Page 274 - It Ends with Us

Chapter Thirty-Five

I smel l toast.
I stret ch out on my bed and smile, bec ause R yle kno ws toast is my
favorite. I lie here for a whi le bef ore I ev en attem pt to get up. It feel s
like it takes the ef fort of three men to roll me out of bed . I ev ent ually

take a deep brea th, and then thro w my feet over the side, pushi ng
mysel f up from the mattres s.
The firs t thi ng I do is pee. It’s rea lly all I do no w. I’m due in two
days and my doctor says it could be ano ther week . I started materni ty
lea ve last week , so thi s is my life right no w. I pee and watch TV.

When I make it to the kitche n, R yle is stirri ng a pan of scrambled
eg gs. He spins around when he hea rs me walk in. “Good morni ng ,”
he says. “No baby yet ?”
I sha ke my hea d and put my hand on my stomach. “No, but I peed
ni ne times last ni ght .”
R yle laughs . “Tha t’s a new rec ord.” He spoons some eg gs ont o a
plate and then tosses bacon and toast on it. He turns around and

ha nd s me the plate, pres sing a quick kiss to the side of my hea d. “I
gotta go. I’m alrea dy late. I’m lea ving my pho ne on all day.”
I smi le when I look down at my brea kfast. Ok ay, so I eat , too. Pee, eat ,
an d wat ch TV.
“Tha nk you,” I say cheer fully. I take my plate to the couch and turn
on the TV. R yle rushes around the living room, gatheri ng hi s stuff.

“I’ll come chec k on you at lunc h. I might be working late toni ght ,
but Allysa said she can bring you dinner.”
I roll my ey es . “I’m fine, R yle. The doctor said light bed res t, no t
complet e deb ilitation. ”
He starts to open the door, but pauses like he forget s somet hi ng .
He runs back toward me and lea ns down, plant ing hi s lips on my
stomach. “I’ll double your allowanc e if you dec ide to come out today,”

he says to the baby.