Beating For Two

Chapter 29

Monday, April 25th

Thirty-six weeks

“Jesus, what's taking you so long?” Harry shouted.

It was almost four thirty in the afternoon and Harry had driven straight home from school to pick me up and take me to the doctor's office. Apparently he thought I took too long getting ready, though, because he'd been standing in the hallway, tapping his foot impatiently against the floor for the last five minutes or so. I scowled at him as I exited the bathroom and headed towards the entrance hall to get a pair of shoes on my feet.

“Excuse me for being pregnant and a tad slower than everyone else,” I said as I sat down the chair that was placed against the wall and slid a pair of worn-out Vans onto my feet.

“You can blame your own sperm if it bothers you that much.”

“Sorry, sorry,” he said.

“It's just been a long day.”

“You can just drop me off there if you'd like,” I said, frowning ever so slightly.

“If you're tired, you don't have to go in there with me.”

“I'm not that tired,” he said with a faint smile.

“But we're gonna be late if you don't get your ass moving soon.”

“It's still twenty minutes left until the appointment,” I argued, but nevertheless I stood up on my feet and headed out the door, Harry following right behind. We walked over to where the car was parked in front of the garage and the both of us got seated in the car, me admittedly not entirely comfortable, before Harry put the key in the ignition, twisted it around to make the engine come alive, and backed out of the drive-way. Ten seconds or so passed by in silence before a new conversation was started.

“So today is the day when we find out how exactly they're gonna pull the baby out of you,” he said nonchalantly as he took a turn to the left and pulled out on the highway.

“You put things so admirably eloquent, Harry.”

“I know, it's a gift. Seriously though.”

I sighed and shrugged, feeling a little miserable.

“Yeah, we're gonna decide on that today,” I said.

“But I doubt if there's any other option than a c-section seeing as I can't exactly give birth the usual way.”

“Wouldn't that be fun though? I could be there and hold your hand while you push-”

“Harry!”

His eyes were directed at the road, but I saw the wide grin that displayed itself on his face.

“What? We could have a proper family-moment there, it would be great. You know, something to share with our families and friends.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You're delusional if you think I'd ever actually push a baby out of my ass. And you're even more delusional if you think I'd ever tell anyone about it.”

“And here I was, having such high hopes,” he said, feigning disappointment.

“Sorry.”

“You ought to be, you just ruined my life-long dream.”

“Yeah, I'm sure this whole situation is one you always dreamed of finding yourself in,” I said, but despite the somewhat cynical tone in my voice, I couldn't help but smile.