“I was due five days ago, Isabella. Five days! Seriously, kid? Pack your bags and get out already.” Julia frowns at her huge belly. Her pink maxi dress flows around her like a tent. We sit at the table with our dishes of caramel chocolate chunk ice cream, both of us easing down into our chairs like a couple of geriatrics.

“I’m amazed you’re still out and about when you could go into labor at any second,” I talk around the spoon in my mouth. With only nine days left until my own due date, I feel for her. I’m already itching to give birth and stop feeling like my body is an orchestra of pains, twinges, and swollen limbs.

Julia looks up from the bowl and smiles. “I’m hoping staying active will jolt the little one into action. If I have to spend one more day pregnant, I’m going to lose my mind. Then, on top of this”—she points her finger at her belly accusingly—“my stupid doctor just keeps telling me not to worry. She says that until the baby is three weeks late there’s nothing to be concerned about. I feel like telling her my sanity should be a concern, you know?”

“Don’t worry, your baby will come soon. In the meantime you need to keep yourself distracted. If you focus on it all the time, it will make it worse.” I dip my spoon into my bowl for another scoop of ice cream but see I’ve devoured it all without even noticing. How does that keep happening?

“We’re home!” Colt shuffles through the apartment door with Madison on his hip and an armful of shopping bags. “Did you miss us?” He winks at me and puts Madison down on her feet.

“Of course. Julia and I have just been counting the seconds until you guys came back. Right, Julia?”

“We sure have,” she jumps in. “I know Isabella thinks I came over here to visit her, but I’ve really been waiting to see this little cutie-pie right here!” She smiles at Madison warmly.

“I got present at store,” Madison announces, rummaging through the bags at the door, looking for her gift. “Here it is!” She pulls out a little T-shirt and holds it up proudly. On the front is a sweet design of stars and hearts with the words ‘Awesome big sister’ sprawled across it.

“Oh my, that is a nice gift,” Julia coos at her. “Are you excited you’re gonna be a big sister soon?”

“Uh-huh. I gonna hold baby and sing songs and share pony toys too,” she rambles excitedly and hugs her little shirt tight against her chest.

“Wow, it sounds like you’re going to do a great job, Madison.” Julia smiles.

“Okay, let’s get you ready for your nap. You’ve had a big morning, but now it’s time to rest.” Colt gently guides Madison to her room as she clings onto her shirt like it’s her new favorite toy.

“Bye! I nap now,” she announces and waves enthusiastically to Julia and me.

As soon as she’s out of sight, Julia turns to me and smiles like she’s in her favorite dream. “You’re so lucky you’ve already got a head start on your family. I can’t wait to have more children.” Her eyes glaze over.

“Are you kidding? You literally just finished complaining about waiting for this kid to come along.” I laugh. “You’re all over the place.”

“Whatever, I’m over nine months pregnant. You can’t hold anything I say against me right now.”

“Fair enough. I guess you have a good excuse. I know you’re right, though. Sometimes I look around here and take stock of my life and just how much it’s changed in the last year. I am lucky. Not just because of Madison, but Colt is amazing, and now I have my parents back in my life too… thanks to you.” I look up at Julia as a mist clouds my eyes. To think that less than a year ago I was working my ass off at the diner with no direction and no real connection to my family, it’s hard to remember just how lonely that life was. “I want to thank you.” My voice is tight as I try not to let my emotions get the better of me. “I know I was pissy when you invited my mom to our baby shower, but you were right to do it. And if you hadn’t, this little one”—I hold my tummy—“wouldn’t have the relationship with my parents that it’s going to have now. Not to mention how much better it’s made my own relationship with them.” The mist builds into little tears, and I wipe them away with my fingertips.

“Don’t cry. You’re making me cry!” Julia’s cheeks are glistening as her emotions overwhelm her. “You don’t have to thank me. I only did exactly what you would have done for me. I love you, lady.” Fat tears roll down her cheeks, and she laughs at herself as she smears them away. “God, would you look at us? A couple of emotional basket cases about to pop. We’re a wreck.” She smiles, and I can’t help but laugh.

“You’re right. I swear every Pampers commercial and sappy song makes the waterworks burst. I’m a walking hormone.” I look up at the clock in the living room. “What do you think? Do you want another bowl before Parker comes?”

She looks at the empty bowl in front of her and then over at the clock. “Nah, I really shouldn’t. It’ll make me too tired. Like I said, I need to keep moving until this baby learns it’s getting an eviction notice.”

I shrug and pick up our dirty dishes, then place them in the kitchen sink. “How’s Parker holding up these days? Sometimes I think I must be driving Colt crazy with my moods and constant exhaustion.”

“Parker? He’s never been happier!”

I raise my eyebrow in an unasked question.

“I’ve literally been begging him to have sex about five times a day. I think he’s happy I came over here this morning so he could get a break.” Her eyes twinkle mischievously.

“Really? How do you have the energy? Half the time I’m just counting down the hours until I can go back to bed.”

“Yeah, it’s supposed to make the baby come if you have sex. He’s getting more nookie now than an NFL quarterback who just won the Super Bowl.”

“Whoa, sounds like I walked in at the right time.” Colt laughs, walking back into the living room. “Football and sex? Is this what you ladies gossip about?” he ribs us.

I can’t help but laugh at the horrified look on Julia’s face. She’s not one to tell anyone about her personal life except for me. Luckily our buzzer rings, saving Julia from her embarrassment. Colt answers and tells Parker to come up.

“Don’t worry. With all the action you’ve been getting, it sounds like you’ll be giving birth before you know it,” I reassure her quietly.

Julia smiles unconvincingly and rubs her hand over her huge belly.

“I hope so. If not, Parker better be rested up ’cause it’s gonna be a long night.”

“Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, right?” I tease her. I look down at my own belly and think about my own upcoming due date. Hmmm, I wonder…