Page 32

CHAPTER 32

TATUM

Miriam’s door opens and before she even has a chance to greet me, I blurt out, “I really fucking hate how far away you live.”

Then I hold out some flowers I bought hours ago, already dropping and looking pathetic. She stares at them for a moment and I use that time to take her in, my hand slowly lowering. Walking forward, I invite myself in as she steps back. I set the flowers to the side and cup her face.

My eyes dart over her face, and I frown. “What’s going on, Miri? Are you sick? Did something happen?”

Her face is slightly puffy as if she’d been crying all afternoon and her hair is an absolute mess, strands sticking to her face in random spots.

“I lost one of my patients last night. Bonnie. I was just there yesterday, but she had stroke while she was sleeping, and the overnight nurse found her when she did her hourly check. She was already gone.”

“Aw, Miri,” I murmur, pulling her against my chest. “I’m so sorry. Did you know her for long?”

Sniffling, she turns her face to rest her cheek against me. “Yeah. For a couple of years. Ornery woman, too. God, she was so slow at everything she did. Not because she was struggling to do things, but because she just didn’t want to be rushed. I liked her, though. Definitely one of my easier patients. A whole lot of hurry up and wait.”

Snickering, I press a kiss on the top of her head. “Sounds like the motto for the military. Always having to rush everywhere, only to stand there for God knows how long, waiting for instructions.” I feel her cheek lift in a smile, but she just sighs. “Listen, we don’t have to go out and do anything tonight if you don’t want, but I will say, I sort of have the perfect not-a-date date idea that’ll make you feel so much better.”

She pulls back, running a hand over her hair as she steps away from me. “I’ll need a few to get ready. Honestly, it slipped my mind you were even coming over tonight.”

Running my eyes over her, she’s hugging herself, which has her stomach showing a bit more. She’s almost halfway through and it’s as if every time I see her, she’s showing twice as much as before.

With a head tilt toward her bathroom, I say, “Go get ready and take your time. We’re not on a time crunch.”

Miriam heads to her bathroom, but just before she disappears inside, she says, “Hey, Tate?”

“Yeah, momma?”

She grins at that, then says, “I wouldn’t mind if we got rid of the not-a-date part.”

I lift my chin to her bathroom. “Go shower so I can take you out on a date, Miri.”

Flashing a quick, sad smile at me, she hurries off and I settle in for the wait on her couch. I use the time to check my phone, then roll my eyes when I see Ezra on the road, halfway here.

I send him a quick text.

Me: Turn around, fucker. You’re not going to stalk her while I’m here.

Ezra: I just want to see her.

Me: Not tonight. I’ll ask her to take a picture with me and I’ll send it to you. Turn around, Ez.

It takes a few minutes, but I watch the dot leave the highway and turn to head back home. My phone dings again with a single, “Fine.” Laughing, I scroll through my apps and play a game until Miriam is ready to leave. I’m so invested I didn’t hear her come out of her room until she settles on the couch next to me.

Leaning into me, she looks at my screen, then points at it. “You can swap those two and it’ll get you two lines at once.”

Grinning, I make the move and turn to her. “You play this too?”

“When I can’t sleep. I’m ready to go if you are, unless you want to finish your round,” she teases.

“Nope.” I shut my phone off and pull her up with me. “Ready for our desserts only date? ”

Her stomach rumbles and we both look at the baby bump. “Apparently, we’re both ready.” She lifts her head and grins, but I can’t draw away my eyes immediately.

“Can I touch?”

My question immediately changes the relaxed mood, ramping it up a notch, edging into intimacy. “Uhh, yeah, okay. If you’d like.”

She’s dressed in leggings and a sweater since it’s still cool outside. Grabbing the hem, I lift the bottom slightly and place my hand on the side and stretch out my fingers.

“It’s both hard and soft,” I say reverently. Placing my other hand above her bump where it just starts curving out, I can’t help smiling. “I’m sure this is a weird question, but what does it feel like?”

“You touching me or being pregnant?”

Huffing out a laugh, I draw my hands away and lower her sweater. She swallows and helps adjust her clothes. “Well, I meant being pregnant, but now I want to know the answer to both.”

We leave her apartment as she answers. “Being pregnant is kind of hard to explain. Full. That’s probably the best way to describe it. Like after you’ve finished eating a huge meal and you’re tired from eating too much and you just want to sit in a chair and rub the ache away. When the baby moves, it kind of feels like little bubbles popping in your stomach at first, but now that he’s gotten bigger, it’s more exaggerated.”

“He?”

She shrugs. “I’m just going with it until I find out otherwise. Ezra got me thinking he and I just sort of started referring to the baby like that in my head.”

With a laugh and Ezra’s surety that her baby is a boy from old wives’ tales, I open the door to my car so Miriam can slip inside. She’s chewing on her lip, so I prod, “What are you thinking about?”

“How to answer the other part. I haven’t had anyone touch my stomach besides me and the doctor. I’m trying to figure out what it feels like.”

Nodding, I drive us toward downtown. I plotted out the places that had good reviews for their desserts, so we’re going to start off at the one that’s furthest away. She opens her mouth a few times, but says nothing, so I let her process.

Finally, she seems to have an idea of what to say. “It feels… good? In an odd, self-conscious sort of way because it makes me very aware that my stomach is not flat.” She looks at my hands. “Your hands are warm.” Then she looks to her stomach. “My stomach always feels chilled, I think because it’s just sticking out now.”

She gives me a sheepish look and shrugs again.

“Well, anytime that baby needs some warming up, you let me know. I’ve got you covered.”

Snorting out a laugh, she assures me she’ll let me know. We chat about nothing important for the last ten minutes until I park in front of an Italian restaurant.

“Oooh, I’ve never been here before,” she tells me, looking out the windshield at the sign.

I turn off the car and nod to the building. “I read that they have fantastic cannolis here, but they also have a few gelato flavors. We can order a few different things to try if you’d like.”

Rubbing her hands together, she grows excited. “I’m definitely down with this desserts idea.”

Once we’re settled inside and an order put in for a cannoli, three gelato flavors, and a tiramisu the waitress recommended, I ask, “How’s work been going for you? Aside from the shitty news you got today.”

“It’s been a bit of a struggle.” Miriam takes a sip from her water glass, then sits back and folds her hands over her stomach and looks around the mostly empty dining area. “My coworkers are great for the most part, but I think they’re frustrated with having to cover some of my hours. I don’t work nights, so now that I have to take time off to go to all these damn doctor appointments, one of them has to cover.”

“And they’re not thrilled about that.” Miriam sent us her upcoming schedule for appointments, and I know what she’s talking about. I had already talked with my boss about it, but luckily, we’ve got enough people to readjust the schedule more easily. My partner and I just ended up flipping days around, so each day she has an appointment, I have off work.

“Nope,” she says, popping her p to stress her answer. Then with a sigh, adds, “I don’t know what else I can do. I could always offer to swap to the night shift, but it took me over a year to gain seniority just to get days. Nights freaking suck.”

I frown, not liking that idea. “That would be a horrible idea. Working all night, only to get an hour or two before an appointment, then going back to sleep for another few hours would mean you were doing nothing but sleeping and working.”

Our waitress comes over with a tray and sets all of our plates down, then offers a pile of extra spoons so we can share everything. Miriam leans forward and rubs her hands together. “Fuck talking about work. Dios mio , this looks amazing! Thank you so much!”

“You’re welcome. Let me know if you two need anything else.” The waitress leaves us to dig in and sample everything.

As we eat, I ask, “Have you thought of names?”

Miriam pauses, a spoonful of strawberry gelato halfway to her mouth. “Maybe.” Then she takes the bite and grins.

Laughing, I scoop up the lemon gelato and hold it out to her. “I’ll let you have this last bite if you tell me a few options.”

She grins, leans forward and takes the bite. Tilting her head to the side as she swallows it down, she holds up a finger to give her a moment.

“I have a few ideas. I had hoped you guys would do the paternity test so whomever this little baby’s daddy is could give input, but since you all decided to wait, I’m picking on my own. Finding a girl’s name has been tough, but I do have a few boy options.”

I grab a fork and use the edge to slice a large bite from the tiramisu, offering it to her as a bribe. “I’ll give you a bite for every name you give me.”

“Deal.” She sits forward with her arms crossed on the table and opens her mouth. Sliding the fork against her tongue, I watch as her lips wrap around the tines and closes her eyes in enjoyment.

Sitting back to chew slowly, once she swallows, she opens them and says, “Mateo.”

“Good name. Do you know what it means?” I ask, cutting off her next bite from the cannoli and I hold it out to her.

“It means gift of God.” She takes the next bite, repeats her slow enjoyment of the dessert, then says, “Gabriel.”

“Meaning?” I set down the fork and pick up a spoon to pick up the pineapple flavored gelato. She shakes her head, so I take the bite, then use the same spoon to grab some more strawberry for her.

With her approval, I offer it and she keeps her eyes locked on me this time when she takes the spoonful into her mouth. “It means God is my strength.”

“Are you religious?”

She tips her head back and forth in thought. “Yes and no. I believe something is out there that’s bigger than us, but I’m not sure we’ve got it exactly right just yet. I’ll take the strawberry again. It’s quickly becoming my favorite, especially now that the sugar sweet isn’t making me feel sick anymore.”

With a chuckle, I get her another bite and offer it. Just as she leans in to take it into her mouth, I pull it back. “I need one more name.”

“Ricardo.” She bolts forward to take the bite and I scowl at her.

“I don’t like that one.”

Giggling, she covers her mouth. “Neither do I. I was fucking with you, although it actually has a decent meaning.”

I take a bite to finish off the pineapple gelato since Miriam isn’t enjoying that one. Pointing the spoon at her, I ask, “What does it mean?”

“Powerful leader. I’ve been reading a lot of baby name books lately.”

“Richard would probably like it.”

She snorts, then picks up a fork to take a small bite of the tiramisu. “Probably, but I’m not planning on using that name. I do really like Gabriel, though. It’s the one I’m leaning toward.”

I raise a hand to get our waitresses attention, and she hurries over with our bill. After paying, I lead Miriam back to my car before driving her to the next spot. An ice cream parlor.

Once inside, we each grab a cone and head back out to the car to enjoy them. We spend the time commenting on each person as they walk by, making up stories about what they’re headed to do. Once we’re finished, I ask, “Do you want to find another spot?”

Miriam shakes her head. “I think that ice cream did me in for the night.” She leans her head back and turns it toward me with a tired smile. “Thanks for this. It was a great way to end a sucky day.”

Leaning toward her, I press my lips to hers softly, tasting the flavor of her ice cream on her lips. It’s a slow kiss, but neither of us pushes it further than just a connection.

As I pull away, she licks her lips and breathes out, “Should have gotten the chocolate.”

Giving her a quick wink, I put the car in the drive to take her home. “If you need another taste, just let me know. I’m so here for it.”