Page 396 of Redeeming 6

Forcing myself not to gag, I steered the conversation back to safer waters. “I thought they wouldn’t take it well.”

“Who, the kids?”

I nodded.

“Why so, Joey love?”

“Because despite my best efforts, I made the age-old mistake of following in our father’s footsteps.” I looked at my siblings’ foster mother and shook my head. “Because I turned my girlfriend into our mother.”

“No, love, you didn’t,” she replied, reaching across the console to ruffle my hair affectionately. “Because Aoife is in no way similar to your mother, and you, my big-hearted boy, don’t have a Teddy Lynch bone in your body.”

“I already told you that I’m not interested in any of this,” I reminded her, squirming in discomfort when she squeezed my cheek. “I’m not your boy.”

“And I already told you that we’re keeping you.” She chuckled. “Finders keepers, Joey love. You’re mine now.”

Jesus.

133

Full Term

AOIFE

“Well, good news, your cervix is favorable,” the doctor said, tossing his gloves in the nearby bin. “The baby’s head is engaged. That bloody show you experienced this morning? That was your mucus plug. I wouldn’t be surprised if you delivered in the next twenty-four hours.”

“Twenty-four hours?” Mam exclaimed. “That soon? But she’s not due for another three weeks.”

“Only five percent of babies are delivered on their due date, and this baby is measuring on the larger side, which aligns with why she’s already two centimeters dilated,” he replied. “It could take several more days. Another week, even. Babies are unpredictable, but in my experience, your daughter is a prime candidate to deliver sooner rather than later.”

“Can you slow it down, Doc?” Perched on the examination table, with my legs hanging open, and my dignity back in Ballylaggin, I pulled up on my elbows and pleaded with the man in green scrubs. “I’m not due for another three weeks, and my boyfriend doesn’t get back into town until Wednesday night.”

“Aoife,” Mam sighed. “It doesn’t work that way, pet.”

“Baby comes when baby is ready,” the doctor replied. “And I’m hedging toward baby being ready, Aoife.”

“Well, I don’t care what either of you say,” I grumbled, rolling off the examination table and adjusting my maxi-dress. “I’m not having the baby until Joe gets home.”

______________________

“Hey, Waddles,” Casey called out as she leaned against the side of my father’s van in the hospital car park, basking in the warm summer’s afternoon. “How’s our baby coming along?”

“Don’t start,” I grumbled, heaving my oversized inmate across the car park. “It’s too damn hot and I’m suffering from a serious case of electric shocks to the fanny.”

“Lightning crotch,” Mam corrected as she unlocked the van. “Please, love, I know you’re cranky, but try not to be so vulgar.”

“Lightning crotch.” Casey grinned. “Oooh, sounds kinky.”

“You know what’s not kinky, Case? Having a geriatric obstetrician ram his entire hand inside of your fan—”

“Aoife!”

“Vagina,” I amended with a huff.

“Are we talking an entire fist here?” my best friend asked as she helped hoist me into the van.

“We’re talking an entire fist, arm, and elbow!”

“I hope he wore a glove.”

---