Page 413 of Redeeming 6

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“Joe,” Molloy was crying out when I was finally let into the theater. I could see her on the operating table, surrounded by the surgical team, as her hand flailed around wildly, searching for mine.

“I’m right here, Molloy,” I called out, jumping into action as I moved straight for her, only to be herded toward the top end of the table by one of the surgical team. “I’m here, baby.”

“Joe,” she sobbed, snatching up my hand in hers as she screamed in pain. “Joe, it hurts so bad.”

“Can you give her something?” I demanded, feeling myself spiral as I watched them manhandle her like she didn’t have feelings. “Jesus Christ, you can’t do that to her without an epidural.”

“No time for that now, Dad.”

“Joe—”

“You’re grand. You’re grand, baby.”

“Push, Aoife. We need you to push.”

“I’m right here,” I whispered in her ear, holding onto her head to stop us both from watching. “Just stay with me, Aoife. Stay with me, okay?”

Crying out in agony when they pushed on her stomach, she clung to my shoulders. “Make it stop!”

I wanted to.

More than anything I’d ever wanted in my life.

“Push, Aoife. Harder. Come on, baby needs to be delivered.”

“Ahhhh.” Her face was white to the point of gray, as she clung to me and pushed with all her might, panting and shaking violently. “I’m scared.”

Me too.

“Don’t be,” I tried to soothe, leaning in close so that she was only focusing on my face, and not what was happening around us. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Ahhhh,” she screamed again, face contorting in pain, before suddenly growing limp in my arms.

Moment later, the sound of a baby screaming filled the room.

“You did it, Aoife,” I choked out, trembling just as badly as she was, as the sound of our child filled the room. “You did it, baby.”

“Yeah,” she strangled out, nodding weakly as her eyes rolled. “Oh god…”

“Hey, hey, hey.” Leaning over the bed, I caught ahold of her face between my hands and tried to keep her focused, while the doctors continued to work on her. “You’re okay.” I pressed a kiss to her head. “Come on, Molloy, stay with me. Can you hear the baby?”

“Yeah.” She was trembling and so was I.

I could hear the screaming baby in the background. I didn’t even know what we had, but I didn’t dare move from her side as I focused on her face and ignored the way they were working on her body. “You’re okay. Shh, shh, baby, you’re okay.”

“Joe…”

“Step aside, Dad,” one of the nurses instructed. “Mom needs a little help right now.”

I’d never seen so much blood.

But I wasn’t about to tell her that.

“No, no, no,” she slurred, pushing weakly at the oxygen mask they were placing over her mouth and nose. “Joe…”

They were all so calm when I felt like my world was slipping away from me. I was watching her body bleed out while she was still conscious.

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