She seemed to be through with morning sickness, and she had a big appetite. She’d felt bad when she’d realized she’d eaten most of the hummus at her table at the reception the night before. Somehow she’d managed to eat the big bowl without really thinking about it. Henry had simply found her another and a big plate of celery sticks to go with it.
“Having fun? Like he was working a puzzle or something?” Nell gave Belinda her best blank look because she knew exactly how Hiram had died, but she wanted to make Belinda say it.
It was a little mean, but it was also the tiniest bit fun. And honestly, the valuable tasks sex workers did should be normalized. Older people needed human touch, too, and if they happened to enjoy being in a sex swing when they got it, Nell couldn’t see how that was a bad thing.
“He was…” Belinda finished placing the peppers in the bag Nell had brought. “Yes, I think it was something like that.”
She took the bag with a grin. “Hiram always liked to have fun. You have a lovely day, Belinda.”
She took her peppers and strode over to the juice bar that Teeny and Marie ran on market days.
“Nell, honey, how are you feeling? I heard you were under the weather.” Teeny didn’t have to ask what she wanted. She immediately started making an alien influencer. It was beet, carrots, and strawberry juice. Her favorite, and it had the added joy of letting Cassidy Meyer know she was alien-free for at least the next week.
“I’m good.” It was such a lovely day, and with the beauty of the wedding and the emotions of Hiram’s passing, she felt like sharing her news. It was time. Henry had told her this was her choice and that when it felt right she should tell their friends. “I wasn’t sick. I’m almost twelve weeks pregnant.”
Out of the corner of her eye she caught Henry talking to the man selling blackberries. Her husband was so gorgeous in his khaki shorts and T-shirt. Even his big feet were sexy in sandals.
She was starting to get horny. Like really, jump-her-husband horny, but Henry was treating her like a delicate princess who couldn’t possibly be touched or she might break. She wanted to play.
Teeny had stopped and her eyes went wide. “Are you serious, honey?”
Tears pierced her eyes. How could she go from crazy horny to super emotional in a single second? Teeny calling her honey made her miss her mom. “Yes.”
When her mom had passed she’d found Teeny and Marie and Stella had filled that void. She would always miss her mother, but she was so grateful for the women who stepped in and provided her with their loving care.
Teeny came around the bar and opened her arms. “I’m so happy for you and Henry. Oh, I love seeing all these babies. I’m so glad our Bliss family is growing.”
She hugged Teeny, sniffling because she was right. This was their family. All of Bliss. “Thanks. I’m happy about it. I told a few people, but I’m ready for everyone to know now. Henry and I are excited.”
She was starting to think that all Henry would ever do is worry. He’d seemed so distant in the last few days. She was scared that what had happened to him at Seth’s cabin was affecting him more than he was willing to admit. Between the guns and the odd silence that at times sat between them, she’d been thinking they might need to go to counseling. And not the kind Mel proposed where they would sit in a sweltering tent until they got so hot they simply blurted out whatever they needed to say so they could leave.
Teeny beamed at her as she moved back behind the bar. “I’m thrilled. It’s going to be so much fun watching all these babies grow up. We’re going to need a school soon.”
She’d heard there was already a plan in place to pit Stefan against Seth in a war to see who could spend the most on a school. She was going to have to watch that because some of the things kids needed couldn’t be purchased with cash.
Although now that she actually had a kid on the way, she was thinking a school might be a good idea. Despite the baby boom, the class would still be very small and likely multigrade. They would need to integrate technology, but they would be small enough that they could often enjoy the outdoors.
Would Henry teach history?
“Here you go, sweetie.” Teeny placed the glass in front of her. “It’s on the house, and I promise I’ll let Cassidy know you drank every drop, though after what she did at the wedding, you should be safe for a while.”
Cassidy had sat outside the chapel with shots of beet juice for everyone she hadn’t tested at the various parties. For anyone who refused to take the beet, Mel was there with his handy Detector 6000.
“Thanks.” Nell moved to one of the standing tables that dotted the “food court” part of the farmer’s market. Besides Teeny’s juice bar, there was a baked goods stand with coffee and tea, and a place to get handmade sausages.
Which did not smell good. No. They did not.
She needed more protein. She would stop by the stall where they sold legumes and beans.
What if her baby liked meat? What if she was giving birth to a ferocious carnivore?
She might have to learn how to cook it. It sent a shiver down her spine, but she had to let her child decide what was important to her.
“Hello, ma’am. Do you mind if I join you?”
She turned and there was a man standing at her table. He was probably a bit over six foot and dressed like a tourist in jeans and a T-shirt,
