Chapter 6

"Ser!"

Serena looked up in the direction where the sound was coming from. She smiled as she saw Amara running to her as her husband told her to calm down as he tried to catch up with her while holding their toddler. He tried to carry the girl but she cried "Daddy, walk"

Bo had no choice but to let her walk as he kept his hand on hers to guide the toddler after her mother who paid her husband no heed as she continued to run toward her friend. A run would have been used liberally in terms of what Amara was doing though. Waddling was more the term.

Amara was heavily pregnant.

"Sweetheart, Serena is just right there. Take it easy" Bo said exasperated as he looked down at his daughter who had the same temper as her mother and would not take it kindly if he ignored her request and carried her. He really shouldn't let Amara run.

"I will take it easy when I die" Amara called back at him.

Serena laughed as she stood up to go meet Amara halfway. She knew her friend wouldn't trade her husband for anyone else in the world and she loved it when he worried about her though she would never admit it.

"Ama, for God's sake. Give the man a break, would you? How many pregnant women do you see running not to talk of one as heavily pregnant as you" Serena said with a mock frown as she met Amara halfway. She put her fists to her waist as she gave her friend a chastising look.

"Uggggh, not you too. I swear if one more person tells me what I can or cannot do as a pregnant woman; I would howl at the moon, the sky or whatever it is I am supposed to howl at" they both laughed.

Amara held her side and gestured to Serena with her right hand. "Come and give this pregnant woman a hug, darling. Be careful, you have to do it sideways though. I swear this stomach of mine is bigger than ten footballs added together. I told Bo to let us verify that the other day but he wouldn't listen. Insufferable man"

They both laughed again as they hugged each other. Amara was known for her rapid-fire way of talking. She hugged Serena tightly and tears came to the latter's eyes. It was as if her friend knew what she needed the most right now.

"When this hovering bear is no longer with us. I will need you to tell me the cause of those carefully masked bags under your eyes" Amara whispered before moving back from the hug to look her friend over. She did not miss the sheen in her friend's eyes but she chose not to comment on it right now. People think she always says what she saw instantly but she can apply tact too.

"You always do that" Serena said with a smile.

Did it show? So much for tact. Amara thought as she widened her eyes theatrically "Do what?"

"Look me over," Serena said before she laughed and turned around "Now, look me very well. From head to toe. Am I fatter? Am I thinner? Am I chubbier? Am I…?"

"You are sadder"

The laughter died in Serena's mouth and her gaiety dimmed as she saw the concerned look in Amara's eyes even as her friend smiled.

"For God's sake, Ama. When will you learn to slow down? You are pregnant, woman" Bo said when they finally got to them.

"Pregnant not crippled, man" Amara replied to him in the same tone.

Serena laughed "Hello, Bo," she said to the man who was looking at his wife like she was a rainbow, sunshine and goodness all wrapped into one entity even as he pretended to be miffed at her. She looked down at their daughter who seemed oblivious to her parent's open affection as she grinned up at her godmother "Hey there, sunshine"

Tanya Sheridan removed her hand from her father's grip "Ser, carry" she raised her hands to Serena.

Serena leaned down to carry the tow-headed toddler who circled her neck with her little arms and kissed her godmother at the corner of her mouth.

"I must be in a bad way if a kiss from a kid is making me tear up," Serena thought as she blinked back tears and breathed in the talcum powder scent from the girl.

"You know you drive me crazy, don't you? I might end up in Bedlam because of how you make me worry about you" Bo said to his wife as he ran his hand through his hair.

Amara touched his shoulder as she said in a low voice that Serena widened her brow before she grinned and turned away to point at the ducks waddling in the duck pond "Don't be dramatic, honey. Bedlam is no longer functioning and I don't mind you being crazy about me in as much as it is the right type of crazy"

Serena felt the tip of her ear heat as she looked firmly away.

But when she heard Bo's soft-spoken "Sweetheart" she cleared her throat loudly and shouted "Hello, third party here" then she looked at Tanya in her hand and turned back to the couple "In fact, third party and a toddler with sharp ears standing right here"

Bo grinned sheepishly as he stepped back from his wife "Oh hello, Serena"

"Yes, hello Bo," she said in the same tone as she decided to tease him "It is me, standing right here where I have been in the past five minutes"

Bo pulled at his ear and Amara laughed as she nudged her husband who immediately put his arms around her.

Amara cupped her hand to her mouth like she wanted to whisper in her husband's ear and said loudly "She is just jealous"

Serena rolled her eyes and smiled "I am, ain't I?"

Amara had no idea how right she was.

Or maybe she did.