After the Storm

Chapter 21: Flames

ONE MONTH LATER

It seemed to be the same old routine every morning.

Wake up, throw up, shower, eat breakfast, throw up, go to work, throw up, rinse, repeat.

My stomach looked about the size of two watermelons. It. Was. Huge. But in three more months, it would all be worth it.

Because Callie and I would be holding our three babies, and our four perfect children would be happy. So happy.

I was at stage two of my morning routine. Throw up. I was usually careful to be quiet in the morning, when I had morning sickness. But Callie woke up this morning.

I hated letting her watch me throw up. I felt disgusted. But I had to admit, that she did make me feel better. The way she rubbed my back, supporting me, soothed me greatly.

"I-I think I'm done," I said, closing the seat to the toilet, and sitting on it.

"Do you want some water?" Callie asked me.

I nodded, keeping my eyes shut.

I heard the faucet turn on.

Another thing I loved about this house, the water from the faucet was drinkable.

At the apartment, it was always warm, and tasted like metal.

I gulped down the water quickly.

"I'm going to take a shower," I said standing up.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you outside," she said.

I gave her a quick kiss, and turned on the water to the shower.

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When I was finished, I dressed in a simple pair of leggings, and a emerald green long sleeved shirt. I brushed through my hair, and put it up into my favorite pony tail, with the braid trailing from the front to the back.

When I was finished getting ready for work, I walked out the front door, and slid into the front seat of the car.

"Oh, did you get Sofia her juice?" Callie asked.

"I did," I say, pulling the cup out of my purse, and handing it to our daughter.

"Thank you, Mama," she says.

I smile.

"You're welcome, Sof," I say.

When we arrived at Sofia's preschool, I was surprised that she just up and walked away with no problem.

She hugged Callie and I, and without any tears or complaints or whines, she ran off to Zola.

"She's growing up too fast," I say.

"I know" Callie comments, both of us watching her laugh and run around with her friends.

"We get to do that all over again, though" she says, kissing my cheek.

"Times three,"

Without any other stops, we pulled into the parking lot of GSMH. As usual, people were frantically running through the hospital, trying to get to their residents, downing their fourth cup of coffee.

I missed coffee so much. But three more months, I kept telling myself. Three more months.

As soon as I walked in those doors, I was whisked away by Wilson.

"Dr. Robbins- o-our patient, the pregnant one," she began.

"I have a lot of pregnant patients, Wilson," I said, laughing.