Late Night Drive Part 3

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Late Night Drive

Part III

An R.L. Mathewson Chronicle

“What are we doing?” Matt asked around a handful of potato chips as he hopped up onto the kitchen counter.

“Waiting,” Reed said, slowly exhaling a shaky breath as he sat there, staring at the closed kitchen door as he drummed his fingertips against the kitchen table until he couldn’t take it any longer.

“Waiting for what?” Matt asked, popping a chip in his mouth with a bored sigh as Reed paced the kitchen, trying not to get his hopes up.

Since Joey’s first PMS breakdown, which had required him to make a late-night run to Walmart, he’d made sure to keep the house fully-stocked with all her monthly needs, Extra Strength Pamprim, Dr. Pepper, and Hershey Kisses. So, when he didn’t find her curled up on his bathroom floor, hugging a towel, and begging him to put her out of her misery two weeks ago, he’d noticed. He’d also noticed that whenever anyone mentioned the date that she would pull out her phone, open the calendar app and count, frown and start counting again.

About a week ago, she’d started making excuses to go to the store, grab her keys, head for the front door, only to mumble something to herself, sigh, and turn right back around. He’d left her alone, knowing better than to push her until she was ready and gave her time. When she snuck out of the house tonight, he’d decided that he’d given her enough time.

“It’s three in the morning,” Matt pointed out when Reed didn’t answer him.

“I know,” Reed said, pacing back and forth as he glanced at the closed kitchen door, wondering what was taking her so long.

“Is Joey sick?” Matt asked, shifting his attention to the plate of cookies that Joey made earlier.

“She’s not sick,” Reed said, really hoping that wasn’t the case because for the last week he’d been picturing a little girl with ponytails and an impish smile demanding that he take her to the library.

“She’s been getting sick every morning,” Matt said, looking thoughtful as he glanced towards the kitchen door.

“I know,” Reed said, releasing another shaky breath.

“She’s been taking a lot of naps,” Matt said absently with a nod.

“Yes, she has,” Reed murmured in agreement, thinking about all the places that he’d found his beautiful wife curled up, fast asleep and couldn’t help but smile as he-

“Doesn’t she have a stack of books in the bathroom?”

Sighed heavily, and headed towards the bathroom, knowing that his wife probably grabbed a book to distract herself while she waited for the test to finish.

A minute later, he opened the bathroom door and had to bite back a smile when he spotted Joey sitting on the floor with a book in her lap and the test flashing “Positive” resting on a paper towel by her feet.