A year, maybe two, and Claire would be all smiles. She would see all the benefits; she would forgive, because he knew her secret… he could feel it flowing from her even as she slumbered.

Shepherd smiled.

8

“Jesus, Claire, I only took one fry off your plate.” Maryanne gawked, wide-eyed, and a little stunned.

Recognizing that she had barked at her friend, Claire took a deep breath, looking sheepish. She was tired, having been woken up and dragged upstairs when all she wanted was more rest. Shepherd had insisted she go see her sky, claimed he’d had special food prepared and Maryanne waiting as company. “I’m sorry, Maryanne. But if you touch another piece of my food, I might have to kill you. I can’t help it.”

Maryanne snickered, tutting, “Sweet little Claire is all knocked up and nuts. Come on now, show me the baby bump.”

Since that painful conversation with Shepherd, everything seemed to keep coming back to the pregnancy... as if he were maneuvering her into a position where she had to speak on it over and over and over. Green eyes looked down at her cotton dress and the tiny bulge that had only just begun to show. “There is nothing to see yet.”

A deep, rasping voice ordered from the corner, “Show her.”

It was the first time Shepherd had interjected during one of her meetings with Maryanne, and it fed Claire’s suspicion. Looking over her shoulder with a pouty scowl, she let out a sigh and stood. Turning sideways and holding the fabric of her dress taut, she made her point.

Maryanne cooed, brown eyes settled on her friend’s torso. “You do have a little one! Do you feel anything moving around in there?”

Claire snorted, and looked down at her belly, smoothing the fabric in a small caress before she could stop herself. “What I feel is tired all the time and crazy if I’m hungry... I worry a lot.”

“That’s nothing new.” Maryanne smirked as if trying not to laugh.

Looking at the beauty of her friend, Claire muttered, “I was honestly nicer when I was starving to death than I am when I’m hungry now. I mean look at me. I just threatened your life over a fry. I can’t even imagine what other pregnant women in Thólos must be going through.”

“Before you sit down, can I touch your belly?” The blonde asked, totally ignoring Claire’s mention of Thólos and already reaching out a hand.

It felt very strange to have anyone but Shepherd touch over the infant that was going to be a boy. Claire had not meant to voice her misgivings, they just slipped out as she felt her friend rub the little bump. “It’s a strange feeling you know. I can do nothing for this baby...”

Maryanne’s hand drew away and soft brown eyes looked to hers. “What do you mean?”