"I didn't get much sleep," she revealed.
"Why not? Are you okay? Do you want me to get anything for you?"
"I'm fine," she giggled.A hand reached up to cover her lips, mortified by how childish it sounded. "I'm sorry about that," she apologized.
"Why? I like it. It's cute. You can giggle anytime for me."
Andrea felt her cheeks flush as the butterflies in her stomach did summersaults."Anyway, I didn't get much sleep because I stayed up talking with Rory. We had a blowout yesterday, but we're good now."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad you're both okay now…Trey mentioned that he saw her down at the boardwalk. "
"Oh really? So that's where she went," Andrea replied more to herself than Donny.
"Don’t quote me on it, but I think he really likes your daughter. I've never heard him talk about anyone with such admiration the way he talks about Rory."
"Wow, that’s…that's…I mean. It's going far better than I initially expected," Andrea confessed, feeling in awe.
"The kids are all right," Donny chuckled.
"Are you quoting from that 70s show?" Andrea quirked her brow even though he couldn't see her.
"I am," he confirmed.
Andrea released a soft chuckle.
"I can't wait to see you later."
Andrea shivered slightly at the deep drop in his voice.
"I can't wait to see you too," she all but whispered shyly as a coy smile turned her lips slightly upward.
After a few more minutes of them ironing out the details for their date, Andrea hung up from Donny and headed downstairs to prep Becky's meal.
As she neared the kitchen, she could hear slight whimpers. Alarmed, she hastened her steps. She found Julia with her head resting on her arms that were being supported by the island.
Andrea cautiously approached her niece, whom it was evident was in pain. "Jules…are you okay?" she asked, resting her arms on the young woman's back.
Julia turned her head upward to look at Andrea, who was now staring down at her in concern. A wave of protectiveness came over Andrea at the grimace of pain on her face.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?" she cajoled.
"I-I'm f-f-fi…ne," Julia forced out.
"You don't seem fine," Andrea refuted.
"It’s just Braxton-Hick’s contractions…they'll pass soon," Julia tried to convince her even while her eyes and lips tightened as she released a low moan of discomfort. "
"Do you want me to get your mom?"
"N-No," she responded forcefully.
Andrea opened her mouth, ready to argue that it was the best option, but Julia beat her to it.
“Aunty Drea, I don’t want to worry mom with something that’s as natural as breathing. I’m fine, I promise. The doctor said when I feel contractions, I should check for spotting, and if there’s none, then it probably means everything is fine. I checked. Everything is fine.”
Andrea opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. All the arguments she’d prepared had been made moot by her niece’s summations. “Okay…I’ll let it go. For now, if the contractions start to get too unbearable or too frequent, tell your mother. Better yet, call your obstetrician.”
“Thanks, Auntie,” Julia smiled gratefully.
