'Right you two. Let's say some prayers before school. Ask God to bless us on this day,' smiled Julia swiping a stray curl from her daughter Lucy's brow. Lucy and her brother Ben nodded and took their seats.
Hands together at the breakfast table the three of them murmured their supplication to God. Concluding with a fervent amen, Julia laid her hand over Lucy's.
'You know baby, we are supposed to keep our eyes shut when we pray to God.'
Lucy frowned and scooped up a spoonful of cornflakes.
'Sure, it's not like he sees though,' she said.
'Oh he does. God sees everything. And wants us to honour him in our prayers. So next time, eyes stay closed. Ok baby?'
'Ok,' sighed Lucy.
A few hours later after the morning school run, a bit of gardening and some housework, Julia decided it was wise to have a shower before she headed to the bank. Her back was sore after her exertions and her swollen breasts were aching and much relieved to be freed from the confines of her maternity bra. She stepped under the warm downpour and sighed. Soap in hand, her hands glided over her much changed body, washing away the sweat from her work, soothing and exploring the newness as they went. At seven months, she was not exactly enormous, but she could only just about see her pubic hair now above her belly which made it tricky to keep in check. Her husband Saul had promised to help her with it, but that like many other things he promised had come to nothing thus far. Her hand drifted down to her soft curls and she recalled how he had left for work in a hurry that morning leaving her throbbing and wanting.
'We'll do it tonight,' he'd said pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.
She had nodded, knowing full well they wouldn't. He'd be far too tired.