Even an ambulance makes slow progress in a city like this," Rae warned.

As much as the thought of complications made Sookie nervous, the thought of being spotted worried her more.

It was the last day of April when Sean Bailey came over for dinner. In truth, he was making the dinner. It was something that started shortly after Sookie left the restaurant. Sean asked if Sookie would take over his bookkeeping and she agreed. He came by Fran's that first Monday to talk through the accounting program he'd forwarded and to explain the stack of receipts he collected in a box. As Sookie started looking over the restaurant's records, Sean stood up, tied a towel around his hips, and started rooting around in the refrigerator. Within no time, he'd made omelets for all of them, and a tradition was born.