Smooth Sailing Ahead

"Slow down, John," Anna managed to say between sharp pains. She had noticed he began to speed up as the pains became more frequent, but he still drove with care. His eyes were locked on the road and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. She had expected him to be nervous with this being their first child but now he was beginning to make her anxious. "John," she said a little louder but more calmly than before.

"Hmmm?" he muttered, his eyes still fixed on the road before him. Somewhere in the depths of his brain he had heard her voice, but right now a million other thoughts were fluttering in his mind faster than he could address them. He knew what lay ahead for Anna in the next few hours and he wasn't looking forward to it. For her sake he hoped it would be as quick and painless as possible…well with as minimal pain as possible. He prayed that their baby would come out of this happy and healthy. Most of all it was quickly setting in that their baby would be here today. Finally. In the flesh. He only hoped he didn't screw this up. If he could be successful in anything he hoped it would be at fatherhood.

Anna let her hand left hand fall to her belly in an attempt to soothe their baby. Suddenly, as if reading his mind, her right hand traveled up towards John's forearm and caressed him. "John, can you please slow down?" Anna asked before letting out a slow breath. This time her hand lightly squeezed his arm as she fought her way through a contraction.

John looked over to her, his eyes widening with fear. "Of course. I'm sorry. I just want to make sure I get you there on time. The both of you."

Anna smiled lovingly at him. "John, it's going to be fine. We'll make it there with plenty of time to spare and at the end of the day we'll have our baby."

"I know," John said as he took her hand and lifted it to his lips. He placed a kiss on her knuckles and gave her one of those radiant smiles that he knew would put her mind at ease. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too," she said with a smile. "And John?"

"Yes, love."

"You won't screw it up," she said confidently as her eyes traveled down to the swell of her belly.