“Come on, you two, let’s hurry. I don’t want to be late. We need to get a good seat.” Hannah tugged on Kathleen’s hand, trying to move her faster.
Which was nearly impossible, Kathleen thought, lumbering toward the front of the rec hall. Being over eight months pregnant made it hard to do anything quickly.
“Honey, why don’t you go ahead and save us two seats?” Jared asked, his arm about his wife.
“Sure.” Hannah hurried away.
“Thanks.” Kathleen paused, arching her back to try and ease the dull ache throbbing in its lower reaches. “At least I won’t be pregnant during the worst part of summer.”
“Hannah can hardly wait.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Actually three.”
She leaned into Jared, marveling at how her life had changed over the year and half she’d been married to him. He was her support, her other half. Having this baby was a testament to the deep love they shared.
“I think I see Hannah waving from the front. We’d better get moving or she’ll come and get us.” Kathleen started forward with Jared by her side.
When they reached the front row of chairs, Jared helped Kathleen to sit. A few minutes later the lights dimmed.
“Mark and Terry are the first act,” Hannah whispered.
Kathleen settled back and got as comfortable as possible when carrying around an extra twenty-five pounds. The dull ache in her back persisted, but she was determined to ignore it so she could enjoy her son and Terry playing a duet on the guitars.
When the two appeared on stage, Jared reached over and covered her hand with his, lacing their fingers together. Mark would be a senior in the next school year and would graduate. He hadn’t had a relapse in over a year and was staying on his medication. She was sure early detection of his illness had helped her son and was so thankful to Jared for that.
As the first notes of the song, “Yellow Submarine,” by the Beatles sounded in the quiet hall, Kathleen peered at Jared and caught his gaze. The love that shone in his eyes still made her heart pound against her chest and her throat contract with emotions. She mouthed the words, “I love you,” then returned her attention to the stage and her two sons.
When Mark and Terry strummed the last note, the audience erupted with loud clapping. Kathleen joined in as the two took their bows, Mark and Terry beaming.
“Terry is becoming quite good,” she whispered to Jared.
“Thanks to Mark.”
A warm gush saturated her seat. Kathleen sucked in a deep breath. “Oh, my.”
“What’s wrong?”
“My water just broke.”