Chapter 21: Breakfast on Hold
Liz slowly woke up. She looked at the clock and almost jumped up in a hurry. It was two hours past the time she usually got up for work. She was just about ready to get out of bed when she realized that she was on maternity leave and didn't have to get up. She flopped back in bed. She rolled on her back and looked up at the ceiling. It was pretty much the only thing she could see since her stomach was in the way. She was less than two weeks away from her due date and she was ready for it. It was hard to do any of the things she usually did. She hadn't tied her own shoes in three weeks and she was finding it hard to dress herself. She yawned pondering if she should get up now or enjoy a few more minutes in bed. She looked over at Todd. He was sleeping soundly and she smiled. She felt so bad for running him ragged, but currently he was stuck at home with her and indulging all her wishes. Besides, that was his job, wasn't it? He still had another three weeks before he had to get back to working at the school five days a week as the AD. Sports seasons started next week and within in a month he'd be crazy busy all over again. She figured she might as well get him prepared. Todd opened up one of his eyes halfway and let out a little tired groan.
"I felt you watching me." He said to her in a thick, sleep-laden voice. He didn't know what time it was but figured and hoped it was late. For the past couple of months he only got up early one or two times a week to go into work at the school, but today was not one of them. He loved summer vacation. It was like being a kid all over again. So he got to sleep in, if Liz let him that is. "What's going on?" He asked her sleepily as he closed his eyes once again. Liz smiled. "Well you're just so cute when you sleep." She said stroking his cheek. It was true. He looked like a sleeping child. She was just about ready to settle back down and try to get to sleep again when she felt that persistent urge to use the bathroom. She groaned to herself and struggled to get up. It seemed like she couldn't stray more than five feet away from the bathroom without having to go. She walked to the bathroom as fast as she could.
"Hrrmph." Todd sounded, incoherently at that. He closed his eyes again, but then opened both of them when he felt the bed dip considerably as Elizabeth sat up and scooted off her side of it. He saw her struggle to get up then his eyes followed her as she waddled to the bathroom. Todd shut both of his eyes again and snuggled down deeper into his pillow. Just because Elizabeth was up didn't mean he had to get up- right? Todd peeked at the red lights on the alarm clock. 8:30? That certainly wasn't sleeping in for him!
Liz used the bathroom and quickly went back to bed. She slid into the bed as carefully as she could. But it ended up being more of a large drop. She pulled the covers back from Todd and snuggled in close. She closed her eyes. She was hoping she could get in another hour or so before she had to get up.
"Li-izzzzz" Todd groaned. Why did she have to get all snuggly with him right now? Couldn't she tell he wanted to sleep some more. Why did she have to get so damn close to him right now? It was hard to sleep like that. Couldn't she give him some space? "You stole all the covers." He complained to her instead, in a voice still thick with
sleep.
"Well you're hogging them!" She retorted. She rolled onto her other side so she didn't have to look at him. She tried to fall asleep but Todd kept pulling at the covers.
"Stop it!" She exclaimed, pulling them back.
"Well you left the bed." Todd explained to her. He was starting to get a little cold. Well not cold per say but he was loosing that bed warmth, and his bare chest was feeling the room temperature air hit it. Todd kept yanking at the covers until he felt satisfied that he had enough of them to cover his body with, and of course was sufficient enough to snuggle in. "I need more I'm bigger than you." He exclaimed with a half smile as he felt happy in his cover win, as he once again closed his eyes. Then he realized how untrue that statement was- not with Liz in her current 'state.' She now doubled him in size.
"No, you're not!" Liz said pulling the covers back. She rolled closer to Todd so she could get more covers. She was starting to see that this fight was pointless, and she still wanted sleep.
Todd realized with Liz's last swipes she'd stolen half of his covers. Now only half of his body was covered. "You know, I think I made a mistake in pestering you to go on maternity leave." He managed to get out through a yawn as he rubbed his cheek. "Sleeping in used to be so much easier."
Liz rolled her eyes, "I told you so" she said with her most superior voice. She knew that Todd was going to get sick of her soon enough. She gave him a bit of covers but she stayed on her side wanting to get the rest of the sleep in. Even though she was getting plenty of sleep she had become drowsier lately and had absolutely no energy.
Todd laid there for a few more minutes, not sure how long or how short it really was. But he wasn't going to get back to sleep- that he could tell. He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling. Hoping that it might bore him into sleep, he kept looking. Every once in while he'd sigh or sniff or shift. He looked. And looked some more. Sleeping in wasn't fun-or possible- unless she was sleeping too. He moved his neck to the side to look at Elizabeth. "You don't feel like making breakfast this morning, do you?" He asked in a hopeful voice. Lately breakfast for him- at whatever hour he ended up crawling out of bed, meant a bowl of cocoa puffs, or if he felt like a hot breakfast- an Egg
McMuffin from McDonalds.
Liz rolled her eyes. She didn't feel like cooking now. She hated being on her feet. Her ankles were swollen and her legs felt numb. She knew how much he wanted a home cooked breakfast though. After all, it had been awhile..... Shrugging her shoulders she made him an offer. "Only if you help me."
Todd thought for a second. "Never mind." He decided. He would settle for the bowl of cocoa puffs. Then he laid there a little longer. Was she still trying to sleep? Then he started to think about what he had asked her, and his response. He really loved her cooking- especially the way she cooked breakfast. And it had been a long time since she
had cooked breakfast for them. Today they were both home. It might be the last chance they had at having breakfast alone together for a while. His mouth was already watering at the thought of what she'd cook for him. "I changed my mind." He announced to the quiet bedroom. He used his knee to nudge her butt. "You cook and I'll help."
Liz groaned, "Okay, what would you like?" She asked, rolling on her back and looked at him. Now that she thought about it, French Toast sounded pretty good.
"Everything." Todd said, smiling his cutest smile at her.
"A little more specific please?" Liz said chuckling lightly. Todd knew that smile always got to her. She could never say no to him when he used it on her. "Only if you help me." She added one more time.
"You got it." Todd said, closing his eyes and smiling lazily. "I specifically would like a little of everything." He opened one eye and peered at her. "Or actually, how about a lot of everything?" He corrected.
"How about some French Toast and some bacon?" She said laughing, yet hoping he'd be content with that. "And maybe some eggs?"
"Yum...okay." Todd said, his mouth watering. "And sausage too? I think we've got some in one of the bins." Starting to get carried away, he added to his order. "Do you think you can squeeze some fresh orange juice? Oh and how about hash browns? They sound good too!"
"What about just dry cereal?" Liz said sarcastically.
"No cereal doesn't go with everything else." Todd said, purposely not getting where she had been going with that."
"Listen I'm your wife, Todd. Not your short-order cook." She said struggling to get up, obviously aggravated. "Now do you want to help me get up?"
Todd groaned with a laugh, wanting to add something more. "This morning you are." He teased her. "I don't want you thinking maternity leave is for you to just kick back and relax. It's for you to take care of your babies." He said, flashing her that same sweet, cute, sexy, smile. He laughed at her. "Why don't you go get everything out and start the oven or microwave or stove or whatever, and then I'll join you." Todd suggested as he helped her up.
Liz rolled her eyes. She figured she wasn't going to get any help from him. The last time she had asked him to cook it involved opening up a hot pocket and putting that in the microwave. Something told her that he wouldn't have a much of a variety in his diet if it weren't for her. After slipping on her slippers, she walked to the kitchen yawning. So much for the relaxing. She pulled out the skillet for the bacon and got out measuring cups for the pancake batter. Those would be easier and faster to make than French toast.
She had just started to measure out the milk when she felt a sharp pain lower abdomen. "Oww." She moaned, dropping the milk. It wasn't that intense, but it did surprise her. She leaned on the counter waiting for it to go away. She looked at her watch seeing how long it was going to last. "Todd." She yelled.
Todd's head popped up from the pillow at her first scream and by her second, he was halfway down the hall. His heart was pounding and his eyes were a bit wild. He raced into the kitchen and saw Liz leaning up against the counter, one hand on her stomach, her other arm out, bracing herself against the counter. Todd saw milk dripping off of the counter and down the cabinet and to the floor. "What is it?" He asked worriedly, rushing to her side.
"I think I felt a contraction." She looked worried, looking up to him. The pain slowly drifted away but her back felt really sore.
His eyes widened beyond belief. "Oh my god now!? You're having contractions! But its two weeks early! "
"Yes I know that too Todd!" Liz said biting her lip. She waited to see if there were anymore that would come.
"Are you sure?" He asked her, still surprised. The baby was coming? Now? It was coming? He'd been counting on two more weeks! He wasn't ready yet! "Well come on, we've got to get to the hospital." Todd said frantically, as he held out his hand for Liz to step gingerly and carefully through the milk puddle at her feet.
"Wait. I need to turn off the oven, and then I need to pack my bags." She said shaking his hand off. She hurried to the stove and switched it off and went waddling back to the bedroom.
"Liz, there's not time for that!" Todd said, following after her in just his red plaid boxers which he'd slept in. They weren't doing this right! It wasn't supposed to happen this way. The bag was supposed to be packed. They were supposed to have two more weeks to get ready for the baby. Todd was frantic. He grabbed his keys from the top of
dresser and stuffed his feet in a pair of Old Navy thong sandals he found easily laying in the closet and stood at the door- in just his boxers, and shouted at her, "Come on Liz! Forget about the bag. We've got to go!"
"Todd put on some clothes!" she scolded him, "We have plenty of time." She was grabbing her overnight bag. She grabbed a few shirts and pants and some toiletries.
Todd looked at her in bewilderment. They had to leave so that she could get to the hospital to give birth and here she was packing casually like they were leaving for vacation tomorrow. He looked down at himself and realized he really should probably put some clothes on. In two quick strides he was at the closet and took out a pair of his jeans and pulled them up. He zipped them up and grabbed the first t-shirt he could, and put it on. It was a "Frankie Says Relax" t-shirt which Todd had been given at a white elephant gift exchange that the team had had at the end of the season. "Come on!"
Liz cringed when she saw Todd's shirt. It looked like it belonged back in the mid 80's. She was about to say he should have kept it in that decade but thought better of it. She grabbed a sweatshirt for him since she didn't want the doctors to think they were retarded or something. Todd looked like a five year old who had to go to the bathroom, bobbing up and down by the doorway to their bedroom. "Okay, I'm ready." She told him finally.
"Come on come on" Todd beckoned her as he ushered her out as he re-stuffed his feet in his flip flops- this time having them go on the correct feet. He held the sweatshirt in his hand, not sure why Liz had handed it to him. It was August- it wasn't cold. Still, Todd held onto it, and grabbed the bag from Liz's hand and hustled them out of the
house.
Liz grabbed his tennis shoes on the way out. Guys with flip flops just did not seem right. She stopped looking back at the house. In probably two days this house would have one more person she thought to herself. She smiled almost sentimentally.
Todd helped get Elizabeth into the car- they were taking hers since that's the car they had set up the car seat in. Plus it was easier for her to get into than his truck. Todd ran to his side, accidentally stepping out of one of his flip flops, hurried and scooted it back on,
then got in. He gunned the engine and sped off down the street, apprehension forming within him. He was going to become a father. Todd kept his eyes sealed on the road, as he wondered to himself, am I ready to become a father?
An Hour and a Half Later:
Todd and Elizabeth traipsed back up the steps of their house. Both quiet. Todd got to the door first, and opened it. It opened with a creak, and lightly tapped against the wall on the inside. Both Todd and Elizabeth turned and looked at each other, then back at the open door. Home again. All two of them. Todd waited for Elizabeth to go in first, which she did.
"You still feel like breakfast?" he heard her ask him dully as she stepped inside.
Todd walked in after her, and shut the door behind him. It closed with a thud. "Nah, I'm uh, not hungry anymore." Todd told her, even though he probably hadn't needed to. He tossed his keys on the kitchen table and sat down in a chair. Suddenly he had two new names that they could possibly use if the baby was a boy: either Braxton, or
Hicks. Todd rolled his eyes, and saw the puddle of milk still on the kitchen floor from when Liz had spilled it about an hour ago during one of her "contractions". He sighed, knowing that needed to get cleaned up or else it would start to sour up. "Well- he thought to himself as he got up out of the chair and grabbed some paper towels, then squatted over the milk to clean it up- I certainly have more time to decide if I'm ready to become a father. Braxton-Hicks contractions is what Liz had experienced in the kitchen a little awhile ago as she was just starting to prepare one of her mouth watering breakfasts. What was it the doctor had explained to them, making both he and Liz feel utterly, totally, moronic, "The uterus is just practicing for the event." As in, she wasn't going into labor, you moron, which is what Todd felt like the doctor had REALLY been telling him. Todd stood up and tossed the soggy paper towels into the trash can. He felt a pinch on his toe where the flip flop was rubbing uncomfortably against his skin.
Liz sat down in the chair her chin in her hands. Her doctor had warned her about these and that she would experience them. Being a first time mother though she had panicked and instantly thought that they were labor pains. She sighed. At least now they would be more prepared. They left the bag packed and easily accessible right next to the door. Todd had promised that he would dress like a regular person instead of a stand in for That 80's Show. She watched as Todd cleaned up the spilt milk. The phone rang and she stood up to go get it. She answered it in a deflated voice, "Hello?"
"Well don't sound too excited!" came from the other end as Liz scrunched her forehead. It was her sister. She looked at the clock to make sure. Yep, it was still only 10 am. But usually Jess was either still in bed or at work.
"Hey Jess, what's going on?" Liz said cheering up a bit.
"Well I was just sitting here bored to death at work and I thought of you cooped up in the house all day with Mr. boring as butter and thought that maybe we should go shopping for baby stuff, I mean little Amanda pretty much only has a crib!" Liz rolled her eyes. Her sister was not only stuck on the fact that she was having a girl, but that she
and Todd were going to name her Amanda. Liz had pretty much dismissed it up until a few weeks ago when she told Jess that they did not know the sex and to just drop it, but it was obvious that it was still going on.
"Jessica," Liz started in a calm voice, "We don't know if it will be a little Amanda or a little Aaron, so we are waiting to shop until after the birth," she said. Todd must have known it was Jessica because he wasn't paying attention and was cleaning up the rest of the mess. "Besides Jess I'm practically nine months pregnant and I just got back from the hospital because I thought I had gone into labor."
"Oh my god!" Jess screamed, "Are you alright?" she asked, "If you wait right there I can come over and be with you."
"No Jess I'm fine it wasn't anything serious, besides Todd's here and we're fine," Liz answered.
"Whatever, but I know you would have more fun with me than with the wonder bread!" she hung up.
Liz looked at the telephone. She's never going to grow up! She thought to herself. She put the phone back in the cradle and turned to Todd. All of a sudden she was hungry. She took out all the things Todd just put away and turned on the oven. Her pancakes sounded really good now.
Todd watched her take all the stuff back out. "You're still gonna cook?" He asked her, surprised to say the least. "It's ok Liz, I really don't need you to cook me breakfast anymore." He took his flip flops off.
"Who said I was cooking for you?" she said looking at him. She pulled out the milk and got the pancake batter out. She got a bunch of measuring cups out and started frying the bacon.
Todd opened his mouth to reply, then paused, then shut it. He was having a hard time reading her mood. "So is your zany sister still stuck on that Amanda business?" He asked her as he walked into the living room, making small talk.
"Yea it seems like it, I don't know where she got the idea that it was a girl," Liz said blushing. She was glad that Todd had left the room.
Todd sat down in the recliner and looked for remote. It wasn't where it was supposed to be. Sighing, he got back up and looked around the living room, shuffling magazines. "You know Liz, maybe we should start to seriously talk about names" he proposed.
Liz finished up her pancake batter and poured it on the stove. She choose to ignore his question. She had already picked out a few good names already and she didn't want to give them up. She already knew it was a girl, since she asked the doctor personally when Todd was out of the room. She wanted to know for her sake so she could buy things to prepare for the baby. Her mother had designed the nursery and it leaned more towards a girl. She finished up her breakfast and turned off the stove putting it on a plate.
Todd didn't hear Liz answer him, so he just decided to 'whatever' it, as all he did ear was the sounds from a kitchen of her busy at work. Hmm, maybe he was still hungry after all......he was always hungry, especially when Liz cooked breakfast. Todd found the remote and then settled back into the recliner, turning on the TV. He was embarrassed to admit it but he had become a little addicted to the morning soaps. And since he was home during the summer.....he was able to watch them, and so he did. A few minutes later he saw Liz walk into the living room, carrying her plate. As she passed by him Todd swiped a piece of bacon off of her plate and bit into it. Yum. He turned the TV volume down some. "You got a plate for me?" he asked her, as he watched her carefully settle down into the couch. He chewed on his bacon as he waited for her to respond. "Come on Liz- lets talk baby names. Maybe Jessica isn't totally off her rocker for once. Just cause we don't know what it is yet doesn't mean we can't start talking about it. Come on, tell me a boys name and a girls name, then I'll tell you what I think of them. Then I'll pick two myself, and you can give me your opinion."
"You said you weren't hungry!" Liz said guarding her plate. She slapped his hand away when he tried to swipe another piece across the end table between the two of them. Liz thought about what Todd said. In reality she had already discussed this with Jess and the both had liked Amanda. Right after she had found out she was having a baby girl she had told Jessica. Now she realized it probably wasn't the best idea but at least she had someone to discuss specific girls names, dresses, dolls, and what she was going to do with her daughter when the time came. She was glad she was having a daughter. And she rejoiced in the thought and was very excited. Now that she knew she was having a girl Liz hated the thought of wasting time talking about boy names. "Actually I like Amanda," she said taking a bite of her bacon.
Todd stood up from his recliner and wiped the bacon grease on his shirt. "Fine I'll go make my own plate." Todd said, getting up. He walked into the kitchen but continued the conversation. "Yeah but Liz that's your like-" he paused in dishing out his plate and thought, "-your great great great grandma's name or something. Don't we want to go unique? Something all our own" he asked, coming back into the living
room and sitting back down on the recliner, a couple of pancakes and
strips of bacon on his plate. He looked up at Liz.
Liz shrugged her shoulders, "I guess its just a family tradition," she said. "I don't suppose you had a better one?"
"Well honestly I haven't really though yet" Todd confessed. "I thought we could think and come up with something together." He chewed his bacon. "If it's a girl, I don't know, what about...." he racked his brain. "Cassie?"
Liz scrunched her nose, "I read somewhere that girl names ending with that 'e' sounding like Jenny and Sandy, and Cassie aren't taken as seriously in life like in the business world," Liz said emphatically.
"Yeah but those are y's. Cassie would be ie. Hey my mom's name ends with a y" Todd suddenly realized with a chew of his butter and sugar topped pancakes. He didn't use syrup. "Besides, Billie's name ends in an ie. Look, I mean, I wasn't set on Cassie, it was just a suggestion."
"I don't like Cassie," Liz said. She struggled to get out of the couch. It was becoming harder and harder to do these simple tasks. She got out and went to the kitchen to put her dish in the dishwasher.
"Ok, well tell me one that you do like." Todd said, racking his brain for more. He thought about girls who went to the school he worked at.
"I dunno," Liz said. She had pretty much already decided on Amanda, "I really liked Kristina," she said.
"Well I kinda like that one, but loose the 'A'. What about Kristen?"
"Kristen is pretty, what about Ariana?" Liz asked.
Todd was in the middle of chewing and a made a face. "Ariana? Yuck. It sounds foreign" he retorted honestly. "What about Alyssa?"
Liz shook her head, "No that sounds like a farmer's daughter's name."
Todd burst out laughing. "What, how in the world do you get that?" He wanted to know. "Ok, what about Tessa? Or Marissa?" He asked, thinking of two girls who were best friends and on the JV girls basketball team.
"Tessa sounds like a black girls name, and Marissa sounds like a name that you give a girl who you know is going to get in trouble," Liz said.
Todd laughed again. The Tessa he was thinking about had blue eyes and long wavy brown hair. And she was very, very, white. But she had honed in correctly on the Marissa. She was a bit of a troublemaker when she wanted to be. She had jeopardized her place on the team a few times by her actions. He sat and thought, really thought, as he finished off his pancakes. Then it hit him. A name he really liked. And would fall in love with as a possible name for a possible daughter. "Hey Liz!" he asked, setting his plate on the floor, "what about something like, Alexandria? And then, for nicknames, we could go with either Alex or Ali" he said, smiling, really falling in love with this name. It was the first one he had suggested that he felt passionate for. The others had just been names thrown out.
Liz thought about it. The first thing that had come to mind was her old friend Enid. During her freshman year of college she had changed it to Alexandria. At first she had hit some rocks, but she had really hit her stride and was very happy now with her husband Noah. Liz had talked to her a few months ago, when they had met in the grocery store. Alex had two little boys with her and she looked just as how she remembered her. Liz nodded. "Yea that would be a great name," she replied honestly.
"Really? You like it?" Todd asked, delighted at this. "Well, but I mean, who knows if its even gonna be a girl, right?" Todd said, telling himself not to get psyched up for a little baby girl that he could possibly name Alexandria.
"Honey what about boy's names?" he asked her, remembering the 50/50 chances. "Well besides Todd Junior of course." he teased.
"No junior names please," Liz said. "Jess already hates the name Todd, she doesn't need a second reason. "I was thinking Matthew," she said kind of dull-ly. She wasn't too excited for them, since she knew her baby would definitely no qualify for a Matthew. Maybe they could brainstorm for their next child.
"Matthew, yeah, I could get into that." Todd said, thinking. "Matt, or Matty" he smiled. "Kinda Biblical sounding though. But I like it. He tried to think of a male little version of him. Well, of Liz and him. "What do you think of Joshua. Josh."
"Yea that's cute," Liz said agreeing with him. She leaned back in her chair closing her eyes. The baby was moving. She had read in her pregnancy books that by now the baby had settled in a set position. She had taken a non-stress test and gotten the position of the baby. Everything was great and the doctor had pegged the pregnancy right on schedule. She had told liz that she had a good 2 weeks left. But now whenever the baby moved it wasn't really pleasant. It was starting to become uncomfortable and everything seemed to be going slow lately.
"What's wrong?" Todd asked her. "You don't want to keep talking about names?" He questioned her. "I mean we just started talking about ones for a boy."
"No it's not that," Liz said. She was ready to get rid of the baby from her body. "It's just that I'm so uncomfortable! I can barely sit right, I can't sleep and it hurts to stand up, and I need to go to the bathroom again and I don't want to get up."
Todd chuckled but gave her a sympathetic "awe". He got up and went and sat beside his slightly pouting wife on the couch. He tried to put his arms around her. "Baby I'm sorry" he said to her, giving her a little squeeze. "You're doing such a good job though."
"I still feel like crap though!" Liz said, "And every time the baby moves I either can't breath or I have to go to the bathroom," she said. "I sort of wish that it had started today."
Todd gave her another little squeeze. What could he really do? Not much. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry honey" he said to her. "Would you want me to help you get up for the bathroom? Then do you want a foot and back rub?" Somehow it didn't seem like he was really on 'vacation' anymore.
"That would be nice," Liz said sitting up a bit. She took Todd's hand and he supported her back as she slowly rose from the couch. She walked to the bathroom and went coming back ready for her foot and back rub. She sat down again, "Could you by any chance get my book?" she asked.
Todd had become engrossed in the soap opera that was on now. It sure didn't take long with these dramatic storylines. "Hmm? Yeah.." Todd said somewhat distracted, tearing his eyes away a second later and getting up. "Where is it? In the bedroom?" he asked her.
"Yea, on my nightstand I think," she answered him.
"OK" Todd said walking down the hallway. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. He was telling himself, like mantra. Then the extra weight would be gone, and Liz would be Liz again, well at least with her body. Yeah they'd have knew stuff, like, diapers, crying, feedings, but that was different good. Todd grabbed a book sitting on her nightstand and the title caught his eye. He looked at it. She must have just started this one, Todd hadn't noticed it before. It's title was, "Will My Husband Be A Good Father?" Todd gulped. He was definitely feeling anxiety. What if he couldn't support his family? What if he screwed up his kid's life? Todd tried to clear it from his head as he walked back down the hall, ready to give Liz her book and her massage. Two more weeks......resonated in his head, but with a different feel than it had a minute ago.
"Not that book, the other one," she said, getting irritated as she saw the one he was extending to her. Couldn't he do just a simple task? She thought, annoyed.
Todd put a smile on his face and clenched his teeth. "Sure, sorry" he said, taking the book back and turning right back around, to get the correct book for his irritated wife. He wondered if they had a book he could read, something like, "How To Deal With the Last Two Weeks Of Your Wife's Pregnancy."
Hope you enjoyed it! The next chapter is The Biggie - The Birth! ;)