Okay, I am back with the next chapter. I know, it took a lifetime and a half. But I had school, soccer, and my boyfriend so I was super busy. But, good news, I finished my junior year and have the whole summer to write! (well, in between working and stuff). I hope you like it, I am working on the next chapter as we speak. xoxo(by the way, I own nothing. This is my disclaimer for the whole story)
"King me," I said proudly scooting my checker on the last square. Flash sighed and placed a stolen checker on top of my victorious one. I smiled as I watched the eight-year-old's brown eyes scan the checker board for his next move and imagined playing checkers with my own child. I placed a hand on top of my abdomen and wondered what my child would look like. Would the baby be a boy or a girl? Would they have blue or hazel eyes, brown or blonde hair?
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain twist in my stomach. I took a sharp breath in, catching the attention of Flash, who had just moved his piece into one of my traps.
"Marty, are ya fine?"
I exhaled carefully and looked back up at Flash. "Yea, I'll be okay. Just a little indigestion, that's all."
Flash looked reassured, and now that the pain was gone, so was I. I quickly decided that, boy, girl, blonde or brunette, our child had definitely inherited my feistiness.
Not long after my cramp I had jumped the last of Flash's checkers.
"You had ta 'ave cheated," he grumbled as he swept the checkers back into their bag.
"Well, dats whatcha get playin' wid this one," a familiar voice interrupted from the staircase.
"Hiya Jack!" Flash greeted. "Wanna play me in checkers?"
"Not t'night Flash, it's time for bed," I reminded him, receiving a groan in return. I smiled as he mumbled a goodbye to the Kelly family and dragged his feet up the stairs.
"You is all ready ta be a modder, I should say," Jack teased, walking over to the bed and planting a brotherly kiss on my forehead.
I just smiled and held my arms out for baby Jake. "What are you doin' out so late, ain't past your bedtime too?" I cooed to my nephew, kissing his soft, brown hair. It amazed me how much he looked like his father, same defiant brown eyes and wide smile. I continually expressed my condolences to Sarah for having another Jack on her hands, but I could not, however, hide my adoration for the little boy and immediately assured her that if he was anything like his father he would be a lucky child.
"He couldn't sleep," Sarah explained, settling herself is a kitchen chair.
"He just missed his aunty Marty," Jack continued, ruffling my hair. "So how is ya feelin' t'day kiddo?"
I sighed and rubbed my belly. "I was feelin' fine up until half and hour ago," I explained, describing the sensation the occurred in my stomach. I noticed Sarah stiffen.
"Has this happened before?" She asked, rising from her chair and moving to sit at the corner of the bed.
"No," I answered, the alarm in her eyes startling me. "I figured it was just indigestion."
Sarah couldn't think that it could be my time already, could she? I still have a few weeks to go, it couldn't be time yet. Just as I was about to dismiss the idea entirely, another sharp pain seized my body.
"It was half an hour ago?" she confirmed, rising from her chair to sit by my side. I nodded my head and looked at Jack, hoping for some reassurance.
"Sarah," he said slowly. "Why does you look dat way?"
Sarah gently took Jake from me and handed him to her husband. Taking Jack by the arm she led him to the stairs, saying something in a very low, but urgent voice. I began to panic. Sarah thought I was going into labor. Before I could say anything she was back at my side.
"Where are dey going?"
Sarah grabbed my hand. "I sent Jack to get the doctor."
I began to feel hopeless, but remembered something that Mary told me when I worried about supporting the baby. "Everything happens at just the time it is supposed to," she said. "God knows what he is doing and he will take care of you every step of the way."
Please God, let my baby be okay.
My body contracted again and I felt Sarah squeeze my hand. I tried to hold it in but a moan escaped from the back of my throat. When it was finally over I loosened my grip on Sarah's hand and apologized for nearly breaking it. She just smiled and dabbed my forehead with a damp cloth. I hadn't even realized I was sweating so badly, the only think I noticed was the fear and uncertainty in Sarah's eyes. She wrote down the time on a piece of paper and determined I was about twenty-five minutes apart, which meant I still had a while to go. I kept bombarding her with questions and she assured me we would know more when the doctor got here.
The doctor finally did arrive he was accompanied by Mary. Jack was my hero; the only person I could have wanted more was Spot. Spot!
"Jack, does Spot know what's goin' on?"
Jack, who was pacing by the stairs, rushed to my side and took hold of my hand. "Don't ya worry about a ting, kiddo, I got word out ta him."
The doctor asked Jack to leave, and after some persuading he finally left, assuring me he would be right up stairs. Doctor felt my stomach and informed me that the baby's head was dropping.
"What's dat mean?" I asked anxiously.
"I does not mean anything yet," he responded, putting on a pair of plastic gloves. "As long as your water doesn't break you won't deliver, and that's what we are hoping for."
I breathed a sigh of relief, there was still hope. I heard the door slam upstairs, followed by quick steps and the opening of the door that lead to our apartment. "Marty! I just heard," Spot said as he began taking the stair three at a time. He was instantly on his knees at my side. "I came as soon as I could."
I was so relieved I wanted to cry. Now that Spot was there I could finally relax. I slept for about twenty minutes until another contraction seized my body. I looked at the clock, they were getting closer. I had to use the facilities, so Mary helped me over to the bathroom. But when I got inside the door I felt a rush of panic and was suddenly standing in a large puddle. Mary breathed a prayer and yelled out to the doctor. I couldn't believe it. My water had just broken.