A couple of days went by and Ashley had a couple more contractions. She and Robert were in the car on their way to Dr. A's office.
"What if the baby does come early?" Ashley asked.
"Then the baby will come early. We will figure out what to do if that happens. But he or she is not coming right now. There is no need to get stressed out about it" Robert said.
Ashley sighed. Robert looked at his wife, who was looking out of the window. He placed his hand on top of Ashley's.
"I didn't mean to snap. I just don't want you to worry about things that aren't happening yet" Robert said softly.
"I know" Ashley said holding his hand.
"I know you are worried and I know that a lot can happen. But, whatever happens, we have to do what's best for you and the baby" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. Robert pulled into the parking lot of Dr. A's office. He got out of the car and went to Ashley's side and helped her get out. Robert looked at his wife.
"Ash" Robert said.
Ashley looked at Robert.
"I love you and I'm worried too" Robert said.
Ashley wrapped her arms around Robert. Robert kissed Ashley's temple softly.
"Now, let's go see how much this kid has grown since last week" Robert said.
"He or she is kicking harder. So, I am sure he or she got bigger" Ashley said.
Robert smiled. He leaned in and kissed Ashley's lips. The couple walked into the office. An hour later, Ashley and Robert got into the car.
"Ready to go home?" Robert asked.
"Yeah" Ashley said.
Robert started the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
"She said that the baby looked good" Ashley said.
Robert smiled softly as he continued to focus on driving.
"Yeah. Do you feel a little better?" Robert asked.
"Yeah" Ashley said.
"Good" Robert said.
Robert drove to the apartment. That night, Ashley and Robert were having both of their families over for dinner. Ashley was checking on dinner in the oven when Robert came into the kitchen. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"I got this. You go and sit with our families when they get here, okay?" Robert said.
"Are you sure?" Ashley asked.
Robert smiled. He unwrapped his arms from Ashley and turned her so that she was looking at him.
"I'm sure. You need to be relaxing" Robert said.
Ashley sighed and nodded. Robert smiled. He leaned in and kissed his wife's lips
"I love you" Ashley said.
"I love you too" Robert said.
An hour later, both Robert and Ashley's families were in the apartment. Ashley was sitting on the couch in the living room talking to her sisters and Everly about the baby.
"So, are you nervous?" Sophie, one of Ashley's sister's asked.
"Yeah. But, I am trying to be positive" Ashley said.
Everly smiled.
"We are all here to help" Everly said.
Ashley smiled at her sister-in-law.
"Thanks, Ev. I'm going to need your help" Ashley said.
"Are you going to get an epidural or are you going to have the baby naturally?" Julie, Ashley's other sister asked.
"Um…we haven't talked about that yet" Ashley said.
"The baby is coming in three weeks and you haven't talked about it yet, Ash?" Julie asked.
"No. Besides, it isn't any of your business. It's Rob and my business" Ashley said.
Everly could feel Ashley's anxiety. She excused herself and walked into the kitchen where Robert was.
"Hey" Robert said looking at his sister.
"Hey" Everly said.
"How are you? Sorry, I haven't really been out there to talk. I just didn't want Ash to get overwhelmed with everything" Robert said.
"That's understandable. I'm fine. How long have Ashley's sisters been in town?" Everly asked.
"Since the baby shower. I thought you met them already" Robert said checking on the food.
"I think I did. But it was just an introduction" Everly said.
There was a moment of silence.
"Something is up. What's wrong?" Robert asked looking at his sister.
"I know you don't like it when I get into your business. But, Ashley's sisters are kind of freaking her out" Everly said.
Robert's eyebrows furrowed.
"What do you mean?" Robert asked.
"They keep asking about your plan for when the baby comes. They are asking her if she's nervous, which is fine to ask. But then they are starting to ask her about pain meds and stuff like that. I know that it is none of my business-" Everly started.
"Ev, stop. You did the right thing by telling me. I'm not mad. How did Ash respond to all of that?" Robert asked.
"I could feel her anxiety" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"I'll talk to her about it later. If they start asking other things, tell them to lay off, please" Robert said.
Everly nodded. Robert smiled slightly.
"Thanks, Ev. I appreciate you looking out for her" Robert said.
"That's my godchild in there. I'm not going to let someone stress Ashley out" Everly said.
Robert smiled. A couple of minutes later, Robert and Ashley put dinner out on the table. The couple and their families ate together and talked about the upcoming arrival of the baby. Later that night, Ashley was already in bed sleeping. Robert walked into the bedroom and took his pants and shirt off. He climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around Ashley's bump. Ashley moaned in her sleep and opened her eyes.
"Hey, go back to sleep. It's just me" Robert whispered.
"Now I'm awake" Ashley said softly.
Robert smiled.
"I heard that Soph and Julie were grilling you earlier. You okay?" Robert asked.
"Everly told you?" Ashley asked.
"She felt how anxious you were when they started asking questions. She wanted to help" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"Do you want to talk about it, baby?" Robert asked.
Ashley sighed. She turned over so that she was looking at Robert.
"They were asking about me giving birth" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"What about it?" Robert asked.
"They wanted to know if we had talked about pain meds. When I told them that we hadn't talked about it yet, they freaked out. They told me that the baby would be here in three weeks and that you and I needed to talk about it. I told them it was our business and not theirs" Ashley explained.
Robert nodded.
"So they overwhelmed you?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded. Robert smiled and leaned in and kissed Ashley's lips softly.
"I wish I could have been with you and shut it down" Robert said.
Ashley shrugged.
"Ev didn't say anything" Ashley said.
"She didn't say anything because she didn't think it was her place to. These were your sisters. She told me because she was looking out for you and she wanted me to know" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"Don't be upset with her" Robert said.
"I'm not. I just didn't know she told you" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"Next time, I'll pay more attention" Robert said.
Ashley responded by snuggling into Robert's chest as close as she could.
"But, we do need to talk about this" Ashley said.
"And we will. Privately. Not in front of both of our families. This is our decision, not theirs" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. Robert kissed Ashley's lips softly, but passionately. Ashley pulled away slowly and smiled when she felt the baby kick.
"What?" Robert asked.
"Baby kicks" Ashley said.
Robert smiled. He leaned in again and kissed Ashley's lips. The couple fell asleep that night knowing that they had a lot to talk about before the baby arrived. The next day, Everly and Easton were at the apartment with Robert. They had just come back from their parents' house. Robert wanted Ashley to sleep in so he left a note saying where he was going. Ashley walked into the kitchen and smiled.
"Hi guys" Ashley said.
"Hey, Ash" the twins' said.
"Have you talked to your sisters after last night?" Everly asked.
"Everly" Robert warned.
"What?" Everly asked looking at her older brother.
"It's okay, Ev. I did talk to them. I told them to lay off the questions" Ashley said.
"What happened?" Easton asked.
"Nothing, East" Robert said.
"Where did you guys go?" Ashley asked sitting at the kitchen island.
"We went to our parents' house for a little bit" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"I didn't want to wake you up because you need sleep" Robert said.
Ashley smiled gratefully.
"Thanks" Ashley said.
Ashley placed her hand on her back. Robert noticed it. He looked at Ashley, who looked at him. Robert stood up and walked over to his wife.
"Take my chair. I'll stand" Robert said.
"No, it's okay" Ashley said.
"Baby" Robert started.
Ashley sighed. She leaned in and kissed Robert's lips softly.
"Thanks" Ashley said.
Ashley walked over to the seat that Robert had previously been sitting in and sat down. Robert knew that Ashley was stressed out. Even though she didn't say it. What Sophie and Julie had asked and said really bothered Ashley. An hour later, Easton and Everly left the apartment. Robert walked into the living room and smiled when he saw Ashley lying down on the couch. He walked over to her and carefully lifted her legs up so he could sit down. Robert then set Ashley's feet in his lap.
"How are you feeling?" Robert asked.
"Fine" Ashley said.
Robert looked at his wife.
"I know that what happened last night is still bothering you" Robert said.
Ashley looked at Robert.
"It's our business" Ashley said.
Robert smiled.
"I know. I think that your sisters just wanted to contribute something. They love you and care about you. They just didn't start the conversation in a sensitive way" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"You haven't spent a lot of time all together for a while and they were just trying to understand what was happening so that they wouldn't be out of the loop" Robert said.
"Yeah" Ashley said.
"Plus, you have been through a lot since we found out you were pregnant" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. That night, Ashley and Robert were lying in bed.
"Your mom is coming over tomorrow, right?" Robert asked.
"Yeah. Are you working late?" Ashley asked.
"No. Do you want me to pick up dinner on my way home?" Robert asked.
"Yeah, that would be nice" Ashley said.
"Okay" Robert said.
"The baby has been moving all day. He or she is pressed up against my back" Ashley said.
"It's getting bigger and tryng to find some more space in there" Robert said leaning over and kissing Ashley's bump.
Ashley nodded tiredly. Robert leaned over and kissed Ashley's lips softly.
"Get some sleep, okay?" Robert said.
"Okay" Ashley said softly.
Robert smiled. Ashley instinctively snuggled into Robert's chest as much as her stomach would allow. The couple fell asleep. The next day, Robert came home to women yelling. He walked into the living room and saw Amy and Ashley arguing. He leaned against the door frame and listened.
"You haven't been around for my entire pregnancy and you think that I should just let you be in the delivery room? Have you lost your mind?" Ashley asked angrily.
"Ashley, I had to work. I'm sorry. I wished that I could have been here as much as you did. But, I am your mother. Don't you want me in the room with you?" Amy asked.
"Why would I? You weren't here when I had to go to the hospital multiple times. You didn't have to listen to me cry about how scared I was to have this baby knowing the risks. You don't know a single thing about what is going on because you aren't here" Ashley said loudly.
Robert heard enough to know what was going on.
"Hey, hey, what's going on?" Robert asked his wife and mother-in-law.
"She's driving me crazy" Ashley cried.
Ashley walked to the bedroom and slammed the door behind her. Amy swallowed hard.
"Rob-" Amy started.
Robert shook his head.
"Amy, a lot has happened during Ashley's pregnancy that you don't know about. It's no one's fault. But, with this situation, you need to give Ashley her space. She's hormonal, exhausted, and scared" Robert said.
"I didn't know about any of those" Amy said.
"And she didn't want to tell you because you lived far away. I understand that because I went through something similar" Robert said.
Amy looked at her son-in-law.
"What do you mean?" Amy asked.
"My dad used to have his own marketing business. He had multiple locations all over New Mexico. My mom was pregnant with the twins and I and he was driving all over the state. I grew up with him gone a lot. There was a point where I didn't want him to be in my life. But, now we have a better relationship because he made an effort to be in my brother, sister, and I's life. So, this is emotional for me too. I'm trying to be the person that Ash needs for any and everything. My family has too. Ashley told me that she wants me to be the only person in the delivery room because I'm not only her husband and the father of her child, but her person. She needs that. I would appreciate it if you don't bring this topic up again" Robert said.
Amy smiled softly.
"I didn't know any of that. You are a really good man, Rob" Amy said.
Robert smiled sympathetically.
"I try to be. So, can we not bring this up again?" Robert asked.
Amy nodded. A couple minutes later, Amy left the apartment. Robert walked to the closed bedroom door and knocked.
"Ash?" Robert called.
"Did she leave?" Ashley asked hoarsely.
"Yeah, baby. Can I come in?" Robert asked.
Robert heard the door unlock. Ashley opened the door. Robert smiled sympathetically and opened his arms. Ashley walked into them.
"How much of what I told her did you hear?" Robert asked.
"All of it. Thank you" Ashley said quietly.
Robert kissed Ashley's temple softly.
"I know that it's hard for you to talk about your childhood like that" Ashley continued.
"I wanted her to understand where I was coming from" Robert said.
Ashley smiled softly. She leaned in and kissed Robert's lips softly.
"I love you" Ashley said.
Robert smiled.
"I love you more" Robert said.
Ashley closed her eyes and placed her hand on her bump.
"Sweetheart, you okay?" Robert asked.
Ashley took a deep breath and released. She then took another one and released it. Ashley opened her eyes and looked at her concerned husband.
"Contraction" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"Come on, get into your pajamas. We can watch a movie" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. The couple got ready for bed. Robert climbed into bed and moved Ashley closer to him.
"You okay?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded.
"Yeah. The contraction just scared me, that's all" Ashley said.
Robert nodded. He leaned in and kissed Ashley's lips softly.
"We have three weeks until this baby is ready to come out and he or she is not coming out any sooner" Robert said.
Ashley smiled and giggled.
"You know that you can't control that" Ashley said.
"I know. So, about earlier, do you want the epidural?" Robert asked.
Ashley looked at Robert.
"Everyone keeps saying to get it" Ashley said.
"But, what do you want?" Robert repeated.
"I think that I should. We don't know what is going to happen with the baby and I just want to make sure that I'm calm and comfortable" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"I agree" Robert said.
"What if they separate us?" Ashley asked.
Robert looked at his wife.
"What do you mean?" Robert asked.
"If something goes wrong, the baby and I might be separated" Ashley said.
"We will cross that bridge when we get there. But, right now, you both are fine" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. The couple talked about more about the baby and then watched a movie. They couldn't believe that their first child would be here in three weeks.