The Stupid Side of Practical

Untitled Part 15

Epilogue

"Don't tell me leggings aren't pants. I'm nine months pregnant; pants are whatever I decided they are."

Emily let out a snort and Josh eyed Gina in confusion. Their due date was near, and Gina's hormones were giving him whiplash.

"I just asked if you wanted to go upstairs and get ready?"

Today was their house warming party. Gina had been waddling around the house for the last few days cleaning and straighten things out. She was nervous about her family visiting, worried about them seeing her artwork on the walls. Or her color scheme she decided on for the living room.

Guest, we're due at any moment and she was still in a pair of bright green leggings and a pink oversized t-shirt that read my husband has an awesome wife.

"Fine, I'll go freshen up." Gina placed a hand on her stomach and sighed as the phone began to ring. "You answer that." She frowned as she motioned for Emily to follow. "I swear, I don't even say hello anymore. Every call begins with, no baby yet."

Emily came around the table to offer a supporting hand to Gina.

Josh rested a hand on the countertop as he watched them go. "Love you, honey."

"Don't you honey me, honey is how we got into this situation. Now walk like Donald freaking Duck."

"Love you anyway," Josh called after them as they went up the stairs.

Josh let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. He was almost sure that this work wasn't good for the baby, but any time he tried to make her stop she would just start another project that was, if not more so, just as dangerous.

The woman was slowly turning his hair grey.

The kitchen was brand new, granite countertops, an island sink, with stainless steel appliances, and room for a small breakfast table that led to more ceiling to floor windows and a set of patio doors that went right out into a great size yard with a deck.

They painted the kitchen a creamy white to go with all the pale gray woodwork on the cabinets. At first, he had been a little skeptical about the color but walking into the warm, soothing space he had to admit she was been right.

Not that he would ever tell her that.

The overall effect was made you feel at ease. It was a warm, family kitchen, a place for work and conversation. A place for sweet smells and savory concoctions, for taking stock of the day while planning the next.

Josh picked up the phone and held it to his ear as he opened the back-patio doors and motioned Eddie and Gloria inside. Eddie looked downright pissed while holding a squirming beagle puppy with a pink ribbon tied to her collar.

"You're almost here?" Josh said into the phone, "Great, just ring the bell." He hung up and looked back at Eddie.

"About time," Eddie muttered, "Thought you forgot about us. It peed on me."

"On his shoe," Gloria added as she shut the patio doors behind them. "He swears it was a gushing spring."

"Sorry about that. You know better than anyone, getting your sister to do anything is a task," Josh knelt down to pick up the puppy.

"How is she? Any contractions?"

Josh rolled his eyes. "I swear each month has an average of 30-31 days, except this last month of the pregnancy which has like 1453 days."

Eddie let out a laugh, "I'm sure you guys will be just fine."

The doorbell rang.

"I got to go get that, can you hold her a little longer? Don't let Gina see her yet."