Collins makes her way to the long dresser, and her hands roam over the maple-colored top.
“If you don’t like it,” I start, “we can?—”
“It’s so pretty,” she whispers. “I just . . .” She walks to the crib that I just finished putting up. “I thought maybe you didn’t want to get anything yet.”
“What?” my voice rises. “Why would you even think that?”
“I told you we should get a crib, and you kept telling me there was time.”
I run my hands through my hair. “Fuck, I should have—” My feet move me to her. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I sent Carl the plans for what I wanted, and he was having trouble sourcing the right color.”
“You planned all of this?” she asks. “You aren’t having cold feet?”
“Having cold feet,” I repeat, and I want to kick my own ass. “Are you?”
And then it happens. The sound of water splashing on the floor.
“Oh my—I think my water just broke.”
I step back. “You think, or did you maybe pee yourself?”
“I didn’t pee myself, Theo. It’s . . .” She looks down. “It’s happening.”
“Okay.” The panic starts to seep through me. “Shit.” I look around. “The bedding isn’t here yet. I have to do the toy chest, but Carl wants to do the baby’s initials on the top.” I start to pace. “And the rocking chair isn’t done.”
“Theo,” she holds her stomach, “I think I’m having a contraction.”
“Oh my—” I pull out my phone. “I just downloaded the app. It’s a contraction tracker.”
“Theo,” she grits her teeth, “not now.”
“But this will tell us how close the contractions are.”
She turns and walks out. I follow her through our bedroom to the bathroom. She opens the glass shower door, turns on the water, and then looks down at her stomach.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to hop into the shower quickly, and then we can go.”
“What?” I shriek so loud my own ears hurt. “No!”
“Theo, my water just broke, and I’m a first-time mom. We could be at this stage for hours.” She closes her eyes.
“I’m going to start the timer,” I declare as she holds her stomach. “You need to tell me when it’s done.”
She opens one eye and glares at me. “I’m concentrating.”
“Can you concentrate and walk to the truck?” I pull up the text thread I created with my parents and Caleb, as well as with her best friend, Finley.
Me:
Baby is coming. Water just broke.
My phone rings immediately, and I put it on speakerphone. “Hey.”
“When did her water break?” my father asks. I can tell he’s running.
“About three minutes ago, and she’s had two contractions since then.”
