Waiting For You

Chapter 20: The Dawson Sisters

Chapter 20: The Dawson Sisters

Amelia

Sam is leaving me for a whole week and I'll be honest, I'm a little worried about it.

I know I can take care of myself while he's away on his work trip in Atlanta, and then to see his brother in New Orleans. I've told him as much during the days leading up to his departure, but still, it's been a really long time since I've been on my own for more than a night.

It's also the first time I'm going to be alone at home while pregnant.

I have another appointment with Dr. Cho at the end of the week too, and it's disappointing that Sam won't get to go with me. He hasn't missed any so far and I hope nothing too interesting is going to happen on Friday either.

At least we got to hear the heartbeats last Wednesday when we went, and we were reassured that both of the twins were doing just fine. Two sacs; two heartbeats; four arms and four legs... They're just fine, and we've got new ultrasound photos to show for it. I'm going to miss those when we change ob-gyns.

"Do you have everything?" I ask, peering over his shoulder at his open suitcase. He's packing a lot lighter than I would be if I was the one going out of town for seven days. I lift the folded shirt on top of the pile and count the ones underneath. He's only bringing five shirts and a single pair of jeans.

"I'm not leaving for six months," he laughs.

"Thank God," I mumble, looking around the room for things he might've missed. "Don't forget your tooth brush and your razor tomorrow morning... Do you have your phone charger? You'll need that!" I add quickly when I spot mine dangling off my nightstand.

It's eight o'clock when he finally rolls his suitcase into the kitchen so that it'll be waiting for him by the door tomorrow when he leaves. We go to bed early so I can get my cuddle fix, but I don't know if it'll be enough to get me through this.

He wakes me up before dawn the next morning to kiss me goodbye and I get out of bed to help make sure he's got everything – and to steal one final hug before he's out the door.

It's not even five o'clock when he gets in Miles' truck and they roll out of the parking lot together, but it makes sense since they have to be in Atlanta by nine, giving them just enough wiggle room to spare if there's traffic. I sigh and go back into the bedroom, but I doubt I'll be able to fall asleep again. I'm wide awake and my feet are freezing.

Still, burying under the sheets after walking barefoot on cold linoleum feels nice. I lie on my back and put my hands over my bloated stomach. It's not the start of the baby bump I've been waiting for. It's just gas. I'm still not really showing.

I can feel the churning of queasiness and I hope it'll pass. I don't want to get up again.

"Well good morning. Do you guys have to do this now?" I ask the silent room, running my index finger from my navel up to my breastbone.

I'm a little over ten weeks along, which means I could be talking to a wall for all the good it does me. The babies won't be able to hear my voice for another two months. It's a comfort to me though, so I keep doing it.

"It's just you and me for the next little while so you have to behave," I tell them and as the silence continues, I imagine them squirming around in there like tadpoles in a pond. "Are you going to let me eat today?" I ask and give my belly a little poke.