“My wife is looking for something she lovingly calls stinky cheese. Is this something you would deem stinky cheese?” Alex glanced back and chuckled as Jamie put her hands on her hips and tried to give him a look without laughing. She’d get him back later.
“It is.” The woman took it for him. “Here, let me unwrap it and let you guys have a taste.”
“Yes, dear... get up here and try this.” Alex moved back to the cart, nudging Jamie forward.
“Alex, it's just blue cheese. It's not that big of a deal. I know you've had it before. Who hasn't?” She moved up and took the cracker and small chunk of cheese the lady offered. She lifted it to her nose and breathed in deeply. “Yep. Stinky cheese.”
“If I've had this stinky cheese, it wasn't to my knowledge.” He moved up beside her as she groaned in delight. “Yeah, I'll try it if she likes it that much.” He took a cracker and turned to face Jamie, reaching up and pinching his nose. “This smells like feet!”
She laughed and turned to the lady. “Please wrap it up. I want the largest chunk you have.”
He nodded as he chewed it and released his nose. “Hmmm... it’s actually pretty good. Not what I expected.”
“You're pulling my leg right now. There’s no way you haven’t had blue cheese before.” She took the chunk of cheese, thanked the lady, and walked toward the freezer section. “Buffalo wings and blue cheese? Salad with blue cheese crumbled on it?”
“Maybe, but not in the afternoon all by itself. Must be the pregnancy talking. Henrietta has peculiar tastes.”
“Not happening.” She laughed and pointed to the freezer department a few aisles away. “How about some ice cream for the week?” She decided it was a necessity. Whereas her throwing up every morning had finally stopped, her desire for dairy was only getting worse.
&nb
sp; Having Alex find her in the kitchen the week before chugging milk from the carton was one of the funniest moments of her adult life. The look on his face was enough for her to laugh in the middle of drinking it and have it come out of her nose.
He rushed in to help, laughing hard himself.
“I love you so insanely much. Did you know that?” She paused and reached for him, moving away from the cart and wrapping her arms around him.
“I think I did, but I love hearing it.” He wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed the top of her head. “What were you thinking about that started all of this? Not that I'm complaining.”
She looked up at him, lifting to her toes and kissing him several times. “About me shooting milk from my nose last week.”
He chuckled and squeezed her butt before she moved back. “You are a weird one, Jamie Reid.”
“I like the sound of my new name.” She turned down the cracker aisle. “Let's get something to go with our stinky cheese.”
“Can you have some wine? A glass, or is that bad for Lilliana Henrietta?” He moved up beside her and rubbed the small of her back.
“Benton could handle a glass, but we'll just abstain until after he's born.” She grabbed a couple varieties of crackers and put them in the cart as Alex gave her a funny look. “What?”
“There are way more crackers than cheese.” He moved in to start pushing the cart.
“We'll get more cheese later this week.” She shrugged and stopped by the milk. “You want me to get my own carton to chug later tonight?”
“Nope. I want us to share everything. You can chug anything you want. Just invite me to watch from time to time.” He smirked and took the milk from her. “Do you really think it's a boy?”
“I honestly have no clue.” She rubbed her stomach and moved up beside him, entwining her arm with his. “I'm good with a girl or a boy. I couldn’t care less which we have as long as it's healthy.”
“And do you think it's just one?” He stopped pushing the cart when they reached the freezer department, reaching over and rubbing the small bump at the front of her stomach. “You're not that far along and yet I swear you're already showing.”
“I'm sure it's just one. I have no history of twins in my family. Do you?” She moved over and grabbed three different kinds of ice cream, handing them back to him before worrying a little about the possibility of gaining weight. Was it too early to start showing? The OB didn’t seem to think so.
“No, I don't. You sure you don't want that cotton candy ice cream you like?” He made a face.
“That does sound good.” She hesitated before shutting the glass case. “But no. I really want to try to not gain too much weight during this pregnancy thing.”
“I think you should do what your body wants you to do, Jamie. If you're craving something, then maybe it's Lilliana's way of asking nicely for it.”
“You love that name, don't you?” She opened the case and got the smaller tub of ice cream before joining him in their languid walk to the front counter.