Free The Marriage Clause by Dahlia Rose

still caused her so much pain. “You had such a bad time sleeping that the only way I could get you to fall asleep was to be in bed with me. But you were so stubborn even then and you never took them back, and as you grew and your mom didn’t come home you forgot about them.”
    “Gran, she hurt us both.” India took her Grandmother’s hands. “You didn’t have to keep these all this time if they caused you pain.”
    “They didn’t cause us pain, she did,” Gran said. “I needed to keep these because I made them for her and then she gave them to you. God knows your mom wasn’t a good mother but you will be.  The baby deserves to have something that was yours that you love and comforted you even if it was for a little while.”
    “The baby will love it and the baby will love you,” India said. “I don’t remember her, but I do remember you held me every night, and I remember that I never felt anything but love as I grew up.  I lost a mom but you lost a daughter, still the two of us together we made a family.”
    “I’d have it no other way.” Gran pulled her into an embrace. “I can never forgive her for leaving you alone that day or how cruel she was to you.  But that’s my burden to bear when I meet the big man upstairs.”
    “That won’t happen for a long time, you’re not leaving us for years, we need you,” India said.
    “You’ve got Mikael, Honeybee,” Gran pointed out.
    “And I need you and Brownie for the days he’s being a butthead,” she pointed out.
    Gran laughed. “Like you can’t be as stubborn as a mule yourself. You two will be fine.”
    “I love you, Gran.” India hugged her again, tight.
    “Not as much as I love you, Honeybee, and I’m so very proud of you,” Gran said. “Now we need to buy baby soap to wash these so they’re all clean for the baby.”
    “I’ll get some,” India promised. “I have to get changed and head to the doctor. It’s my check up, and today we get to find out the baby’s sex if they can get a clear picture.”
    “It’s three to one for a girl.” Gran stood and headed toward the door. “I’ll be working on the flower pots out front. I’ll let you know when Mikael shows up.”
    “Thanks, Gran,” India called as she went into the bathroom.
    They had a three o’ clock appointment at Dr. Highland’s office and got there about ten minutes late. Luckily the doctors offered a twenty minute window before they cancelled the appointment. New York traffic could be everyone’s worst enemy on some days and when Mikael stuck his head out the window to yell at a yellow cab driver it had to be a bad day.
    He was excited to see the baby through the sonogram. Nurse Rhonda put India through routine of weight, urine check, and baby length check. She had a glucose test to make sure she was not on the cusp of gestational diabetes, and that came back normal. Finally, they were back in the sonogram room where the same technician as before was running the equipment. After she charted the baby’s growth and took her measurements she took pictures of the baby in three and four-dimensional views for them.
    She moved the wand over India’s belly. “Let’s see if we can find a gender on this little one, come on show me what I need to see.”
    India looked over at Mikael who was sitting still as he intently watched the monitor. She shook her head and smiled, hoping he took a breath soon before he passed out from holding it.
    “And there it is, clear as day, you’re having a girl,” the technician said with a smile.
    “Yes, I knew it!” Mikael stood and did a quick fist pump. He caught himself and sat down with embarrassment on his face. “Sorry about that. I got a bit carried away.”
    “We see that.” India bit her lip to keep from laughing. “I guess I owe you twenty bucks.”
    “I’ll buy you a Frappuccino from Starbucks with my winnings.” He leaned down to kiss her. “We’re having a little girl.”
    India nodded. “Yes we