Sunday Snippet: Morning Sickness

Well, Marchdefinitely enters the year with a roar. We've had the crazy weather that hopsback and forth between warm and cold along with snow showers, thunderstorms,and thirty-degree temperature changes in twenty-four hours. Weirdly, it'ssomehow fitting that March is my birth month. Volatile and a wee bit mercurial.

 

My focus is stillall over the place, but I have multiple work projects, which helps when I needa change of scenery. It drives me batty when I read the same paragraph over andover because I keep getting distracted by everything. Being able to hop fromone manuscript to another helps in a weird way.

 

Had a decent weekof viewing. Still not quite getting a full slate in, but I'm happy with theshows I'm keeping up with. I'm having issues with one of the streamers on adevice, but I got the show watched despite the tech glitches.

 

Started out with thefinale of Agatha Raisin. I have a bonus behind-the-scenes episode towatch then it's on to a new show. I'll miss this one. I've had so much funwatching the characters interact and solve mysteries.

 

Caught another SilentWitness episode. So sorry about Jack's dad. And the whole deal with his momis beyond sad. Very nice to see Nikki be there for him. I'm wondering aboutSimone at the moment and Sam is playing a very cagey game.

 

Enjoyed another Deathin Paradise. I'd seen most of this one and enjoyed it the first time. Ilove Martha to bits and can't wait to finish Humphrey's run to start BeyondParadise in the near future.

 

Watched another episodeof Elementary. Interesting episode and I'm almost sorry the FBI ladywill live to show up again in the future.

 

Caught an episodeof The Batman. I had vague memories of watching this the first time but noteverything. I'm still not sure how I feel about Batgirl. I think I end upliking her better once Robin enters the show.

 

Enjoyed anotherepisode of Classic Rugrats. I didn't remember either of the vignettes,which I'm kind of happy about. The later seasons were kind of hit or miss forus when the kiddos were young.

 

Finished the secondseason of The Secret Life of Amy Benson and I'm really hoping we get athird. I'm invested in the characters and want to see what happens next.

 

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Morning Sickness,a novella that explores what happens when a couple isn't quite ready forparenthood.

 

Here's theminiblurb:

 

Dava Whales has all the classic signs of pregnancy,except she can't possibly be with child—she's a solider in the middle of a warand religiously takes her mandatory birth control shots. When Warren Cartersuggests Dava get checked out, the pricklier than usual officer goesballistic—especially since Warren is the other half of the parental equation.

 

And a sneaky peek…

 

Warren braced for anything whenDava waved a paper in front of him. "What are you giving me here?" Hetook the sheet but didn't look at it.

Her lips twisted. "Not a kid,so you can relax." She plopped down into a chair across from his desk andslumped against the backrest.

Warren didn't visibly react, butrelief filled him … and maybe a twinge of disappointment. "Then what'sgoing on with you?" A kick of worry crawled down his spine.

Did Dava have some kind of seriousillness?

A vice tightened around his heartat the thought. He couldn't lose her … Wait, no, he couldn't lose his friendand pilot. They weren't anything more than that, with the exception of thebenefits package they took advantage of.

Dava waved a hand toward the papershe'd handed him. "It's all right there on the page. I'm one of the luckythree percent of the entire population with a very specific reaction to the newbirth control shots." Her shoulders slumped. "They make my body thinkit's pregnant … hence the morning sickness and crazy symptoms." She grimaced.

Warren finally glanced at thefitness report. "So, the mood swings, bouts of fatigue, and throwing upare because of the shots?" Damn, it sucked to be her right now.

Dava snorted. "Let's notforget the whole crazy impulse to jump you whenever you're within five feet ofme. I mean—" She broke off, her eyes welling.

Warren put the report down, backedaway from the desk, and rounded the edge to kneel in front of her. "Talkto me, Dava. Come on, let's work through this." He caught her hand in hisand tugged her up and over to the small couch in the corner. "Tell mewhat's wrong." He got her settled then eased down beside her.

Tears spilled over lashes, and sheshook her head. "Nothing. Everything. I have no idea." She rubbed ather cheeks.

Warren wrapped his arm around her,and she buried her face in his shoulder. He stroked his palm over her head,letting her cry because he could only imagine the emotional roller coaster shecouldn't stop. Hell, his head spun, and he didn't have the excuse of pinginghormones.

When she finally exhausted thewaterworks, her head lifted. "Geez, I'm such a mess." She dabbed ather eyes with her shirtsleeve.

Warren huffed out a laugh. "Atleast we know why." He hugged her close. "I'm sorry you're goingthrough this. What can I do to help?"

She raised her chin and held hisgaze. "Brace for impact. Because Kellerman said it'll be three monthsbefore they can get the old version of the shots." She patted her pocket."I have meds to keep me from throwing up, but everything else…" Sheexhaled on a long sigh. "Is still going to be a problem." Her lipstwisted in a wry smile.

Warren let out a low whistle."So … the mood swings and fatigue…" Damn … for three months.

Dava gave a nod. "Yeah, theyaren't going anywhere for a while." She flashed a smile. "On theflipside, neither is the impulse to get you naked so there's that." Hereyebrows waggled.

Warren's lips quirked. "I'lltry very hard to be accommodating whenever the urge strikes." The least hecould do.

Their life would be ratherinteresting over the next ninety days…

 

Warren is in for abumpy ride, but Dava is worth the rollercoaster experience.

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

 

ML Skye