Extra 2

Extra 2
Emma smiled at her reflection as she applied moisturizer to her arms, then the image of Eda's flushed cheeks returned to her mind as she came back to the table with Horacio, sharing that conspiratorial look. But there was no reason to celebrate just yet. She was sure Max wouldn't approve after everything Horacio had done, though she believed everyone deserved a chance if they were truly making amends.

"Did you like the food?" Max asked, stepping out of the shower with a towel around his waist and another around his neck, drying his hair.

"Yes, quite a lot, but my bladder didn't help much," Emma twisted her lips, remembering how she had to get up, and he helped her inside the house. Then she lowered her gaze in the mirror to her belly, revealed by her robe. But it didn't matter afterward. She had laughed a lot with Max's friends. She got up carefully and walked to the bed; there was a bench with a step to help her climb since it was high. Max had considered changing the bed many times, but Emma had prevented it. He immediately positioned himself behind her to help her up. Once on the bed, she seemed tired.

"Do you need anything, love, before I get in bed?" Emma thought about a glass of water but decided against it due to the frequent bathroom trips.

"No, love," she smiled at him. "By the way, the sale of my apartment closes tomorrow. I have to go sign the papers." Max raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Wow, that's good news, but does it have to be tomorrow?" he asked while putting on his pajamas. Emma got distracted for a moment as Max removed the towels, revealing his naked body. "Can I?" he asked when he didn't hear a response from her. He turned around, and Emma was staring at his naked body. He smiled. "Future Mrs. Müller?"

"Huh? Oh, what was your question?" Max laughed.

"Does it have to be tomorrow? I have a meeting at the company; I don't know what time I'll be free."

"Oh, no, it can't be changed. Apparently, the new owners are in a hurry to close the deal tomorrow." Max finished changing, turned off the main light in the room, leaving the bedside lamps on with a soft glow. He climbed into bed, got under the covers, and settled with a pillow behind his back. He picked up his finance book from the nightstand and looked at Emma, her belly exposed. He smiled at the sight, put the book aside, and turned to face her, beginning to caress her with his fingers. Emma, who was feeling sensitive and with her libido through the roof, tried to calm herself.

"Alright, then let Eda go with you. I don't want you alone in the city."

"I can manage on my own, love," she complained.

"No, I said Eda will go with you. I'm not letting my two girls roam around alone. Can you not argue about safety? Besides, in your advanced state, you should be staying in bed and not out and about."

"It's just a signature, and then I'll come back." Max shook his head, resting his cheek against her swollen belly, already longing to have the baby at home so Emma wouldn't be as tired as she had been lately. "Okay?"
"No," Max replied curtly, settling back into his seat. He picked up the book and began to flip through it. "I'll call Eda. What time is the signing?" he asked. Emma sighed.

"At ten," she answered, starting to get comfortable.

"Alright, I'll tell her to pick you up," he said, then focused entirely on the book. Minutes later, Emma was asleep. Max smiled at her slightly parted lips, as she had turned towards him. He covered her belly and gently caressed her cheek before sending a message to his sister, asking her to accompany Emma to the apartment sale signing.

In the morning, Emma woke up feeling quite tired. By the time she realized, Max was already getting ready for work. She moved carefully and then smiled at the sight of his tall figure in an elegant suit, something she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Good morning, love," Max approached, leaned down, and kissed her forehead, then her belly. "Good morning, baby Müller." He then returned to Emma's lips, pulled away, and smiled. "Eda will be here soon. She said she'd have breakfast with you before going to the signing."

"Alright, I'll get up in a few moments," she said, stretching to hug Max's pillow and inhale his scent before curling up again.

"You can postpone the signing."

"No, no, no," she said, accepting Max's hand to help her sit on the edge of the bed. She fixed her hair and sighed. "I have to do it. I want to close that chapter of my life."

"Okay, do you need any help before I go?" Max offered. Emma shook her head, caressing her belly.

"We're fine. You should hurry to your meeting," she nodded. They said their goodbyes, and Emma started her morning routine: a bath, her lotions, and then half an hour in the closet deciding what to wear. She finally chose black maternity dress pants, low-heeled shoes, and debated between blouses with a matching blazer. She settled on a white silk one. She dried her hair and straightened it, loving her new haircut.

"Sister-in-law? I'm here," Eda announced.

"In the closet," Emma called out, picking a watch, her earrings, and her purse. Eda, with a hidden smile, plopped down on the armchair in the corner of the large room, took out her phone, and started typing rapidly. When Emma came out, she found Eda smiling. "Wow, what's with that smile?" Emma asked. Eda put away her phone, crossed one leg over the other, and looked at her.

"It's Horacio," Emma raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Wow, Horacio. But just as friends?" she wanted to know.

"Yes, yes, friends," Eda's cheeks turned red. "Well, that's what I told him yesterday in the garden, that we could try to be friends. This morning, he sent me a floral arrangement with a note that said, 'For the start of a healthy friendship,' and I liked it. No one has ever sent me flowers."

"How kind of him. But... what do you think would happen if you two became something more? Wouldn't it be a problem with your father and brother?"

"It's my life, Emma. They have to respect my decisions."