Chapter Fifteen

Jin could remember that morning clearly. It hadn't started out as anything out of the ordinary. He woke up on time and found that it was still quiet in the house. Xiaoyu was sleeping in her usual spot on the bed.

It wasn't too unusual to find her sleeping soundly every morning when he woke up. Thinking nothing of it, he quietly climbed out of bed and hopped into the shower. When he was finished with his shower, Jin went to the dresser and pulled out the clothes he was going to wear to work that day.

'Red tie or blue tie?" he thought to himself, while he looked into the mirror and held up each tie separately to match to his outfit.

"Jin?" Xiaoyu's voice was a mix of question, panic, and uncertainty.

He turned around to look at her. "Good morning," he walked over to the bed and sat down next to her on the side. "Which tie looks better? The red one or the blue one?"

"Jin," Xiaoyu began again. This time her voice was weak and her face had grown pale. She put a hand on his forearm and gently squeezed.

"What's wrong?" Jin asked, as if noticing for the first time how panicked she looked. "Do you feel alright?"

"I-I think my water just broke," she said nervously.

"Alright," Jin looked at the empty glass of water on the bedside table and began to stand up. "I can go get more."

"No, Jin!" Xiaoyu exclaimed. "I'm in labor."

"Oh," Jin blushed, trying to laugh off his embarrassment. Then reality sunk in, "OH!"

Jin stood up, wide eyed, and looked down at Xiaoyu. Then, as though someone was timing him, Jin began to rush around the room. He was opening drawers and tossing clothes into a suitcase.

"Jin!" Xiaoyu exclaimed, standing up.

"No, no, baby," Jin scolded. "I'll pack for you. Just relax there."

"But Jin!" Xiaoyu yelled. "We already packed."

Jin looked at the suitcase sitting by the door or their room. He rushed back over to his wife and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm just nervous, that's all."

"Me too," Xiaoyu answered.

Jin was shaking; she could feel his body against her own. Slowly, the separated from their hug and looked at one another. Xiaoyu walked over to the dresser and began to change out of her pajamas.

"What can I do?" Jin asked.

"Put on the blue tie," Xiaoyu laughed.

"Seriously," Jin began, his voice was stern. "I want to help."

"You could go make breakfast," Xiaoyu suggested.

Jin looked at his wife dumbfounded. "But you're in labor!" he exclaimed. "We have to go to the hospital. We don't have time for breakfast!"

Xiaoyu laughed, pulling a shirt over her head. "Oh Jin!" she said lightly. "We have plenty of time for that. My contractions aren't that strong yet. Besides, do you really want to eat breakfast at a hospital?"

Agreeing, Jin held Xiaoyu's hand as they walked downstairs with their suitcase. They went into the kitchen and Jin pulled out a chair for his wife at the table. She laughed at how nervous he looked.

"Relax," Xiaoyu said. "You look like you've just seen a ghost!"

Jin gave his wife a nervous laugh, though he did seem to lighten up a little bit. "What do you want for breakfast?" Jin asked.

"Hmm," she said. "A bagel with cream cheese!"

Jin smiled at how energetic his wife seemed to be. It was almost like she had regained a touch of her youthfulness overnight.

He made two bagels with cream cheese and sat down next to Xiaoyu with the telephone. He dialed his secretary and waited as the phone rang. "Hello, this is Jin," there was a pause. "I won't be at work today. My wife just went into labor."

There was another pause, this time longer. Jin answered, "Yes, thank you. I'll call as soon as the baby is born."

After they finished their breakfast, Jin threw the dishes in the sink and led Xiaoyu to the car. She looked back over her shoulder at their house as Jin pulled out of the driveway. 'It won't feel so empty when we come home,' she thought.