Page 32 of Painless
Tessa slapped a hand to her forehead, then clutched at her side with a pained cry. Big G and I ran to her at the same time.
"Sit down for a minute, Tess. Try to get comfortable. When was your last contraction?"
"Um—"
"Baby, let me carry you upstairs. You really should be lying down, right?"
"Oh my god, just go away!" she screamed at him. "Mari's right, you're just stressing me the fuck out." She turned to me, her face in a grimace of pain. "About ten minutes ago, I think."
"No way! You're really gonna listen to this bitch?"
"Watch it," I growled under my breath. "You want the president,andthe VP, knowing you’re disrespecting me?"
His scowl was venomous. In truth, I felt bad for him. Despite coming up short in the father and husband categories, he didn't outright deserve to miss the birth of this child. It was unfortunate that hethoughthe knew best, and kept ruining it for himself as a result.
"Take the boys upstairs and I'll bring the baby to you when she's here," I relented.
She? Why did I say that? Tongue must've slipped.
He finally conceded, with a scathing look, and backed away. "Boys!" he hollered at his sons. "Grab some toys, let's go upstairs and give Mom some space."
"Is Mommy hurt?" the youngest asked with wide eyes and a wobbly lip. "Why's the baby hurting her?"
"She'll be fine." Noelle hugged him, turning him to look away from where Tessa groaned and huffed from the couch. "Nurse Mari is taking good care of her. We gotta let her do her job, okay?"
He nodded and accepted being swept up into his father's arms. When the boys finally left the room, Tessa released a deep sigh.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Maybe I'll get to deliver this baby in peace."
Her relief was short-lived as another contraction ripped through her. My hand flew to my own stomach. I swore I felt the shooting pain in my own body, along with something else that seemed wrong.
"She's still breech, isn't she?" I pressed my fingers around Tessa's pelvis. "Your contractions are still far enough apart that we can try to turn her before she starts moving."
"Why do you keep sayingshe?" Noelle asked. "Know something we don't?"
"I don't know, sorry. Can you get that boiling water and bring it here with some clean towels?"
When Noelle scurried off to the kitchen, Tessa grabbed my hand and squeezed. "I thought I still had a few more weeks. Is something wrong for the baby to be coming early?" She stared at me worriedly.
"My estimation could have been off," I told her. "Plus, we were going off your previous experience and the expectation of a boy. If it is a girl, she's probably a bit smaller, which is why you'd be farther along than I thought."
Noelle returned with the water and towels. I grabbed a washcloth to dab at the sweat on Tessa's forehead.
"And even if the baby is early, she—it's active and healthy. We might take some extra precautions, but we're close to full-term, regardless. I got this, mama. I promise you."
"And the breech position?" she huffed. "What if we can't turn her?"
"Then I'm going to have to pull her out as fast as possible, so she'll be able to breathe. I may have to make an incision, but Iwillget her out, Tessa. I promise you."
She nodded sharply, eyes hard and determined. "Cut me wide open if you have to. Just make sure the baby's okay."
"Rowwr?"
All three of us looked around for the source of the tiny sound. Freyja jumped onto the couch, seemingly out of nowhere, and rubbed her head against Tessa's belly with a loud purr.
"Hey there, little friend," Tessa cooed, scratching between the two triangular ears. "Thanks for helping me out last time. Are you here to do it again?"
Freyja answered with a meow, running the full length of her body along Tessa's side.
