for Nikola

Ice cream had become Helen's one true joy since she couldn't drink and she couldn't have caffeine and she had a cone of honey-lavender from Del as she wandered back from the shop down to the beach. She wanted to sit and watch the waves for a little while even if it was dangerous beyond all reckoning to sit down with her burgeoning belly and expect to get back up again. Still, she was willing to risk it.

It was lovely to watch the waves roll in and Helen took her time with the ice cream, cursing a little as some plopped down on her chest and stained her shirt an interesting shade of purple. Really? Apparently she was meant to suffer every indignity with this pregnancy. She shifted to stand and found that she couldn't given the changes in her center of gravity and well. Wasn't this awkward?

Spotting a familiar face, she called out. "Nikola! Come here? Help me?"