Jimmy and I got up early. Partly because Max insisted we come to his school.
After our stop at the house in Oakland we spend a weekend at an apartment here in San Francisco.
Jimmy kisses me on the top of the head and snakes a hand around my waist. "Good morning sweetie."
"Hey. We better get dressed. Peggy will be here soon to talk to us and we need to be at Max's school before lunch."
"Why did he pick us again?" Jimmy asked getting out of bed.
"Something about unique jobs and because I'm the cool aunt and you're the cool uncle."
"Uh-huh," he said grabbing something to wear and heading into the bathroom.
It had been three weeks since our house rental program and Peggy was checking in on us. I got dressed while Jimmy was in the shower, so when he came out I was ready to go.
"Babe, do you think she'll let us buy and move in later?" I shout over the running shower.
"I think we can negotiate. I'm very persuasive," Jimmy says coming out of the bathroom.
He was in his boxers and an undershirt.
"Would you put some clothes on," I said whacking him in the arm.
"Why am I turning you on?"
"Yes. Now I'm going upstairs to get some breakfast. Peggy said she would be here in twenty minutes."
"The Oakland house is beautiful and we really loved the neighborhood," I said sitting at the kitchen table.
"Wonderful. With that house you do have the option of paying in installments and it does come partly furnished. You will keep the master bedroom, kitchen, and living room furniture,"Peggy said
Jimmy squeezed my shoulders behind me, sending a warm tingle through my body.
"How soon do we have to move in?" Jimmy asked playing with my hair.
"That would depend on your bank, but generally at least 3 weeks is the max wait period."
"Oh that's great. It gives us time to work things out here," I said standing up. "We have to be at our nephews school in about thirty minutes. Sorry to cut this short."
"No problem. I have everything I need and I will call you later," Peggy said gathering her folder and purse.
As soon as I was sure she left I turned to Jimmy. "Come on we gotta go."
He looked puzzled.
Time had flown by quickly.
"What about breakfast?"
"We can get something on the way there."
At Max's school Jimmy and I talked about work and what it was like to travel a lot. When we finished we checked Max out of school.
"Aunt Stephanie?" Max asked on the way home.
"Yea?"
"Do you and uncle Jimmy really have to move?" He held up some pamphlets on Oakland.
I reached over and put a hand on Jimmy's knee. "The basement is getting small and Jimmy and the babies and I need a lot of space."
"Well I'm glad you're only going 30 minutes away."
"Uh thanks Max," I said as my phone rang.
He smiled and looked at the house pamphlets.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Steph where are you guys?" DJ asked
Oh no something was wrong.
"What...what's wrong?" I asked tapping Jimmy's shoulder to get him to stop.
He pulled into the parking lot of a little diner.
Max unbuckled and tapped my shoulder. "Can I get a smoothie?"
Jimmy pulled out his wallet and handed Max 10 dollars.
As soon as the back door shut I put DJ on speaker.
"Deej. You aren't saying anything. What's wrong?" I asked going into a panic.
"I don't want to scare you, but it's Kimmy. I think the contractions are real this time."
Jimmy grabbed my hands and looked at me. Sadness loomed in his eyes.
"No. It's too early," I said a tear slipping down my cheek.
"Steph. I'm going to get Kimmy to the hospital. Jimmy can you guys be there in like 20 minutes?" DJ asked.
I heard a groan from Kimmy in the background.
"We checked Max out of school for lunch. He's still with us," I said.
"Umm drop him off at home. Ramona can watch him."
"Kimmy are you ok?" Jimmy asked rubbing soothing circles on my back.
"Hey Jimmy," Kimmy said in a strained voice. "I'm ok. In pain, but ok."
Max climbed back in the backseat with his smoothie. "Where are we going next?"
"Deej. We'll see you soon," I said wiping my eyes.
Jimmy turned to Max. "We have to cut our little adventure short and take you home." He looked at me for what to say next.
"We have to go to the hospital Max. I think your cousins might be arriving a little early."
"Awesome! What are their names?" He asked unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
"Uh-uh. That is still a surprise."
Jimmy drove as quickly as possible. We dropped Max off, grabbed a snack since we didn't get to eat, and rushed up to the hospital.