“I wish you could’ve had what I had when you were growing up.”
Arthur shrugs. “Don’t feel sorry for me. It all turned out in the end because I found you.”
“I love you so much, it hurts.” I reach up and kiss him, then we press our foreheads together. “This past week has been absolutely awful. I never want to fight like this again,” I say.
"Me neither. Let's promise each other that no matter what, we’ll just keep talking until we sort out whatever is wrong, even if we’re up all night."
"Deal." Arthur pulls me in for a big hug. He can barely reach around to my sides now, but he makes it work anyway. “I love you, Tessa Langdon.”
A sharp kick comes from my tummy, and we both laugh a little.
“Was that a fluke or—”
Another kick has Arthur grinning and pulling back. He lowers his head, puts his hands on my belly and says, “Hello, in there. Come out soon, little babies, so we can meet you.”
A long rippling across my belly is his answer. He looks up at me and grins. “I think they know me now.”
“I think so, too. They’re going to love you, you know.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you won me over, and I don’t like anyone.”
***
THE NEXT MORNING, Iwake with a sense of urgency (and not just because there is a tiny human bouncing away on my bladder). This is different. It’s the strangest feeling—like I don’t have enough time to get things done. After I go pee, I check the clock and see it’s not quite five in the morning. I crawl back into bed, where it’s warm and cozy, hoping for sleep to come, but every time I close my eyes, they spring back open and I glance around the room.
What is wrong with me? I mean, seriously. I sigh and stare at Arthur, tempted to wake him from his long winter’s nap.
It’s Christmas Eve. That’s why I’m awake. I love Christmas normally, but this year I’m even more excited to open the enormous gift Arthur bought me. It’s been sitting under the tree for days now, and I have no clue what it could be. I tried shaking it a little, but it was so heavy I couldn’t even budge it. And I know you’re supposed to be more thrilled to give than receive, but honestly, it’shuge.
Hmm...I wonder if it’s too early to wake Arthur and suggest we exchange gifts? Maybe, yes.
It’s no use. I can’t sleep. Oh, I know, I can finish wrapping presents for my nieces and nephews. I get up, pull on my bathrobe, and wander to the living room. Glancing out the window, I see that in the time since we've fallen asleep, the entire world seems to have been covered with snow. I walk over to take a look, but as soon as I reach the window, I feel a dull ache that starts in my back and spreads across to my abdomen.
Well, that certainly doesn't feel nice. I freeze and stand perfectly still, hoping it will go away, and after a few seconds, it does.
One of the babies kicks, and I put my hand on the spot, wondering if he or she can feel that. "Can you feel that, too? What does that feel like for you?" God, I hope it's not feeling like they're getting squished in there. Although I can't imagine they have much room to begin with...
"Dr. Dropp said I was likely to get Braxton Hicks contractions in the next little while, so that's probably what this is. So, if either of you are thinking you're going to get out of there today, I hate to burst your bubble, but I highly doubt it."
By the time I've wrapped three presents, I realize these dull aches may be actual contractions. They are getting a little bit deeper each time, and if I’m not mistaken, are coming on fairly regularly. On the next one, I feel a small rush of water you-know-where.
Well, that was strange. Not at all like when a woman's water breaks on the telly and there's a huge puddle. This was more like a very small bit. Now I'm glad I didn't wake Arthur up, because that was rather embarrassing. I stand and get some cleaning products out from under the kitchen sink and start to clean the chair, only just as I'm finishing, another contraction starts—at this point, I think I'll start calling them contractions, that seems about right—and more water comes out. I hurry to the bedroom, open the door, and rummage around through my drawers to find fresh clothes.
Arthur stirs and says, "Everything okay?"
"Fine, yes. I was just wrapping some presents. I couldn't sleep,” I say. “Oh, and I'm pretty sure my waters have broke."
Arthur rolls over, then says, "Okay. Let me know if you need any help with the presents."
I walk toward the bathroom with my bundle full of clothes, then I hear the exact moment Arthur's sleepy brain has finished processing what's happening. "Good God, did you say your waters have broke?"
"Yes, I think so."
He scrambles to get out of bed, hurrying over to me in his underwear. "Excellent. Brilliant. Okay, let's get you to the hospital, then."
"There's no rush. I'd like to take a shower first and finish wrapping those presents, actually."
