Slightly embarrassed by having what felt like a million eyes on me, I tried to relax. I closed my eyes to avoid eye contact with everyone watching. While she rubbed my neck I could feel my shoulders start to drop and my head felt a little heavier as she loosened up the neck muscles supporting my head. It felt so good. I had never had a real massage before—other than the timed massages CeCe and I would give each other when we had sleepovers in high school. We’d turn on MTV and watch videos while we took turns massaging each other for equal amounts of time and watching the clock to make sure it was fair. I hadn’t realized how tight and sore my muscles were. All my time spent at the diner carrying those trays and being on my feet running orders had affected my sore and tired body. I was now quite a bit bigger around with Lucy and it was making it more challenging to maneuver around the diner with trays and chairs and tables sat closely together.
My head bobbed a few times as Megan continued to massage and give tips to all those watching. I had silenced everything around me and enjoyed the deep-tissue massage techniques that Megan displayed on my back. As she moved farther down, I could feel my belly and back start to settle into the exercise ball as I continued to bounce. She reached my hips and instructed me to slowly roll back and forth with the ball. She took both of her hands and rubbed in opposite directions on my right hip. It was almost like an Indian rub—but the good feeling kind—not the kind your older brothers give you as a kid as they pin you down with a new wrestling move. I started to feel some air pockets shift around in my stomach. I suddenly became aware of how relaxed my body was becoming and panicked a moment as more air bubbles made their way down my body. I discretely squeezed my butt cheeks to avoid any of those air bubbles from surfacing.
“Okay, everyone give Char a hand. She was a wonderful mannequin. Thank you Char.” Megan smiled as she helped me up from the exercise ball.
“Thank you Megan. That was so good.” I said floating over to CeCe.
“You looked like you were enjoying that just a bit.” CeCe smiled as she wrinkled her nose.
“Oh my gosh—I feel like butter. She could do that all day.”
“You got a good fifteen minute massage there lady.” CeCe said looking at me and pointing to the clock on the wall.
“It was so good that towards the end I had to squeeze my butt cheeks so I didn’t fart. I could totally feel gas bubbles drifting down yonder.” I admitted quietly, with a nervous little giggle sneaking out.
“Okay people, I want the moms to place their weight evenly on their shins, with your behind resting carefully on your calves and your legs spread apart just enough to have your bellies resting in between. Partners, go ahead and get behind them once they are in place.” Megan coached.
“No fart bubbles Char.” CeCe whispered.
“Shut up CeCe.” I squeaked, trying to hold in my laughter and my bubbles.
“You let me know if you feel like one’s going to slip out. I’m right behind you—ya know.” She giggled back.
“Okay ladies and gentlemen focus. I want to see some of those techniques I showed you. By the time you’re done tonight you should all feel pretty comfortable with these massages and stretches.”
“Not too comfortable Char.” CeCe whispered.
“You’re going to make me laugh out a fart bubble if you don’t shut up CeCe.”
“Squeeze those butt cheeks-those are good exercises I hear.”
“You are making me laugh and its kegal exercises that are good for you.” I said laughing under my breath.
“Whatever—no fart bubble sharing this evening, sweetie.”
“I make no promises. Besides, I had my mom’s white chicken chili with lots of beans last night and the residual effects are still coming down the pipe.”
“This is going to be a long night. So, how’s your dad doing?”
“You mean is he still pretending that I don’t exist?”
“Yeah, I guess so?” CeCe said sliding her hands down my back towards my hips.
“He doesn’t talk to me unless my mom kind of makes him. She did tell me that he asks about how my appointments went afterwards.”
“That’s a good start Char. You know he loves you. As soon as Lucy comes out, he’ll have to talk to you so he can hold her and love on that little beauty.”
“I know he does. I caught him looking at my ultrasound pictures one day when I walked into the kitchen. When he saw me he quickly put the pictures back on the fridge and walked out of the kitchen.”
“You know he just can’t get rid of the idea that somebody took his little girl’s peaches away.” CeCe whispered as she pressed on my lower back.
“CeCe!”
“You know it’s true.”
“Ladies, how are you doing over here?” Megan asked loudly.
“Very good—this one’s a model student!” CeCe said pointing at me, curtly.
“How are you feeling Char? How’s your lower back feeling?”
“Very good—these exercises are really loosening me up.”
“Yeah, really loosening her up.” CeCe added.
“Good, I’ve got one more exercise that I want to show everyone. Do you mind being my guinea pig one more time?” Megan asked with a slight devilish smile.
“Sure,” I said warily.
“Okay everyone. I need your attention one more time. If I could get everyone’s eyes over here; I’ve got a great exercise for you ladies when you’re having bad back labor. I also like to use it during active labor for women who just need that extra push.”
I looked at CeCe as she sported a half-cocked smile and raised eyebrows. I had a feeling I was about to embarrass myself. Soon the whole world would be seeing my lady space in the delivery room—what was one more thing to keep my pride in check, I thought.
“Char, I’m going to have you get down on all fours—with your hands palms-down and knees on the ground.”
“Thanks Megan.” I whispered.
“I know what you’re all thinking…this is how you ended up here tonight.” Megan laughed loudly, blushing ever so brightly.
I could see CeCe obviously laughing as she covered her mouth with one hand and held her stomach with the other.
“I like to call this the Momma Elephant stretch. It’s excellent to do, for a minute or so to take the stress and weight off your lower back. To protect baby, I recommend making sure you have a good, stable stance. Once you do, you can swing your hips side-to-side, slowly, like a momma elephant to continue the relaxation of those lower back muscles. When you are ready to get up, gently lean your belly back over your legs and do a slight down dog yoga move. I will have Char show you.”
Megan manipulated my body, first with the side-to-side movements and then onto the down dog position.
“Once you get to down dog slowly raise your upper body up off the floor.”
The momma elephant felt really good on my back. I hadn’t realized how much strain this little lady put on my back.
“Thanks Char. I’ll have you all practice this move now. Partners, you are there to support them. You can ask your partner what she needs.”
“So, I was checking out your butt while you were doing the momma elephant and I honestly couldn’t even tell you are pregnant when I was right behind you.” CeCe said earnestly while shaking her head.
“Thanks for that. It actually feels really good. You should try it CeCe.”
“As I mentioned a few minutes ago, I’ve used this position many times to help the baby down the birth canal. Especially, when you are dilated to ten and are pushing but just can’t seem to get past a certain point. Naturally, gravitation does its job and helps the baby, usually, slide right out.”
“Good to know.” CeCe whispered.
As I swung my hips back and forth I felt more tiny bubbles moving until silently finding their way to the surface.
“You’re supposed to be asking me what you can do for me.” I said, jokingly to CeCe.
“What my dear queen can I do for you?”
She asked in an English accent.
“I need fresh air.” I laughed.
“What? Oh my gosh Char—ugh! CeCe choked as my silent but deadly air bubbles had finally reached her nose.
“Alright everyone, you did a great job. I will see you next week. Class is excused.”
“Are you Okay CeCe? Should I get Megan over here?” I laughed hysterically, squeezing my butt cheeks as tight as possible to not share any more of my warmth with anyone else.
“Not unless she’s got some oxygen I can use.” CeCe said as she crawled away in slow motion, pretending to be in a gas chamber.
“CeCe, it’s not that bad.”
“Sure, no one minds their own stink.” She said now laying on her back, collapsed, with her hands holding her throat, coughing, and laughing at the same time.
I held my stomach as I laughed at her overacting. I hadn’t laughed this hard since the last time I was with her. CeCe has always been the sister I never had and always wanted—ever so blunt, stubborn, funny, and a heart a mile wide.
“Ladies you are having way too much fun over here.”
“I couldn’t help it Megan—she shared her fart bubbles with me.” CeCe laughed as she picked herself off the ground.
“Well, you know if have to fart now’s the best time. Pregnancy gives you a free pass to let it all out. When I was pregnant I always got the worst gas when I was in church. I would squeeze and try to keep it in. The more you squeeze the sicker you feel. Of course, we never sat on the end of the row so I either had to get past like five or six people to get out, all along passing gas in their face as I tried to get out or I could just sit there and fan myself to help dissipate the gas more quickly.”
CeCe and I burst out laughing. My stomach began to tighten up and Lucy wiggled around.
“And when people or mostly my husband would give me the stink eye, I just pointed to my belly and acted like it was nothing before avoiding the rest of their stares and sickly-green faces.” Megan continued, laughing as she reminisced.
“I’m not the only one then who does that?” I added, straight-faced.
“I like her.” CeCe said pointing at Megan.
“Yeah, I’m pretty much awesome. But I’ve got to kick you ladies out. I’ve got to get home to relieve my husband from all the monkeys at our house. Be safe out there and remember to take good care of yourself Char. It was great to meet you CeCe.” Megan said as she walked us to the door.
“Bye!” We said in harmony as we closed the door behind us.
“I had a lot of fun tonight. Who knew that a whole bunch of hormonal women and childbirth classes could be entertaining?” CeCe said facetiously.
“Who knew, right?” I confirmed her glib comment.
“I can’t wait for Lucy to be born.” CeCe said a bit more serious now.
“Me too. It’s going to change a lot of things though.” I said looking down, as we sat in the car, parked in the parking lot of the pregnancy care center.
“Yeah, but not our friendship—I’ll always be here for you bestie.”
“Thanks,” I said squeezing CeCe’s hand. “I’m excited; it feels like I’ve been pregnant forever.”
“What’s on your mind? I can tell there’s more floating around up there.” CeCe said squeezing my hand back.
“I don’t know. I just always dreamed of a different life for me. I expected to be done with school, happily married to my prince charming, and then pregnant. I just feel like I may never get that chance now to have the happily ever after I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid.”
“Charlotte Renee, you are gorgeous, smart and have the most beautiful heart of anyone I know. Somewhere out there is a man who will be perfect for you and is crazy-mad for this sexy mommy.”
I couldn’t help but let a tear slip out. “Thank you CeCe for your kind words. I hope it’s true.”
“You know it’s true. You’re too good of a person to not get the best.” She said warmly.
“I hope so.”
“I know so.”
I was glad that she thought so. I hoped so but wasn’t convinced that I would end up with a happily ever after with the man of my dreams. I just wanted—needed to feel loved by a man for who I was—baby and all. I prayed that man was still out there somewhere.
“Let’s get you home. Mrs. Megan will be unhappy with me if I keep you out too late young lady.”
“Okay, I am kind of tired after all that stretching. My body feels pretty good now—I think I got most of my gas out too.”
“Man are you telling me—I thought I was going to pass out.” CeCe giggled.
Letting out a small chuckle, I turned towards CeCe, “Thank you, by the way, for coming with me tonight. I know this was not on your list of most exciting things to do.”
“Girlfriend, you are always on my list of people to do the most exciting things with. Where ever you are, there’s life…and that’s where I want to be.”
“I love you Ce! You are the bestest friend a girl could have!”
“Awe, that’s enough sap for tonight. I love you too—no more crying, I don’t want to mess up my mascara, lady.”
“You’re a softy under all that tough girl stuff.” I said, leaning back into my seat.
“Whatever—just don’t tell anyone.” She exaggeratingly pursed her lips as she put the car into drive and headed towards my house.
Chapter 14: Lucy Grace and a Side of Grits
Today was going to be a long day; I had to work a double at the diner. At least I was done with school for the semester. I’d be off of school until the fall, taking a semester to focus on baby Lucy. I was due in one week and was more than ready to be done being pregnant. It was almost June and hotter than hell. I felt like a whale swollen from the heat and swallowed up by my skin; I was puffy everywhere. I mean everywhere. I couldn’t see beyond my belly button, which now looked like a very large third nipple. Megan reassured me the protruding nipple was normal and that my belly button would return to normal after Lucy was born. She laughed and compared it to a turkey timer—like the kind that pops up out of the turkey when it’s done cooking.
CeCe finished the school year and had come home a week earlier. She’d hang out with me after I got off work in the evenings. Shortly before the diner closed for the day, she’d come and talk to Trudy and the other diner staff, taking full advantage of the left over fries and sweet-talking the cooks to add cheese to them. CeCe was happy to be home before her first trip to France. She had always dreamed of going to Paris but wished she wasn’t going for the whole summer—so she could be with me and Lucy.
It was getting harder to carry the platters at the diner, especially when they were full. Trudy always offered to help but I felt bad about having to ask when we got busy. And now all the college kids were back from school and so it seemed we were busy from morning to night with the regulars and the kids with nothing to do but hang out. If I had any pride it was most certainly gone by now as I heard whispers and caught some of my former classmates eyeing my very large belly. I was just glad CeCe wasn’t at the diner during those times or she would have had a fine time starring back and making a spectacle in my defense. Gotta love that girl, I thought to myself as I prepared the silverware for the day, shortly before dawn.
“Are we ready to put the open sign on?” Trudy asked as she wiped off the counter.
“I think so.” I added putting the napkin-wrapped silverware into the tubs on the shelf.
“You feeling okay today?” She asked.
“Yeah, I’m feeling pretty good despite looking like the Michelin man.”
“You are so silly! You are a stick with a low-hanging basketball. By the way, you looked like you dropped. I meant to tell you that yesterday.”
“What does that mean?” I asked curiously.
“It means it looks like Lucy is getting ready to pop out any day now.”
“That would be nice but I’m not due for another week and my mother said we were all at least a week or more late.”
I sighed stretching my neck and back out.
“Well, if you start to feel funny—you let me know. Also, no more carrying the trays—I hired a bus boy last week and he’s starting today. He will carry your trays and clean up the tables.”
“Oh, okay. That’s great.”
“Char, I mean it. You feel funny, you let me know. You could go any day now and you probably don’t want Lucy to be born sunny side up at the diner—do you?”
I laughed, “Preferably not. Besides, I’m not sure if my doula makes diner calls unless you make her a chocolate milkshake.”
“I’m serious Char.” Trudy said, starring me down.
“Okay, I got it.”
That morning was super busy. It was non-stop customer after customer which was good for the tips but taxing on my body. I had been on my feet for five hours already and decided to take a break before the crazy lunch hour herd came in. I had my favorite— cheesy fries and a chocolate milkshake with loads of whip cream and two maraschino cherries. It was so yummy and Lucy seemed to agree.
“Hey there pretty lady.” I heard a wonderfully familiar voice call out from behind me.
I turned around to see CeCe. “Hi there lady—what are you doing here so early?”
“Well, I was bored and figured I’d come by for some lunch. My mom wants me to go shopping with her later and I’m not sure what time we’ll get back, but I’ll stop at your house when we do.”
“That sounds fun!” I said licking my milkshake covered spoon.
“Yeah, I could use some new outfits for summer. I think she missed me a little.”
“She has CeCe. She just doesn’t seem like her usually high-strung self at mass.”
“I guess that’s a form of love.”
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