Baby Steps

Chapter 5: I'm Amazed by You

Rosie started the 16th week of her pregnancy off by taking a shower first thing in the morning. As she stood amidst the warm mist and sprinkles of water making contact with her smooth and fair skin, she looked down at her swollen abdomen and reflected on how lucky she was to have people in her life who were so supportive. Then there was this little baby, the size of an avocado who wasn't even born yet and Rosie wondered if the baby could feel how loved they were.

"No one else will ever know my love for you because you are the only one who knows what my heart feels like inside of me" Rosie whispered as she continued to look down at her bump while rubbing it; reciting a quote she had found off of Google.

As Rosie emerged from the shower, she discovered a note from Marco that read: hey babe. I know you've been feeling kind of weird around the food lately, so I've already left with the food truck. You and the little peanut deserve to take it easy today. I love you both so much. –Daddy Marco.

It was little things like this that made Rosie fall more in love with Marco than she thought she could be. Any other time of their lives, he would have just sent a simple text message. But since finding out that she was pregnant again, he went out of his way to perform the most thoughtful gestures to make her feel more at peace with the fact that everything was changing so fast. Even though the note didn't say much in terms of content, Rosie could feel every ounce of love that was written between the lines.

While getting herself dressed for the day, Rosie skimmed through her closet and wondered what she should wear. Immediately her mind went to sporting one of Marco's worn out shirts and a pair of her pajamas for the day. But then again, she wanted to look decent or presentable just in case she needed to run some errands. So, Rosie looked to her side of the closet and considered what could still fit her. Every summer outfit she owned would be too tight on her bump; which she thought would cause some issues down the line for both her and the baby. She then thought to send Marco a text message about going maternity shopping; something she never thought she would get the chance to do.

In a matter of two minutes, Marco responded to her text messaging saying that he felt bad for her and that he would take her shopping the minute he came home from his shift. The line at the food truck went all the way around the park and back. This was the busiest day that The Cheesy Pig had ever worked through and Marco couldn't figure out why. It was only the beginning of June and kids had been out of school since the middle of May. But if he had to take a while guess, Marco assumed it was because adults and teens decided that their freedom started when summer officially began.

As Marco continued to work the truck, he smiled while countless children of all ages ran by. He then began to envision what life would be like once the baby arrived and possibly grew up. Marco imagined a strapping son who looked just like him but with Rosie's contagious smile. He would teach the young boy how to safely make caramels because no girl could resist a guy who knew his way around the kitchen and they would throw the football in the backyard every Sunday; whether or not they were anticipating the next Super Bowl. Then within the blink of an eye, he and Rosie would be sending the little guy off to preschool and kindergarten. The boy would be oblivious as to how hard it would be on his parents to see him go for the first time, but Rosie and Marco would try to hold it together.

Suddenly Marco's fantasy came to a halt as a little boy with ash blonde hair; who was approximately four or five years old, approached the truck in his dad's arms, asking for a BLT. It was right then and there that Marco realized his life would be changed for the better in a matter of twenty-four weeks. No matter what the gender of his child, he could only pray that the bond he would grow to have was anything like the little boy and his dad that day. If it turned out to be stronger, Marco would be certain that he was the luckiest man alive.