My Best Friend

Just Like Sloan

Before Mindy and Thomas knew it, nine months had passed. Mindy's belly had grown to the size of a watermelon. Thomas continued to fear for his wife and their baby. He saw the size of Mindy's stomach. How was the baby going to get out if it was that big? How was it going to come out? Was he even going to be allowed to watch? In the months Mindy's pregnancy progressed, not once did he leave her side. Except of course for work. The boss still overworked Mindy. Every day they came home from work, she'd collapse on the couch exhausted not only from work, but from their long walk home.

Mindy was exhausted. Her back ached and her feet were swollen from all the walking she did. She was anxious for the baby to arrive. Not only so her body could return to normal, but so she and Thomas could finally have their own family with their own child. They had the baby's room set up. Thomas painted the walls with his favorite animals like dogs, cows, pigs and goats. There was his old crib brought up from the basement all cleaned up and ready for the baby.

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Mindy woke up feeling uncomfortable. She felt energized even, which was strange because she was always tired. She smiled as she looked at Thomas who was asleep.

"Tommy", Mindy said kissing his cheek. "Time to get up, honey."

Thomas yawned as he nodded. He sat up and stretched before turning to Mindy. Because of her round belly, she had trouble getting up and sitting down. Thomas took her hands and helped her to her feet.

"I'm going to get some breakfast", Mindy said. "You go ahead and get ready for work. I'll come up when I'm done."

He nodded as he took her hand to help her down the stairs. They found Luda Mae already in the kitchen cooking.

"Morning you two!" she said. "How's my grandbaby today?"

"Same as before", Mindy said. "I feel well-rested for some reason today. I feel up for anything!"

"Honey, stay calm and relax until the baby comes."

"I will. Is breakfast ready yet? I'm starving!"

"You came just in time for the eggs!" Luda Mae chuckled.

She set a plate of eggs in front of Mindy, which she started gobbling down. Mindy stopped as she grabbed her stomach.

"Ow..."

Luda Mae and Thomas knelt by her side worried and excited.

"Are you alright? Is it the baby?"

"No", she said shaking her head. "It feels more like indigestion. I'll be ok. "

Mindy looked at Thomas and held out her hands.

"Come on. Let's get ready for work."

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Mindy smiled as she sat at her table and wrapped the meat up. She still felt uncomfortable. During her and Thomas' walk to work, she still kept feeling the indigestion she had at breakfast. She'd feel an uncomfortable twinge of pain in her stomach every 10 minutes. Here at work, they started coming back every five minutes.

"Mindy?" one of the workers said calling her back to reality. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah", she sighed wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Just uncomfortable. I've had indigestion all day."

"Have you eaten anything?"

"Just some eggs Mama made."

Mindy stopped as she felt another twinge of pain.

"Ow... ow, this really hurts!"

She wrapped her arms around her round belly. The workers looked at Mindy's stomach and then at each other.