“Thank you, Michael,” I said, opening the trunk. “He was so busy with the concrete crews today.”
Michael set the bags down carefully, his knuckles brushing against mine. He rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture he always did when he was uncomfortable or trying to find the right words.
“I got the milk and the bread,” Michael said. “And I found that box of crayons Lily wanted for school.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the yellow box, placing it gently on top of the grocery bag.
“You always remember the little things,” I said, trying to smile, though a sudden, dull cramp in my lower abdomen made me lean slightly against the bumper.
“He is under a lot of pressure,” Michael said, looking toward the brick school building. “But he should be with you.”
“He will be there tonight,” I said, smoothing my apron under my coat. “He promised.”
Michael noticed my grip on the car bumper, his hand reaching out to steady my elbow before he pulled it back. He had been Aaron’s closest friend since they were seven, always the quiet presence in the background of our lives.
“Do you want me to drive you to the hospital?” Michael asked, his voice dropping an octave.
“No, I can manage,” I said, closing the trunk with a firm slam. “I need to go home and check the girls’ school bags one last time.”
“I will be near my phone all night,” Michael said, stepping back toward his own car. “Call me if Aaron gets stuck at the site.”
By seven o’clock, the hospital triage room smelled faintly of clean cotton and lavender oil, a sharp contrast to the cold rain tapping against the windowpane. I lay on the narrow gurney, a plastic cup of ice chips melting on the rolling table beside me.
Aaron paced the length of the small room, his boots clicking on the linoleum floor as he stared at his phone screen. He had not taken off his heavy canvas work jacket, and his hair was damp from the run through the parking lot.
“The doctor said the contractions are four minutes apart,” I said, my voice barely carrying over the hum of the air conditioner. “They might move us to delivery soon.”
