Belly of the Beast

Chapter 6

Five a.m. came on strong as I greeted my Monday alarm with one eye open. The fact that I didn't have to be at work didn't excuse me from certain calls of duty, specifically waking Mr. Pearlman for his meds and getting the old crank going. Vincent had convinced me to stay off my feet, so I still hadn't shared our baby news with Henry, but it was on the agenda.

After packing up the Playstation controllers left out by Colin, who liked to use his downtime playing Call of Duty while Mr. Pearlman offered real-world commentary, I trundled to the kitchen to fetch coffee. "Your coffee maker is on its last leg," I told him as I poured his nasty over-the-counter brew.

"Just like its owner," he grumped from his recliner. The television was already blaring in the background.

"Let me buy you a new one."

"Naw. You'll just get me some fancy gadget I can't operate."

"You don't even operate this one. It's either me or Amelia making it."

"And Kathy. She makes a good cuppa. But she makes me drink decaf."

"She's your rehab nurse. She has to give you decaf to keep a clear conscience. And your rehab is over in a couple of weeks, so we're working on an after-Kathy plan for you."

"Oh?" Mr. Pearlman squinted at me as I walked over with his coffee. "I thought we were getting on fine."

"It's not a personal thing. She's a specialty nurse. She needs to help someone else with a broken hip. What you need now is a CNA. Don't worry. We'll find someone who's a good fit."

I knew Mr. Pearlman had grown attached to Kathy, and I relied on her to fill my shoes as well. He was a sick old man and he deserved another Kathy.

Blowing over the rim of his mug, Mr. Pearlman caught me in his wizened gaze as I stood there like easy prey. "You got something on your mind? You've been looking at me funny all morning."

Although his inquiry caught me off guard, I was able to answer his question without hesitating. "Yes. I wanted to come over last night and share, but the weekend really sucked the energy out of me."

"Well, out with it then? What's got your eyes all watery?"

I blinked and a droplet fell from my right eye, betraying me. "Vincent and I are having a baby."

Mr. Pearlman bobbed over his coffee, and I watched him work his mouth into a smile. It wasn't that I'd never seen him wear one, he just usually hid them behind a smirk. "There's no one else who deserves a blessing more. You two will make fine parents."

"Thanks. The news is still sinking in for me. I apologize in advance if I get weird. I'm not sure what to expect, side-effects wise."

"Crying about everything, for one. But that don't bother me. You're keeping your job, I assume."

"Definitely. These days, most women work right up until the birth. I figure I'll take a bunch of time off once the baby's born, though." I blinked at Mr. Pearlman and another tear dropped onto my cheek. Why was I crying? I didn't feel sad. "Well, I need to get back home and not drink any coffee. I've got my first prenatal visit at twelve-thirty, so...wish me luck."

With Mr. Pearlman's sweet, wrinkly face stuck in my head, I walked back to the apartment and got started on my own morning routine. Actually, I had yet to establish a routine at the penthouse, but one thing had not changed since I'd moved in - my own bedroom, which included a closet to myself and a full bath. It was an aspect of my life that would change once junior arrived. Then it was bye-bye privacy.

As I peeled off my clothes and made for the shower, I noticed the drab wall color. Beach sand bland may have been good for Vincent's minimalist taste, but a baby's room needed bright colors. My husband's perfectly styled life was about to get a makeover. Surely, he knew things would have to change.