Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“Murphy,” I interrupted. “We have to—”
“Todd and Jess will take good care of him, and I know we’ve done everything we can for Xander. Let’s focus on Lena and the baby now.” Aaron stretched his hand atop Lena’s belly and met my gaze. I must have looked like shit, ’cause he squeezed a little tighter and smiled. “We’ve got this, Matty.”
I nodded and hoped like hell that was true.
Once Lena was settled into a room, the following few hours were mostly quiet.
Lena’s mom, Kathy, arrived to keep vigil with us. She was a peculiar woman with an intense stare who spoke fervently about how a woman was the true temple and the sanctity of the soul who’d chosen the body that her daughter would release into the world. It was…a lot, as Aaron would say.
Thankfully, she liked Seinfeld and Parks and Rec reruns too, so we bonded over slapstick hijinks and clever repartee, and took turns taking Lena on meandering walks through the maternity ward.
By midnight, Lena was only five centimeters dilated. At three a.m., she was at six. We snoozed off and on in uncomfortable chairs flanking the bed. We were woken up by the nurse checking vitals at six a.m. Everything was great, and she was at seven centimeters now. She’d had regular contractions, but nothing she couldn’t handle.
“That’s good news,” Kathy chirped, jangling the bangles on her wrist as she pushed her impossibly red locks aside. “The child will be born on February first, an Aquarius…a water bearer with the element of air. You’ll have an independent soul with an innovative spirit. How lovely is that?”
Oh, boy.
I rubbed my eyes. “I’m guessing we have a few hours to go. I’ll make a coffee and pastry run for us. If something happens, call me.”
Aaron smiled wanly. “Thank you. And…call your mom. She’s been texting.”
I glanced at my watch. “Already?”
“All night, Matty. Talk to her before she jumps on a plane.”
I nodded. “Got it. And lots of coffee. Sorry, but you’re on ice chip restriction for now, Lena.”
“Boo.” Lena struggled to sit comfortably, then gave up with a sigh. “I’m going to make up for it later.”
Her mother patted her hand and hummed. “Caffeine is terrible for you, dearest. The devil’s elixir. You shouldn’t drink it…ever.”
“So…nothing for you, Kathy?”
“Pish posh, I’d love a double-shot large latte with extra foam, please. And a healthy muffin. You choose. I’m not picky.”
I laughed, refusing her offer of money as I pulled on my jacket. “No, it’s on us. I’ll be back soon.”
I waited till I was outside to call my mother.
She answered on the first ring with an exasperated squeal. “Matthew! There you are. I’ve been worried sick. Are you a daddy yet?”
“No, Mom.” I filled her in on our trip to the hospital and Lena’s slow progress so far. “It should be today, though. I think. The doctor is supposed to come by at eight and talk about inducing labor.”
“Oh, my…oh, it’s so exciting,” she gasped.
“Yeah, it is,” I agreed, unable to keep the ridiculous smile from blooming across my face as I stopped at the crosswalk. I cast a quick glance at my surroundings and froze.
I’d gone to law school in Georgetown. I’d lived in this town for a few years. The university book store was close by and if I went south, I’d run into campus, my old apartment building, and so many of the places that had marked physical beginnings for Aaron and me. We used to jog on this street on the way to the park, and we used to go to that café he liked on M Street.
Out of the blue, I had a flashback of the morning we’d gone to breakfast for the first time. It had been like a date. A friend date. I’d convinced Aaron that I could be good friend material and I’d been over the fucking moon when he’d agreed to go for a run. We’d ordered omelets at the café afterward and talked about…everything.
He’d told me he was twenty-eight and had made turning thirty sound like a step toward the grave. He’d asked about my ex-girlfriend, the one I’d broken up with once I’d realized I was bi and had a huge crush on a guy I’d just met. I’d said that she and I hadn’t wanted the same things, but that wasn’t true. She simply wasn’t the one.
I’d admitted to him that I wanted marriage, kids, the whole nine yards one day. Not Aaron. That was too hetero, too banal. He’d claimed that he was happy being an uncle.
“So, what you’re really saying is that you would reconsider if you met the right guy?” I’d teased.
“Very funny. I guess stranger things have happened, and I’m not old. Yet. I may change my mind. Never say never.”
Now here we were. A dozen years later, married with a house, a dog, great careers, and not one but two kids on the way. Christ, we’d come a long, long way.