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“That’s okay,” she said. “It’s part of growing up, too. You gave up your childhood bedroom. Maybe someday you’ll have a family, and you’ll need that room for your own son.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it. I’m not looking and really not interested.”
“Really? You’re not interested?” She took his hand and held it up for him to see as they walked to the hiking trail on his property. “Technically, this is for protection in case I trip.”
He looked at her and smiled, not answering, but he did give her hand a gentle squeeze. They hiked for a while and, when she’d had enough, went around to the front of the house and got in the chairs.
“How many times have we sat in these chairs together?”
“I have no idea. A lot,” he said. “Look how clear it is out there. I’m getting binoculars.”
He left for the house and she patted her lap for Tilly to come to sit, only there wasn’t enough room for her.
“My lap is gone but not for long.”
Then out of nowhere, her belly tightened up like a drum. Stronger than the Braxton-Hicks contractions she was used to, this one encircled her body like a vise. She reached down to pick up her phone off the ground and did some slow breaths like she’d learned in class. Noting the time and the length of the contraction, it was just subsiding by the time Devon returned. One full minute.
“I just had a contraction,” she said. “It’s three oh five.”
“Isn’t it a little early?” he asked, concerned.
“Not really. My due date is in ten days.”
“Do you think you’re in labor?”
“I don’t know. Do you mind if I hang out? I’ll keep track, and if they continue, I’ll head to the hospital. My bag is in the car.”
“I’ll take you,” he said, anxious. “Do you want to go now?”
“No. I’ve read I could be this way for days. It’s the first contraction. Can we wait it out here, or do you want me to leave?”
“No, I do not want you to leave! We’ll stay here.”
He sat back, gripping the arm of the chair, trying to relax.
But nothing happened.
“Go get the checkerboard,” she instructed. “I can’t sit waiting for something to happen.”
He got up for the house again.
“Here comes another one,” she said when he returned with the game. “Check your watch.”
“Three twenty,” he said, watching her.
She’d closed her eyes and breathed slow and easy. After a minute, it started to let up.
“So about every fifteen minutes. That’s about as early labor as you can get.”
“We should go down to your place and get your stuff so you can spend the night. You shouldn’t be alone.”
“I have my suitcase for the hospital, remember. If you have any of my stuff packed away, I can find something to sleep in. If not, one of your old undershirts will work. I like the ratty ones, with the deodorant stains and holes.”
He barked out a laugh. “That’s gross. No. I have a brand-new six-pack from your favorite department store. I know Mike liked designer underwear. We used to tease him about his Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger underpants.”
Slapping her thigh, Aisling was hysterical laughing. “Poor Mike, if he knew I was indulging in teasing him, he’d be so upset.”
“He’d be fine. He said he used to choose which underwear he’d bring just to get under our skin. I used to steal his in the locker room and replace them with Fruit of the Loom six-packs.”
