“Andy?”
My gaze shot to the doorway, finding Ronnie standing with a basketful of washing and a bucket of pegs dangling from one wrist.
Oh, I’m saved! “You are an angel! How did you get in?”
“You left the garage open.”
I grimaced. “Crap. Whoops.”
“Why are you almost naked?” She dumped the load on the table before copping an eyeful of the kitchen, freezing on the spot. “What the fuck happened in here?”
“Runaway bottle of red creaming soda.”
“Bastard,” she snarled.
“I know, right?”
“In my head, I saw you covered in blood, passed out on the couch.”
Sometimes Ronnie’s psychic gifts came in handy, although she’d tried to deny them for so long. Being able to remote view must have its uncomfortable moments. And that was just one of her talents.
“You weren’t far off.”
“Um, do you need help getting in the shower?” She cringed like she’d rather pull a tooth than see me naked.
“No, I’ll manage.”
Her face relaxed into a smile. Clasping her palm to mine, she gave me a boost off the seat before shooing me down the hallway.
I had a quick shower, hoping the soapy water running down my legs would be enough to wash away the stickiness because I wasn’t going to bend or lift anything unless I absolutely had to. This body didn’t feel like mine. Everything was puffy and sore. My boobs had their own postcode. Each. I had no chance of being able to fold my arms. My cheeks looked like I’d been storing nuts for the winter. I couldn’t bear my reflection.
Not bothering with underwear, I threw on a stretchy sleeveless dress and made my way back to the living room.
Ronnie watched me as I entered the room. “Hey. How many days overdue are you now?”
She knew the answer to that, but I said it anyway. “Five.”
“Yeah. It shows. The couch is clean if you wanna beach yourself.”
“Har-de-har. Bitch, wait your turn.” I playfully bared my teeth, watching her face drop. She averted her eyes and got back to work.
Cocking an eyebrow, I did exactly as she’d suggested and stretched out on the leather. I wasn’t good for much else. The kitchen cupboards were all clean and the shopping had been put away. She’d tied her dark hair into a messy, high bun and was working the mop like a champ. She really was an angel.
My throat got tight again. “Thank you. I couldn’t face it.”
“Fair enough.” She acknowledged with a nod. Ignoring me, she flicked the mop back and forth, seemingly engrossed in the task. But I knew her better than that by now. Her synapses were always firing, and her senses were on alert, picking up messages and vibes about the people in her life almost constantly.
Ronnie kept things close to her chest. She had sharp edges that came with a warning, but we understood each other. I’d had my doubts when she’d moved in with our friend, Bradlee, but they’d worked their shit out in the end.
“How’s Lee?” I asked.
Her shoulders twitched for a second. “Why the fuck wouldn’t you use the dryer?”
Avoidance. Hm. “Because it’s bad for the environment.”
She glanced at me, rolling her eyes. “So are disposable nappies.”
“I won’t be using disposables.”
“You’re going to kill yourself washing nappies?” Her brows jumped.
“No. Parents managed for millennia before disposable nappies were invented. I’m sure I’ll survive.”
“Bleach is bad for the environment, too.” She mopped the same spot repeatedly, her distant gaze fixed on a point on the wall.
My forehead tightened. Something was off. “How’s Lee?”
She blinked before dunking the mop in the bucket. “He’s fine.”
“Fine?”
A streak of lightning lit up the sky and the wind tossed dead leaves and dust into the air as if warning me not to stir shit up.
“That’s what I said.” Her foot slammed on the bucket’s pedal and she yanked at the mop a little too forcefully. What the hell is going on?
I decided to change the subject, but something inside me probed around for the answer.
“Are you seeing your sisters over Christmas?”
The tension around her evaporated and she looked over with a grin. “Yep. On Boxing Day we’re taking them up to Noosa.”
Okay, so the family were fine. Lee was definitely involved in whatever heaviness she was carrying. “The beach will be packed.”
“Not where we’re going.”
Baby.
The word pressed into my head from somewhere other. I’d always imagined a force reaching down to stamp its mark on my stream of thought. A reminder that I possessed extraordinary abilities and had a responsibility to use them to help people. But it didn’t matter how many times I’d experienced the intrusion, I still had trouble trusting and deciphering the messages.
My hands flew to my stomach and I received a reassuring bump on my hand. No, Ben Junior is fine. “What do you mean?” I voiced the question, although it wasn’t intended for Ronnie. It was directed to the source of the message. Whomever or whatever that was, I didn’t know.
“We’re going to A Bay.”
“Alexandria Bay? Isn’t that a nudist beach?”
Baby. The message persisted. My baby? Whose baby? Be more specific, damn it.
“Not anymore,” Ronnie answered.
Rain pelted the windows in a sudden downpour as the thick clouds had night crowding in prematurely.
Veronica.
Ronnie?Wow, really? I had to ask. “Uh, you might want to check it out first or your sisters could cop an eyeful. Are you pregnant?” I didn’t bother pausing before I threw the question out. If she didn’t want to tell me, she wouldn’t.
Her face screwed up, her caramel skin taking on a grey hue. “What!? Fuck, no.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Scowling, she shoved the mop back in the bucket, dirty water splashing over the sides.
The
