Skinny Love

Chapter 41

The sun was shining brightly through the curtains and into my face. I turned my face into the pillow but I knew I should get up. I felt the way you always do when you get too much sleep, I had a slight headache and the sun wasn't helping. I sat up anyway and pulled the blanket close. It was freezing. I pulled the over blanket off the bed as I got up and wrapped myself in it. I was careful to not wake Nat, he had gotten out of bed late last night, or wait maybe it was early in the morning. I looked over at the clock on the bedside table-It was eleven thirty-And he didn't get back in bed for a while, but I had fallen back asleep so I'm not sure exactly when he did lay back down. I turned on the bathroom light and closed the door. I turned all the hot water on. I dropped the blanket as the bathroom started to steam up, and looked in the mirror. My lips were swollen a bit and my hair a mess. I looked down and notice my stretch marks again and this time I didn't mind them. They were there because of August, and I wouldn't give her up for anything because she was my world now. those stretch marks meant I was a mother and Nat didn't seem to care. It seemed he only saw the beauty in things. He kept saying I was beautiful last night, over and over. I smiled and blushed. The mirror was completely fogged up now. I moved toward the shower and turned on some of the cold water so it wasn't too hot.  I grabbed a towel from the bathroom closet and set it on the counter. I pulled back the curtain and got in. The hot water warming me from the January cold. As I washed my hair I wondered how Mark was doing, did August give him a hard time? Did she have enough formula? Diapers? Surely if he ran out he would go buy some more, right?  I rinsed my hair. I grabbed the shaving  cream and then started to shave. Was Lisa helping him? I didn't know if I liked if she was helping him but I knew she probably knew slightly more about babies than Mark did. I hoped he had enough blankets around her to stay warm, or warm clothes to put her in. And what if they went out somewhere? Would he know how to handle her? 

"Ow!" I exclaimed. I nicked my leg and it started to bleed. I knew it looked worse than it was and cleaned it off. I realized as I finished my second leg that I was obsessing over the fact that Mark had August. Was that normal? I'm sure it was normal to worry about your baby being away from you. I finished up my shower and wrapped the towel around myself. I wiped the mirror with my hand and searched the drawer for my toothbrush. I found it and brushed my teeth. I spit the toothpaste in the sink and when I did, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. There was a piece of paper that was slid under the door. I picked it up, the front said 'From Nat'. I opened the door while looking down at the card.

"What's this?" I looked up at the bed and jumped. My hand over my heart. Instead of seeing NAt like I'd expected, it was Sam sitting on the edge of the bed. "You scared me, don't do that!" I told her. I noticed for the first time, a pillow peaked out from under the blankets. I guess Nat never did get back in bed this morning. "Do you happen to know what this is?" I held up the paper. She made a big deal out of shrugging and saying "Well I wouldn't have any idea." I just gave her a look and opened the card. 

Ellie, 

I'll see you soon but here's what I was you to do; go with Sam and have a girl's day do whatever you'd like but I am pretty sure she's already planned out the day. I hope you have a great time and don't worry about anything. I've got it all planned out.  Don't forget, I love you and I'll see you soon.  -Nat 

"So where are we going?" I look up from the paper and to Sam. 

"You'll see, just get dressed." And by get dressed she meant here where this that I have picked out for you.  

We got in her car and she drove. She wouldn't answer any of my questions of where we were going, but she stopped at McDonald's and we got something from the all day breakfast menu. I got out my phone and decided to check on August. I dialed Mark's number and it rang for a while. Maybe he was still asleep? He should be up, I thought to myself.