8 ½ MONTHS – JUNE

"Carlos," Karen whined. "Where are we going?" I laughed and shook my head.

"Just like the other twelve times you asked, it's a surprise," I answered, driving down the road.

"But I hate surprises," Karen huffed, pouting in the passenger seat. "They're supposed to be good but they're not always."

"Well trust me," I said, turning into a parking lot. "This is a good one." I winked at her and squeezed her hand.

"Fine, but if it isn't, you owe me big time," she grumbled. I laughed again and pulled into a parking space. I got out and opened Karen's door for her, then covered her eyes.

"Why are you covering my eyes?"

"Like I said, it's a surprise, baby," I chuckled, walking her forward.

"But I already saw that we're at a restaurant, why is food a surprise?"

"It's not just food, silly," I said, opening the door to the restaurant. We walked inside and I led her to the back room used for parties. "Alright, you ready?"

"I've been ready since you made me dress up and get in the car!" she exclaimed. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

"Okay, open your eyes," I said, taking my hands away.

"SURPRISE!" everyone shouted. Karen gasped and laughed.

"It's my baby shower!" she cried, turning around and hugging me. "I totally forgot about having one. Did you plan this?"

"Are you kidding?" Kaitlyn called out. "Carlos's job was just to bring you here on time, which he did by some miracle."

"Hey!" I protested, causing everyone to laugh.

"Your awesome cousins planned this," Katie said, standing up and walking over to us. Karen thanked her and hugged her.

"Wait, you said 'cousins', as in plural," Karen said. "Where's Kendall?"

"Boo!" Kendall exclaimed, popping up behind her. Karen jumped and turned around, laughing. "I was in the bathroom. But yeah, Katie and I planned this for you, along with the help of Renee, Kaitlyn, and Lizzy, since I'm a guy and the only thing I know about babies is what I had to do when I was helping mom with Katie."

"Well thank you so much!" Karen grinned, hugging him.

"Alright, enough chit chat!" Lizzy laughed. "Let's get this party started!"

All of Karen's girlfriends were there, including Renee, Kaitlyn, and Lizzy, plus some of her friends from high school, Mrs. Knight, Karen's mom, my mom, and of course the guys. We started off by playing a game where everyone had to guess how big Karen's belly was using a roll of ribbon. Logan won that one, which was no surprise to anyone seeing as how he was a genius. Then Katie fed Karen different samples of baby food, mostly fruit since Karen was having trouble keeping meat and veggies down. Karen had to guess what each one was, and she got two correct. During the games, we all ate food provided by the restaurant. Then it was time for gifts.

Pretty much everyone bought us a couple packs of diapers, wipes, powder, and creams, along with a couple outfits. Renee bought us a stroller that also doubled as a car seat. Kaitlyn bought us a wash tub with baby shampoo and body wash, wash cloths, bath toys, and a few baby bath towels. Lizzy bought us a play mat with a bar that hung over it, dangling different toys, some that made sounds. Mrs. Knight got us a diaper bag that had Skylar's initials stitched on it and a chest carrier. Karen's mom got us a high chair, as well us a bunch of bottles, bibs, burp cloths, feeding sets, and pacifiers. My mom got us a bouncy play chair and a jumper that attached to a door way. The guys combined their money and got us an exer-saucer and walker.

"Thank you so much everybody," Karen said after she opened the last gift. "Everything was wonderful. I appreciate you all coming and chipping in to help our daughter be comfortable and loved when she comes into the world." Everyone hugged us goodbye and congratulated us, and the gang helped us load the gifts into our car. They also followed us home and helped us unpack everything into Skylar's room. Once they left, Karen and I relaxed for a while, watching a movie and eating leftovers for dinner before heading to bed.

Before we knew it, it was July already. Karen's birthday had passed, making her twenty-three now. July fourth had also passed; we celebrated with a barbeque and fireworks in our backyard with our friends and family.

July also meant Skylar was due any day now. Karen was frantic, packing and unpacking and repacking our bags for the hospital and cleaning the nursery and the rest of the house (even though we had a cleaning service that came every Saturday). I would try to be a good husband and help, but she refused to let me because she wanted it done a certain way.

"Carlos!" Karen hollered from upstairs. I groaned quietly, throwing my head back on the couch.

"Yes?" I shouted back. I heard her coming down the stairs and focused my attention back on the baseball game I was watching.

"Will you come help me clean the nursery?"

"Why does it matter?" I sighed. "You've cleaned it every day this week."

"It needs to be perfect for Skylar!" she protested, stomping her foot.

"And I'm sure it is!" I exclaimed, turning to look at her.

"Then why won't you come help me?!"

"Because every time I try to help you, you yell at me and tell me I'm doing it wrong and end up shooing me away!" I cried, standing up.

"Well this time will be different!"

"No it won't! You say that every time, and it never is!" I brushed past her, walking into the kitchen.

"Carlos! Get back here!" she cried.

"Why should I?" I grumbled, sticking my head in the fridge, looking for a drink. I heard her feet walking into the kitchen, and poked my head out to glare at her. But she wasn't glaring back. She looked scared, her eyes wide and fearful. That's when I noticed her skirt and legs.

They were wet.

Oh my God.

""Cause my water just broke."