Lynn
I fell asleep in Lincoln's bed that night—something I haven't done in a while. I'm happy to say that I was able to get at least 4 hours of sleep in! Yeah…. I don't sleep much. Braxton hicks, and the uncomfortableness of it all lead to my lack of sleep, but at least during break, I can try to nap more. That's if my family let's me! The first day of break—Saturday, we did nothing, which was well appreciated! I spent the day lounging on the couch and in bed, doing nothing, which again, is something I haven't done in a while. I already started my maternity leave at work this week so luckily, I don't have to worry about that. As for school, I'm starting virtual for my 2ed semester since I'm not going to be able to attend school and take care of Lacy at the same time. Luckily, I live in a time where virtual school is available. I'm going to try to finish even earlier than the last day of School though, so that way I can get it done and over with. Same for the next year, then, I'll be done with high School! I'm most likely not going to get the opportunity to attend college or a university, but maybe when Lacy is older, I can figure out what I'll do.
Sunday came about and I was up by 7:45 a.m. Sundays are the days I have my parental appointments and because I'm 37 weeks, I must go every. Single. Week. Fun! I just want this all to be over, as in be done with pregnancy, but that would mean I would have to give birth and I'm terrified for that. I have no idea what it'll be like and plus, now I'll have Lacy—whom I'm eager to meet but scared at the same time. What if I'm not a good mom? What if I can't fully provide for her? What if something goes wrong and—no! I can't think like that. Like Lincoln says: Negative thoughts lead to negative outcomes, but I can't help but to think about it sometimes.
As I start to get ready, I wake Lucy up.
"Luce, I'm going out, you coming?" I ask as I shake her lightly.
"mmmhhphmmma" She mumbled through her pillow.
"I can't understand you when you speak like that." I pointed out.
"Ugh… I said, yeah, give me a minute…" She said plopping her head back on her pillow after raising it to speak.
"Well just know that once I'm ready, I'm leaving!" I say as I walk out of the room.
"Thanks mom." She called out sarcastically to me.
"8:30!" I retorted playfully.
Once I finished my shower, I walked into my room to see Lucy actually ready.
"Wow… you actually got up and ready?" I ask her, surprised.
"Yup! I know how to commit! I said I wanted to come with you to your… things, and I am!" she said proudly.
"Oh? Alright then!" I tell her as I remove the towel from my wet hair. "Ready to go?" I ask.
"Yeah, are you? Don't you still need to do your hair or something?"
"Nah, I'm just gonna leave it down to air dry—take advantage of the fact that my hair is shiny and strong. You know, I heard of the difference in hair once someone is pregnant, but I didn't think it would be so drastic." I laughed off. "Anyway, lets get going." I said, both of us grabbing our coats at the same time. As Lucy walked down the steps, I made my way to Lincoln's room, where he was sleeping peacefully. Cute! "Hey, I'm leaving." I whisper, gently touching him and kissing his temple. This made him stir awake and yawn.
"No, if your leaving, give me a real kiss." He said with his husky morning voice. God, a girl can really swoon for a voice like that. I just smile, giggling slightly. I lean in once again and give him a quick, yet passion filled kiss. He smiles and hums. "Hmm, one more!" He tells me, making me to laugh.
"I gotta go!" I tell him playfully.
"No! One more!" he urged.
"Okay, just one more, I'm gonna be late!" I say, going down and kissing him once more.
"Why can't I come with?" he asked me, now sitting up.
"Because you don't need to. It's a quick in and out and plus, you've been to plenty. You know how they go." I tell him.
"Okay, okay. Fine. Have you eaten?" he asked me.
"No, why?"
"You said Lucy was going with you today, right?"
"Yes…" I answer. Just then, he gets up from his bed, opens his desk drawer, takes his wallet out and pulls out $15. He then proceeds to give it to me.
"Go get something for you guys to eat while your out. My treat!" He tells me kindly.
"No, I can't, it's fine, we can eat something at home when we come back. Don't worry about us Linc. It's your money. Plus, don't you want to save up?" I ask him.
"Well I've been working a lot of overtime, and I can finally start using my money on things other than the future. Go. You deserve it my love." He tells me sweetly kissing my forehead.
"Okay… if you say so. Thank you."
"Of course. Now go, you're gonna be late!" he told me, ushering me to the door.
"Alright, bye!" I tell him, leaving the room.
Downstairs, Lucy was impatiently waiting for me by the door. Upon seeing me, she groaned and opened the door, heading to vanzilla. I grabbed the keys, locked the door and followed her lead by getting in the chilly car. Once in there, I blasted the heater—which to be honest probably wasn't the best choice, considering it was Vanzilla and all, but it's cold outside! I'm not going to freeze!
"So much that you told me to hurry! What took you so long?" Lucy asked me as I reversed the van.
"I was in Lincoln's room." I plainly say.
"Really? Gross." She gags.
"Oh my god Lucy, that's not what I meant!" I quickly recoil. "I was just saying bye. THAT'S. IT."
"Why'd you take so long then?"
"You ask a lot of questions you know?" I tell her, making her smile in amusement. "He gave us money to get something to eat, so I'm driving to Dunkin Donuts before the appointment."
"Really?! Both of us?"
"Yeah, he said for you and me."
"Wow. That's sweet of him…"
"Yeah… it is…" I say, more to my self. As we drive to the place, I let Lucy fiddle with the radio, switching between fuzzy news stations, pop music stations, and a station where they just talked about cakes. Finally, she settled for one that was playing Bobby Darin's "Don't Dream of Anybody but me"
*Flashback*
April 5th, 2013, Lincoln had his big headphones on with his eyes closed as he bobbed his head to the melody of the song he was listening to whilst on a small road trip to upstate Michigan with the family.
"Whatcha listening to?" Lucy, who was sitting to his left asked him.
"Something new~" He said, simply disconnecting his headphones and connecting some ear buds in instead, giving one to her. Lynn, who was sitting to his right became intrigued at this and asked to listen along. He then got out an adapter to allow 2 headphones to be connected to one device and gave Lynn the headphones he was using earlier. Together, they all listened to "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons. This was definitely new in an…old way, but it was nice. Soft. Ever since that day, soft 50's rock has always been a genre that they all seem to listen to, no matter how much time passed.
*End of Flashback*
"Okay, what do you want?" I asked Lucy as I pulled up to the menu and lowered the radio volume.
"Can I have a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant with a medium mocha iced coffee?" she asked me.
"Yeah." I answer, waiting for the speaker to sound.
"Good morning, welcome to Dunkin, what can I get you?" a woman said through the intercom.
"Hi, can I get 2 bacon, egg and cheeses on croissants with 2 medium iced coffees. One mocha and the other… you know what, make them both mochas, but one with half almond milk, and half creamer."
"Will that be with any sugar?"
"Yes, 3 sugars on both."
"Will that be all?"
"Yes ma'am"
"Alright that will be $13.52 at the next window."
"Thank you." I say as I start to drive to the next window. I then grab the bag and hand it to Lucy so I can pay and get the drinks.
Once we were back on the road again, we both ate while we listened to That Doggy in The Window by Patti Page. The doctor's office wasn't that far. Maybe a good 12 minutes away, so we had some time to eat. Without realizing it, I seemed to start singing along to the radio, relaxing and enjoying the beat.
"I muuuuust take a trip to California and leave my poor sweetheaaart alooone! If heee has a doooog, he won't be looonesome. And The doggy will have a good hoooommee!" I sing as I stop at a red light. I look at Lucy to see her completely shocked.
"What's wrong?" I ask her concerned. Any time I see her with a shocked expression, I can't help but to remember the day I brought the pregnancy tests with her.
"I thought Luna was the only one who could sing in the family! Apparently not! You're amazing! How come you never told anyone?" she asked me ecstatically.
"Oh, I can't sing. Trust me, Luna IS the only Loud singer."
"I just heard you now though! Trust me, you can sing!"
"That's hard to believe but thank you." I tell her flabbergasted.
"Trust me. Ask someone else one day and you'll see~" she finalized. From there on out, we just drove in a comfortable silence to the doctor's office, listening to more 50s music.
Once we arrived at the office, Lucy sat in the waiting room on her phone as I checked in. It was all routine at this point. Sign this, check that, read this, turn it in. Like usual, I arrived right on time and as soon as I sat with Lucy, I was called to the back room. Initially, I thought Lucy would stay in the waiting area and wait for me to return, but to my surprise, she followed me suite.
"You know you don't have to come." I tell her softly.
"I know!" she says smiling as if I told her some thing exciting. Great. Okay. Anyways…
We get led into a room where we are left for a good minute. Lucy just sat on the one available chair in the room on her phone once more as I sat on the examination bed. A youngish, blonde medical assistant in blue and white cloud scrubs soon walked in and handed me a cup.
"Once you come back, I'll check baby's heartbeat." She told me as she wrote something on her clipboard and walked out the room, me following.
When I return, I sit again on the table and wait upon the arrival of the M.A. I've never seen her before. She must be new.
We hear a knock at the door and the same girl walks in.
"Hi Lynn, I'm Mariah. Mind lying down for me?" She asked walking over. I did as told and lifted my shirt to reveal my bump.
"Are you new here?" I ask her.
"Yeah. I just finished my internship at Greenfeild Family Practice Center and started working at Epic about a week ago. It's nice so far. It's definitely closer to home."
"Yeah. I hear it's not that close."
"No, it is not. Any who, Baby's heart rate is measuring at 130 beats per minute, which is good." She told me.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heartbeat went fast like a running horse. The loud, fast beating of Lacy's heart caught both Lucy and I's attention. I love hearing her heartbeat. It makes it all feel that much more real. I mean, she has always been very much so real to me, but her heartbeat pulled me into the actual reality of her living inside of me. Well at least until January 30th, 2015. That's what her due date is but she can come any time before or after that. I really do hope it isn't after, but I don't want it to be too soon either. Like, technically, she can come now, but haha, knock on wood, I don't want to be that unprepared. Both Lincoln and I have been both preparing mentally and physically for her by assuring that we have everything that she needs and getting in the right mind set. I really didn't want to use Lily's old passed down crib for her, but it's too late now to get a new one if I were to even get the money. I have the money, but I need it for other more important things such as diapers and clothes for her, never mind food for Lincoln and me. As soon as I turn 18, him and I are leaving—that is an agreement we made a long time ago, so we do everything for ourselves as to get in the habit of doing so. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I practically take care of myself here! The only thing that I don't do for myself is pay mortgage.
"Okay Lynn, you are all set." Mariah told me, cleaning everything up.
"Thank you, Mariah." I tell as I get up from the table, preparing to leave.
"Of Course." She finalized leaving the room.
"You hear that every single time you come?" Lucy asked me, mesmerized.
"Uh, Yeah. Amazing, right?" I ask her with a smile.
"Its so fast! I never imagined it to be that way!" She said in amazement. This made me giggle.
We were back in the car with in the next 2 minutes and on the road again.
"Well that went by awfully fast." Lucy commented to me.
"Yeah. Each appointment is about 20 minutes long." I answer. All of the sudden, my mind went back to thinking about Lacy being born. It seemed to be a thought that constantly surfaced in the least expected moments. Man, I can't wait to meet her! What will she look like? How will she act? I Just want to know now! Actually, I can wait at least another two days. LET ME GET PREPARED!
Approximately 25 minutes later, we were back at home. The only thing is Lucy wouldn't stop asking me questions.
"So why do you go by weeks instead of months? How many weeks is pregnancy anyway? I know its 9 months, but how many weeks is that? Speaking if which, how do you keep track of them? Do you—"
"Oh my god Lucy! I don't know! It's just more accurate, I guess! And it's 40 weeks that I keep track of because of appointments and they are important for me to know!"
"But why?"
"Why wouldn't it be? Don't you think I need to know how far along I am, so I know what to expect?!"
"Yeah, but—"
"Lucy!"
"Okay, Okay. Fine. Sorry."
"Geez! I haven't heard you talk this much since you were like 7!"
"I'm just curious!"
"I know but I don't know it all! Why don't you Google it?"
"Because I like to ask you."
"*sigh* How about you write down all your questions and give it to me when I'm free? I can answer better if you give me time. Okay?"
"Alright."
A/N: Hey everyone. Two days late but that's okay… I know not a whole lot happens here, but would you believe me If I said I remember when I wrote this chapter? Sounds normal? Well I wrote it about a year or two ago. I know because I mention the 50s music and Dunkin—two things I was obsessed with back then. I did change some things in this chapter though. Any who, Ill post again soon, peace! P.S. there's more foreshadowing here… let me know if you think you guessed it!