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“Sure, what do you need?” She smiles. Is everyone so happy to work here?
“I’m looking for some books on pregnancy maybe or being a new parent?” I touch my stomach subconsciously.
“Oh my gosh, you’re pregnant?! Ahh, that’s so exciting!” She squeals, causing some heads to turn toward us.
“Yeah.” I chuckle anxiously. Of all the people I had to ask for help, it had to be the crazy one?
“Okay, they’re over here!” She motions for me to follow her and I kind of think twice but ultimately follow her.
She starts suggesting a whole bunch of books I’ve never heard of and begins stacking a bunch in my arms. There’s the normalWhat to Expect When You’re Expectingand then a multitude of books on parenting and gentle parenting. Which I have zero idea what that is or if it’s a good or bad thing. I’m getting overwhelmed by how little I don’t know that I decide to buy most of them. Plus a cute stuffed bear in the front of the store, because I think the baby might need one.
I know I’m not exactly well versed in parenting, but there is really so much I had no idea about. By the time I make it back to my apartment, I decide to crack open all the books and pull an all nighter. It will be like law school only with parenting and pregnancy. Grabbing my favorite yellow highlighter and transparent sticky notes, I get to work. Sitting on the floor in my living room isn’t the most comfortable spot, but it is the best place to spread out. I can open each book and stop when I need a break, moving on to the next one. I’ve read about half of three of them by the time I take my first snack break.
I’m craving something pumpkin so I eat a sleeve of the pumpkin cookies from my pantry and get back to work. Apparently gentle parenting is a good thing and definitely something I want to do with the baby. It’s all about making sure you talk to your baby like a little person and not yelling at all. Which honestly is how my dad always parented me. There was never a time I recall him yelling or even raising his voice at me.
It’s barely 10pm when I feel my eyes closing and I’m re-reading the same sentence over and over. I guess this is an all nighter when you’re pregnant. My energy is not what it used to be. Collecting my books, I leave them open on the counter and promise myself to finish them tomorrow. Although I feel a lot more prepared than I did a few hours ago, I have no idea what type of mom I will be, but I am hoping all this preparation will help.
The next day Riley asks to go out, which is rare for her, but I guess she’s gotten used to me initiating plans over the years. I almost say no but in the end I agree. There are only so many more times I could get away with going out before I really pop. I am sporting a small bump these days that I easily hide, but in going out clothes that won’t be so easy. I’ll need a long flowy top to cover it completely. Luckily I end up finding one in the back of my closet.
“Is that my top?” Riley asks as she meets me outside.
“Uh, it might be? I have to do the wash,” I lie.
“Ah, okay.” She looks unconvinced as her eyes meet my shirt but she doesn’t question me further.
“Are we taking the subway or walking?”
“Actually, why don’t you hop on?” She steps back pointing to the motorcycle behind her. It looked exactly like Sawyer’s except for the red streak across the side.
“Is that yours?!” I exclaim.
“Yeah! I passed my road test so I treated myself.” She smiles.
“WOW!” It is incredibly nice but the thought of Riley driving me while pregnant is a bit frightening. I don’t have a good reason to say no though, I have been on the back of Cody’s and I trust Riley with my life. It is the other drivers on the road I don’t trust.
“Ready?” She grabs a helmet, extending her arm to me.
“I’m pregnant!” I say, closing my eyes.
“I knew it!” She squeals. “Sawyer owes me twenty bucks.”
“What?” I am horrified at the thought.
“I thought you were. You’ve been acting so weird the last few months. Sawyer said it was the breakup, but I knew it was more than that. I’m glad you finally told me.” She smiles and pulls me in for a big hug. I hug back, relieved that someone is happy for me.
“I wanted to tell you but I didn’t know how.” I sigh.
“Let’s go inside, order takeout, and you can tell me everything?” she suggests and I nod.
I change into a more comfortable clothes and she squeals again as she spots my bump.
“Can I?” she asks, her hands extended.
“Of course.” I laugh. She might be the only one I let touch me.
“Oh my gosh! L, you’re growing a baby!” She’s happier than I am about it. I can see the Auntie Riley wheels spinning in her head.
“Yes.” I chuckle.
