.... or jogging.
Andrew especially loved jogging to the beach and back. Drawing great gulps of invigorating salty sea air into those young, healthy lungs of his.
For Sonia, however, this was for a completely different reason.
For a few days now, she'd been feeling a little unwell, nauseous, and tired.
After consulting her books, it was confirmed.....
.... she was pregnant again.
Now that Malcolm was more involved in their lives, this meant that she didn't need to swan off to the spa for that long-anticipated deep tissue massage. For even though the poor guy was almost totally wiped out from exhaustion, he'd find the time to massage out those horrid knots that were starting to develop.
He was that enthralled with the progress of the pregnancy, that he'd be found... just standing anywhere... reading all the maternity books he could lay his hands on.
And when they were together, it was ever so sweet, seeing him trying to 'bond with the bump'.
Jessica too, was excited about the upcoming birth and was often found, (taking a back seat this time), chatting to the 'bump' and chattering about her new brother or sister.
Things were going well. Sonia had successfully sold yet another painting and they'd been celebrating by cooking Andrew's favourite dish, Tri Tip Steak - with extra onions.
Sonia was feeling a little grotty and her back was starting to ache. So, instead of bothering Malcolm for a back massage, she fancied a nice long soak in some delicious new bubble bath she'd just purchased recently.
But before she could even reach across the bath, to turn the water on ... she felt a twinge, and straightened up.
'Um ... that doesn't feel like the onions,'" she though, her hands straying to her distended stomach.
It happened again, this time, more intensely.
"Nope... definitely NOT the onions!" she gasped, trying unsuccessfully, not to yell out.
Then there was another ... this time, she didn't hold back.
"Oh bollocks!" she screamed, "dammit! MALCOLM!"
"Everything okay in here?"
Malcolm wandered into the bathroom, a glazed, slightly dumbfounded look on his face....
... and stared stupidly at her.
"DON'T JUST BLOODY STAND THERE!" Sonia screamed, "DO SOMETHING!"
Realisation hit him with full force. That famous Landgraab reserve crumpled in seconds as blind panic hit him.
"HOLY HELL!!" he yelled, "it's... happening... it's .... really ... happening!"
"I BLOODY KNOW IT'S HAPPENING! DO SOMETHING!"
"ANDY!!!! ANDY!!!"
Andrew shot into the bathroom, wondering what the hell was going on.... when he was confronted by a rather red-faced mom, panting rapidly.
He froze.
"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap, oh crap," he chanted this mantra under his breath, "this can't be happening....."
"Trust me son..." his mother gasped between pants, "it is."
By now, Malcolm had just managed to hang onto his sanity and ran out of the bathroom, muttering...
"I'll get the towels.... we can do this...."
Realisation dawned upon Sonia and she barged past her son.
"Bugger that," she hissed, grabbing Malcolm by his shirt, "I'm NOT having a home birth.... and THAT'S FINAL."
"But... but... but... I thought we'd agreed on that!"
"Hell no. You might have... but I'm NOT. NO. WAY. Now call the taxi or I'm getting on my bike and cycling all the way there!"
Malcolm hit speed dial faster than you could say 'Jack Sprat', and within minutes the taxi pulled up.
Little Jessica, in the meantime, had been taking a nap and had missed all the drama. After getting dressed, she just arrived in the living room, to see mommy being shepherded into a taxi, aided by daddy.
She rushed to the front door and stopped dead.
"Mommy?" she whimpered nervously.
She paused, waiting to see if they'd return, but the sound of the taxi's rattling engine, faded out as it pulled away into the night.
She was aghast, standing stock still, her bottom lip starting to tremble slightly. Mommy had never ever left the house on an evening. Not without letting them know where she was going.
Andrew walked past.
"It's okay kiddo, don't sweat it," he said nonchalantly, "they'll be back pretty soon. She's just having the baby, that's all."
He flopped onto the settee, grabbed the controller and loaded in his favourite video game.
"They left me in charge, and a big plate of cookies on the counter top. Help yourself."
Tears soon forgotten, Jessica trotted into the kitchen and helped herself to the plate of cookies, a big beaming smile all over her chubby, crumb-spotted face. If there was just one thing she loved more than her mommy.... it was mommy's plates of cookies. The ultimate comfort food.
Meanwhile, the situation was tense on the journey to the hospital. Although they hardly spoke a word, Malcolm found the atmosphere rather uncomfortable indeed. He was so sure that she'd agree to a home birth. According to his own mother, that's how he was born.
And his wife's mood swings too. They were....
He didn't want to think about it. He just wanted her to be safe and the birth to go smoothly.
The taxi pulled up and they got out.
Just as they reached the front entrance, Sonia suddenly turned and stretched. A smile played on her face.
"This is it!" she said brightly, "are you ready?"
Malcolm sensed that she was putting up a front, that she - like himself - was terrified of the whole process.
He just nodded, put his arm around her and they went inside.
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