Choked (Devoured #3) by Hazel Kelly Page A

like a lifeguard,
never taking her eyes completely off her kids.
    “And the baby’s father works there so it would be
really convenient if it works out.”
    The woman smiled and shook her head at the ground.
    “What?”
    “Nothing. You just sound so happy. Reminds me of the
first time I got pregnant.”
    Julianna tilted her head.
    “Before I realized that no amount of planning or
good luck could prevent the years of inconvenience I had ahead of me.”
    This woman’s negative attitude was starting to grate
on Julianna’s nerves. She clearly couldn’t even pluck her eyebrows adequately,
no wonder she felt like such a helpless mother.
    “The sooner you decide to just go with the flow-
bodily fluids included- the better.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” Julianna felt like the
bench was a seat in a plane that was falling out of the sky. “Is there anything
else that surprised you? You know, that you found out you were wrong about when
you had your first baby?”
    The woman turned to face her. “I’m sorry. Am I
upsetting you?”
    “No.”
    “I really shouldn’t be so negative. You’re obviously
excited.”
    “It’s okay.”
    “I just assume your friends and family are
sugarcoating everything, and you deserve to have someone tell you the truth.”
    “No, really. I appreciate it.”
    The woman looked at her watch and then up at the
sky. “Okay. Three pieces of advice and then I have to be supermom and get the
kids to two different places at once.”
    Julianna sat at attention.
    “First of all, take the epidural. Don’t be a hero.”
    Julianna nodded.
    “The last thing you want is for your kids to come
into the world with you resenting them because they caused you so much pain.”
    “Okay.”
    “Secondly, bring socks to the hospital. Nobody tells
you that, but you’ll be freezing.”
    “Socks?”
    “Yeah. Everyone tells you to get your toes painted
really nice because it’s the first time you’ll see them in so long, but save
yourself the time and energy and get yourself a nice thick pair of socks.”
    “Will do.”
    “And finally, don’t expect the baby to bring you
closer to your husband. It doesn’t work like that. Not for years, not until you
both feel like the kid’s turned out okay. Which is something you’re bound to
disagree on.”
    “Yikes.”
    “I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. Don’t get me
wrong, a baby is a blessing, of course, but it can feel like a curse when you
aren’t both in it together. And your husband will need time to adjust to the
fact that you love someone else.”
    Julianna raised her eyebrows.
    “Seriously, my husband acted like a jealous child
until the kids could walk. I’m not saying yours will be the same, but don’t
expect him to do anything at all to help. That’s the only way he’s going to
exceed your expectations.”
    Julianna bit her lip.
    “You’ll see.” The woman stood up. “There’s a reason
men can’t give birth on their own.”
    “Thanks?”
    “No problem.” The woman started to walk away. “Oh,
and nice to meet you. Welcome to the neighborhood.”  
    Julianna collapsed against the back of the bench. Then
she watched the woman wrestle her kids towards her minivan and prayed that
pregnancy wouldn’t make her a raving bipolar nightmare, too.

Kirk
     
     
    Kirk dragged the paint roller through the tray until
it was coated with the light lavender-blue color that Madeline chose for the
nursery. He had three walls down, one wall to go, and then it would be
finished.
    At first, Madeline didn’t want to go to any extra
trouble because of the miscarriage, and Kirk respected her wanting to keep it a
secret for a while until she was comfortable telling close friends and family.
    But eventually he convinced her that the baby would
know if they were going to some extra trouble for it. He suggested it might be
more excited to come out if it knew there was a lot to look forward to. Like its
new room, its new clothes, and the lifetimes’