CHAPTER SIX #8
"I don't think anyone is ever truly ready."
Amanda squeezed his hand.
"But we're excited."
The doctor nodded knowingly.
"I can tell."
She leaned comfortably against the counter.
"Do you have names picked out yet?" Amanda's smile immediately brightened.
"We do."
The doctor looked between them.
"Are you keeping them a surprise?" Michael smiled.
"Not anymore."
He looked proudly at Amanda before answering.
"Lexi."
Amanda rested a hand over her stomach.
"And Lucy."
The doctor repeated the names with a smile.
"Lexi and Lucy."
She nodded approvingly.
"I think those are beautiful names."
Amanda felt another tiny kick beneath her ribs. Almost as if one of the girls approved too. She laughed softly.
"I think Lucy agrees."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"You already know which one it is?"
Amanda smiled.
"I have a feeling." The doctor chuckled.
"Well..."
She gathered Amanda's chart and tucked it beneath one arm.
"If either of those little girls decides she's tired of waiting..."
She looked at them both.
"...I'll be seeing you very soon."
Amanda smiled.
"We'll be ready."
The doctor offered one last reassuring smile before leaving the examination room.
The door clicked quietly shut behind her.
For a long moment... Neither Amanda nor Michael spoke.
Michael simply looked at her. Then at the gentle curve of her stomach.
Then back at her again. He shook his head in amazement.
"We're really going to be parents."
Amanda smiled through happy tears.
"In a few days..."
She reached for his hand once more.
"...our whole lives are going to change."
Michael kissed her forehead.
"I can't wait."
Amanda leaned against him. Neither of them noticed the families laughing in the hallway outside.
Or the nurses hurrying from room to room.
Or the world continuing around them. They believed the hardest part of their journey was almost over.
Neither of them could have imagined... That it hadn't even begun.
The hospital slowly disappeared in the rearview mirror as Michael steered the truck onto the busy streets of downtown Chicago.
Amanda leaned back against the passenger seat with a contented sigh, one hand resting protectively over the curve of her stomach. The doctor's words echoed pleasantly through her mind.
"You're due any day now." Any day.
After months of nursery shopping, parenting books, sleepless nights, and wondering what their daughters would look like... They were finally here. Or almost. Michael glanced over just in time to catch Amanda smiling to herself.
"What are you thinking about?"
Amanda looked down at her belly.
"I still can't believe they're almost here."
A tiny kick pressed against her palm. She laughed softly.
"...And apparently neither can Lucy."
Michael smiled.
"How do you know that's Lucy?"
Amanda shrugged.
"I don't."
She grinned.
"I've just decided she's the dramatic one."
"And Lexi?" "The quiet observer."
Michael chuckled.
"So you've already assigned them personalities?"
"They've had nine months to introduce themselves."
"I guess that's fair."
They drove another block before Michael suddenly changed lanes. Amanda frowned.
"Where are we going?"
Michael glanced at her with an almost guilty smile.
"I have one more stop."
Amanda narrowed her eyes.
"What kind of stop?"
"The fun kind."
Before Amanda knew it, they arrived at a Walmart.
“Really?”
Michael winked at her before leaving the car, rushing over to her side, and opening her door.
“You’ll thank me later, I promise.”
Amanda rolls her eyes and giggles.
“Fine. But you owe me ice cream after!”
Michael beams. “Deal.” They link hands while walking into the store.
Amanda wandered slowly between rows of impossibly tiny baby clothes, one hand trailing absentmindedly across racks of pastel onesies. Every few steps she stopped to admire something new. A pair of knitted booties. A floral sunhat no larger than Michael's hand. Tiny dresses with matching bloomers.
"I don't understand how anyone can be this small," she murmured, lifting a pale pink sleeper from the rack.
Michael looked over from the aisle beside her, where he'd somehow become distracted by miniature sneakers.
"They're not staying that small."
"I know."
Amanda smiled.
"But let me enjoy pretending they will."
Michael chuckled before disappearing around the corner. A moment later, he returned holding two tiny outfits against his chest.
"Question."
Amanda glanced up.
"Hm?"
"Do babies care if their clothes match?"
Amanda laughed.
"Our babies?"
Michael nodded. "Yeah."
She pretended to think.
"They'll probably file a formal complaint if they don't."
"I knew it."
Michael sighed dramatically.
"I was hoping we'd avoid raising tiny fashion critics."
Amanda shook her head. "You married me."
"That's true."
"They never stood a chance."
Michael grinned.
"I guess we're buying matching outfits."
He placed the two sleepers into their shopping basket. Amanda smiled to herself before reaching for another tiny dress. Then— She froze.
A sudden pressure tightened across her stomach. Not painful. Just... Different. Her fingers instinctively rested over the front of her belly.
She took one slow breath. Michael looked up immediately.
"...Baby?"
She stayed still for another few seconds. Waiting. The tightness slowly eased. Then disappeared. Michael had already crossed the aisle.
"Baby?"
Amanda looked up. "It's okay."
His eyebrows knitted together.
"What happened?"
She smiled reassuringly.
"I think that was a contraction."
Michael's face lost every bit of color.
"...A what?"
Amanda laughed.
"A contraction."
Michael stared at her.
"...Here?"
She couldn't help smiling.
"I'm almost forty weeks pregnant."
"I know but..."
He looked around the store as though expecting the babies to arrive between the diaper aisle and the cash register.
"...Now?"
Amanda reached for his hand.
"It wasn't bad."
She gently squeezed his fingers.
"It didn't hurt." "The doctor said this could happen."
Michael blinked.
"...She did?"
Amanda nodded.
"They're called Braxton Hicks."
"They're basically practice contractions."
Michael finally exhaled.
"Oh."
A beat.
"...Practice?"
She smiled.
"My body's warming up."
Michael rubbed a hand over his face.
"I aged about ten years."
Amanda laughed so hard another employee smiled at them from across the store.
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
"I'm really not."
He pointed a finger at her. "You are no longer allowed to casually announce contractions."
Amanda raised an innocent eyebrow.
"What would you prefer I call them?"
"I don't know."
He shrugged helplessly.
"Anything less terrifying."
Amanda slipped her arm through his.
"I'll work on my wording."
Michael kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you."
As they paid for the tiny outfits and matching teddy bears, Amanda felt another tightening spread gently across her stomach. She paused for only a second this time. Breathed through it. Then kept smiling. Michael noticed anyway.
"...Another one?"
She nodded.
"They're still pretty far apart."
He glanced nervously toward the exit.
"Should we maybe..."
Amanda laughed.
"...Not panic?"
"I wasn't going to say panic." "You were thinking panic."
"I was absolutely thinking panic."
She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"They're just practicing."
Michael looked down at her stomach.
"I wish they'd practice when I'm asleep."
Amanda grinned.
"They specifically waited until you were awake."
"They're definitely your daughters."
While they sat outside the little ice cream shop, Amanda paused halfway through a bite of chocolate peanut butter swirl. Michael noticed immediately.
"...Another one?"
She nodded quietly.
"Mhm."
"Do we need to leave?"
Amanda smiled through the contraction.
"Not yet."
A few slow breaths later, it passed.
She looked up at him.
"...Okay." Michael wasn't smiling anymore.
"You're sure?"
Amanda reached across the table and took his hand.
"I'm sure."
She laughed softly.
"I promise I'll tell you when it's time."
Michael squeezed her hand.
"I don't know why..."
He smiled nervously.
"...but I suddenly feel like every minute matters."
They finished their shopping spree and checked out their items.
The automatic doors of Walmart slid open behind them as Michael balanced two small shopping bags in one hand. The afternoon sun greeted them with a wave of warmth.
Amanda adjusted her grip on the cart before letting it go. "So..." Michael said with a sideways smile. "One more stop?" She looked at him knowingly.
"Pete's?"
He grinned.
"You read my mind."
"I usually do."
They crossed the parking lot at an easy pace. Michael stayed close, matching her slower steps without making it obvious. Every so often he'd glance over, quietly checking on her.
She caught him looking.
"I'm okay."
"I know."
"You don't sound convinced."
"I'm working on it."
She laughed softly.
Pete's Ice Cream Shop sat on the corner, its red-and-white striped awning fluttering in the breeze. The little bell above the door chimed as they stepped inside, and the sweet smell of waffle cones filled the air.
Amanda smiled.
"I forgot how good this place smells."
Michael looked over the menu even though he already knew what she liked.
"Chocolate peanut butter swirl?"
She nodded.
"With sprinkles."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Sprinkles?"
"The baby's making important decisions today."
He laughed.
"Then who am I to argue?"
A few minutes later, they stepped back outside carrying their cups. Michael led her toward the shaded bench beside the shop.
"This one?" "It's perfect."
They sat together, listening to cars drift by and birds chirp from the trees lining the sidewalk.
Amanda took the first bite and closed her eyes.
"Oh... that's exactly what I wanted."
"Worth the stop?"
She smiled.
"Definitely."
Michael watched her for a second before digging into his own cookies and cream.
"I still think mine's better."
"You always think yours is better."
"Because it usually is."
She nudged his shoulder.
"You have terrible taste."
"I married you, didn't I?"