Page 60 of Catching Dreams

“Of course, she will.”

I wrapped a towel around her and laughed when it wouldn’t go all the way around her. I had no idea how her stomach got to be so big.

“We should take one last belly picture,” I said as I handed her the clothes she had picked out to wear to the hospital. She was going to wear her favorite maternity pajama pants. Her t-shirt said “Napping for THREE” and had two pairs of footprints on her stomach.

“Cooper said he got you a special shirt.”

“He did,” I said with a laugh. I took off the t-shirt I had worn during my morning run. I grabbed the shirt Cooper had given me just last week. Molly began to laugh and then doubled over in pain while she was laughing.

“Ok, so that was a little more than five minutes apart. We need to get to the hospital.”

“I do love that shirt,” my wife said and read out loud: “Be nice to me. My wife is pregnant with twins.”

I grabbed the hospital bag to take it out to her car while Molly slipped on her flip flops since it was hard for her to put on regular shoes by herself. Luckily, it was a little warm for October in the midwest. When I came back to the door, I helped her walk to the car. The closest hospital was in Springville, so we had a chance to call her doctor and let her know we were on our way. Her doctor advised Molly to only have water or ice chips in case they would have to perform a Cesarean section.

“You better not let Rob deliver this baby,” Molly said after she hung up the phone with Dr. Watkins.

“Why would Rob deliver our baby? He’s a bone doctor.”

“The dream,” Molly explained with a giggle.

“What did you eat before the dream?” I asked with a laugh.

“Popcorn,” my wife said slowly.

“With?”

“I may have drizzled honey, strawberry sauce, and chocolate sauce over the popcorn.”

“That sounds disgusting and messy as hell. Who helped you make that while I was at the gym with Cooper and Hayden?”

“Camden, of course.”

“Oh my gosh. What did Penelope say?”

“That I was cleaning up any mess and that her kids couldn’t try it because it would be too messy.”

“You and these pregnancy cravings. I have to say I won’t miss them.”

Molly just laughed as I pulled up to the front entrance of the hospital. I parked the car and ran around the front to get the door for her. A young nurse, about the same age as us, with brown hair in a bun on the top of her head, was waiting at the entrance with a wheelchair, and it was a good thing because Molly could hardly walk with the contractions every few minutes.

“Hi, I’m Olivia, and I’ll be one of your nurses for the day shift,” she introduced herself. “Dad, if you want to park the car, I’ll be wheeling her up to labor and delivery room 407. It’s on the fourth floor, and you’ll turn to the right and just press the doorbell. One of my co-workers will check you in. Make sure you have your ID with you.”

I gave her a nod and kissed Molly on her temple. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Don’t forget the bag and my pillow,” Molly reminded me.

“I got it, love.”

As they were walking away, I heard Olivia say, “Um, Molly, did you realize you're wearing two different colored flip flops?” I probably should have noticed that since she couldn’t see her feet anymore. Oops! I was sure that would be part of her labor and delivery story forever now.

I parked the car and headed up to the room carrying the items she asked for. As soon as I got to the nurses station, I realized I left my wallet in the car. The nurse at the nurse’s station just shook her head at me and said she would take Molly her bag and pillow. I liked that they were cautious about everyone who came to the labor and delivery floor, so I didn’t mind going back down to get it.

When I finally got back up to the room, Molly was already in the bed in a hospital gown, and an IV was already attached to her left arm.

“Livie got the IV in on the first try!” Molly exclaimed.

“Wow. That’s impressive!” My wife was known for not having the best veins, and whenever they had to draw blood, it usually took several attempts by several different nurses. “Livie, huh? You’re on a nickname basis already?”

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