Chapter 31

Haisley was surprised that all the women came over that night. The ones with kids had arranged for someone else to watch them for a few hours. What surprised her even more was that they had such good attitudes about the men leaving.

Ava cracked a joke, and everyone laughed, but Haisley felt the worry too deeply. She tried, but the idea that Peach was going somewhere dangerous made her feel like she would lose him.

After a few more jokes, they noticed. "Are you okay?" Ingrid asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m afraid.”

Jessica reached out and took her hand. “We’ve been here before. It may seem weird that we’re using humor, but they are very capable people. This is what they train for.”

Haisley bit her lower lip, wondering if she was making too much of her worry. “Will they be in danger?”

Rory shrugged. “They could be. I do know that they have people watching over them.”

“Really?” Haisley asked .

“Yeah. They have support. The military wants them to survive. They want them to win for multiple reasons. They have training for stuff like this,” Rory said.

“How long will they be gone?” Haisley asked.

“It could be a few days or weeks,” Ava said.

Haisley didn’t know how she would last for more than a week away from Peach. She didn’t really know too much about military life. He’d tried to warn her that he would have to spend time away, but she didn’t realize it would happen so soon.

“It will be fine,” Mel said.

Haisley shook her head. “But how do you know?”

“We have to believe that it will,” Jessica said.

Haisley blew out a breath. “I know Peach is strong. He has to come home.”

Jessica pulled her close, hugging her. “We’ll keep you sane over the next few weeks. Call any of us if you need support.”

“Yes,” Ava said.

“And I’ll be here,” Mel said.

“I’m thankful that you will be staying with me. We’ll have fun. And we’ll make sure you really are ready for the baby.”

“Ugh,” Mel said. “I need to wait until he gets home.”

Ingrid laughed. “Like you have any say in that. That baby is going to come out when it wants to. You can think you have a choice, but you don’t.”

Mel chuckled. “I know. I just would like him there. But this is our life. I’m not going to complain to him ever. If I have this baby tonight, I’ll be happy when he comes home.”

“Oh, not tonight,” Ava says. “The babysitter isn’t available after nine.”

They all laughed. Haisley felt a little better. These women trusted their men to make it home, and she had to trust Peach. They were right. Peach was capable. He had skills she couldn't even imagine.

Ava left first, then Ingrid. Rory only stayed a few minutes more, and Jessica left after that. It was just her and Mel, but it wasn’t awkward. These women were great, and she realized she hadn’t had any friends who were this good in ages, if ever.

“Are you sure you’re okay upstairs?” Haisley asked.

“Totally. There’s a bathroom up there, and I’ll probably get up five or six times in the night.”

“Oh wow. That much?”

“Maybe not, but it feels like it.”

“That’s something I’m not looking forward to.”

Mel chuckled. “There are some annoying things, but overall, it’s not bad.”

“Do you like it?”

Mel shrugged. "Before I got pregnant, I had to struggle to put on weight. So, this much weight on my body feels strange. I've worked hard to gain enough weight to support the baby. I want a healthy child, so I've done what I can to make sure I gain the pounds."

“I don’t think I’ll have that problem.”

“No, it’s a weird problem. Being underweight can be dangerous.”

“The baby is healthy, though, right?”

“As far as we know, it is. I’ve had scans done, and they’d drawn blood, and it seems healthy. Now I just have to come out on the other side and be okay.”

Haisley took Mel’s hand and squeezed. “I’m here for whatever you need.”

“Thank you. Having this group around has helped so much. So many women tell me I’m lucky to be so skinny, but I’ve seriously been hospitalized because I can’t keep weight on.”

"You know, weight is weaponized. Everyone is either too skinny or fat. It doesn't matter what you look like, someone will try to shame you for it."

“Ain’t that the truth. Thank you for understanding.”

"Hey, I hope after the baby is born, you don't have the same issues. I mean, what are you age-wise?"

Mel laughed. "I'm not old, but I'm not super young."

“Well, however long you’ve lived with this, you don’t need to keep living with it. I hope you get a break.”

"Thank you." Mel couldn't stifle her next yawn, and Haisley knew they needed to get to bed. With her baby due soon, Mel needed all the rest she could get.

"I'll see you in the morning. My phone will ring through if you need anything, so call if you do," Haisley said.

“Thank you. I appreciate this.”

Haisley said goodnight, not telling Mel that she was the one who was appreciative. Having close friends was something she never really expected. She had support like she’d never had before. Having Peach in her life was just icing on the cake.