Page 102 of Save the Drama for your Mama
Turning to leave, I paused as my mom’s picture on the shelf caught my attention. An overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude washed over me. Gratitude for Melody, who made my life complete. For our future together. And for my mother and her guidance, resilience, and sacrifice, allowing me to find such fulfillment.
I pulled my mom’s picture off the shelf and kissed it.
“Thank you, Mom,” I whispered. “Thank you for everything.”
As I set the picture back down on the shelf, the old Smith-Corona typewriter came back to life, click-clacking away behind me.
“You have got to be kidding me,” I said, shaking my head in surprise, then spinning around to find yet another message waiting for me.
I moved closer, then glanced down to read the message, wondering what it was going to say this time.
My work is done. You can take it from here.
The words filled my heart with so much love and tenderness that I was sure it was going to burst. Turning toward the door, I took a few steps, then stopped when the typewriter started making noise again.
“Seriously?” I muttered to myself.
I had assumed that was the last message.
I turned back to the typewriter and glanced down again.
And then there were three.
I scratched my head, reading it again.
Three what?
Wait . . . was this about a baby?
Was Abigail going into labor at that very moment?
“No!” I said to myself, sprinting through the house back outside to see if she was really going to have a baby in the middle of Melody’s party.
I stopped, out of breath, staring at the dance floor where Abigail and Brian danced together. No sign of a baby getting ready to pop out.
I set the paperback and pen on the table, then leaned on it as I tried to catch my breath. I was still thinking about the message.
And then there were three.
What else could it mean?
The song ended, and the DJ said, “Melody would like to say a few words.” He handed her the microphone.
She was supposed to thank everyone for coming at some point.
“Hey, everyone! Just a few quick words . . .” Melody paused as the guests quieted down and turned toward the stage. “Thank you all for coming today. Your support through this crazy journey I’ve been on means the world to me. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world, and I’m about to get luckier.” Melody beamed, locking gazes with me. “Honey, I’m pregnant!”
I stood frozen in shock, my jaw dropping open as the guests hooted and hollered. Melody was expecting?
I stumbled toward the stage in a daze.
Melody stepped closer with a radiant smile on her face, taking my hands in hers. “Surprise!”
“You’re . . .you’re having a baby?” I stammered.
Melody laughed and nodded. “Yes! But I prefer the term exponentially increasing our happiness, Coop!”
A wave of excitement washed over me as people continued clapping, cheering and expressing their joy. I whooped and lifted Melody into the air, spinning her around. Then I set her down and kissed her like I had the very first time.
