I started the breathing we learned in our childbirth class.
"Don't have these babies here, Reyna. Please don't have them here.”
The cramping subsided, and I managed to get the yoga pants on.
Once in the car and on the road to the hospital, James called the doctor to let him know we were coming. Traffic wasn't too bad, but what cars there were on the road were getting an earful from James. It was like he reverted to jerk-mode as he blared the horn and yelled obscenities at people he felt were slowing us down. I considered saying something to him, but another contraction hit, and my focus was elsewhere.
When we arrived at the hospital, everything moved quickly and then came to a screeching halt as the hours went by waiting for the contractions to intensify and for my body to prepare to have the babies.
At five in the morning, I felt like I had hit my limit. "I need a break."
The nurse attending me smiled. "It would be nice if nature would allow such things. Unfortunately, you need to make use of the few seconds in between contractions to restore your energy."
On the other side of me, James took my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it. "I wish I could do something. But I know you can do this, Reyna. You're fucking amazing."
I couldn't respond as the next wave of contractions came. "I want to push."
"That’s a good sign. Let me get Dr. Liston, and we’ll make sure you're dilated enough."
It took another thirty minutes, but then the most amazing miracle happened. A baby emerged from my body. The nurse wrapped it up and did a quick check. She must have decided the baby was fine as she held it out to James.
James’s expression was terrified. "I don't think I should do that. Is it okay? You should give it to Reyna."
The nurse's expression was sympathetic even as it held humor. "You can do this, Dad."
James looked at me, and I nodded. He took the baby, cradling it close. I saw something in his eyes that I’d never seen before. I might've been envious of it except for I knew that it was a father's love for his child.
Another contraction hit, taking my focus away from James and the baby.
"All right, one more,” Dr. Liston said.
It occurred to me that I didn't know the gender of the first one, but I suppose it didn't matter as long as it was healthy.
Ten minutes later, our second child was born. This time, the nurse wrapped it up and gave it to me.
"You have one of each. Do you have names?" the nurse asked.
We hadn't considered we’d have one of each. We could have found out, of course, but we decided to wait to learn the gender at birth. We had thought of two girl names and two boy names. I guess now we just needed to pick one from each group.
"Which do you think? Hope or Holly?”
“Hope,” he said without hesitation. I smiled, remembering when he told me that at one time, all he had was hope, hope that I’d forgive him.
“And Nathan? Or Nicholas?”
“You choose,” he said.
I liked them both. I studied my son...my son. Thinking that made my heart crack open with such love. “What do you think, little guy?”
He blinked.
“I think Nicholas.”
“Hope and Nicholas.” The nurse smiled. "They make me think of Christmas.”
“In August?” Dr. Liston said as he washed his hands.
“Why not?” The nurse looked at us. “I know I don't get a say, but I like them."