The entire time she typed, Milton called and yelled at her through the bathroom door.
[Hi, this is the Jane your brother–in–law mentioned in his last message. For what it is worth, I am truly sorry for the cruel pranks he is playing on you. If you do want to get him back for it, you should know people in government jobs get into an embarrassing situation far more easily than us civilians. A good batch of spiked brownies should do the trick, in my opinion. If you want to really screw with him, put the fake wife he gifted you in the trunk of his car. Anonymously report that you saw someone put a girl in a truck. That way he will get pulled over. I would personally love to see how he would get out of that one. Just so you know, I am deleting this text so he can’t see it. If you do respond, make it quick. You have three minutes. I am on your side, brother–in–law.]
Pandora bit her lip as she started to watch the time. After two and a half minutes, she started to feel a wave of sadness.
Suddenly, Milton’s cell phone beeped, and she saw the message was from the same number.
[Those are excellent ideas, if I may say so. I like your way of thinking. It’s time I get back at the evil bastard. By the way, I know most of Milton’s friends, have I met you before?]
Pandora smiled and deleted both texts before walking out of the bathroom. She handed Milton his cell.
“What was that about?” he asked, crossing his arms.
Wothing for you to worry about.”
“Pandora?” he pressed but she simply shrugged. “I am an officer of the law, and a detective, Pandora. I will find out and if you have given him any bright ideas, then you, my lady, will be my prey,” Milton warned with a psychotic grin.
“You’ve got the whole psycho look going on.”
He just chuckled and nodded. “You have been warned. Later!”
Pandora woke up and rolled over, hoping and praying that it was not six in the morning. She looked at her alarm clock and sighed in relief. It was only one in the morning. She closed her eyes once again, overwhelmed by the need to eat pickles.
“Really? You guys are hungry? The need to eat pickles only seemed to get stronger. “Okay,” she told them as she rubbed her bump.
She moved into her kitchen and opened the food cupboard but did not find any pickles.
“Damn it.”
She looked down at her colorful but comfortable yoga pants and picked up a sweater to throw on top. “Thank God our local store’s open twenty–four–seven, Eh?” she spoke to herself as she got into her car.
She drove the twenty minutes to the store. By the time she arrived, she was no longer wanting just pickles, but: crackers, cheese, and chocolate ice cream, as well. Pandora picked up a box of grapes and threw one in her mouth and placed the rest in her cart.
She got to the pickles and grabbed a mix of different kinds because the thought of several to pick from at her convenience sounded like a good thing. Grabbing the cocktail–sized gherkins, she opened the jar and ate one as she moved around the store.
“Pandora?” She turned with a smile and saw Benjamin standing there, looking at her with his mouth open.
“Want one?” she asked, offering him the jar or gherkins.
“No thanks?” he replied, speaking like he wasn’t sure what she was asking him.
“Suite yourself,” she shrugging, plopping another grape in her mouth and then taking another pickle from the jar to eat as well.
You’re food shopping at half past one in the morning?”
“Yep, Jack and Micheal…” She had been calling Bean and Curd that since she decided on their names. “…woke me up because they wanted a bunch of things. I couldn’t say no to my babies, now
Ould I?” she pouted.
You are the strangest pregnant woman I have ever looked after.”
Pandora felt a wave of embarrassment but shook it off. She shrugged instead. Getting embarrassed around Benjamin was no longer uncommon. He seemed to find her in the worst situations, so it was time she got over the awkwardness early on.
1/2
You seem to be in a good mood?”
I am. My brother–in–law got fed some old–fashioned karma. And I also had a great day, no sick mommies and not one of the six babies I delivered today were complicated cases.”
Pandora gave him a pleased smile. “I take it that is why you’re here so late?”
“Yeah. I just finished, Benjamin informed as he looked around the store.
“Looking for someone?” she questioned, making him turn back to her.
‘Your husband, is he here?”
Pandora sighed but shook her head at him. “No, I’m alone,” she told him truthfully.
“He shouldn’t have let you go out this late by yourself, what the hell is he thinking?”
She gulped, feeling guilty that Benjamin was getting so worked up about her husband, when in fact, she was alone and that was no one’s fault but her own.
“Benjamin,” she called softly, gaining his attention. “I’m fine, I’m sort of used to this now.”
“You shouldn’t be, you should have someone to look after you. Them,” Benjamin claimed passionately as his hand reached out to touch her bump. Just like always, the babies started moving.
“I think they’re saying hello,” she stated with a sweet smile.
Benjamin knelt down and she frowned at him.
“Hey, guys, you know I get the midnight snack cravings, really I do. But in the future, for me, could you not have your mother come out to the store alone this late?”
Pandora felt her heart skip a beat over what he had just said and done. To be the girl he was married to must be amazing. She felt her heart sink as her brain reminded her that he was married and she was very much alone.
Chapter Comments
