Give Me Desire (Reason Series) by Zoey Derrick

light exercise, like walking. Or even yoga could be good for you. I will also allow you to return to work. However, I don't want you doing anything that requires you to be on your feet for long periods of time. So no waitressing."  
    Jeez, I hadn't even thought about the diner. Partly due to Mikah's vehement refusal to let me go back to work there.  
    "Talk to Mikah,” Dr. Alston says. “He might have something for you, if you feel it's important to work. I would like to see you back here in a month. We will start regular monthly visits from here until closer to your due date."
    "Speaking of due dates?"  
    She reaches into a drawer behind her. "Forty weeks is total time of pregnancy, give or take a week or two." I watch as she twists and turns the cardboard wheel in her hand. "April thirteenth."
    I smile. "April thirteenth," I repeat. "I like it. But please tell me that's not a Friday?"  
    She laughs. "Superstitious?"
    "Not really. But you know, it doesn't hurt to be cautious."
    She laughs again and pulls out a calendar. "No, it's a Saturday."
    "Good," I say and laugh.

TWENTY-TWO
    When I emerge from the exam room, clothed and ready to go, Dr. Alston says, "All set?"
    "Yeah."
    She hands me a bag with a couple of things in it. "I've included another copy of the book I gave you, since you don't have the original one, and a few additional things about diet and such. To help with the lack of red meat." She winks at me.  
    I look in the bag. It’s the book about how the body changes with pregnancy, the one left behind at my old apartment. "Oh that reminds me," I say. "I noticed this morning that, um, my breasts are swelling. A lot. To the point of painful."
    "How painful?"
    "Achy, really."  
    "That's pretty normal. A little early, but normal. Your breasts are beginning to produce colostrum. It's a form of breast milk. It's a thicker, creamier substance that is generally higher in fat and very good for the baby when she's born. Sometimes you can begin to leak early, which is okay. A good, supportive bra or sports bra can help alleviate some of the tenderness. Even wearing one at night can help. There are some tips in that book that might help. Plus..." she says as she turns back to her desk. She grabs a couple of pamphlets and brings them over to me. "Here are a couple of good information sources on some things you can do to be more comfortable. They will better explain that part of pregnancy."
    I take them and slip them into the bag. "Thank you. For everything."
    "Anytime, Vivienne. Anything. I'll see you in a month."
    "See you then." I reach for and turn the knob on the door.  
    Andrew is standing in front of the door, but he moves away quickly as I step through.  
    "Thanks again, Dr. Alston," I say over my shoulder.
    She waves and Andrew whisks me down the hall. He reaches for his phone. "On our way," he says as we round the corner back toward the parking garage.

TWENTY-THREE
    I hop into the shower shortly after arriving home from my appointment. When I come out, Celeste is in the kitchen. She is standing over the sink, washing dishes. The first couple of times she was here cleaning and doing dishes and such, I offered to help, but she would hear none of that.
    Celeste is awesome to be around. She's very funny and down to earth, and I'm comfortable with having her here. She talks about her boyfriend all the time, and I get the distinct impression that they are head-over-heels in love with each other.  
    "Hi, Celeste," I say as I take a seat at the breakfast bar.  
    "Hi, Vivienne. How was your appointment?"
    I smile because she remembered. She really misses nothing about what's going on around her.  
    "It was good. Mikah called in and we used...an iPad?" I say, puzzled. "He was able to watch the whole thing."
    "That's awesome. Those iPads are amazing."
    "I'd never seen one before. But it was nice to have him there without him being there. He said he was going to get in touch with you, ask you to show me how to use