Page 28 of Dropping the Ball

Sami and I clear out, promising to cheer from the waiting room, passing Nancy the midwife coming into the room as we leave.

Sami and I take turns pacing and scrolling on our phones to pass the time. After almost an hour, Oliver walks out, a huge smile on his face.

“Is Madison okay? Is the baby here?” I ask.

“Mads has never been better. Come meet your new niece, ladies.”

Chapter Twelve

Micah

“Too busy swiping rightto join us?”

I glance up to meet my boss’s amused eyes. “Sorry, what?”

Dan turns to his admin assistant. “That’s what it’s called when you’re on a dating app, isn’t it? Swiping right?”

“Yes, it is, boss,” she says, grinning at me. “But Micah doesn’t date. He’s in his tortured artist phase.”

I turn my phone over. “Sorry, Dan. Madison Locke is in labor, and I’m waiting for an update.”

“Oh, are you the dad?” Dan asks. “I’m impressed. That’s really taking care of the client.”

I smile until the laughter dies down. “I was in a meeting with her and the interim director yesterday about construction next week when she went into labor.”

“Fair enough,” Dan says. “Why don’t you give us an update on that project, and then we’ll wrap up for the day.”

I do, overviewing the October timeline and where we are with the materials acquisition and budget.

“Sounds good,” Dan says when I finish. “We’ll look forward to you writing the name of Aster, Gervis, and Associates in the annals of history.”

“No problem,” I say. “Is it okay if it goes down in history for being a disaster?”

Dan laughs and gets to his feet, signaling the meeting is truly over. I immediately check my phone as everyone drifts out of the office. Other than the picture of her tired-but-adorable self hugging the tacos I left, there’s been nothing from Kaitlyn.

I’m itching to ask, but it’s definitely not my place, so I go back to my desk and try to focus on the plan I’m supposed to draft for an ADU in a neighborhood that was developed in the eighties. These are my bread and butter right now, easy plans I could do half asleep, but these aging housing tracts aren’t exactly inspiring. Dan has me on these because they don’t require a lot of imagination or follow-through and they’re easy to knock out while I work around the gala project. It means this floor plan also isn’t enough to distract me from my phone.

Finally, almost an hour later, a text from Kaitlyn lights up my screen.

Harper Ivy Mae Locke, born at 1:52 this afternoon, almost nine pounds. Madison and Harper are doing great.

Congrats, auntie. Hope you got her that tattoo she wanted while her mom was napping.

Madison won’t let her go but I did give Harper a high five when she pooped on her mom.

See? You’re nailing this cool aunt thing.

Maybe. She’s not good at high fives.

Probably a later milestone. Try again in six weeks.

*Puts reminder on calendar*

Tell Madison I said congratulations.

I set the phone down, smiling. I wish Kaitlyn had sent a picture, but again, it’s none of my business. I’m glad I got an update at all. I pack up for the day, and Kaitlyn texts as I reach my truck.

Madison says come visit.

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