new beginnings

Good For Bad

I couldn't stop thinking about what happened the previous night even when I got up and got dressed. Ron actually didn't wake me up today, he was still sleeping when I woke up.

I walked outside to the crisp, cold morning air, sporting my new boots.

"Good morning," an unfamiliar voice spoke. I turned around. It was from the garage that Deanna said was the 'doctor'. I walked up to it. 

"Good morning," I replied back. It was Denise.

I saw that she was working on fixing up the corner of the garage. There was a bed, a stack of blankets, an IV stand, a stool, and many other things. "What's all this?" I asked.

"This is for Sarah's birth. Just preparing for when she's ready. She's due in a few days," Denise pushed up her glasses and blew a blonde strand of hair out of her face. I saw some of the baby stuff Ron and I had got.

"You nervous?" I asked her.

"I've been reading all the books and everything, but, I can never be too sure, you know?" she propped up the pillow on the bed.

I watched intently as she continued her work. She pushed a little cart with all sorts of things on it beside the bed, she dragged a crib and put its back against a wall, she placed a lamp on the bedside table.

"I think you'll do great," I said and looked up at her. She smiled.

I walked out of the garage and went into Sarah's house. Ron and Sarah were up, drinking some coffee. I got a mug and poured coffee in it. I leaned on the counter and started to drink.

"How'd you sleep?" Sarah asked. She had beautifully straight hair and was wearing a white tank top under an over-sized dark blue flannel shirt, with a few buttons at the top undone. She looked stunning for early in the morning.

"It was nice. Good dreams," I said and eyed Ron. He was wearing his dark gray beanie with a dark red fully buttoned flannel. He looked handsome.

"So... Carl. I didn't know when your birthday was, but here's an early or late present," Sarah said and handed me a paper bag. I felt excited.

I opened the bag. I pulled out a shirt. It was light gray and had a few buttons at the top. The sleeves were elbow-length. It looked great.

"This is awesome! Thank you!" I hugged Sarah, hovering over her abdomen.

"I made it myself, we have a sewing machine in the family room. I've been making baby clothes but you've been so helpful lately, so I figured you deserved it," she smiled and picked up another paper bag off the floor and handed it to Ron.

Ron opened it and pulled out a black beanie. "Thanks!" he smiled and gave Sarah a side hug.

"I don't know your birthday either, so here's this for working hard," she said as she squeezed him tight while hugging.

"Do you boys know people's birthday's? I'd like to know," she asked.

"Mine's October ninth, so you were just a month early. Dad's is August sixteenth, which is in just a few days. Judith's is on June third. I don't know the others' though," I replied. Ron replied with his birthday, November twenty-seventh, and Sam's and Jessie's.

"Thanks boys! Hope you enjoy your gifts. I have to go take care of Judith," she walked out of the room.

I finished my coffee along with Ron, exchanging glances.

He looked around and held my hand. "Why didn't you wake me up when you got up?" he asked.

"I don't know. You looked really happy sleeping, so I didn't try. No hard feelings?" I joked.