“No need to apologize.”
She ate another piece of bread. Thankfully the waitress arrived with their food. Violet dug into it. She ate with gusto and Amedeo found it refreshing to have dinner with someone who did more than push food around her plate.
Violet stopped. “What?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re staring at me.”
“Most of my dates eat salad like they have to make it last for a year. You actually eat.”
“I’m pregnant and I’m not your date.”
“We’re lovers.”
“Yes, but that’s different.”
“You don’t think I can take my lover out to dinner?”
She shrugged. “I think the expectations are different.”
“How?”
“Still hungry, Amedeo.”
He waved his hand. “Go ahead. We can talk later.”
He wanted to laugh, but he didn’t want her to think he was laughing at her. He was just amused by her forthrightness. He always knew where he stood with Violet. That was good. He found it a nice change from most women who tended to tell him what he wanted to hear. Not that his ego minded that, but if he was going to be hooked to someone for the rest of his life, it might as well be someone he can communicate with.
***
With her stomach full, Violet found a renewed energy. When Amedeo suggested they do some baby shopping, she jumped at the idea. Now they were in a baby superstore.
“Who knew there was so much stuff?” Amedeo said.
They paused just inside the door of the big box store. Amedeo took her hand. “Maybe we should find someone to help us. Maybe there’s a checklist.”
“Have you seen your brother’s nursery?”
“No, but I may have to pick his brain.”
“Might be a good source.”
She held his hand like a life line as the shelves and shelves of clothing and accessories overwhelmed her. A woman came up to them, smiling. “May I help you?”
“We’re looking for items for a baby,” Amedeo said.
They’d come to the right place. At least Violet hoped. If they couldn’t find it here, it probably didn’t exist.
“I’m Janice. I can help you find what you need. Is this for a shower?”
“No, we’re having a baby,” Violet said.
“When is the baby due?” Janice said.
“Don’t know yet for sure,” Violet said and realized how stupid that sounded.
Janice’s smile didn’t dim. “I’m assuming you have time, but are on top of things.”
“Yes. I’m a man of action so we might as well figure out what we need,” Amedeo said.
“Follow me.”
Amedeo put a hand on Violet’s back, nudging her to go after Janice. She did and he kept his hand in hers. He was her anchor, even though she knew he didn’t have any more knowledge on this subject than he did. She couldn’t imagine what this would be like if she were doing it alone. Why did women choose that? This was all bearable with someone else in the picture.
Even if he would never love her, he’d love her child.
Janice motioned for them to sit at a desk while she took the chair opposite them. “We have a check list for you to start.”
She put a paper in front of them that was filling from top to bottom. Bottles, diapers. The other side had questions to answer. “I didn’t know there was going to be a quiz.”
Janice just kept smiling. What they must look like to her. Violet wasn’t even showing and they didn’t have wedding rings on. That probably wasn’t as uncommon these days as it used to be.
Amedeo took the list in his hand, reading it over. “Wow.”
“Yes, it’s overwhelming, but you don’t have to purchase it all now. You can take your time over the coming months. A lot of people order the furniture first and the bedding once they choose a theme.”
Violet glanced at Amedeo whose eyebrows were raised. “Theme?”
Janice pulled a large binder out of a drawer. “Here are the bedding themes.”
Violet bought her sheets at Walmart. Was her kid going to have satin ones? She blinked at the book as Amedeo flipped the pages. “Any ideas?”
She shook her head. “Maybe we’re doing this too soon.”
“It can take a few months for the bedding to arrive,” Janice said. “The sooner the better in terms of ordering it.”
They may have to make a decision right now. “It’s not like it affects the child’s future.”
Amedeo nodded. “I think we’ll wait on this for a few weeks. What can we purchase now?”
“Diapers,” Janice said. “You will never have enough. Five or six a day at least. More if you breastfeed.” She turned her attention to Violet. “You are going to breastfeed right?”