Page 28 of Tuesday

“Wait, what?” I ask, blinking my eyes to clear them.

Rhodie has Blanche gently by the elbow, her grey stretchy pants have a large wet patch on the front. Oh, so that’s where the water sound came from.

“Holy shit Blanche is having her baby!” Mira yells and all of a sudden the room is full of activity.

I know Marx asked me to get rid of Candice so I’ll need to do that before we head out to the hospital.

“Let go! We need to finish this!” Blanche says, snatching her elbow away from Rhodie’s hold.

“Umm, shouldn’t we be heading out?” Rhodie asks, looking confused as hell.

“Not til we’re done,” Blanche says in a low voice.

“Filler me!” she says, hand out, waiting for another syringe.

“Blanche,” Lovely coos in a gentle voice, as if talking to a scared baby deer, “Are you sure you really want to do this?”

Blanche turns a cold look her sister’s way and Lovely stands her ground, hands on her hips. They stare each other down, and I’m impressed at Lovely’s ability to not blink for a very long time. I skirt around them both, picking up the filler syringe on the metal table. Uncapping it, I whisper “bye bye” to Candice and then lean in pulling the skin of her neck taut, just under her jaw until I locate the external carotid artery. Finding the perfect spot I press the needle into her neck, waiting for the skin to give way, then sliding it further still, letting it nestle just where I want it.

“There it is,” I whisper, then depress the plunger filling the artery with enough filler to cause a blockage. Stroke will happen in a few moments.

“Where is she?” Tav bursts through the doors just as Candice’s face starts to droop on the left side.

“I’m here, but I’m not done yet! We need to rid the world of this awful bitch.” Blanche indicates Candice whose mouth is now slack, drool running down her chin. “She has to pay for all the shit she put those women through, and all those sweet babie- ow, ow, ow!”

Tav doesn’t say a word, just stomps up to his Ol Lady and scoops her up in her arms. “You good, Dayz?”

Tilting my head I take in Candice’s slack features and the blue tinge of her overblown lips. I mean, it’s kinda hard to really get a good bead on them, given that they’re still purple in places but the hemorrhaging in her eyes tells a different story.

“Yeah, I’m good. Let’s roll out.”

Rhodie

We follow Tav into the common room so we can rally the troops. Well, that was the plan until Blanche growled at everyone to wait here and give her a two hour head start. Apparently she’d rather we be bored here than staring at the white walls of the hospital while Tav’s kid gets ready to meet the world. I’m not sure why she thinks this, but she’s said numerous times that Tav’s kid will take their time being born. I know nothing about having a baby, so maybe she knows something I don’t.

“So, what do we do now?” Mira asks, at a loss now that we’re just sitting here.

“Bets! What kind, how heavy and time of birth. Who’s in?” Rider booms, holding up a notebook, pen at the ready.

The brothers start yelling out weights and gender, but Chewy just snuggles into me, Laney-May in her lap after Mad Dog handed her over. She’s already in her PJ’s and Mama Debs assured us that she’s been fed, bathed and will be ready for bed whenever we decide. We still haven’t fallen into the perfect routine yet, but I think we’re bloody close enough. Laney is happy and healthy and seems comfortable here with our family.

“Come on Laney, let’s get you and Chomper to bed, hmm?” Chewy softly says, moving to stand. Laney shakes her head roughly, gripping onto Chewy’s shirt as she grumbles. “Yup, bed time for you, let’s go.” Laney fights even harder, first flopping back and almost toppling Chewy over to then going completely rigid as a loud yell leaves her little body.

She rocks back and forward, yelling “No!” at the top of her lungs and Chewy freezes. I rush to get up, to hold them both steady, Laney’s rocking and throwing her body around getting more and more unruly.

“Come here, Laney-May,” I wrap my hand under Laney’s arms and lift her into mine, wrapping my arm around her bottom half to try and keep her safe, but her kicking legs and head shaking and yelling is a little hard to control, especially from a little girl who up until now has been so very well behaved. “Hey, hey, shhhhh, shhhh. It’s OK, baby girl, I got you,” She throws her head into my shoulder and cries, her tears soaking into my cut.

“She’s a bit overtired I think,” Mama Debs says gently, giving Chewy a squeeze. “It’s been a big day, full of excitement. She’ll calm down and probably fall asleep as soon as you put her to bed.”

I give her a weak smile, then wrap my free arm around Chewy, pulling her into my side and squeezing. I know this would have overwhelmed her so I’ll need to care for my woman as well as my baby.

“If you need me to walk her, let me know,” Mad Dog offers, with a nod. Judging by my face, I’m sure he can tell I have no idea what he’s talking about. “When you were a kid you were just like her. Wanted to see everything, be everywhere, not wanting to nap. By the evening you were a little shit, you’d shake yourself to stay awake, scream, cry, kick. Anything to not have to go to bed. I’d walk up and down the hall with you until you fell asleep on my shoulder.” He shrugs, and I’m so fucking grateful we have all these people to help raise Laney. I’m the fucking luckiest bastard in the world.

“Come on, little mama,” I whisper to Chewy, who is still wide-eyed, looking terrified.

We make our way into our room and in the short walk from the common room to here Laney has gotten heavier in my arms. Her head is lolling on my shoulder and her little arms are hanging slackly by her sides. I move silently to her bed, and Chewy moves up to peel the blanket back so I can lie our girl down.

“There you go, baby girl. Shhhhh, daddy and mommy are here.” I rub a hand down her back, up and down until her breathing deepens even more. “I think we did it, little ma-” turning, Chewy is no longer at my side. “Babe?”

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