Page 157 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
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That same month there was another celebration—a baby shower for Sunny and the little girl who was about to make her appearance. Molly’s house was full to overflowing with couples crammed into the living room and overflowing into the kitchen, drinking beer and pop and eating the crab cakes and mini sausage rolls Molly and Ava had made. Molly’s cat was hiding in her bedroom and even the aroma of crab couldn’t lure him out.
Molly was putting a fresh batch of crab cakes on a platter when Sunny joined her in the kitchen. “This is the best party ever.”
“That’s quite the compliment, coming from the queen of parties,” Molly said, handing her one. She studied Sunny’s bulging belly. “Looks like the baby has dropped.”
“Yep. I feel like I’ve a basketball in me and it’s gonna fall out any minute. I can’t find my feet.” She held one out. “How does it look?”
“Very nice. That pedicure Travis got for you has turned your fat little foot into a work of art.”
“Ha, ha,” Sunny said, right before she shut her eyes and pressed her lips together and groaned.
“What?” Molly prompted.
“Just felt kind of yucky for a moment.” She rubbed her belly.
Kind of yucky. That could mean anything. It seemed a little early for her to go into labor, but what did Molly know? Her labor adventures were lost in the mists of time.
Travis joined them in the kitchen. “Hey, when are we gonna open the loot?” He looked at Sunny, caught the expression on her face. “Babe, are you okay?”
“I...”
“Oh, no. You’re going into labor.” He checked the floor. “Has your water broke?”
“No, I’m fine,” Sunny said, taking a breath and smiling. “It was nothing.”
“You sure?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’m sure. Come on, let’s open presents.”
Back they went to the living room, to settle in together next to Reggie on Molly’s couch.
Molly sidled up to Arianna. “I think Sunny just had a contraction. I don’t think she’s due for another couple of weeks, though.”
“Could be Braxton Hicks,” Arianna said, looking to where Sunny sat. “Or she could be going into labor early. With first babies, you never know.”
Alden was shoveling the presents in front of them and Sunny was smiling at him.
And then she wasn’t.
“Hmm,” Arianna said.
“Babe?” Travis said in panic.
“I think I’m having contractions,” Sunny said.
“Okay, let’s time this,” Alden said calmly.
Everyone sat in silence, staring either at Sunny or their cell phones and watches.
Six minutes went by. “Owwww,” she said, her features scrunched up.
“Oh, my gosh, are you going to have it here?” Bella worried.
“We need to get her to the hospital,” said Sunny’s father.
“Let’s see when the next contraction starts,” Alden said, but he was drowned out by a panicked father and father-to-be.
