We walked into the venue and greeted our guests.
Food, good vibes, joy, and love flowed as we fellowshipped and played games that Zyah and Gensie came up with.
Mrs. Upton approached Ryann and me as we sat on our designated thrones and opened gifts. “The snow is really coming down. Do you think we should make an announcement or something?”
I wasn’t too concerned initially, because Mr. and Mrs. Upton lived in Virginia. People from out of town tended to view Chicago’s weather with more angst than Chicagoans did. But then I remembered that Mrs. Upton was a native Chicagoan and my concern grew.
“Yeah,” Ryann said. “We’ll thank them for coming and open the rest of our gifts at home.”
“Okay.” Mrs. Upton went to the deejay booth, grabbed the microphone, and thanked all of the guests for coming. As she was making her announcement, almost everybody’s phone let out an obnoxious beep, followed by more beeps.
“Emergency alert,” I said.
Ryann nodded. “Perfect timing. Let’s stand by the door and thank everybody for coming.”
“How ’bout me and your mom stand by the door thanking people while you sit here and rest, Ry.” I gave her a sternlook. “It’s been a long day, baby, and you’re thirty-eight weeks pregnant. Today’s been a lot.”
“A few more minutes aren’t gonna hurt me, Brix.”
I shook my head. “You’re so damn stubborn.”
She stood up, giving me a playful grin. “And that’s why you love me.”
“That is not why I love your fine ass,” I muttered as I followed her toward the door of the venue.
It didn’t take long for the event space to empty. The day was cold and snowy, and the sun was quickly setting. Nobody enjoyed driving in a snowstorm after dark.
“Let’s start taking your gifts to the truck, so we can all get out of here,” Beaux suggested.
“Go get in the truck,” I directed Ryann, and this time, my tone left no room for her stubbornness. “As soon as we get these gifts loaded, we’re going home and you’re staying off your feet for the rest of the weekend.”
“But I’m coming to Monday night’s game.” She pouted.
“If you don’t go get your ass in the truck, I’mma spank it.”
She grinned but acquiesced. “Okay. Okay.” She stood, and I heard the most unfamiliar, familiar sound.
“What was that?”
She was no longer grinning. “Uh, I think my water broke.”
Beaux, who’d been walking past with an elegantly wrapped gift, stopped in his tracks. “What?” he practically bellowed.
Since the deejay was packing up, the only noise was the chatter of the people who were related to Ryann and me. The sound of Beaux’s word reverberated through the space.
Mrs. Upton rushed over. “What’s up?” Once she really processed the way Ryann was holding herself and the stricken look on her face, she jumped into action. “Are you in labor?”
“Her water broke,” I said.
Mrs. Upton’s eyes shot to the small puddle on the floor, then back to her daughter. “Okay.” Her ability to become instantly calm was unparalleled. “Brix,” she almost sang my name.
“Yes?”
“Call your doctor. Tell her that Ryann’s water broke. Beaux, go get my husband. Tell him what’s happening. Tell him that I’m riding in the car with Ryann and Brix.”
Beaux took off.
Her attention turned to me. “Let’s get her to the truck and head to the hospital. First babies usually take a little while, but with the snow and stuff… we don’t want a side of the road delivery.”
