Roomie Wars Box Set

Holding them up so everyone can see, I happily relay my gratitude. “I love them so much! These are perfect. Drew and I each have a pair of these.”

“I know.” She giggles. “That’s how I got the idea. You can be all matchy, matchy.”

Leaning over, I give Mia a big hug and whisper, “You didn’t have to do this, I know it’s been hard for you.”

“The only thing hard for me is the regret of acting like a bitch toward you. That night was uncalled for,” she apologizes, again.

“You’ve already said sorry. You were in a bad place. I get it. How are things now?”

Mia grabs a piece of ribbon, twisting it into a bow to distract herself. “Better, not better. I don’t know. Troy’s with Sophia today. He took her to his parents’ house, and she’ll stay over. I think tonight we’ll have a long talk… but hey, today is about you.”

Ending our conversation with a forced smile, I hug her again praying they’ll sort things out. It was Mia and Troy’s wedding which ignited Drew’s and my flame. I’ll never forget that. I just wish they can both remember the reason why they chose to be together and move on. Having the baby should have brought them closer together, not tear them apart. I’m not quite sure that trying for another baby will fix it either—a Band-Aid solution to a deeper wound. For once in my life, I choose to keep my opinion to myself. And when I say to myself, I mean only to Drew. Poor guy is always forced to listen to my crap.

Attempting to stand up, Mom orders me to sit down and rest my feet. I want to thank everyone but need to do that while sitting down. “Thank you, everyone, for your generosity,” I begin, nervously rubbing my stomach. “To say I’m overwhelmed is an understatement, but your willingness to shower me today means everything. Our babies are so blessed.”

Mom removes a tissue from her pocket wiping a loose tear from her eye which onsets my own. Aunt Ruth begins and then Mia. By the end, we all laugh at our emotional outburst.

I look around the room one more time surrounded by family and friends, grateful that no matter how shit of a mother I may turn out to be, my babies are surrounded by good pe

ople.

These babies are already so loved that I can’t imagine how much more love we can feel when we’re finally holding them in our arms.

Chapter Six

Drew

Our break room table is always scattered with mindless magazines and trashy tabloids which the nurses gossip about. They have this god-awful obsession with the royal family. Personally, I don’t understand it.

A Tupperware catalog or some pyramid scheme product are laying around with a ‘Please Look at Me’ sticker on the front, snuck in by one of the nurses or cleaning staff. Opting for my textbooks, I’m not one to waste my precious resting moments with trivial garbage. Zoey calls me a nerd, but if nerd means I can save people lives, I’ll gladly take that titled cape.

It catches my eye today, a brochure sticking out of the corner of a People magazine advertising a small resort an hour away. This is exactly what Zoey needs—a babymoon. Just the two of us. Okay, call me selfish, but this is exactly what I need before I sacrifice my wife to motherhood, and our lives will be nothing but dirty diapers and sleepless nights.

The photos paint a picture of an idyllic getaway—palm trees lining the property, perfect sunset, and a large resort-style swimming pool. They offer couples’ massages, full buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus nightly entertainment outside in the gardens.

“There were no such things as babymoons in our day,” Dorothy utters while slicing the carrot cake she brought from home. “You carried the baby, you gave birth, then repeat.”

Margaret, another nurse, nods in agreement. “We didn’t even have daycare centers. If you needed to work, you had to find help in the neighborhood or go on welfare.”

“And none of these iPads to keep the kids busy,” Dorothy adds.

These ladies often test my patience. While their hearts are in the right place, they tend to complain about everything. If I had a dollar for every time they start a sentence with, “Back in my day…” I’d be a rich man.

Chief Arnold walks into the room greeting the ladies before requesting I join him in his office. Dorothy and Margaret are silently eating their cake, hiding their curious stares behind their over-sized mugs. I’m not sure what this is about but know I’ll get the third degree the moment I come back.

Following him down the corridor, up one level and down another corridor, he closes the door behind us and asks me to take a seat. Chief Arnold is a minimalist—his large oak desk is clear of paperwork which is stacked neatly in folders behind him. The only thing on his desk is his computer and a photo of his wife and three daughters.

“Doctor Baldwin, tell me, how are things?”

I have no idea why he called me in because when he has done so in the past, it wasn’t for a friendly chat. There’s usually something behind it.

“Busy. My wife is expecting our twins soon.”

“I heard,” he responds with a comforting smile, easing my worries, slightly. “Now, the reason why I called you here is that I have a friend, a close family friend who I’ve known for years, contact me regarding an opening at a hospital.”

This isn’t the first time I have been approached, and while moving isn’t in the cards for us right now, I’m always open to hearing new opportunities.

“The government has a new project with approved funds to help build the new cardiac wing. It will be a fantastic opportunity for you, and a step up from your position here. You would step into the position as head of CCU.”