“Yes,” Pop says. He claps me on the shoulder. “Right here.”
“I’m not–” I start to say. But Adam talks over me.
“We’ll be right here if you need anything,” Adam says.
The nurse gives me scrubs to put on and booties to cover my shoes. “You can change once you’re in there,” she says.
“Gabby,” I protest. “Where’s Gabby?” Gabby was with her mother when she had Trixie. Certainly, she wants to be there for this one too.
“Gabby’s already in with Mrs. Stone,” the nurse says. “They’re just waiting for someone to hold her hand.”
“That’s all you need? Someone to hold her hand?”
The nurse nods. “Yes.” Her brow furrows. “You are the father, correct?”
Not even close.
“She’ll need someone to curse and scream at. Someone to hate. Someone who can push her through this.” The nurse waits impatiently.
“Someone else should be there.” I look at Dan and Adam.
“We’re grandparents. We’re more useful out there.” Dan is holding Trixie’s hand, and Adam has his hand laid upon Alex’s shoulder.
“Sir, if you’re coming,” the nurse snaps. She turns abruptly on her heel and walks into the room.
“I’m coming,” I call out. I follow her.
Katie is sitting up on the bed and sweat beads her forehead. “Jake,” she says. “What are you doing here?” Another contraction hits her, and the doctor looks up from between her legs.
“It won’t be long now,” he says.
“That quick?” I ask.
“Baby number four tends to come a little quicker.”
The contraction eases and Katie settles back against the pillows. “You remember what you said about them just walking out after you’ve had so many?”
“I was a fool, huh?”
“Yeah,” she mutters.
“Here we go,” the doctor says.
Katie holds out her hand and stares into my eyes. “Hold my hand, Jake,” she says. I don’t hesitate. I grip her hand tightly and sit down on a stool close to the head of her bed. “I got this, right?” she says.
“No,” I say. Tears sting my eyes.
“No?” Her gaze flies up to meet mine. “No?” she barks at me this time.
“We got this,” I tell her. I lean forward and kiss her on the forehead. She blinks back tears and I rest my forehead against hers. “We got this,” I say again. “I’m here with you, Katie. I won’t leave you.” I sit back.
“Gabby,” Katie says. Gabby is holding her other hand. “He makes it sound so easy.”
Gabby laughs. “Because pushing a bowling ball out of your vagina always seems easy when you have testicles.”
“On the next contraction, I want you to give a big push,” the doctor says.
Katie nearly squeezes the life out of my hand.