She tries to stand up with her belly in the way but is more like a turtle on her back. “Okay one second. Just need to stand up. The baby is snuggling me down into the floor.”
In an instant he was at her side, putting his arm around her and helping her to her feet. “Now you go easy on your mommy,” he scolded her belly. “We’re doing this for you.” To Katelynn, he went on, “I think we have some old Christmas lights in the closet, don’t we? If you get those, I’ll get a canvas ready.”
As if in response to his words, a quick bump appeared on her belly from it punching out to him. “Oh!” She giggled, pressing her palms there and rubbing around it to soothe it down. “Don’t think they liked that….Okay, love I’ll go get the lights.” She pressed a quick peck to his nose and hobbled off to retrieve them.
Jack watched her go, then headed into the room they’d designated as his studio. It was one of the few rooms in the house with a lock on the door – when their child came, he or she would have to be kept away from the paints. He had several canvas frames waiting, and picked out one that looked the right size. With practiced skill, he stretched a canvas over it, and began mixing up some sky-blue paint.
Jack Maple 