Rhapsody
Six weeks later…
“Knock. Knock.” Daniel stood in the doorway of my office.
“Hey! What are you doing here?”
“Just checking on you. How is everything going?”
I rubbed my rounded belly. My little monster was growing faster and faster with each day. Each day the little flutters were becoming stronger and stronger.
“It’s going great now that the morning sickness has subsided.” I took a sip of my decaf coffee.
“Coffee?”
“Decaf. So, why are you really here?” I leaned forward.
“Can’t a friend come check on their friend.”
I sighed. “Yes but when you come to check on me there is always an ulterior motive. I’ve known you too long, Daniel. What’s up?”
He bit his lip. “I overheard Boswacker talking.”
“And?”
“He’s wondering if you are capable of still working while you’re pregnant. I think he even mentioned going to human resources.”
“He’s such a fucking scumbag.” I ran my hand over the spot where our little monster fluttered.
Daniel smiled. “Pregnancy looks good on you. Softens your hard edges.”
“Did you just call me fat?”
“He didn’t need to. It’s pretty damn obvious from the empty donut box in your trash.” Queen B swung her legs over the edge of the desk while looking at the trashcan.
“What? I didn’t say-“ Daniel stumbled over his words.
“What did my idiot husband just say?” A tall statuesque woman stood in the doorway holding the hand of what could only be described as a whirling dervish.
“Izzy!” Standing from my desk, I walked past Daniel. “I didn’t know you were paying us a visit.” Izzy let go of the little dervish’s hand and pulled me into a hug.
“Well, even he didn’t know we would stop by. We were planning on going to the library. Today is fairytale day.”
“Aunt Rhapsy!” The little girl squealed and launched herself at Rhapsody.
I caught her easily and settled her on my hip. “How is my little angel doing?”
“More like devil.” Daniel grumbled as he stood next to Izzy.
“Are you acting like your Aunt Rhapsody again?” I couldn’t fight the evil grin that curled my lips.
Olivia nodded giving her a toothless grin.
“We stopped by to see if Daniel wanted to join us during his lunch.”
“I’m sorry sweets. I have a meeting in about fifteen.” Daniel looked at me with mischief in his eyes. “Why don’t you take her. She needs to go for a walk and she looooves the library especially the children section.”
I glared at the ass. “I really need to work on a few things. I have a meeting with Mr. Anderson tomorrow about our project.”
“Aunt Rhapsy will you please go with us. It won’t be long.” Olivia, the little devil blinked her little angel eyes at me.
“Alright. I’ll meet you two downstairs in five.” I put Olivia down.
“Yeah!” she squealed.
Izzy laughed, kissed her husband on the cheek then said, “We’ll be waiting downstairs.”
I gave a little wave as they left then smacked Daniel on the shoulder. “You’re an ass.”
He shrugged. “Good news is you can’t get knocked up again when you see him dressed as a princess.”
“Out!”
Daniel laughed as he left the office. Nervous energy made me organize the few things left on my desk. My mind wandered to who I was about to see. It made me straighten the papers a bit too hard on the desk. I shouldn’t be nervous to see Chord.
“Don’t be upset when Daniel is right about that idiot baby daddy. The real question is will he be a Belle, a Snow White or an Ariel.” Queen B laughed.
“Shut up!” My voice rose a bit too loudly scaring a passing intern.
***
“Doesn’t this look magical, Aunt Rhapsy?” Olivia spun around in the foyer of the lobby.
I couldn’t help but be enchanted. The entrance to the children’s part of the library was made to look like a castle. It even had stuffed dragons flying all over. I was so busy taking in the surroundings I didn’t hear the little feet running up to me.
“Rhapsody?”
I blinked and looked down. “Hello, Ms. Alice. How are you today?”
“I’m so excited. Do you like my dress?” Alice spun in a poofy pink dress.
“Alice! I told you not to-“ Miranda said breathlessly. “Rhapsody?”
“Hey Miranda!”
Miranda pulled her into a tight hug. “How are you feeling? Chord didn’t tell us you were coming.”
“It was a last minute thing. How are you doing?”
“Good but Grandpa Lew has been bugging us about you coming back. I hope that asshole of a cousin didn’t frighten you off.”
I laughed. “It would take a lot more than him to scare me off. I’ve actually been in the middle of a really big project. I’ll be glad when it’s over. Between the little monster and my job I’m exhausted all the time.” I looked to the side and realized Izzy was still standing there. “Oh my god! I’m so sorry. Miranda this is my friend, Izzy and her daughter, Olivia is here somewhere.”
Miranda smiled at Izzy. “Nice to meet you. I’m the sister of the guy who knocked her up.”
Izzy grinned. “I’m the wife of her best friend/ex-lover.”
Blushing, I said, “Alright. Enough meeting new people. This having friends thing is really over rated. I’m going to go find the kids. They aren’t determined to humiliate me.”
Miranda and Izzy laughed as I walked into the castle. I smiled when I noticed that Alice and Olivia were chattering together with an older woman dressed as a princess. Looking around, I tried to see if I could find Chord.
“You just want to see if he’s another princess or maybe they made him a jester like the tool he is.” Queen B sipped her martini.
“Shut up.” I mumbled.
“Excuse me?” A stern looking woman raked appraising eyes over me.
“Huh?”
“I thought you said-“ She was cut off when someone came galloping in on an inflatable horse.
“Where, oh where is my princess?” He called out.
“I called it. He looks like a doofus. Your child is doomed.” Queen B waved her arm sloshing her martini on her tight skirt.
Queen B might have thought Chord looked like a doofus but I thought he looked pretty cool. The little princes and princesses squealed as he galloped around pretending to search for his missing princess. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones but I was getting pretty horny seeing him like that.
“Uncle Chord! Uncle Chord! Your princess is over there.” Alice called as she pointed in my direction.
Chord furrowed his brow then saw who she was pointing at. I gave him a little wave and he grinned. An ornery glint flickered in his eyes and he said, “There she is! I must save her.”
He galloped toward me as the children cheered. In a swift movement, he lifted me into his arms and galloped out of the kid section of the library. I held onto him fearing he’d drop me.
“Don’t worry. I won’t drop you.” He whispered into my ear.
We turned a corner and he placed me on my feet. Before any words could escape me he kissed me. I felt it down to my toes even with the fake horse head pressing against my vag.
He broke the kiss then said, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I’ve missed you so much.”
“You saw me last weekend. Also, it wasn’t planned. Daniel couldn’t come and he some how roped me into coming.” I stepped away from him freeing the trapped horse head.
Chord let out a chuckle. “Sorry, babe. Didn’t realize the horse was getting some action.”
“He had a good triple going.” I laughed and ran my hand through his hair.
“How are you feeling today?” The back of his hand caressed my face.
“I’m ok. Just tired.”
He looked at her. “Come over tonight. Let me cook for you. You can met the guys finally.”
“I don’t know…” I hedged.
“Come on. Let me take care of you and little bean.”
I bit my lip. I’d been putting off meeting his roommates. Granted, I already met the charming Alec but the rest just seemed like frat boys who couldn’t grow up. If I was being honest with myself, I’d been putting off a lot with Chord. The whole pregnancy and work thing had me turned upside down. It’s was difficult to juggle and avoiding the changes in my life was easier to do than facing them head on.
“That’s because you’re a pussy.” Queen B slurred.
“Alright. I’ll call you when I’m done. There is a chance I have to work late.”
“Perfect. I’ll be waiting.” He kissed the side of my mouth. Those pregnancy hormones kicked back into gear humping everything in their vicinity. “Are you ok? You have a strange look on your face.”
I felt my face flame. Clearing my throat, I said, “Yeah. I’m great. I better get back to Izzy and Olivia. I need to head back soon.”
Chord stopped me from walking away and knelt in front of me. He rubbed my rounded belly and said, “Behave for mommy, my little bean. Mommy needs a rest. I love you.” He placed a tiny kiss on my blouse covered belly. His eyes met mine and I almost swooned right there. It was that look right there that got us in this position.
“More like you’re easy and he’s a two pump chump.” Queen B cackled.
I really hated that bitch sometimes.