Page 67 of Powerless
She lowered herself on the couch carefully, holding her belly. "Sorry about him, Mari. Don't let it deter you."
"It's all right," I applied more antibacterial ointment to the sutures. "I really do hope Gunner comes back soon so I can get some local anesthesia again."
I finished with her husband and sent him off limping and whimpering. The moment he was gone, I scooted closer to her with my stethoscope and a huge grin on my face.
"How's my favorite little man or lady doing?" I asked, holding the diaphragm end to her belly.
"I swear he's got a fucking motorcycle in there already," she sighed. "Running nonstop."
"Yeah? You thinking boy then?"
"I keep sayinghebut I don't really know." She looked at me longingly. "Can't believe they used to have those machines where you couldseethe baby and everything, all the little parts, too!"
"The teaching hospital at my nursing school had one," I told her. "The really advanced one where you could see everything in 3D. You could watch them suck their thumbs in there, kicking and flailing around, little boys playing with their willies."
"Sounds like my two boys," she laughed before turning serious. "Is it bad to want another boy, Mari?"
"Not at all. You know what to expect, right? Since you already have two."
"Yeah, it's not just that, though." She chewed her lip nervously.
I pulled the ear pieces out and let the stethoscope hang around my neck. "What's wrong?"
"I'm just scared to raise a girl in a world like this," she whispered.
"Oh, honey." I grabbed her hand and squeezed. "She'd have all these big scary men to protect her. Don't tell me the Steel Demons wouldn't kill for a little princess."
"They would," she gave a strained smile. "Dallas and Andrea's daughter is treasured by everyone here. But her options are so limited as she grows up, unlike for the men. She either stays within the gates of Sheol her whole life or goes out into the world. And what's out there for her? Nothing but a life of slavery."
"I hear you," I said with a nod. "I can't imagine having that kind of fear for my own child. But you know what I think?"
"Hm?"
"We need more women out in the world. To hide them away only creates a demand for them as commodities. We need women in positions of power, in educated jobs, in supportive and leadership roles. That's how we make the world a safer places for our kids."
Tessa gave me a nod and a gentle smile. "I agree with what you're saying. Really, I do. It's just that," she placed a hand on her belly, "it's going to take lots of time and sacrifice to get to that point. And what mother wants to send her children out to be sacrificial lambs?"
I didn't have an answer for her.
I finished checkingon my patients a bit later that night. The only house I didn't stop by was Jandro and Shadow's.
With Hades at my side, I probably would have been fine. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Jandro, I even missed him. It was Shadow I was unsure about, so I thought it best to avoid it.
On the way back to Reaper's, we passed by what I assumed to be Gunner's dark, empty house. I let out a sigh at the thought of the sweet, angel-faced Demon. I missed him, too. Just another man in the carousel to send my head spinning.
Hades howled softly as we walked by, which was answered by a soft screech coming from the house's direction.
"Saying goodnight to your buddy?" I asked, scratching between his ears.
He licked my hand in response.
We walked into the house to the sound of Noelle and Larkan talking in the kitchen. The space was open and covered in marble and stainless steel, so their voices echoed despite talking at a normal volume. It sounded like they were trying to bake something.
Noelle suddenly shrieked which turned into uproarious laughter. Larkan chuckled softly and said something like, "I told you not to touch that."
Those two were nothing if not love at first sight. I smiled all the way to Reaper's study.
"What are you happy about?" he said the moment I stepped into the room.
