The weeks passed quickly. At first, Darrell went about his life. He did his job, but he found he was often distracted and making mistakes. Unable to work safely, Darrell subcontracted the contracts he had open to another company, then he locked himself in his house, only ever leaving to buy more beer or to go to the bar and drink. He now spent all of his time with a beer in one hand and a shot of whisky in the other. He could not even recall the last time he was sober.

Darrell lay in his bed, drinking and staring at the ceiling, which was often spinning much as it did now. He lifted his head when he heard footsteps on the stairs. Someone was in his house. He was too drunk to deal with them. He tried to sit up as he watched Aurora reaching his loft. Deciding she was no threat, he dropped back down on the bed. “Unless you have come to give me a blowjob, please leave,” he growled.

“Fifty bucks, and I don’t swallow,” she said, coming to the bed.

Darrell lifted his head and looked surprised. “Really?” He asked with mild interest.

“No, stupid,” Aurora snarled as she pulled the pillow out from under his head and smacked him in the face with it. “You are lucky I’m not easily offended, or I would reach down your throat and pull your balls off from inside out.”

Darrell laid back down, ignoring the fact that his pillow was gone. “Then go away.”

“You have been locked in this house drunk for three months. Look at me,” she said, gesturing to her belly. “I have doubled in size since the last time you set foot outside this damn house.”

“So what?”

“You haven’t worked in weeks.”

“It is ok. I cleared it with my boss,” he teased.

Aurora sat down on the bed with him placing her hand on his belly. “Look, Darrell, I get it. You found a girl that meant something to you, and you got your heartbroken. But you can’t just wall yourself up in this house and drink yourself to death.”

Darrell looked deep into Aurora’s eyes. “Lower,” he said with a cheeky grin. Aurora looked down at her hand on his stomach, and then with her own grin, she slapped him hard in the belly. Darrell let out a painful grunt followed by strained chuckling.

“Pervert,” she laughed as she stood up.

Darrell rolled over, holding his belly in pain as he laughed. “I’m sorry, I could not resist.”

“Clearly, you don’t feel as bad as you seem.”

“Want to get some coffee in town?”

“Ok, but you are paying for the expensive one. Also, I drive.”

“No, I’ll drive,” he said, rolling out of bed and hitting the floor. He staggered in his attempt to stand, and it took a moment for Darrell to be upright on his own two feet.

Aurora folded her arms. “Oh, how are you going to drive when you see three roads ahead of you?”

“Easy, I drive down the middle one.”

“I’m driving.”

and tossing Aurora his keys. “This is probably best since right now, there are like five of you,” he said as Aurora allowed him to weigh heavily against her as he navigated the stairs. “Oh, and let’s not tell

“Deal.”

which had the best custom coffees. They wandered into the store with Darrell staggering. He knew Aurora had agreed to go for coffee just so he would stop drinking whisk and hopefully sober up a bit. They walked up to the barista and ordered some coffee. While they were waiting for their drinks to be made, Aurora was telling Darrell how sick she was of being pregnant. She was due soon, and she felt fat

two-seater table in the corner. His heart almost skipped a beat when he saw Katelyn seated with another man drinking coffee and

his way over to the table. “Well,

said with surprise to see him

the trend. First Nigel, not this doofus. You are all about the

you drunk?” Katelyn

he growled. “I’m drunk.”

I said.”

“Cowboy,” Aurora said, walking over to hand him his paper cup. “Oh, hi,

stood up and hugged Aurora hello. “It is so good to see

free hand over her belly with a smile. “It

chatter. I was trying to have an indignant moment,” Darrell snapped.

Aurora said. “So, she’s on a date.

began as

Darrell barked at the man,

Aurora intervened by

stumbled back and fell into a table knocking it and everything on it to the floor. Darrell looked at Aurora on the floor and panicked, realizing he might have hurt her. “Oh God, Aurora, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you,”

“I think my water broke in the fall,” with both hands on her belly, Aurora groaned in pain. “Something

came to Aurora’s side. “We

Darrell said quickly. “No hospital. We

think a hospital would be more fitting,” the man

again, no one asked you,” Darrell growled as he helped Aurora walk to the door. Aurora

clearly drunk,” Katelyn said. “You would kill all three of

drive. She

with. “I’m sorry, Carl, but I have to go,” the man nodded that he understood. Katelyn held out her hand. “Give me the keys, and I’ll

“No,” Darrel growled.

damned keys!” Aurora yelled at him. Darrell took the keys from Aurora’s pocket and handed

lot and helped her up into Darrell’s truck. “Hold on, Aurora, the hospital is not far,” Katelyn said as she got in behind the

he wedged the three of them

“She needs a hospital.”

us. “Take us back to her place,” he said, taking out his cellphone. He would call the midwife and Stanton. By the time they

Aurora into his arms and tried to carry her inside, nearly dropping her twice. He wished he had not drunk so much. Darrell carried Aurora to the bed and laid her down just as Gordon’s wife Melissa walked through the door. She came to the bed and began to assess the situation. She started barking orders. Katelyn rushed

Stanton came barging in. Darrell paced the floor, concerned that he might have harmed Aurora and the

suggested she and Darrell leave, giving her some privacy. As Katelyn ushered Darrell out of the house, he looked back to see Stanton knelt on the bed next

on the porch, Darrell proceeded to pace. “I’ll

and ran his fingers through his hair before placing it back on his

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