I wanted to be around her more than ever now. I had always been kind of shy, which is why I went out for sports, but even that never took the edge away. Being with mom was the only place I felt completely safe and able to be myself; whether that be serious or silly or angry or even sad. I took it upon myself to start waiting on her like she always did for me and Dad. I felt guilty that I had never done this before. The first time I did it, I just fixed her a drink while I was fixing mine. She looked at me for a second like I was from another planet, and then she just smiled.
After that I would always ask if I could do something for her or help out. I started all the daily chores, and actually became what she said was a mother hen. As her belly was now huge, I did not want her moving a muscle. I also realized something else at that time. It made me feel more like a man to take care of her. Dad thought I was plain stupid for doing so much especially when I had my own things to do. And he thought I was even crazier when I no longer complained when she asked for someone to go to the store with her. I offered to go for her instead now. She started making little comments to him about at least someone cares about helping her and stuff like that. Dad would get pissed on occasion, but normally it looked like he hadn’t even heard her over the television.
I would watch Mom waddle around in front of me at the grocery store or the Costo’s, picking out things for the family. On these outings she would always make sure she got each of us a favorite treat that Dad would not know about. Some extra cookies or ice cream, or we would stop off and have a quick lunch someplace out.
She was beautiful already, but the pregnancy made her even more so. Dirty-blond, shoulder-length hair, small lips and a cute little nose, with the prettiest blue-green eyes I had ever seen. She wore just enough eye makeup to make her eyes “pop” which gave her a little bit of a naughty appearance as well.
Mom could tell I was enthralled by her, and she began to flaunt it as she entered her ninth month. Almost every night now, she would ask me to rub her feet or her shoulders. She was home all day now and not working, so would have a snack ready for me when I got home. I think she loved me telling her that she shouldn’t be doing anything for me at all and then watching me as I made over her for the next twenty minutes by fluffing the couch pillows and fixing a drink or something for her too.
On numerous occasions she would get all excited and call me over to feel the baby kicking. She would hold my hand on her tummy and watch for my reaction. More often than not there would be nothing to feel except for her. She must have known that I was almost overcome by being able to touch her bare skin there; that it had nothing to do with the baby; even though that was kind of neat to be honest.
So, Mom ended up having my baby sister, Vicki, right around Christmas and for the next few weeks, I continued to hover. Even Dad helped out more than usual. Mom was not one to stay down though so she was up and trying to get back to her old routine in just a few days. She was surprised when I continued to chip in even after she told me she was fine now.