7.9 Getting Ready

“So, Cadence…tomorrow is the big day! How are you feeling?”

“I’m a nervous wreck! But I’m so excited. I just can’t wait to meet this little person.”

“I’m with you, girl.”

“If you feel up to it, I want to go by Allen’s and my sister’s this afternoon. Do you want to come?”

“Absolutely! I’ve been meaning to catch up with Harley Jean since the wedding. Did you know she was my roommate in the boarding house?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yeah. She’s my girl.”

Cadence waited for Myra to get showered and dressed, and then they went to Allen’s house first. Cadence went into the bedroom to share the news with Allen while Myra shared the news with Harley Jean.

Good thing no one was walking by the house, because with all of the screaming going on, someone may have gotten the wrong impression. There was a lot of excitement. They spent the afternoon there because Cadence wanted to be sure she got to Melody’s after she arrived home from work. They got all caught up and met Justin–Allen’s evil little son. One thing that surprised Cadence on their visit was Allen. She was so surprised at how he treated Harley Jean. He was a very doting husband. Because of his past reputation as a “player,” and the circumstances of their wedding, she had her doubts that he truly loved her. He was proving her wrong–or he was an excellent actor.

Cadence gathered Myra around 6:30 to go next door, but to her surprise, Melody was not at home.

“Hi, sweet pea! Where’s your mommy?”

“I don’t know.”

“She’s normally here by now, right?”

“Yup.”

“Maybe she’s just running late. Can I play?”

“Sure.”

Marli came in with a concerned look on her face.

“Aunt Cadence, who’s that lady in the kitchen,” she asked.

“Oh, that’s Myra. She’s Lance’s wife. Don’t you remember her from the wedding?”

“Oh! Yeah.”

Cadence’s second trimester was about to begin within the hour, and her body was definitely letting her know.

“Ooof, I’m gonna get off this floor. My knees aren’t as young as they used to be. So, girls…I have something to tell you.”

“What is it,” they asked at the same time.

“You’re going to have a cousin soon….I’m having a baby!”

They both began squealing and jumping up and down. Suddenly there was a knock at the bedroom door.

“Cadence,” Myra said through the door, “I’m gonna go home. I’ll see you in the morning, ok?”

“Sure. Are you ok, Myra?”

“Yeah. I’m just really tired.”

“Ok. I’ll see you later….She’s having a baby too!”

“Two babies,” Marli said in amazement.

“Oh yes. We’re going to be very busy for a few days, so I may not be able to visit you for a while. Man, it’s almost 8:30. Where is your mother? I’m gonna call her.”

“Hey….Where are you? No…I’m at your house….I had a surprise for you….You don’t know when you’ll be back? What’s going on? Ok….Ok….I can do that….All right…later.  Ok, little ladies…mommy is trying to take care of something, so make sure you get your homework done and brush your teeth before you go to bed. I have to go too.”

“Awwww,” they whined.

“Can you stay just a few more minutes,” Mia asked.

“Ok. Just a few more minutes.”

“YES,” they screamed.

They began playing together like sisters do, and Cadence just sat there and listened.

Hearing their innocent conversations and giggles made the arrival of her own child even more real. She was trying to imagine what he or she would look like and what it would be like to rock her baby in her arms. It made her smile to think about it–and slightly terrified.

“Ok, ladies. I really need to go now.”

“Can I feel the baby,” Mia asked.

“Sure.”

“I don’t feel anything.”

“It’s probably asleep…like I need to be. I know you guys are just stalling me. I really need to go.”

“Ok,” they said sounding disappointed.

She got almost to the front door when she was intercepted again.

“Wait, Aunt Cadence! I want to feel the baby too,” Marli said.

“[sigh] Ok, but then you two are doing homework and I’m leaving.”

Marli put her hands on Cadence’s baby bump and was amazed that there was actually a small person inside of her.

“Ok. I’m going now. I love you.”

“I love you too, Aunt Cadence.”

She finally left and began to walk down the street when she saw Melody standing on the other side.

“Hey Mel!”

When Cadence got close enough, she saw that Melody was sad.

“Oh my goodness! What’s wrong, Mel?”

“I’ve been out here all night…just circling the block…debating whether I should go over there or not.”

“Oh, Mel. Why do you want to do that to yourself?”

“I don’t know! Maybe if I talked to him I could put it behind me. I bet he doesn’t even know he has two children!”

“I wish I knew what to say to make it better for you. I mean, personally, I don’t think you should be talking to him right now. You’re still in a lot of pain.”

“I don’t know what to do, Cadence! I mean, I have the girls asking me about him all the time when I made them promise not to! How am I supposed to move forward when I’m constantly being held back?”

“Maybe you just need to get it out. Maybe you should just tell them instead of always stuffing it back inside. You have to let it go some kind of way.”

“Maybe you’re right. Anyway…I don’t want to keep you. So what’s this surprise you had for me?”

“I’m pregnant!”

“Oh my!! I thought there was a little more of you than usual! Congratulations!”

“Hello in there! I’m your Aunt Melody, and I can’t wait to meet you!”

“Oh, sis, I’m soo happy for you! I really am.”

“I’m glad. I like you happy.”

“Yeah. One day I’ll be happy all the time again.”

“I’ve gotta go. I’m really tired.”

“Yeah, ok. Well, call me when it’s time. I’ll come over for a few hours.”

“Thank you! Love you, sis. See you tomorrow night I guess.”

“Love you too.”

Cadence walked away, and Melody watched her. She felt a lot of things. She was proud and excited, but she was also envious and slightly jealous; But mostly she was excited. Things always seemed to go well for Cadence and horribly for Melody–like Cadence was the golden child. But no matter how things were, she was always proud of her and hoped things continued to go well for her big sister–by two minutes.

“Hey Cadence,” she called after her.

“Yeah?”

“This is a good look for you.”

“You think so?”

“Definitely.”