“That’s not true,” Stella says and widens her eyes at me, silently telling me that now it’s my turn. She’s rubbing circles on Katarina’s back.
“Rina,” I say, sliding in on the other side of her. “Please stop crying. You are not going to be a terrible mother. Maggie would have told you if there was anything you needed to be cautious of.”
My words don’t stop her sobbing, but she throws her arms around my neck and presses her face there. Stella and Ben exchange a surprised look, but I ignore them.
There’s a notebook open on the table, thick with writing, and a hastily drawn chart of the types of fish to avoid based on mercury content versus fatty omegas.
I blink in surprise.
“I need to be prepared,” she says thickly into my shirt.
Ah. It’s no mystery that Katarina is good at everything she does. I’d have never known she was in the gallery that night if I hadn’t been heading there, she flawlessly forged more paintings than she’s confessed to me, and her restoration skills are in demand even though she doesn’t enjoy the work.
Katarina demands perfection and succeeds through preparation.
She’s studying these books as closely as she would a heist. Thinking through each scenario, but there’s no way to anticipate everything, and she’s going to run herself ragged if she tries.
"How long have you been at this?” I ask.
“Hours,” Stella answers. “Because someone got her all the books she asked for.”
She glares at Ben who presses his lips together in annoyance.
“I didn’t think it would cause this,” Ben snaps back.
I raise my brows at him, and he blushes. “I thought she just needed to check a few things, and she didn’t want to bother Maggie on her day off. This is better than her looking it up on the internet, right?”
Stella rolls her eyes at him, but I agree.
Katarina’s sobs quiet and she pulls away. “I know I’m not being logical, but I’m overwhelmed, and I don’t know what to do—” She breaks off and blinks rapidly like she’s going to start crying again.
Hormones. Stella mouths to me.
Hormones have dissolved the competent, snarky woman I know and care for into a worried puddle. It seems criminal, but now that I understand what a big part of this meltdown is, I can solve it.
“I will read the books,” I say.
“You’ll read the books?” Katarina asks.
“I will read the books and check every warning with what I know about dragons. Then I’ll work with Maggie so you have a list of things that you have in your control.”
“You’re going to read all the books?” Now Katarina frowns. There are at least ten on the table.
My lips twitch. “I can read.”
She narrows her eyes at me, and the fire of her annoyance is much more acceptable than her crying. “I didn’t mean that. I just mean there are a lot of them and about a lot of different things.”
I read the titles, and she’s not wrong. There is everything from pregnancy planning, giving birth, to the first year of life. I spread the books on the table and pick up the two about preparing for birth.
“You can read these ones,” I say and pray that the subject won’t upset her the same way as the pregnancy books did. Giving her a task should help, and at least the birth isn’t something she’s already halfway through with. “Now go and cuddle with Griffin, and I’ll let you know when I have a list.”
Katarina’s eyes widen. “Oh my god. What about toxoplasmosis?”
I don’t know what toxoplasmosis is, but I’m about to find out.
“Rina, do you trust me?” I ask.
She blinks, and I’m almost as surprised as she is when she nods.
“Trust that I will do everything in my power to keep you and the baby safe. Including reading about toxoplasmosis and letting you know if it’s a risk.”
Her shoulders relax, and she holds the books about birth to her chest.
She casts a glance at the notebook in front of me.
“That’s mine now,” I say. “You can have it back after I talk to Maggie.”
This won’t work forever. I have no doubt that Katarina will read all the books in their entirety after I give my report, but then she’ll at least have a baseline of what she does need to worry about rather than the majority of things she doesn’t.
“Okay,” Katarina says, and my dragon puffs up at the soft look in her eyes. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” I say. It’s not fair to have Katarina go through all the information alone.
Stella breathes a sigh of relief and slides off the bench. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen Griffin anyway.”
The women leave and I restack the books, picking up the top title and opening to start reading.
“I’m surprised,” Ben says.
“I’m offended at your surprise that I can read,” I grumble back.
Ben shakes his head. “You were so adamant that you two wouldn’t have a relationship…”
“Stop gossiping, Ben. Or I’ll assign you some of these books to read for me.” Katarina and I do have a relationship. Whether it was something that I wanted or not. I will not allow her to overtax herself.
Ben hums. “I don’t think you will.”
I glare at him.
Ben grins. “Because you promised her that you’d read them, and you’re not about to break her trust.”
“OH MY!” Maggie’s voice is warm as she takes in all the books on the table. “She did get busy, didn’t she?”
“Katarina does nothing by half,” I say. “Who told you?”
“Ben was keeping me up-to-date through the process. I think he was going to call me back home, but you handled it.”
I’d known the exact moment when Maggie returned to the back kitchen door… and how long she lingered there.
“I’ll have plenty of questions for you later, but did you have a nice time?” I ask, smiling when she blushes. Ben’s gossip goes both ways.
“Yes, I did. Jensen was a perfect gentleman.”
“Not too much of a gentleman, I hope,” I tease her.
Maggie gasps. “You will say no such thing to him. I enjoy that he’s taking so much time in romancing me.”
Maggie is fae, and fae do love their carnal activities.
“I’m surprised you finally accepted his offers,” I say. My driver has been slow in his approach. Patient at the same time as letting his interest be known. I didn’t think Maggie would ever let him past the point of flirting.
Maggie doesn’t respond to my remark and instead goes to check the potatoes boiling on the stove. The pot roast in the slow cooker should be done soon. It’s not her night to cook, but it’s hard to keep her out of the kitchen.
Maggie frowns. “Where’s Ben? These potatoes are going to get overcooked.”
“He went to take Stella home.”
“Oh, she should have stayed for dinner!”
I arch a brow. “Apparently, she’s not brave enough to try Ben’s cooking.”
Maggie nods knowingly. “The two of them are quite entertaining.”
“I’ll admit, I haven’t seen the show except for today.” I did wonder why Ben’s face closes off whenever she is mentioned.
“You haven’t seen the show because you’ve been avoiding a certain lady in residence.”
“Yes.” I don’t deny the charge. “I started out avoiding her anyway. Not that it was possible with the required contact.”