Only A Moment

Introducing...

WILL POV

My conversation with the Principal went more smoothly than I expected.  She was supportive and had to wipe away tears when I showed her the ultrasound photo of Milo then one from before I was born.  I reassured her we would get the paternity test and I would look forward to the official time off once that was approved, even though it may not be right when Sophie and Milo got home from the hospital.

The kindness hit me hard. Now I felt like I had the right to be excited, seeing her reaction and complete trust as I shared what was going on. At first I felt like my Dad was the same way, but his actions have shown he would rather support my mom instead of his children and grandson.

Unfortunately, my parents repossessed Addison's car a couple days ago.  It had been a gift for graduating high school but she handed the keys over and just shrugged when it happened. Soph and I assured her she could use one of our cars if needed and she was at the point where she wanted nothing that tied her to our parents.

We helped her get a new cell phone and put the one our parents funded in the car before it was taken away. Sophie and I got a family plan which was ridiculously cheap.  We added my sister and paid ahead for the year so even with a new phone number Addy was able to figure out which of her friends deserved to have any contact.

The only numbers in her phone ended up being me, Sophie, her Cosmetology school friend Dustin, and Soph's Mom, Ruth. Our parents had somehow gotten a couple of Addy's "friends" to try to convince her to go home but all that did was prove to her those people did not actually care about her needs. It was a harsh reality to face, but my sister was far more resilient than I expected.

The week seemed to go slowly, but every day was spent helping Addison get on her own in some way.  Sophie took her to get a bank account at the Credit Union she and I used, even gifting her $250 to get started.  We tried to insist it wasn't needed, but she took the approach that Addy's birthday was in late August so it was just a belated birthday gift.

I could tell how much this meant to my sister.  She got the account arranged and a Debit card ordered then they took a tour of the Cosmetology school on Wednesday.  Sophie and I texted throughout the day and she told me how excited Addy was the entire time. 

My apartment was being used less and less, but I didn't care.  The items in my fridge and cabinets started migrating to Sophie's place as well as random clothes making their way into her closet.  Addison still loved the air mattress but we mentioned casually that she could take over my place when she felt ready. Neither of us wanted my sister to feel forced out, but to know her options.

Being alone felt like a big step, so it was understandable she wanted to stick close. The three of us got along well and never had issues juggling the bathroom or tasks to be done.

In the middle of an Advanced Placement History class on Friday morning I got the text I had been waiting for.  Sophie had been increasingly uncomfortable the last few days and was having what she thought was Braxton Hicks contractions.

She was wrong.

Her water broke on Friday at 9am so Addison helped her get everything together then rushed her to the hospital. I knew she had our bags tucked away in the closet, including one I packed with a few things I wanted when staying with her, and finished my class then let the Principal know I had to leave.

She was extremely excited for us and had a substitute on deck which meant I could sneak away quickly. Her encouragement made my heart soar while I ran through town to get to the hospital.

Sophie was in a lot of pain but kept up with her breathing with Addy's help. I changed into sweats and a henley shirt, trying to be comfortable enough to run for ice or support Sophie while she stretches on a yoga ball through contractions. Jake and Ruth arrived by mid afternoon, bringing Addy and me sandwiches we devoured between contractions while Soph was enjoying her ice.