LDBM

Chapter 17: FEEL IT ALL

BONNIE

After spending the morning shopping with Bill and Tom, we arrived back home around one in the afternoon. Our hands were full with bags from almost every store as we both rushed to the sofa to kick off our shoes. The weather was beautiful and Tom decided to take a quick ride on his motorcycle. Although Bill and I equally hate that bike, we are too afraid that he will get hurt or worse; we both did not argue. After all, he just spent two and half hours doing what he absolutely hates, shopping with Bonnie and Bill.

"Oh my god my feet are killing me!" I whined as I motioned for Bill to help me with my shoes.

One foot after another, Bill helped unstrap my shoes and started setting them aside. A sharp pain ran through my body and my fingers gripped Bill's shoulder as he remained crouched helping me.

"You alright?" he asked concerned.

I opened my mouth to reply but before I could another pain hit me, but this time I felt it in my pelvis. My due date was eleven days away and although my doctor and Douala both told me that she might come a little early, I was not thinking anything more than a day or two from my date. I sat there now holding on to Bill for stability and I saw the puzzled look upon his face.

"Should I call a doctor or..." he started.

"No" I cut in. "They are just Braxton hick's contractions. Nothing serious, minor contractions."

I started to feel pressure in my bottom but tried to brush it off and continue as usual. I could tell from Bill's face that he did not believe me.

"I think we at least should call Tom," he said. Bill reached his hands out to me to help me up.

This last month with Tom and Bill has been great. They both have been extremely helpful and obsessing over this baby. Our parents called so much that I found myself ignoring them. That all changed last Monday. Simone called me for the fifth time that day and I did not feel like talking anymore. She took my missed call as a sign the baby was coming and called Tom frantically and nervous; I now answer on the first ring. A few weeks ago, my stomach dropped and I can no longer argue that 'I can do it'.

My independence is gone, I hardly lift a finger anymore, and Tom barely leaves my side. When he does, its either he is walking the dog, taking a shit, or going for a ride on his bike for twenty minutes. Tom is also very hands on with this pregnancy. He has bathed me, insisted that I take showers with him if I do not want a bath; he cooks, although it is nasty vegetarian food. I have not had meat in two weeks and I crave it. It surprised me how involved and in love, he was with this baby already. Every second, his hands are on my now humongous belly, kissing it, rubbing it and talking to her. Every other day he is playing something for her on his guitar and she responds by kicking me in the ribs. He is always checking on how I am feeling and he is actually the one who stays up to date on my appointments. He is fantastic and I cannot help but to find his 'Daddy Mode' super sexy.

Last week we decorated the nursery together. To my surprise, he asked Bill to stand back on this one. I love Bill and never wanted him to go away, but it was different and romantic to design this nursery with just Tom and I. Bill, being his amazing beautiful self said 'of course' and left us to it with no problem or question.

We both decided that Sophie's room would be simple and delicate. Tom and I turned our sitting room off our bedroom into her nursery. We did not want any strong color or anything that would overpower the idea of the room, which was to be simple and made for relaxing. We did however; create this beautiful statement but modest canvas piece made for over her crib. It read: