Page 72 of Sin Wagon
“Thanks,” she says with a small smile. “This is as good as it’s getting.”
“You’re perfect Little Doe. The only way you’d be sexier is if you were naked.”
She rolls her eyes, holding her hand out for me to take and together we walk downstairs.
I grab the car keys, and we head out. The drive to my parents’ place is filled with comfortable silence. I keep glancing at her, trying to find the right moment to tell her.
When we arrive, my mom welcomes us with a huge smile. She wraps her arms around Delilah, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth.
“Honey, you are glowing. I’ve never seen someone look so good pregnant,” she says with a beaming smile.
“Thank you.” Delilah's cheeks flush slightly.
As we step inside, the familiar sounds of my dad and Jonas yelling at the TV greet us. My mom rolls her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.
“They’re watching the game. I’m sure poor Derek is bored out of his mind.”
I laugh and kiss Delilah’s cheek before heading toward the den. Sure enough, my dad and brother are glued to the game, their faces contorted with intensity as they shout at the screen. Derek, meanwhile, looks fully entertained as he records them on his phone, capturing their antics.
“I’m sending this on Snap to Delilah. She needs to know how weird her family is,” he says with a grin.
“She’ll appreciate that.” I chuckle.
Derek glances at me, his expression shifting slightly. “Any word on Drew and Royal Flush?” he asks.
“No. Delilah hasn’t heard from them, so it might have been just a rumor. We’re not worried. We’ll handle it if it happens, but until then, we’re preparing for the baby.”
“She doesn’t need anything else to pop up.” Derek nods in agreement.
“Speaking of that, how do you propose I tell your best friend that the house I put an offer on is ours now?”
He laughs. “Better to just rip the band-aid off with that one. But tell her sooner rather than later, ’cause she’ll want to set up the nursery.”
“Tonight then,” I say, feeling excited yet nervous.
I sit and talk with Derek while they watch the game. After a while, Delilah decides to join us and makes herself comfortable by settling into my lap. I rub my hands up and down her belly as she talks to everyone, her laughter filling the room and making the game a distant memory.
Right at five PM, dinner is announced, and the aroma of my mom’s delicious cooking wafts through the house, beckoning us to the dining room. Even though it’s just the four... well, now six of us, she always goes all out. The table is laden with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the trimmings.
“Who’s ready to dig in?” Mom asks, her voice full of cheer.
Derek grabs a roll and smirks. “I’m starving. I’ve been waiting all day for this.” His playful tone makes everyone chuckle.
While we eat, laughter and excited voices fill the air as we plan for the upcoming Christmas festivities. The conversation flows effortlessly.
My dad tells us stories from the company fishing trip, complete with exaggerated hand gestures and booming laughter.Jonas chimes in with his own version of the story, teasing Dad about the “one that got away.” The room bursts into laughter as Dad pretends to fend off an imaginary fish. But suddenly, Delilah gasps, and we all look her way.
“What’s wrong, baby?” I ask, my heart pounding.
“My water just broke,” she says, her voice trembling slightly.
The spoon I’m holding slips from my hand, and a messy explosion of mashed potatoes decorates my mom’s elegant green tablecloth. My heart starts to beat a million miles a second.
“Okay. We have your bag in the trunk. Let’s go to the hospital. Are you having contractions?”
“Yeah, I have been most of the afternoon, but I thought it was Braxton Hicks. It’s too early,” she says, her eyes wide with worry.
“Babies come when they’re ready, sweetie. It’s gonna be okay. Get to the hospital, and we’ll meet you there,” my mom says, standing and coming over to rub Delilah’s back.
