[ELARA'S POV]
Six months pregnant and my body was staging a rebellion.
Everything hurt. My back. My feet. My hips. Parts I didn't even know could hurt.
"Mama big!" Isla patted my stomach. She'd turned two last week. Was obsessed with the baby.
"Yeah baby, mama's very big." I was sitting on the couch. Feet elevated. Ice pack on my lower back. Doctor's orders.
"Baby coming soon?"
"Three more months."
She frowned. Trying to count on her fingers. Gave up. "That's forever!"
"Tell me about it." I shifted. Uncomfortable no matter how I positioned myself. "Where's your brother?"
"Playing." She pointed to the playpen where Julian was attempting to crawl. Seven months old. Almost mobile. Currently face-planting into toys and getting frustrated about it.
Patricia appeared with tea. "How's the back?"
"Terrible. I feel like I'm eighty."
"You're growing a human. It's supposed to hurt." She set down the tea. Efficient. "Dr. Chen said bed rest if it gets worse."
