Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
She had insisted on it, though, and her parents had paid for our shopping trip. Now I’m glad I gave in, because otherwise I wouldn’t even have anything to wear.
Right now, as I sit on the living room couch, I feel like I'm going to pop. Janice is here with me, having taken a semester off of school as well, because she says she wasn’t enjoying it anyway and that it will be more exciting to help me with the baby.
I feel bad that she is sacrificing so much for me but I’m also so grateful for her friendship and support— and her parents’ too, of course.
My pregnancy has been going well. Physically, I have nothing to complain about. Emotionally, I just wish things could be different between Steve and me. I wish I could tell him about the baby and that he could be here with me, but I know that would jeopardize everything.
Football season is in full swing for him, and I don't want to ruin that. Plus, my brother has already practically disowned me for being pregnant and if he knew it was Steve’s, it would completely ruin their friendship as well.
I don’t see any need to do that, especially when I still haven’t even heard from him. I tell myself not to think this is some undying romance where we would risk everything to be together. Instead, it was only a one-night stand that meant nothing to him. Part of how I try to make it mean less to me is to move on from him, and that does not involve telling him I’m pregnant!
Maybe once the baby is here, I’ll let him know, since he and the baby deserve that much.
But not until then.
I try to put negative thoughts out of my mind and focus on the movie that Janice and I are watching. It was on pause but now she comes out from the kitchen with popcorn and drinks for us.
"Are you okay? Did you need anything else?" she asks me, as she hands me the bowl of popcorn and sets our drinks on the coffee table.
"No, I'm fine, really. You don't have to fuss over me every few minutes," I reply.
I take a handful of popcorn and eat it.
"Of course I do. You could go into labor at any moment. I always have to take care of you. You're my best friend!" she insists.
"You are the best best friend ever and I owe you so much," I answer as I rest my head on her shoulder.
She gives me a quick hug.
"You owe me nothing. This is what friends are for— especially best friends," she replies with a smile.
I pull away from her and we go back to watching the movie. I hand her the bowl of popcorn and we share it together. The movie lasts well into the evening. It's a two-hour romantic comedy and I’m glad for the chance to lose myself in cheesy laughter.
After the movie is over, the local news starts to play, so I stand up to stretch.
"Well, that was a surprisingly good movie, but I didn't think it would run that long," I say.
"Me neither but I really enjoyed it. We should get that on DVD," Janice says.
I stretch and then groan and grab my stomach as I feel a gripping pain.
"What's the matter? Is something wrong? Is it the baby?" Janice asks, her face etched with worry.
"No, I think I just stretched too hard," I tell her, although I’m not really sure.
I just don’t want to cause her any unnecessary anxiety.
I'm about to sit back down when I feel the pain again. As I hold onto my stomach, Janice immediately sits on the edge of the couch.
"Uh, oh," I say.
"What? What is it? Is there something wrong?" she demands.
"I think it's time," I tell her, now that I’m pretty sure these are labor pains. “I guess the baby won’t be born on Valentine’s Day but at least she’ll be here soon!”
I get up from the couch slowly but then I feel a gush of water come rushing out.
"Oh, okay, the baby's coming!" Janice exclaims.
“Wow, yeah, I guess this is what they mean when they talk about water breaking!” I say in surprise.
It really does feel like a dam just gave loose!
Janice immediately jumps up from the couch and runs upstairs to one of the bedrooms.
Of course, her parents aren’t here, but they're different from my parents. It's not that they don't care. They check in on Janice and me regularly to see if we need anything.
They just have to work, so they can’t stay at their vacation home for the whole time we’re here. Plus, they trust her a great deal and leave her to her own devices, but they still offer guidance and support, whether it's in person or by phone call.