CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Cruz
“I’m just saying, her last appointment shows she’s more than fifty percent effaced and dilated to four centimeters, Mom,” I say. “So, if y’all want to be here to welcome your granddaughter, you might want to make those plans.”
“We’ll be there. I’m sure Sadie will as well, but I don’t know about Serena,” Mom replies. “I can’t wait, Cruz! Our first grandchild!”
I grin even though she can’t see me through the phone. “Yeah, I’m getting ready for the sleepless nights now.”
“It won’t be too bad, plus we’ll be there for backup,” she says. “Because didn’t you say Jolie is due around the same time?”
“Yes, she is. The girls are still walking, so now, one of Dex’s younger siblings goes with them in case one of them goes into labor,” I tell her.
“How did the nursery come out?” Mom asks.
I chuckle because Brock spent a good portion of the day mean mugging me because ‘I got his sister pregnant so soon’, and Dex finally told him to shut the hell up and get to work or go home. The rest of the day was somewhat quiet, but we managed to paint both of the nurseries in both of our houses whileallthe girls were out for a spa day.
“Really good, plus Nonna and Abuela sewed a quilt for her room that used the colors Mindy picked out. I think we’re as ready as we’re gonna get, Mom. Just need her to decide she’s ready to come.”
Her tone turns serious when she states, “Babies come when they’re good and ready, son.”
With a smile on my face, I tell her, “Trust me, I know.”
This time, I can hear a wobble in her voice when she says, “Then we’ll see you in a few days.”
“Drive safe, Mom.”
“Psssh, if I get pulled over, I’ll pull the grandma card,” she says, laughing.
I withhold the chuckle this time so she doesn’t think I’m making fun of her when I reply, “Good luck with that, Mom.”
After I hang up, I think about everything we’ve tried to encourage labor. While the sex marathon was a lot of fun, it had no results. Mindy draws the line at some of the concoctions she’s seen online that promise to speed up labor, so we’re now on Violet’s time, which I think will be a recurring theme once she gets tired of living in such close quarters and arrives.
“Okay, you know the drill, right?” I ask Mindy as I get ready to walk out the door and go to work. “If you feel any twinges or something doesn’t feel right, call me, then call Jolie and Dex. Hell, call your brother if they’re not available. Just get to the hospital and I’ll meet you there.”
“Cruz, it’s going to be fine, I promise,” she says, biting her bottom lip with amusement at my plight. “Don’t you know most babies seem to want to come in the middle of the night?” she teases. “You’ll be home by then since you get here by midnight most nights.”
“But something could come up and cause me to work late,” I press, that thought making me want to call in and use one of my sick days. Right now, I want to pull my hair out because she’s being so blasé about everything and she’s almost forty-one weeks pregnant at this point. Hell, her mucus plug fell out yesterday so as far as I’m concerned, we’re living on borrowed time.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes at me. “They usually let you know ahead of time if there’s a larger shipment that might need you to work a little bit of overtime, and you haven’t gotten a message that I’m aware of.”
“No, no I haven’t but it could still happen. Please, kitten, for my own self-preservation, tell me you’ll behave.”
“Fine, I won’t do any jumping jacks or even run up and down the stairs,” she sasses, grinning at me. “I’ll call for help if anythingdoesn’t feel right, but I suspect Violet’s gonna hang around for a few more days.”
Shaking my head, I wrap my arms around her and grin when I feel our daughter kicking. “She’s telling me I’m right,” I say. “She says that her momma takes unnecessary chances all the time when I’m not around.”
“I see she’s already her daddy’s princess,” Mindy replies, smiling up at me. “If I haven’t said it before, thank you for the beautiful life we’re building together. I never thought this could be my life after that night.”
“You’re welcome, but it’s a two-way street since you took on an ex-con and felon,” I say.
“Not for long if Ms. Butler is correct,” she retorts. “Sounds like she unearthed some things that were kept out of the first trial, which is good for you, I would think.”
I shrug because until it happens, nothing’s changed in my life. Ms. Butlerdidfind out that should my conviction be overturned, I will be able to get my license reinstated, which would be fantastic for the family I now have. My wife would be able to be a stay-at-home mom if she wishes, or she can work, whatever she wants to do because the sky will be the limit as far as I’m concerned.
“I just wish they’d stop pushing off your trial. I know you want it done and over with,” I tell her.
