Living in a Fish Bowl

“Bae…have you ever done something that you couldn’t explain, but you knew it was right?”

“You mean, like leaving my stately home to go live with you in your mother’s trailer?”

“You’re never gonna let that go, are you?”

“It’s family history now, Riv. It’s not going anywhere. What’s this about?”

“Nothing. How’s our baby doing in there?”

“It feels like he’s packing and cleaning because he know he’s checking out tomorrow.”

“He?”

“It feels strange to keep calling it ‘it.’ He’s not an it. He’s a person!”

“What if she wears a yellow onesie?”

“Now you want to choose sides?”

“I’m just saying! We still don’t know. What’s the point of keeping it a surprise if you label it?”

“I know. I just want to meet our baby now! Him…her…whoever. Hopefully not them!!”

“Hopefully not. Come here. Let me get those shoulders for you.”

“Oh, thank you!”

She turned around and he worked his fingers into her shoulder blades and upper back. As soon as he got started, someone knocked at the door.

“Who’s that, babe?”

“Someone who has impeccable timing.”

“Keep going. Maybe they’ll go away.”

“We have a glass front door, bae. They can see us.”

“Oh, all right,” she said reluctantly sliding back into her spot on the couch.

River leaned over to her and said, “We’ll finish this later.”

“Don’t be too long. I think I might take a steamy shower.”

“Oh! Then I definitely won’t be long. I love you. I’ll be back.”

River got up from the couch, but when he turned and saw who it was at the door, he stopped in his tracks.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. Go take your shower,” he said sternly.

“Howdy, neighbor,” Guy said.

River stepped outside and closed the door. He peered through the window and watched until Melody was in the bathroom.

“Seriously? What are you doing here? I thought I was supposed to be keeping this from her! What am I supposed to tell her if you keep showing up like this?”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, Riv. I thought ‘a guy from the neighborhood association’ was brilliant!”

“Don’t call me that! You don’t call me that! And how do you know I said that?? Did you bug my house?!”

“Don’t concern yourself with that. We think you’re a great guy, but we need to know if we can really trust you.”

“You said that I should trust you, but you bug my house and show up at my doorstep like a friend while you’ve been listening to me and my wife’s pillow talk?? I’m not so sure I want to be part of this now. Just…I want you to leave. Please leave us alone.”

“Ok. I just want to say that I completely know how you feel. I remember when I first got started, I felt the same way.”

“Don’t try the reverse psychology thing on me, man! It’s not going to work.”

“I know. I’m being real with you. What if I told you that your wife could be in danger? Would that change your mind?”

River paused. What if Guy were telling the truth? What if someone was really after her, but he turned down the offer?

“What kind of danger?”

“I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”

“But, we’re having the baby tomorrow.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. You should get inside while the water is still hot.”