“You might like it. Here, have a bite.” He scoops another bite on his fork, and I back away.
“No, thanks.”
He chases me around the kitchen table with it until I give up, laughing and clutching my stomach.
He immediately drops the plate and fork in the sink and is at my side. “Is it the baby? Are you having pain?”
“I’m fine. Just a twinge.”
“That’s what Melissa said, and Billy almost had to deliver their baby on the side of the road last Christmas.”
“I’m not having my baby on the side of the road, Cody.”
“Damn straight you’re not, cause we’re going to the hospital.”
“Baby, I’m fine.”
“Look, we’re miles outside of town. Just humor me. Besides, then we can stop at In and Out for burgers.”
“Okay, fine.”
“I knew that would seal the deal.”
“By the way, my family is flying out for a visit after the baby is born.”
“Great,” he says with a lack of enthusiasm.
“You’ll like them. Especially my brother. He’s a lot like you.”
He chuckles. “I doubt it.”
I feel another pain and hold my stomach. “Okay, maybe I should go to the hospital.”
“See? I told you everyone says the second one comes faster.”
He loads me and Tucker into the crew cab pickup he recently bought, and we head into town. On the way, he calls his mom.
“Ma, Heather’s having contractions. We’re headed to the hospital, just to be safe.” Then he looks at me. “She’s meeting us there.”
I smile. “Your mom is so excited about this baby.”
“Almost as much as Mary was when Billy gave her a grandchild. And that little girl is going to have our president wrapped around her little finger.
“Cody?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.” He reaches across and pats my leg.
“Cody?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“Drive faster.”
Three hours later, our daughter is born three weeks early, but perfectly healthy, weighing in at just five and a half pounds.
