Chapter 202

SIX MONTHS LATER

Susan

I'm not going to say that pregnancy is easy and beautiful, because most of the time it isn't. I was already exhausted and hadn't even given birth yet. I just wanted to eat and sleep. I had gained about twenty kilos and my back was asking for relief. And Connor loved every second of every day because he wasn't the pregnant one.

However, of course there were also magical moments. For example, the first time the baby moved a month ago and I cried out to Connor to feel it with me. I also loved rubbing my belly and perfectly imagining the little thing inside me. I loved lying on the grass early in the morning because it was the only position where I didn't feel my back screaming for mercy. And it was summer, so the weather was perfect and convenient to enjoy.

And the last moment I loved was when we decided on the names. This was actually last night when I couldn't sleep. Because apparently that was my baby's favorite time to kick my belly. Connor kept talking to me and discussing the names while he rubbed my belly until it calmed down. He was great at that and I was extremely grateful for the moments of peace. And now I completely understood Lori not wanting her partner away from her during pregnancy.

Connor thought it was a naughty little girl, but I thought it was a boy. And if she were a girl like he said, she would call her Lirine, which meant freedom. And if he were a boy, he would call him Mesec, meaning moon.

And as for pregnancy cravings, I didn't have any. Not until the day I dreamed of feasting on succulent deer meat. The next day, Connor insisted on going hunting because I woke up with my pillow all drooling. I wanted to go with him, but he asked me to stay at home for obvious reasons as I was pregnant and about to give birth to his child.

“Susan?” I opened my eyes and turned my head to the balcony. Connor appeared at the door wearing just a pair of sweatpants. His hair was freshly trimmed by me, his beard was clean and his abs were sculpted as always. Apparently, I was the only one who had gained weight. Not that I complained about admiring those perfect entrances on my partner's hips. Quite the opposite." Honey, you got up early...” He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms as he looked at me.” How are you feeling?" It's been a few months since Connor looked at me like I was some kind of art museum. Sometimes I would catch him standing there looking at me as if he were seeing an extremely strange abstract painting and trying to understand the shapes. Most of the time I tried to ignore it because if I didn't, I would go crazy thinking I was fat and ugly, other times it was impossible not to make a comment like: STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT NOW!

Normally moments like this were when I was hungry and my hormones were raging.

"Excellent." I responded and patted my giant belly and he smiled.” Come here too...” I signaled with my hand and he walked to where I was.

He bent down over my body and gave me a long kiss before leaving another on my chin. And then on my neck, and then on my collarbone and finally he placed several kisses on my uncovered belly. Making me laugh like a fool.

“You’re perfect, my love, but I’m sure this baby will be more beautiful than you.” He held my stomach with both hands and I laughed.” Aren’t you my cutie?” Did you give us peace of mind tonight?” My daughter is very well behaved!

“That’s because she hasn’t even been born yet.” I didn’t even know if she was really a girl, but after talking to her belly so much as if she were, I ended up getting used to it too.” In fact, I don't want you to be surprised if it's a boy. I made the room yellow and bought clothes in neutral colors for exactly that reason. I want it to be a surprise.

“Lori is still wearing Jasper today in pink and lilac.” Connor laughed and sat next to me.” It was very bad luck that she bought clothes until she was one year old.

“Maybe she can donate some to us if she really is a girl.

"It would be nice." He looked at me and kept his eyes on my face. Giving that same look. Analyzing everything very carefully.” I can't wait to see her...” I wanted to say that even I couldn't handle the anxiety, but at the same time I felt my stomach growl. And Connor looked down when he heard the snoring too.” Haven’t you eaten yet?”

"Already. Two sandwiches and a huge glass of juice. I’m dying to pee, by the way.” I slowly sat down on the grass and Connor helped me get up.

“I’ll prepare some more then.

“I've already eaten too much, Connor...

“What’s the cost of eating one more?” He smiled and followed me inside. I felt so heavy that I couldn't understand how Lori managed to work even though she was in the last month of her pregnancy. I, unlike her, was as lazy as a bear.

“Okay, if you insist...” I walked to the stool and hurried to sit down because my back was really killing me. But when I sat down, I really wanted to pee and I got up again.” I really need to pee.” I felt the pressure like I was going to pee my pants, so I quickly walked to the bathroom.” Jaja I’ll be back.” I shouted from the hallway.

“Okay, I'm making our sandwiches.

I went into the bathroom, pulled down my pants, sat on the toilet and felt immense relief when I emptied my entire bladder.

After cleaning myself up and pulling up my pants again, I came out of the bathroom about to tell Connor that I wanted my sandwich with mayonnaise this time instead of butter. However, when I took my first step into the hallway, it was like I was pissing myself all over again. I furrowed my eyebrows thinking I had turned into some old woman who no longer had control of her bladder and when I looked down, I saw my gray leggings were completely soaked. And the smell of it touched every nerve in my body. And in an instant all the weight and laziness disappeared.

“Connor...” I said and covered my mouth, still looking down. Suddenly he appeared in the hallway and looked at me desperately as if he had smelled it too.” MY BAG!!

“By God…” He took his cell phone out of his pocket at the same time and a second later he was already talking to Lori.” Lori, it’s happening.” He looked at me fixedly.

I walked to the bedroom and took the dirty leggings off my body. I saw that Connor followed me, still talking to Lori. And suddenly the part I was most afraid of started to happen.

The pains.

It wasn't like humans, Lori said. It wasn't long like their births, Lori also said. And I didn't need to be crazy, but I was starting to worry a little. I knew that labor could happen at any time when I entered the sixth month, but I didn't imagine that my water would break on the fifth day.

I rested my hand on the headboard and closed my eyes when I felt the first contraction starting.

“I thought it would take a little longer...” I took a deep breath. My belly felt really hard now.