One year later
“What does it say?”Ian asks, pushing himself off the wall of the bathroom, oozing impatience.
I am speechless right now. We got married at our beach house, surrounded by family and our closest friends, and spent two weeks in Bali for our honeymoon.
We celebrated hard the night of our wedding. Apparently too hard because I am in the bathroom, blinking at the pregnancy test revealing that I’m pregnant. Four weeks.
We didn’t plan for a baby, but it feels like something that would happen to us. All great things have taken us by surprise.
I show him the stick and he carefully holds it, looking at the word “pregnant”written on it.
He gulps, emotion clear in his eyes. The stick trembles in his hand.
I bob my head up and down to confirm the news, so freaking delighted I might burst.
He looks from the stick straight into my eyes with a love so big that it brightens my world.
“You’re going to be a daddy.”
“I am.” He lifts me in his arms, twirling me around. “We’re going to be parents.”
I nod again, so freaking overjoyed.
“Happy about that?” he asks, gauging my reaction.
I lucked out in the husband department.
I palm his face, brushing my nose against his. “Everything with you is perfect. Our baby just rounds that out nicely.”
Out of nowhere, I burst into tears. “I’m thrilled.” I stammer. “I’m just emotional… Overwhelmed in the best way.”
He wipes my teary cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you so very much. Thank you for everything, my flower girl.”
My belly resembles a ripe melon.I am about to give birth to my son any moment now.
Over the last eight months, we have settled into our new home and Kat and I opened another LuKo Juice location. I will take maternity leave for at least six months, but I trust my team.
I fold baby clothes while watching my husband’s interview. Seeing how restless he is to come home ignites my own. He’s warned everyone that he’ll leave in the middle of the game if he needs to because he’s not missing the birth of his child.
“Can we wrap things up? I have a pregnant wife to go home to.”
I shake my head at him, smiling, and caressing the spot where my son kicked me.
“Yes, baby boy. You take after your father. I get it. I’m ready when you are.”
But then something else happens, and a pool of water forms at my feet.
I blink. For a few seconds, the reality of becoming a mother roots me in place. I will soon hold my baby in my arms, and I am both delighted and terrified at the same time.
Think. Don’t panic. You have this.
At the same moment, my husband calls.
I blurt out, “My water broke.”
“Shit. I’m leaving now, but I’m fifteen minutes out. How are you? Breathe.”
The panic I catch in his voice makes me think that he should do the breathing exercises along with me.
