I turn off the water and step out, grabbing a towel. With quick movements, I towel her dry as she starts to groan with more regularity.
Dammit!
My heart races, and I feel lightheaded as it starts to sink in.
Our baby’s coming.
I walk Sarah into the bedroom and help her put on some loose clothes, and then I lay her on the bed while I organize everything. I pick up my phone—and luckily, it’s only eight at night
and not three in the morning like I thought it would be—and dial home.
Mom picks up after three rings. “Hello?”
“Hey, Mom, it’s me,” I announce.
“Oh my God… is it time?” she asks, and I nod. Then I realize I’m on the phone, and she can’t see me. “CJ?” she asks again.
“Yeah, Mom, it’s time,” I tell.
She shrieks down the phone line so loud, I have to move the phone away from my ear.
“Geez, Mom, you want me to go deaf?”
She laughs. “No. Sorry. Of course not, honey. I’m just so excited! I’ll come over right now and bring the girls with me to watch Ethan. We’ll be there as soon as we can… John, the baby’s coming,” I hear her say before she ends the call.
Then I ring Trish and Aiden to let them know it’s happening. I’m so annoyed I can’t get Sarah to the hospital now, but we have to wait for someone to watch Ethan. I walk back to the bedroom, and she’s lying on her side, and she is huffing.
Fuck, this is happening quickly this time!
I walk over and sit behind her, placing my hand on her side. She takes my hand in hers and squeezes tightly.
“I love you, Sarah,” I whisper in her ear, then kiss her neck.
She responds with a groan, and my heart rate climbs.
“Mom’s on her way with the girls. They’re going to watch Ethan.”
“Mm-hmm… oooh,” she groans again.
Damn this all to hell! I should have been better prepared than this.
I’m not liking how quickly this has progressed from an occasional groan to what looks like she’s in severe pain.
“What can I do?”
Sarah’s breathing increases, taking deeper, heavier breaths. I stand and walk around to lay on the bed on my side, facing her. Trying to be some sort of help. Giving her a connection to focus on. “I’m right here, babe, I love you.”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. I lay with her staring straight into my eyes, trying to let her know it’s all going to be fine. I move her hair from her sweaty face, lean in and kiss her forehead.
Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock at the door.
Thank God!
I get up to let everyone in. Mom has the biggest grin and Dad’s holding balloons. My sisters are holding teddy bears and random other stuff.
“CJ… how is she?” Mom asks, barging her way through.
“In a lot of pain. Sorry to make a rush of things, but can we take her to the hospital now?”