Page 125 of Fighting For Light
She giggles and gingerly gets off of me, lying on her side. Her long hair is mused, and her eyes are bright. She’s filling my heart, giving me a soft place to land in hers. I scoot myself closer, resting my head on her chest.
“You’re right. It’s not just you, it’s these,” I mumble against her breasts. Her chest shakes with silent laughter until it bursts out of her, and I kiss her skin there. I lift my head to watch her laugh, and it always, without fail, makes me laugh with her.
57
Cordelia
I smile to myselfwhile stirring soup from a recipe in the cookbook, thinking about last night. I didn’t think it was possible to get better, especially since I’m eight months pregnant, but Kai continues to surprise me.
I check my cookbook and sprinkle spices in with the onions before deglazing the pan. I love to cook but have never been able to do it much. It’s hard to do when living in a camper full-time, so I had to settle for simpler recipes instead of complicated meals. Now, with a full kitchen and every pot and pan I need, I’m having fun experimenting and using this cookbook to its fullest.
I glance out back, watching Kai pick up the rug and chairs from last night. He just finished his workout, so he’s perfectly sweaty and muscly. It makes me weak for my husband, sue me. He’s been caring in so many ways it’s almost overwhelming. Not once did he push me to leave the house and figure out ways to work around it. I’m finally ready, though. I don’t really have a choice but to be ready. We have to be back on the road in about two months. And the baby is expected soon, so I don’t have a choice but to deal. Blinking the spiral of thoughts from my brain,I pour in the chicken stock and set it on a low temp to let it simmer for at least an hour.
Kai comes into the house, still shirtless, and smiles at me.
“Hey, are you good?” he asks.
I smile and blush at him. One would think I would get used to this by now, but it’s physically impossible. I nod, and he crowds me against the counter.
“Are you sure? You look a littleflushed,“ he says with a silly look on his face.
I giggle and kiss his sweaty cheek. “I’m fine. Go take a shower. Food will be ready in an hour.”
“Alright,” he grunts and kisses me one more time before disappearing down the hall.
I suddenly have a taste for oatmeal raisin cookies, so I get all the ingredients out. I stop when a bit of wetness slides down my leg. I groan, wondering if I peed myself since it wouldn’t be the first time. A second later, water splashes on the floor, and I look around the counter, stunned. Did I spill a glass of water?There was no glass of water.Then a sharp pain zings up my back, and I groan, trying to breathe through it.
It’s too soon, it’s too soon!
“Kai!” I scream as loud as I can. “Kai!”
He comes running down the hall, dripping wet, with his towel around his hips. “Gem? What’s wrong?” he asks.
I look up, frozen to the spot, when another shot of pain hits me in the hip. I groan.
He runs around towards me. “Gem! What’s…” He looks down, then back up at me.
We’re both stunned, but time is of the essence.
His expression goes serious and determined. “Go stand by the door. I’ll get the bag and some pants on,” he says calmly. Thank God because I am not calm right now.
“Hurry,” I cry.
He nods, and I flip off the stove, waddling over to the door to wait. Pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt makes my knees weak, and I catch myself gritting my teeth and forcing myself to remain standing.
Don’t panic, don’t panic. It’s three weeks too soon, but it’s going to be okay.“Everything is going to be okay,” I chant to myself. Kai flies down the hall, flips off the lights, and holds me up as we walk to the truck. He opens the door and goes to lift me in.
“Wait, I’m going to mess up the upholstery.”
“You think I give a shit right now?” he asks and urges me to get into the truck.
Once I’m inside, he leans over, gently pulling the seatbelt over me, then tosses my bag in the back. I take deep breaths, trying to remain calm like we did in class, and silently pray on the way there.
“I called the private hospital. They will be ready for us the minute we get there.”
“Private?” I say and wince at the same time.
He glances at me, then back at the road.
