Page 108 of Meet Me in the Vines
Epilogue
AUDREY
THREE YEARS LATER…
“You’re doing great, Audrey. Deep breaths now, sweetheart. Another contraction is coming.” My doula Josephine kneels across from me at the edge of the tub, chanting praises and encouragement as I breathe this baby down. I don’t even know what time it is, but it looks like early morning from the window. The sky has that muted blue hue, right before the sun stretches its rays across the sky to wake up the world.
This isn’t my first rodeo, but it is at home—in my tub. I was so confident after the birth of our first child at the hospital, who came as a wonderful surprise, that I wanted our next child to be born at home. I sit between Donovan’s legs as he uses all of his strength to massage my lower back with each contraction that comes.
“You’re doing great, Mouse. You’re so beautiful. You got this,” he whispers in my ear as very questionable sounds escape my body. My mother-in-law told me before having my first that mooing like a cow really helps with the pain. So here I am, mooing away.
“Okay, Audrey. Big push now. Go, go, go!” Josephine urges. I groan out in excruciating pain as I grit my teeth, giving everything I’ve got to get this baby out.
“That’s it, baby. Keep going.” Donovan insisted on being in the tub with me. At first, I was unsure. Not because I didn’t want him to be, but because I didn’t want him to be grossed out. Well, I was wrong. This man isn’t grossed out by anything. During the birth of our first, he was wide-eyed and fascinated by every part of the birthing process, asking the doctors and nurses a million questions like he was the one about to deliver our baby. As if I couldn’t fall more in love with the man.
So, I gave in and told him he could be in the tub. And thank god he’s in here with me because doing this without an epidural is hard as hell. But every praise from his lips and every reassuring touch gets me through it. How did I get so lucky with Donovan King?
“The head is crowning, Audrey! And so much hair!” Josephine beams. I reach down and feel the baby’s head. An explosion of a smile blasts across my face. “Donovan, the baby’s almost here! I’m doing it,” I whisper as he kisses my temple.
“You’re fucking doing it, baby. Such a goddamn rockstar.” I take a beat to rest between contractions, leaning my head back into the crook of Donovan’s neck. We wanted to be surprised and find out the gender once our baby is out. We restrained ourselves with our first born and it was so worth it. I’ve come to love surprises over the years, so this is one that I could get behind.
The tightening in my uterus revs up again, prompting another contraction to rip through me. Donovan peppers kisses on my shoulder, whispering praises in my ear as I push. A burning fire flames through me as I yell out in a feral war cry. “That’s it, mama! Head is out!” Josephine’s eyes meet mine as I gasp for air, nodding my head at her to keep going. “You’realmost there. Go, baby. Go!” Donovan cheers, working the pads of his thumbs into my shoulders as I push through another contraction.
I’m so tired I feel like stopping, but I’ve come so far. I’ve worked this hard. Every push is a second closer to meeting our baby. A piece of Donovan and me. The best parts of us. As I feel his warmth pressed against my back, I’m reminded of the deep, soul connection that tethers us. I feel his love for our family. The family we’ve dreamed of creating together. He’s the best dad and gives me all the motivation to not give up on myself.
I told myself years ago that giving up was never an option. No matter how hard life got, I’d always push through and overcome because I am a goddamn survivor. Giving birth is the most raw and primal experience I’ve ever gone through, and with Donovan holding me as I give him another child, I feel like the most powerful woman in the world.
“Gahhh!” I roar in the most guttural way when suddenly—I feel no pain. I reach down instinctively and feel the soft skin of a newborn. “Oh, my god!” I cry out, scooping my baby from underwater, straight onto my chest. Right on my heart.
You did it, Audrey. Go you.
With a few firm back rubs, the most beautiful sound in the world echoes off the walls of our bathroom. Nothing compares to hearing your baby’s first cry. And this one’s got a set of lungs.
“It’s a girl!” Josephine beams with tears in her eyes. I couldn’t have done this without her, too. She’s become one of my closest friends since she moved to Oakwood Valley three years ago, when I met her at a baby birthing workshop she was hosting. We automatically hit it off and became instant friends.
“It’s a girl?! Baby! It’s a girl!” I croon, turning my head to face Donovan. He kisses me so tenderly, shooting all the love he has for me through one kiss. “You did it, Mouse. You were amazing,” he praises, grazing his fingers through our daughter’s hair. “Heyhoney tulip, welcome to the world,” he murmurs. Donovan and I lock eyes, instantly sending me into the happiest of sobs that shake my whole body.
Our honey tulip.
I look down at our daughter, our dream girl. Her hair is lighter than our first born whose hair came out looking exactly like daddy’s. Her sweet, chubby fingers wrap around mine, holding onto me as if she were telling me,“Hi, mama.”I lean down and kiss her cherub cheek as her cries fade, turning into sweet newborn coos. I take a deep inhale of the top of her head, wishing I could bottle up that smell forever.
“Josephine, can you send him in now, please? I want to see him.” Josephine nods with a smile, quietly exiting the bathroom. Donovan wraps his arms around both of his girls, his chin resting on my shoulder. For a moment we breathe each other in, basking in the perfect bliss that is our daughter.
“She’s so gorgeous. Exactly like her mama,” Donovan murmurs, stroking our daughter’s hair. “I love you, Audrey. So much.”
“I love you more. Congrats, daddy,” I breathe, smiling against Donovan’s lips as I prompt him for another kiss. The door clicks open and I hear a patter of precious steps coming to the edge of the tub.
“Mama!”
“Hey big brother,” I coo, puckering my lips to get a sloppy kiss from my toddler. His smile lights up the room, showing off the sweetest dimples he inherited from his daddy. “Hey little man, come here,” Donovan says, kissing our son’s forehead.
His eyes go wide when they land on his newest sibling. “Sistuh?” he asks, pointing his finger at her with the most adorable expression. His big blue eyes stare in curiosity, peeking over the tub at the little wonder.
I smile, nodding my head. “Yes, James. That’s your little sister.”
Grace strides in, her hands flying to her cheeks with her mouth agape. If my mother were here, she’d have the same expression. But I love Grace like my own mother, and I’m so grateful for her.
“Oh, my goodness gracious. She is so beautiful, Audrey. Great job, mama,” she cries, kneeling at the side of the tub, wrapping her arms around James. “Congrats to you too, dad,” she teases Donovan, who chuckles. “Thanks Mom, but Audrey was an absolute warrior. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He presses a soft kiss into my shoulder as Josephine comes over, wrapping a baby blanket over us.
