“Harold, can you do my zip?”
Christine waddled towards him, her stomach leading the way.
He gave her a quizzical look. “My love, I doubt even Hercules could do that zip.”
Christine’s stuck her tongue out. “This dress fits me perfectly,” she panted while trying to prove her point by dragging the zip up herself. It didn’t seem to want to budge.
Harold gave her a doubtful look.
“Esther shrank it when she was doing laundry.”
Another doubtful look.
“Oh, shut-up, you!” she snapped while standing in front of the mirror, hands on hips. She looked like a bloated whale, and the yellow sundress was not helping.
Harold chuckled and came up behind her kissing her neck.
“My darling, you need some maternity clothes – why not simply buy them?”
She grumbled and muttered while Harold gently bit her neck. Almost seemed like that was admitting defeat. Her clothes would fit her! With only six more weeks to go, it seemed unlikely she could get any bigger. Right? Christine sighed.
“Fine, I’ll get some more clothes. Seems like a waste of money though.”
“Maybe you’ll need them again,” he murmured.
“Hmmm, already planning pup number two?”
“Indeed. You are lovely when you are pregnant… and lovely when you are not, of course.”
“Mmm, nice save. You haven’t been taking lessons from Jonathan, have you?”
Harold growled, vibrating against her. “Certainly not.”
Christine giggled as her mate grumbled. Though that stopped as the baby gave her a firm kick.
“Ooh.” She rubbed her stomach. “This one’s a kickboxer.”
“You should stay home,” he complained.
This was an argument they had been having for a while. She tolerated it because Harold was concerned for her health, but she was fine and staying at home all day would drive her bonkers. He didn’t push it, probably because he was worried that might stress her out even more.
“I’ll be fine.” Plus her presence at work definitely discouraged Nora from getting too feely with her husband – there was a woman who was trying to sleep her way to the top. But not with Christine’s husband.
Her phone rang before Harold could launch into his objections and Christine gratefully snatched it up.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Button nose, how are you?” asked her father.
“Feeling fantastic,” she gushed, more for Harold’s benefit than his.
Her husband rolled his eyes, and she threw a cushion at him. He dodged and smirked.
“Is everything okay?” her dad asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Everything okay with Harold? Everything okay with him at work?”
“Yes,” she sighed.
Over the past few weeks her father had been very anxious and nervous sounding – and always asked if Harold was okay at work.
“Dad, is everything okay with you?”
“Oh yes, everything’s going well at the moment.” He paused. “You are… happy, right?”
“I am,” she replied sincerely.
Particularly given that both Harold Sr. and Marie had been keeping their distance. Marguerite had visited and was thankfully a little more subdued than usual, and was actually getting excited about the birth of her first grandchild.
“I’m glad,” he said quietly.
“Love you, Dad.”
“You too, button nose,” he muttered before hanging up.
Harold gave her a quizzical look. “What was that about?”
Christine shrugged unconcernedly. “He’s becoming very mellow. Now, I guess I better change into my stretchy pants.”
*
Christine tried to tiptoe past Harold Sr.’s office – but her center of gravity was way off and tiptoeing was no longer as easy as it had once been.
Curse him for having an office so near to the break room!
Harold Sr.’s voice wafted out of his office.
“It’s too late for cold feet now, Cole.”
Cole? Was Harold Sr. talking to her father?
Christine inwardly scowled. Why oh why did she have to hear these things? Why the heck couldn’t Harold Sr. close his office door?
“This is happening and soon, whether you like it or not!”
The phone slammed, and Christine tried to hurry away, though her speed of hurrying was akin to that of a snail’s, and she bumped into Harold Sr. as he stormed out of his office.
He growled and then stopped as he saw it was her.
“Hey Harold,” she said with forced brightness.
“Christy,” he said with a wary look. “What are you doing up here?”
“Working in my husband’s office today.”
Harold wanted her close – it appeased his worrying slightly. It was an argument she was content to let him win, mostly because at regular intervals he would give her foot rubs.
Harold Sr.’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Excuse me.”
He stomped away, and Christine considered it to be one of their better interactions.
But was that really her father he was talking to? No, it couldn’t be – had to be some other Cole. Right?