By late July, summer had settled into New York with a vengeance.
The sun balzed regularly, and Aria spent most of her time indoors, venturing out only for doctor's appointments, prenatal yoga, and the occasional lunch with Sophia.
At twenty-two weeks pregnant, her body was changing rapidly. The bump was undeniably round and firm, and impossible to disguise. Her center of gravity had shifted, making her walk differently. Her breasts were larger, and her hips wider. She barely recognized herself in the mirror some days.
But Emma was thriving, and that was what mattered.
The kicks had become more frequent and stronger. Sometimes Aria would be sitting quietly and Emma would launch what felt like a full gymnastics routine of rolling, kicking, and stretching. Other times, she'd be still for
