Page 69 of Resolution
I can’t help but smile at her rolling eyes. “Oh, come on, he couldn’t have been that bad.”
“No, he wasn’t. But he was all boy. If there was something tall, he’d climb it. If it moved, he rode it, and if it was even remotely edible, he ate it. Why one time, I had to pry dog food from his grip because he wanted to be just like the puppy we’d gotten him.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re kidding.”Thank God, I’ve yet to experience that.
“Nope.” She smirks. “Parent of the year. Right here. Don’t worry. It was only the one time. If I’m ever lucky enough to watch your little angels, we no longer have pets.” Somehow, she manages a straight face until the end. Her downfall is when I make eye contact. Then we both erupt into fits of laughter.
“You’d better be careful what you ask for,” I say when we’ve calmed down. “I’ll be working part-time from home after my maternity leave. I may just take you up on babysitting if things get too hectic.”
“Seriously, Sam, if you need me, I’m only a phone call away. Even if it’s just for the chance to talk to a living, breathing human being with the capacity to respond, I’m always here for you.”
As the hours tick by, I find myself losing the battle to stay awake. After a lull in conversation, I find my eyes waging a battle against gravity and losing terribly. They stay closed for longer periods of time and before I know it, I feel a blanket being thrown over me as I sleep on the couch.
The next thing I know, I hear the sound of familiar voices. “They’re making their final approach.” Then some silence. Since no one speaks, I figure it must be a part of the dream I’m having. Then in the distance, “How long has she been out?” from a deep, husky voice I try to recognize asks. Maybe this isn’t a dream. I open my eyes to find Sara talking with Lorenzo and Riggs.
“About an hour or so,” Sara whispers barely loud enough for me to hear.
I stretch and let out a big yawn. “I’m awake. What’s up?”
Sara’s eager eyes pin me. “Good. They’re making their final approach. They should be landing in less than fifteen minutes.”
Ohmigod! I can’t wait to see Enzo. Instinctually, I attempt to throw myself out of the couch I’ve been lounging on. But these babies have other plans. I find myself stuck about halfway there. I rock myself back and try to extract myself again. This time I make even less progress. Holy crap. I think I really am stuck.How the hell does one get stuck on a couch?
Maybe if I scoot to the edge and use the armrest as leverage, I’ll be able to stand? As I attempt to do so, I happen to look up. I find three sets of eyes staring at me with amused expressions of their face.Great, here I am doing a beached whale impersonation and they’re just watching?
Riggs, stoic as ever, walks over without missing a beat and offers a hand. “Can I help you?”
As humiliating as it is, I reach out my hand, as it’s likely the only way I’ll ever get out of this couch. “Yeah. Thanks.”
The second I’m upright, the weight of the babies crushing my bladder’s astronomical, causing me to gasp. All eyes look to me. “I’m fine. Just pregnant,” I mutter. I step toward the restroom and suddenly, the pressure increases. I take another step, determined to get to the bathroom and a gush of fluid runs down my legs.HOLY SHIT! I just wet myself at Enzo’s place of employment. This cannot be happening to me.
A moan escapes as I do my best to look down at the mess I’ve made. As I turn around, I feel distinct movement from within my belly. It’s sharp, and very much like an arm or leg moving across the middle. It’s unlike their other movements as my skin feels tighter around their bodies.
I look to Riggs and find his eyes as big as saucers and his mouth hanging open. “Um… Sam…” he sputters.
“Oh, my!” Sara exclaims. “Your water just broke!”
“I figured it was that or she wet herself,” Riggs manages to stay unflappable as he looks down at the puddle he’s currently standing in.
A mixture of emotions overwhelms me. Mortification isn’t quite strong enough, and panic doesn’t fit either. As I survey my situation, it hits me like a brick across the face.Holy shit, my water just broke!I’m weeks until my due date, and Enzo isn’t here. This cannot be happening!I’m not even in labor. Ohmigod… will the babies be okay?
Lorenzo’s soft touch to my shoulder brings me out of my downward spiral. “Samantha, sweetheart. Are you okay?”
“Uh…” I take a moment to assess the situation. There’s still fluid flowing down my legs, but at a slower trickle. It is probably one of the grossest things I have experienced, but nothing I can’t live through. I haven’t had any contractions, just some pressure on my lower back that’s been there for days. Placing my hands on my belly feels weird. Without the amniotic fluid, they’re more defined. It’s almost like I can feel their actual bodies in my belly. I press tenderly along each baby as I take in their shape.
“Do you want me to call an ambulance?” Riggs pulls out his phone and waits for my response before dialing.
“I’d rather call my doctor first.”
“Why don’t you sit and I’ll get your purse, honey,” comes from Sara.
“Yes, please sit,” Riggs strongly suggests as he reaches out to make sure I’m steady.
“Uh… I can’t sit on that leather couch!” I scoff in disgust.
“Why the hell not?” Riggs’ voice booms.
Isn’t it obvious?“I’m disgusting. It’s too nice and comfortable of a couch to ruin it,” I argue.
