“So, work was good today?” Addie asks me as she cuddles up next to me on the couch.
“Work was good. The kids are amazing, and the school show rehearsals are coming along really well. There is some amazing talent and I can’t wait for them all to show it off.”
“You’re good at cultivating talent. That’s what you were meant to do I think.”
Addie flicks on the TV, and we’re immediately greeted by The Puppeteers playing their new song. They are everywhere at the moment, there’s no escaping them, but thankfully, I don’t mind. I lov
e seeing them doing so well, I don’t feel any jealousy at all, I’m happy for them. That’s a part of my past, my present is wonderful.
“The song is catchy, isn’t it?” Addie smiles. “Do you like it?”
“I do actually. It isn’t one that I would have sung, but it’s awesome.”
We both bob our heads automatically in time to the music. As I predicted, the moment the band got a new singer I would fade into the background. Thank goodness. It helps that the new singer is wild and head line grabbing. The whole world is obsessed with him right now.
“So, how are you enjoying maternity leave?” I ask. “Has it made things easier for you?”
Addie’s hand runs over her massively swollen belly. She’s so huge now, yet she looks more beautiful than ever. I know that she’s uncomfortable, but she’s so in love with the life growing in her belly that she doesn’t mind. The cogs tick in her brain, she’s wondering again what she should do afterwards.
“Luke is doing a great job as managing editor. I think he might even be better than me. Not during my workaholic days, but now that I’m more distracted. I think I might step back and let him have it.”
Ooh that’s good. I think that will make her so much happier. I know that she’s wrestled with this decision, just like I did with my choice to leave the band to find a career that makes me happier, and I’m sure this will be the right thing for her. If she’s in no rush to go back to work, she can really do what she wants.
“What do you think you might do then? Have you had any ideas or are you just going to see what happens?”
“I may become a freelance writer, so I can still keep my job, but I can be home with the baby as well. Plus, that’s something that I can do anywhere in the world, so if we ever move…”
“That’s the same with my teaching job. I do love the school I’m at now, but I could work anywhere and be okay. I could even do private tutoring if that’s what suited us best. Then I could be around more too.”
She snakes her hand into mine and gives me a lovely smile. Between us we have done the incredible thing of awarding ourselves more freedom. We’ve smashed down the oppressive walls that once stood around us and have now got the whole world in front of us. Anything could happen. Anything at all.
“Oh.” She hunches forward suddenly and clutches onto her belly. “Ouch!”
“What’s going on?” Panic balls up in my throat. “What’s happening? Addie…”
“It’s okay. It’s just a bit of pain. It’s okay, I’ve been feeling it on and off all day long.”
“Contractions? Addie, that sounds like contractions.”
“No, I don’t think it is. It just hurts, that’s all. Contractions are probably a lot worse.”
I’m not sure… it really does sound like contractions to me, but I’m not about to argue with a pregnant lady. Addie’s hormones are running a bit wild, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a tongue lashing.
“Oh god, yep it’s getting a bit worse now.” She breathes hard. “You might be right.”
“It is contractions, that means the baby is coming!”
Uh oh, this is what we’ve been waiting for, what I’ve been so excited about, but now that the moment is upon me, I’m worried. This is really it. From this moment onwards, everything will be different. Better, I hope. But there’s the moment of getting to that place which will be scary.
But this isn’t about how scary childbirth will be for me, I’m just on the side. It’s all about Addie.
“It might not. I need to wait for… oh!”
“What’s going on? Addie, are you okay? What can I do? Talk to me, Addie.”
“I… I… I’m wet all over.”
We both leap up as a pool of wetness surrounds us on the couch. Addie gives me a panicked look. Her waters have broken, and she’s freaked, which means I need to be the calm one. The one in control.