The Dance by Alison G. Bailey

foreheads together. “Thank you.”
    “Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
    Will stared down and ran his hand over my stomach. My heart skipped a beat at his gentle touch and the look of wonderment covering his face. It was rare for him to be speechless and even rarer for him to show much emotion. To anyone else, he looked calm and unaffected. But I could feel the excitement and gratitude radiate off his body.
    “It’s all coming together. Work, the house, and now the baby.” He placed a soft kiss on my lips.
    “Are you happy?”
    “I’m beyond happy. I wouldn’t have this life without you. I love you, Bryson.”
    “I love you . . . for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
    We stood there in the bathroom, in silence, holding each other for a long time. Neither of us made an attempt to pull away. Finding out that we were pregnant with our first child was a moment we’d never experience again. We wanted to hold on to it for as long as possible. Once we walked out of this room, we both realized life as we knew it would be forever changed.
     

     
    Over the next few weeks, I spent a lot of time getting used to the changes in my body. During my second trimester the fatigue and nausea were the most difficult. But each time I looked in the mirror at my barely there baby bump, I felt like a complete woman and wife, and it made it all worth it. Will was enjoying that my boobs were growing by leaps and bounds. He swore they got bigger from the time he went to work to the time he got home in the evening.
    Although I had no idea whether we’d be welcoming a boy or a girl into our lives, I couldn’t help shopping for things all babies needed. The bedroom right next to our room was designated as the nursery. I promised myself I wouldn’t decorate until we knew the sex but that didn’t stop me from plastering inspiration pictures all over the walls of the room. Will went with me to as many doctor appointments as he could and understood when I was too tired to cook or do anything else. He teased me a lot about buying toys for the baby but I caught him several times sneaking in a stuffed animal or two. With my head in the clouds, I was gliding along living the perfect life. If I’d only looked down maybe I could have avoided the first misstep.
    My eyes shot open as a sharp pain stabbed me in the middle of my back. Before the sleepy fog lifted, another piercing sensation took over, causing a loud groan to escape.
    Struggling, I rolled over and reached across the bed for Will and found cold empty sheets. The clock on the nightstand read 3:30 a.m.
    Another jolt of pain hit me. “Will!”
    I swung my legs over the side of the bed, gripped the edge of the mattress, and pushed up on trembling legs. With my palms flat against the wall, I made my way out into the hallway. Taking a firm hold of the banister, I headed downstairs. Halfway down I noticed light coming from underneath Will’s office door. Lately, he had been experiencing bouts of sleepless nights. He tried to hide it but I knew he was feeling pressure with more responsibilities at work and the baby coming.
    Cradling my stomach, I got to the bottom of the stairs and yelled, “Will!”
    The sharp pains had morphed into a dull constant ache. Each time I breathed in it felt as if my throat was closing up. I squeezed my eyes shut as tears filled them.
    Where was Will?
    My trembling hand let go of the banister and I shuffled across the entryway toward Will’s office. Halfway there I noticed my panties felt wet. Looking down, I saw a trail of blood drops.
    As I crumbled to the floor, all the air left my body along with a blood-curdling scream. “Will!”
    A couple of loud thuds and several footsteps later Will bolted out of the room.
    “God, Bryson!” He rushed over, gathering me in his arms.
    “I have to get to the hospital.” I hiccupped the words as my body convulsed with sobs.
    “Okay, baby. Don’t move. I’m