Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I think it’s Braxton Hicks.
I read about it on the pregnancy website I follow. It’s really common around this time. The body preparing for labor.
I’ve got another two weeks before my due date.
I just hope that I won’t have another two weeks of these cramping pains.
I can’t believe I’m so close to the end of my pregnancy.
And River has been here for every part of it.
After our confessions to one another, we’ve definitely grown closer. Things changed between us that night. An understanding that wasn’t there before.
But, oddly, things are still the same, too.
River does what he needs to do. I don’t ask him about it or question him.
Not because I don’t care. But because I do.
He’s used to being alone. He needs time to get used to having me to share things with. And he will—when he’s ready.
And it’s not like I’m his girlfriend.
I’m not really sure what we are.
All I know is that we spend all of our free time together.
He sometimes holds my hand when we sit together, watching TV, and he rubs my feet when they’re swollen and aching from being at the diner. He comforts me when I get emotional at the Adopt a Shelter Pet advertisements. And he brings me whatever food I happen to be craving that day. There’s no consistency in my cravings.
He cares for me. And I care for him.
But there’s no … physical intimacy between us.
Basically, there’s still no kissing between us.
I think the attraction is still there.
Well, it definitely is on my part.
Maybe not his anymore. If it ever was.
And who would blame him? I’m currently the size of a house, and in this Texas climate, I spend most of my time sweating like a pig while wearing skirts with elastic waists. The new thing is to have milk leaking from my breasts, which was not in the least embarrassing when it happened to me while River and I were at the supermarket last week.
A glamorous lady these things do not make.
Not that I’ve ever been glamorous.
But whatever.
I hear my front door open. And I’m still standing here, holding on to the sofa, bent over as far as I can actually bend, which isn’t very far, eyes on the floor.
“Red?”
“Yep.”
“You okay there?”
I lift my head. “Uh-huh, just a stomach cramp.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. It’s just Braxton Hicks.”
“Oh, the fake labor pains.”
I’m staring at him, surprised. “How do you know what Braxton Hicks is?”
The tips of his ears go red. He’s now looking anywhere but at me. “I might have read about it in a pregnancy book.”
My brows go up. I’m smiling on the inside. “When did you read a pregnancy book?”
“Recently. Anyway, I brought you something—”
His words cut off at the sound of a splash of water.
“Carrie”—his eyes are staring at my feet—“did you just, uh … pee yourself?”
I follow his eyes down to the puddle of water at my feet.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Did your water just break?”
I lift my eyes to his. “Uh, I think so.” I nod dumbly.
“So, I guess now is not the time to tell you I brought you some leeks?” He pulls them out of the brown paper bag he was holding behind his back.
I stare at them. Then, I burst out laughing.
“It’s leek week! And I just leaked!”
River is staring at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“You don’t get it?” I frown. “Olive is a leek this week, and I just … leaked water.” I point down at the amniotic fluid on the floor.
“Oh, I got it all right. I’m just waiting for you to get it.”
“Huh?” I tip my head in confusion.
“That you’re in labor, Red. And, instead of standing here, cracking shit jokes, we should probably be getting you to the hospital.”
Oh.
Jesus H. Christ.
“Hells bells!” I yell. “I’m in labor, River! I’m in labor!” I grab his arms, shaking them, panic filling me. “But it’s too early! I have another two weeks to go!”
“Not according to that puddle on the floor. Looks like Olive is ready to make an entrance.”
“Oh crap. I’m having a baby.” The panic starts to slow to actual realization. “I’m having a baby. An actual real-life baby.” I know my eyes are as wide as saucers right now.
“Really? I had no idea.”
“Not funny.”
“Hey, you were the one joking a minute ago.”
“I’m also the one about to birth a baby.”
“Well, hopefully not before I get you to the hospital. Where’s your hospital bag?”
“In the trunk of my car.”
“Okay. I’ll grab it out of there, and we’ll go.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not driving your shit-mobile to the hospital.”
“Hey! Just for that, you’re taking me to the hospital in my car.”
“Fuck’s sake, Red.”
“Let’s go. Bye, Buddy.” I wave to him, sprawled out on the sofa. “Crap. Buddy! Who’s going to take care of him while I’m at the hospital?”
“He’ll be fine for now. I’ll come back once you’re settled in at the hospital. It takes ages for babies to be born, right? So, I’ll get you to the hospital, come back here, get him sorted, and then go back to the hospital. It’s all good, Red. Buddy probably won’t even realize you’re gone; he sleeps that much.”