Chapter Text
She shifted uncomfortably on the grass, trying to relieve the rhythmic pain flaring in her lower back. Slightly disgusted by her size – she really can’t wait for this child to arrive – she struggles to tuck her bare legs beneath her. Bare legs in November, how strange; these warm winter months on the West coast took some getting used to. If she was back home, she’d be stuck inside with the central heating blasting away to get the type of warmth she was currently enjoying sitting under the lush foliage just meters from the beach.
As she looked out over the ocean, she wondered how long Chris was going to be, whether she should actually be making her way back to their rented bungalow and why she couldn’t find a position that would alleviate this annoying backache, when three things happened all at once that broke her from her idle daydream.
A flash of white blonde and red in the corner of her eye, the small sound of delighted gurgling and the sharp pain of a Fisher Price Little People figurine hitting her distended belly announced the arrival of an unaccompanied toddler dressed in fire engine red dungarees, white undershirt, with a mop of white blonde hair and the most disconcerting blue eyed gaze.
He stood about 2 feet away from her, sucking the fingers of his left hand, while holding out his right and making grabby signals.
She absently rubbed the spot where the – was that an Army Little People person? – had hit her, and held out the toy for the blonde headed cherub to take.
His fingers slide out of his mouth with a loud, wet plop as his face lit up with delight. Happily gurgling, arms outstretched, he took the three or four steps needed to reach her side and wrapped his chubby fingers around the definitely Army Little People person. She smiled as he hummed and grunted his pleased countenance. He fixed her with his blue gaze and smiled back at her, all gums and dribble. His eyes tracked her hand still rubbing her large belly.
She watched in fascination as the small child reached out with his free hand and placed it ever so gently next to hers on her belly. She winced a little when her child decided to announce its presence with a particular vicious kick right under their hands. The toddler huffed and giggled, moved his hand further across her belly. Her child followed the small hand, bumping itself wherever it touched. This seemed to amuse the dungaree wearing child no end.
“BRADLEY!”
The both of them jumped and turned to watch a tall, dark haired woman marching quickly towards them, the relief and annoyance etched across her striking face.
“Oh, there you are, stop harassing that nice lady!” her voice wavering only slightly, her panic lacing her anger.
Bradley smiled up at her, then turned back to watch his hand bounce up and down from the rather insistence kicking her child was doing.
“I’m so sorry about this,” the dark haired woman was saying, “he’s so fast on his feet it’s hard to keep a track of him.”
“It’s fine,” she said finally looking up to see the woman – Bradley’s mom? – watching the interaction carefully.
Bradley chortled away.
“How old is he?” she asked.
Brad’s mom looked torn between pulling him away from the crazy pregnant lady and answering the question politely. She chose the latter.
“He’s nine months.”
“Already walking?”
“Yeah – skipped crawling, just stood up, walked across the living room and turned the TV off,” Bradley’s mom laughed fondly at the memory. She reached down and gathered the toddler into her arms. He looked directly at his mother, smiled and patted her cheek.
The contrast between the two pronounced as they stood swaying in the afternoon sun; Bradley all round cheeks and blond, his mom brunette and angles. She wondered if her child would look more like her or Chris.
The dull pain in her back returned reminding her that she really should be heading home; she moved to get up. Her soft moan brought a helping hand from Bradley’s mom.
“Thanks,” she huffed as she tried to straighten herself out. Her back was really hurting her now.
“Debbie Colbert,” Bradley’s mom introduced herself, “and you’ve met Bradley.”
Bradley waved his Army Little People person at her, his left hand back in his mouth. She smiled.
“Anne Fick,” she said as she rubbed her sides.
“You look like you are about to pop,” Debbie offered, her eyes automatically drawn to the roundness Anne’s dress tried so hard to contain.
Anne laughed ruefully.
“Anytime in the next 2 weeks,” she tried not to show the strain of walking.
“Your first?”
Anne nodded, gritted her teeth and forced herself to walk.
“DEBBORAH!”
All three jumped a little and turned to see a tall, dark haired man waving frantically at them.
“Ah, looks like Daddy’s ready to go,” Debbie directed this at Bradley, “Shall we go and pick your sister up from ‘Monkey Music’?”
Bradley made a non-committal noise, his azure eyes fixed on Anne, a half smile on his face.
“Nice to meet you Anne,” Debbie was saying, “good luck with – well - everything, I guess.” She smiled.
“Thanks,” Anne replied, “Bye Bradley.” She waved, received a smile and an Army Little People person shake.
Debbie smiled and turned to walk towards her husband.
Anne watched Bradley squirm in his mother’s arms until he was looking over her shoulder, his blue gaze never leaving Anne’s.
She absentmindedly rubbed her back, her thoughts turning to the short walk back to their house, what she was going to cook for dinner and how Chris was going to have to rub her back for her when he got home.