“Miss you, too. Mimi’s gonna be there by nine to stay the night.”
I groaned into the phone. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m perfectly fine on my own. Seriously, Ryke, Mimi has her own life, and she doesn’t need to be here around the clock.”
“Just the nights I’m gone. I don’t want you alone. I have to go, okay? Take it easy and call me if you can’t sleep or if you’re upset. Promise me you will.”
I smiled. “Promise. I love you.”
“Love you, too. The midwife I hired is coming in the morning.”
“Great,” I said sarcastically, sighing. “Should I have the pullout couch ready in your office so she can stay here at night, too?”
“That’s not a bad idea. But I don’t want you touching the pullout couch. Ask Mimi to do it.”
“Not happening. One babysitter is enough.”
“Well, since I technically hired both of them, they answer to me.”
I let him know with my tone that I was serious. “No. Don’t smother me. No one here at night but Mimi. And maybe you, if you stop being so bossy.”
“Alright. But seriously, Kate, don’t lift anything heavy or climb any ladders. Be safe, please.”
“Baby, I have no reason to climb a ladder. Don’t worry. Focus on your game, okay? Go kick some ass.”
“Okay. I’ll call you after the game.”
We said our goodbyes and hung up. My mind glossed over the reason for his concern. I’d had a great day with Melody and was about to settle in and watch a hockey game. I didn’t want to spoil my good mood by thinking about the thing that always ruined it.
***
I had to force my mouth to remain closed when I opened the apartment door and saw the woman standing there. My instinct was to let my jaw drop, because she was not at all what I was expecting.
She was short and curvy, dressed in a sunny yellow kimono that her large breasts were straining against. Salt and pepper corkscrew curls flew in all directions, contrasting with the creamy, unlined skin on her face.
“Harmony Moonstone,” she said, extending a hand.
“Harmony.” I shook her hand and stepped aside to let her in. “Nice to meet you, I’m Kate. And … just so I’m clear, you’re the midwife my husband hired?”
She breezed past me and I wrinkled my nose. The smoke I smelled on her was definitely not the kind that came from cigarettes. Where the hell had Ryke found this woman?
“Mmm-hmm,” she hummed, her eyes scanning the apartment before she turned to me. “You may find me an unusual midwife. I believe that treating the body starts with treating the soul.”
“Uh … sure.”
She bustled over to the flat screen TV on the wall and pointed at it. “Are you open to moving this while you’re pregnant? Maybe putting in an aquarium instead?”
“I … guess so, sure.”
“And we need yellow in here. May I have the walls painted? Yellow promotes calm energy.”
The sound of Mimi walking into the room made me turn, and I gave her a you’re not gonna believe this look.
“Mimi, this is Harmony, the midwife who’s going to be coming by,” I said.
“Nice to meet you,” Mimi said, waving.
“You too.” Harmony put a hand to her chest. “Your aura is so peaceful. Are you a Virgo?”
“Um … Aquarius.” Mimi gave me a quick glance. “I’m just heading out to the store, so I’ll see you later.”
She bolted and left me with the quirky lady, which I’d have to thank her for later. I tried not to stare at Harmony’s unrestrained, bouncing boobs when she walked over to me and touched my stomach for a few seconds.
“Mmm.” She smiled. “Happy baby. Sad mommy, though.”
“I’m not sad,” I said defensively.
She met my gaze and just stared. Her light brown eyes had a beautiful rim of green that I focused on, because damned if I’d look away first.
“Disappointed,” she pronounced.
“What – me?”
She said nothing, but continued boring into me with her eyes.
“Yeah,” I said, shrugging. “Maybe. I’m sure Ryke told you that. We weren’t planning on this. We were going to adopt a baby, and now I’ll have to wait until … you know.”
She shook her head, her mouth set in a line.
I sighed with annoyance. “Until after this miscarriage.”
Harmony was still studying my eyes, and the corners of her lips crept up slowly. My annoyance became flat-out anger over her smiling about something so awful.
“Yeah, it’s pretty amusing,” I muttered.
“Child.” Her voice was warm and smooth. “There’s only one who knows what’s in store for any of us, and it’s not you.”