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“What are you thinking about?” she asked softly, noticing me in the doorway.
“How much I love you.” I walked toward her, weaving around the piles of tiny clothes that surrounded her.
I sat down beside her and leaned against the crib, taking a onesie and folding it into a tiny square. She laid her head on my shoulder and folded two blue socks into a ball. We folded the rest of the clothes in a comfortable silence, taking in the fact they would be filled out by our baby in a few weeks’ time.
“He’s almost here,” I whispered.
“You ready for it?” She found my hand and interlaced her fingers in mine.
“I think so.” I gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“You’re going to be the best dad.”
“And you the best mom.”
She lifted her head and pressed her lips against my cheek, her warmth running through me. She looked around the room, at all we had accomplished in the past few months, slowly curating the perfect pieces for the nursery.
“You picked the perfect shade of blue,” she said, looking at me.
“Someone had to.” I winked at her.
She nudged me playfully with her shoulder. “How was work?” she asked.
“Good. We are all set for tomorrow’s launch.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Don’t be proud yet. You know how technology goes. There is always something that could go wrong.”
“It won’t. The website is seamless, and you have a team of geniuses to fix any problem that comes up, which it won’t.”
I nodded, but my nerves were still fluttering in my stomach. When I thought up this tech company months ago, I knew I would be taking a risk by stepping foot into a territory I had never been before. I didn’t have my father to fall back on. It was all on me, which was what I wanted, but it was still terrifying.
The only thing that kept me going was my interest in AI, which I learned of in college, but never pursued fully. It wasn’t as big of a thing back then, and even if it had been, my father’s pressure of joining the family business was overbearing. I let it control my every move, and my every choice. But not anymore.
I had brainstormed a few ideas when Monica and I had been enjoying the unemployed life, though it wasn’t meant for us long-term. I ran a few by Daniel Jacobs, who had his own successful AI software company, and he graciously lent an ear and advice, helping me narrow down my direction. I settled on an AI tool that automatically searched the internet for copyright infringement, making it easy for startups to know which logos, branding, or company names were already in use, while generating ideas for their own.
The press and the business world were waiting with bated breath, ready to praise me or to prove that I was nothing without my father. I needed the launch to go off without a hitch if I were to make it in this world. I had only twelve hours until the launch the next morning.
“Come on. Let’s get you out of your head,” said Monica, giving my hand a little tug.
I helped her stand up, her round belly looking ready to burst. We stepped over the piles of clothes and she led me to the kitchen. She pulled out a list of takeout menus and told me to pick. I chose the same pizza place we had ordered from after I burned dinner all those months ago. It was not only good, but held a special place in my memory.
She smiled and called to place an order. As the phone rang, she nodded to the living room.
“You know what to do.”
I smiled at her and headed toward the console under the TV, pulling out a large plush blanket and laying it on the floor. I heard Monica order a pepperoni jalapeno pizza and a case of beer for me, and a case of sparkling water for her.
Soon we were on the floor, eating pizza from the box and watching a new comedy that had just come out. It was just what I needed to forget the stress of tomorrow.
“Oh,” said Monica suddenly, clutching her stomach.
“What is it? Are you okay?” I asked worriedly.
“He’s kicking like crazy! I think the jalapeno woke him up.” She laughed.
She reached over and pulled me closer, placing my hand on her firm stomach. We both sat in silence, as if the baby was about to talk, while we waited for another kick. I felt my hand rise and fall as he moved.