place banging on the door. I’m not kidding.”
Smiling gratefully, I assure him, “I will. I promise.”
The irony that I had to run to a man to protect me after all I’ve learned in self-defense, is not lost on me. But with this child, things are different. I can’t exactly move like I used to and I’m so much more vulnerable now than I would have ever admitted before tonight. It’s struck me very hard how fragile I’ve become, and I don’t like it. My hand is shaking as I pull out my keys, unlock the car door and get in, lowering myself carefully to the seat.
“Why won’t you just be born, Jacob? What are you waiting for honey?” I say, under my breath.
With streetlights glowing through the fog behind him, Bobby knocks on my window with his knuckles. His mouth is tight as he asks, “Why are you working, Annie? Shouldn’t you be resting?”
Sighing, I look up at him, and roll down the window. “Let’s not go there, okay?”
He nods, troubled. “Okay. None of my business.”
“Thank you for hearing me call for you.”
Dryly, he says on a smile, “The North Pole heard you. Santa’s on his way.”
I can’t help but grin, but sarcasm drips from my, “Har. Har,” and I roll up the window, cutting him off from saying more.
Pulling away from the curb, I take a few deep breaths to calm my nerves, turning on the radio just in time to catch the beginning of Michael Buble’s I’ll be home for Christmas, but the question Bobby just asked me is louder than the radio. Brendan’s been asking the same thing. His ad agency is closed for the holiday break, and he wanted me to take time off, more for the overdue term than for the festive celebrations. Since I’ve been working almost every night to give Taryn time off, and now Laura, we haven’t even decorated the tree yet. Yes, it’s made the penthouse smell delicious, even with the side of guilt it’s served with, but still. I guess I’ve not been taking enough time for family things.
Even so, and I didn’t feel like repeating to Bobby what I’ve exhaustedly told my husband, but the bar is my child, too. It’s the first thing I’ve done on my own, and with the help he and Bobby gave me, it’s finally doing well. Tearing me away from it would be necessary because I love being there. Watching it blossom has been the greatest joy of my life, and with Jacob taking his time to come out, it’s given me something to focus on. And the doctor said I’m healthy and that working could possibly help induce labor. I shuddered to imagine that happening in the middle of a shift, but that didn’t stop me from using it as ammo for my argument.
Turning my car off in front of our building, I look up to the penthouse and sigh.
He is so not going to want to hear what happened to me.
Pulling my hood up, I grab onto the doorframe and hoist my fat ass up. Glancing around me, I pause to listen. I have the overwhelming feeling I’m being watched. A night bird whistles faintly in the distance. Shutting the car door, I walk to the front steps quickly, pulling out my keys. The shakiness still hasn’t left me, and it takes me a second to get the slender jagged point to slip into the lock. Looking behind me, I walk in and shut the door, heading for the elevator, the hair standing up on the back of my neck. It really feels like someone is staring at me, but I’m sure I’m being paranoid. I’m sure it’s still nerves from earlier.
Even still, as the elevator doors whoosh open, I can’t help but look toward the front of the building, through the windows. There’s only darkness, and a reflection of the lobby skewed and warped. If there is someone outside, he can see me clearly, but I can’t see him. I slip into the elevator and jab the button repeatedly to close the doors, unable to shake the eerie feeling. They slide closed with agonizing slowness and I hold onto my belly, humming unconsciously to my baby.
We’re the only apartment on the top floor, so the walk to our door is less painful. The moment I’m inside, I lock the deadbolt and rest against the door in an attempt to calm my heart.
Brendan calls from the bedroom in his sleepy voice,