Chapter 3
"Really Monica, we don't know how we can ever thank you enough for what you've done for us." Abby told the angel gratefully as she, Monica, Andrew and Mike sat in the living room of their house. It was still storming outside, really badly and didn't show any signs of stopping.
Monica smiled quietly to herself as she rubbed her enlarged belly yet again with one hand. "Well, it's been an honor over these past nine months. I've actually really enjoyed being pregnant. And the baby should come any time now." She replied cheerfully as she felt it move within her once again. But just then, the light seemed to be suddenly sucked from the room, which then filled with darkness and it didn't take any of them long to realize that the storm had knocked the power out.
Mike shrugged as though it didn't matter and stood from the couch. "Well, that happens. I'll get some candles." He announced briefly before disappearing into the kitchen in search of some source of light. Monica smiled again, clearly content that she would be leaving the baby with such kind, patient people. It would have a good life here. She knew it. But it was then that it happened. As if on cue, Monica felt it. A sudden pinch of pain inside her. But it was like the other soreness she had been feeling lately. This was different. And she knew what it was.
When his friend suddenly gasped in alarm and held her belly with both hands, Andrew knew something was up, for he practically flew from the armchair onto the couch next to her. "Whoa. What's wrong? Are you okay?" He questioned, concern printed so clearly on his face that Monica was sure he would have a heart attack right then and there. So she waited a moment for the pain to pass before replying. "Oh no baby, not now." She whispered mostly to herself than to the others as she glanced around at the darkened house surrounding her. Abby and Andrew stared back at her so intensely that she knew she had to say something to them. "I think I just had a contraction." She proclaimed in a small, nervous voice, but now it was both Abby and Andrew's turn to panic.
"You what?" Andrew exclaimed in a disbelieving, urgent tone, but Abby didn't need any further explanation. She immediately bolted from the living room and returned only moments later, dragging Mike by the wrist. Andrew leaned a little closer to his friend and draped a protective arm across her tiny shoulders. "Well, what do you think?" He ventured uncertainly as he too, placed a gentle hand on her stomach as if to express his point of the question. Monica thought about this for a moment, but before she could respond, she felt it again. And this time it was a little worse than it had been before. She didn't have to think about her answer any longer. "I think we need to go to the hospital." She informed each of them when the contraction had passed again.
Lightning flashed out the window, briefly followed by a strong clap pf thunder while everyone in the living room sat in silence for a short moment, clearly considering what was about to take place today. But no one was thinking about this as deeply as Monica was.
"Okay," Mike began in a desperate attempt to think clearly and forget the fact that he was about to become a father, "Andrew, you drive Monica to the hospital and we'll follow in our car okay?" He explained so quickly that the others nearly missed the statement. But Andrew was quick to agree as he helped Monica up off of the couch carefully. He decided he would have to call Gloria from the car and tell her to get her and Tess to the hospital quickly.
Monica and Andrew weren't long before they got into the car and pulled out of the driveway. Needless to say, the Tuckers were right behind them. But as he drove, Andrew soon realized that the normally short drive could take a while. As the storm had caused an accident or something along one intersection and traffic was backed up for several blocks. But as he pulled almost to a complete stop in the traffic, Andrew suddenly heard his friend let out a small cry of pain. "Oh, Andrew please hurry." She begged him through a choked voice as she forced herself to take a deep breath in the passenger seat. Andrew glanced into the rear-view mirror momentarily and suddenly realized that Abby and Mike were no longer right behind them. They had lost them in the traffic. But he decided not to worry about that for now. They would get to the hospital. They could take care of themselves.
It was clear that Monica's contractions were becoming a great deal worse, as she seemed to be in a lot more pain than she had been before. But then, quite suddenly, a look of alarm came over her face and she glanced over at Andrew, wondering how to tell him this. "Andrew hurry." She repeated but this time in a tone that stated something had happened that he didn't know about. He glanced over at her with a questioning expression and she was quick to explain. "I think my water just broke."