Page 65 of The MC's Surprise
I watched as he slid out of the car and jogged around the front, while I was still clutching my seatbelt like a lifeline. Maybe I could steal some of his calm for myself. It was either that, or lose it completely.
After helping me to my feet, he wrapped an arm around my waist, leading me slowly toward the door. I hadn’t felt any contractions yet, but I was afraid to move. I didn’t want my baby to slip out while I was walking. Was that a thing?
Mel was waiting just inside the glass doors, a wheel chair at the ready. She smiled brightly at me as she came to my other side to help me along. “Hey, mama. Ready to have a baby?”
“Is it bad to say no?” I whimpered.
She snorted, helping me sit in the wheelchair. “Nope. Totally normal. All first time moms say that. But we’ve got a fancy suite waiting for you and a whole team of nurses and doctors at the ready. It’s a party up there, you’ll see. We’ll have a blast.”
Justin chuckled, shaking his head as he matched pace with us. “Do you inject yourself with sunshine and rainbows every morning?”
“Nope,” she replied, popping the ‘p’. “I’m just naturally awesome. Now you be nice, or I won’t get you the good dad cot for tonight.”
They bickered and teased each other the entire way up to labor and delivery, and it eased some of my anxiety a little. Mel was a nurse. If she wasn’t worried, then I was going to be okay.
An older, stern looking nurse sat behind the desk as we came in. She eyed Justin a little suspiciously, but her expression softened when she turned to me. “Hello. You must be Sierra. Mel told me you were coming. Can you tell me why you’re here?”
“I think my water broke,” I answered weakly. “It’s too early, right? I’m only thirty seven weeks. I’m supposed to have more time.”
She pressed her lips together and studied me thoughtfully for a moment before answering. “Well, let’s find out, shall we? Room 2, Mel. Are you joining us today?”
“Yep. Already told my supervisor. Put me to work,” Mel said amiably. She wheeled me into the room with a hospital bed and a ton of equipment, including a baby warmer. I stared at it uneasily. My baby would be there soon. I still didn’t feel ready.
Mel and Justin were helping me stand when the nurse joined us. “Alright. My name is Nora. Once you’re in a gown andcomfortable, I’m going to do a little test to see if it was your water breaking or something else. I’ll also put you on a monitor so we can get baby’s heartbeat, and check if you’re dilating.” She eyed Justin again. “Are you the father?”
“Yeah,” Justin agreed, his eyes continually dragging back to me. “Can I do something? Maybe get her something to eat or drink?”
His eagerness to help seemed to soften her a little. “Not yet, no. We’ve got tests to do first. For now, your job is to hold her hand. Got it?”
He nodded sharply. It was a little funny how serious he was about it. I’d laugh if I wasn’t so freaked out.
With three people helping me, I was changed into a gown and comfortable in bed in a blink of an eye. Nora put a monitor around my belly, hooking it up to a machine next to me that showed me the baby’s heartbeat. She finished her tests and was about to leave when my mom burst in.
“Sorry, sorry. I got lost. I thought labor and delivery was on the first floor.”
“It used to be,” Mel replied with a smile. “We moved up here for more space.”
Justin moved out of the way so Mom could be by my side, but when I frowned, he stuck close and put a hand on my ankle to let me know he was still there. It helped having him close.
“I’m guessing you’re mom?” Nora asked.
Mom nodded. “Yep. My husband is coming soon with her essentials.” She patted my hand reassuringly. “Then he’ll wait in the waiting room. I didn’t think you’d want him in here during the delivery.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe not.” Me and my dad were close, but not close enough for me to want him to see all that.
“Well, good. I’m going to leave her in the care of her family and check in with the doctor. Mel, can you come with me for a minute?”
Mel squeezed my hand and smiled at me before following her out. I swallowed hard. Why did I feel better when Mel was here? People didn’t normally need nurses throughout the whole labor, right?
Mom let out a breath, smiling at me when I looked up at her. “That was an adrenaline rush. I forgot for a minute how long first time births take.”
I jerked my head back, surprised. “What do you mean? How long do they take?”
“Could be a few hours, could be longer.” She shrugged. “Depends on you and the baby. All we can do now is wait. Have you felt any contractions yet?”
I shook my head. “Is that bad?”
Mom chuckled, petting my hair reassuringly. “No, sweetheart. That’s not bad. They’ll come eventually. And then you’ll wish you could go back to right now where you were waiting impatiently for them to start.”
