Ketchup Popsicle - Part III

The days wore on while Sandra and Mike waited for the arrival of their baby. They both knew that the relationship had run its course and that they were together for no other reason. It was a strange predicament to be in. Sandra used to dream about having a baby one day when she was all grown up. She imagined that her husband would lovingly rub her belly with oils and make sure that she was drinking enough orange juice so the baby would be healthy. Mike never touched her belly unless she took his hand and placed it there.

It was amazing feeling the baby wiggle around inside her and she thought that Mike should at least get to feel it from the outside. Mike was always amazed at first but then would quickly go back to treating her like a regular person. She didn’t feel like a regular person, the baby made her feel special, like she should be celebrated and have roses thrown at her feet for having such a miracle occurring inside of her. She knew she wasn’t the first woman to ever have carried a baby, but it was a first for her and it felt like god himself had blessed her with a child. Especially since she didn’t even remember ever having sex with Mike, it seemed so long ago.

In her eighth month of pregnancy Mike dropped Sandra off at the doctor’s office for yet another ultrasound and blood pressure reading. The doctor concluded, quite to her dismay, that based on her increasing blood pressure it was time to go ahead and have the baby.
"What like right now?" She asked.
"Yes." He replied. "Go on over to the hospital and they will induce you."
It was such a bummer. Nothing seemed to be going right. Sandra sat in the waiting area at the hospital and sobbed. She didn’t get to be in love, she didn’t get to decide to have a baby, or get married or any of it. She didn’t even get to go into labor like all the woman in the movies who have their little bags packed by the door and their loving husbands in a panic rushing them to the hospital. She waddled over to the pay phone to call Mike. He didn’t answer his cell phone so she tried the home number.
"Hi Mike, what are you doing home?"

"The AC guy is coming today." He said.
"Oh. I didn’t realize." Sandra said. "Well, I guess that’s good timing. Sort of."
"What do you mean?" Mike asked.
"I’m at the hospital and they’re inducing me today – are you ready to be a Daddy?"
There was silence on the other end of the line.
"Mike?"
He sounded annoyed when he replied, "The air conditioning is being installed today." He said.

Sandra didn’t know how to respond. "OK well, I’m sure this will take a while anyway, why don’t you come down to the hospital when he’s done?"
"OK." Mike said. "I’ll see you in a little while." And he hung up the phone.
"Hello?" Sandra said into the receiver. "Hello?" She looked around to see if anybody had overheard the conversation. There was an elderly woman slumped against the wall in a plastic chair to her left. The old lady appeared to be sleeping. Her face was full of deep lines and her complexion was grayish like her hair. Did she have children? Eve wondered. Did she have a husband who loved her? Or was she alone like Sandra. The woman opened her eyes and Sandra quickly walked away back toward the reception counter.
"Hello." She said to the woman seated there. "I was sent over here by Dr. Mills to have my baby…to be induced."
"OK," replied the woman. "Is your husband here with you?"
Sandra sighed, "No, not yet." She pulled out her health card and the slip her doctor gave her and handed it over the counter. As she did, a little noise escaped her throat and she fell to the floor with a thump.