My Best Friend

Say Hello, Tom!

The months began to pass. Thomas watched in awe as Mindy's stomach began to grow. He was both amazed and terrified at the same time. How much bigger was the baby going to get? Was it hurting Mindy?

Mindy on the other hand had no complaints. She loved the thought of hers and Thomas' baby growing inside her. She hadn't felt any movement inside her yet. Every once in a while, when she was alone, she would always raise her shirt up and whisper to the baby. Mindy would tell the baby how much she and Thomas love it and how excited they were to see it.

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"Tommy", Mindy called from upstairs. "Come up here. I need your help with something"

Thomas nodded and walked up the stairs. He spotted Mindy in their room sitting in a rocking chair as she caressed her small round belly. Five months pregnant and she looked beautiful. She had her hair tied back in a ponytail and was wearing a short dress that went down to her knees.

"I'm going to start decorating one of the spare rooms for the baby", she said smiling at him. "Want to help?"

He nodded as he pulled her up from the chair.

"You probably had a better room than I did as a kid", Mindy said. "How did Mama decorate your room?"

Thomas shrugged. He changed his room a lot while growing up, he had no memory or what it originally looked like.

"Well, what do you like? Do you want to decorate the baby's room with animals? Fish? A landscape? Clouds or stars?"

He looked at her confused. Why was she asking what he liked?

"Honey, you're the artist, not me", Mindy said. "The baby will love your pictures."

Thomas was unsure about it. The baby was sure to be scared of him. Why would it like his pictures? He shook his head letting Mindy know what he was thinking. She raised her hand and ran her fingers across his mask.

"Sweetheart, the baby will take after both of us. Tom-Tom will be just like his father."

Thomas shook his head. He didn't want the baby to be like him. He didn't want the baby to be a freak like him. What if the baby got the same skin disease he had? Other people would bully him forever. He was pulled out of his thoughts as Mindy began gasping.

"Tommy..."

Her hand immediately went to her stomach as she sat back down. Thomas started panicking. What was wrong with Mindy? Was the baby coming already?

"Oh my god", Mindy gasped. "Tommy, give me your hand."

He quickly held her hand in his. He was scared. Was the baby coming? Was he going to watch it be born? Thomas' worry turned to confusion as Mindy put his hand over her belly. What did she want him to do? Out of nowhere, he felt a soft flutter against his hand. Thomas pulled away frightened. What just happened? Was there something wrong with the baby?

"Tommy, don't be afraid", Mindy softly said.

She took his hand in hers.

"The baby's moving!" she said excited.

Thomas looked at her stomach curiously. Was that a good thing? He put his hand back on her belly. At first nothing happened. Thomas frowned. Was the baby already scared of him?

"Wait for it", Mindy said. "Give it a minute."

Thomas closed his eyes hoping the baby would move again. His eyes opened as he felt a tiny bump against his hand.

"Did you feel that? He kicked!"

She put her hand over his.

"Tom's saying hello to his mama and papa."