Page 77 of Pieces into Place
“Perfect,” Blake winked at her.
It wasn’t long before Alexis and Melanie joined Blake and Vera in the OR. Alexis and Vera sat on either side of Blake’s head while Melanie stood behind Vera. Blake noticed how Melanie kept her hand on Vera’s shoulder, and Blake was thankful that her mama had someone there for her, too. After all, it was Vera’s first c-section on the other side of the curtain. And even if it wasn’t her getting the surgery, it was her daughter. She knew how hard that was for her.
And for her mom.
Blake thought of Isla sitting in the waiting room by herself. She hoped that Mason or Ellie or anyone had come to be with her. It would be too hard on Isla if she had to wait all alone. The mere thought of that broke Blake’s heart, but she didn’t have time to linger on it before Dr. Jacobs was getting ready to start the procedure.
“Blake, before I get started, I just want to double check you can’t feel anything, okay?”
“Okay.” Blake waited for a beat but couldn’t feel anything below her boobs. “This feels so weird.”
“Can you feel that?” Dr. Jacobs’s slightly panicked voice told Blake thatmaybetrying to crack a joke in an OR wasn’t the best idea. Granted, Vera’s snicker made it worth it.
“No, sorry,” Blake nervously laughed. “I can’t feel anything. That’s what’s weird.”
“You are so Isla Mackenzie’s child,” Dr. Jacobs laughed on the other side of the blue drape hanging a few inches from Blake’s face.
“Preach,” Vera agreed with a laugh.
The humor served as a distraction as Dr. Jacobs began the surgery. With her arms strapped out away from her body, Blake felt beyond out of control of anything that was happening to her. Knowing her baby girl was going to be safe was the only thing keeping Blake focused. Alexis and Vera each had hold of one of Blake’s hands, with Alexis keeping close to her ear to whisper words of encouragement to Blake.
Vera had stood up when Dr. Jacobs began the surgery after checking with her and Blake that it was okay. She gave them a play-by-play of everything Dr. Jacobs was doing, which actually helped to calm Blake’s nerves.
“Lots of pressure,” Dr. Jacobs and Vera said at the same time. Blake wondered how many times the two of them said that very phrase each week.
But they were right. Blake could feel the pressure of someone pressing down on her stomach while someone else pulled the baby out. It was the most surreal feeling in the world as Blake felt her daughter being pulled from her body.
“Nuchal times one,” Dr. Jacobs called out as Blake looked at Vera, worried that she wasn’t hearing her daughter’s cry.
“It’s okay.” Vera turned her attention to Blake as Alexis tightened her grip on Blake’s hand. “She had her cord wrapped around her neck. It happens sometimes,” she quickly added, obviously seeing the concerned look on Blake’s face. “That explains why she didn’t like the contractions. You made a great decision to get her out safely.”
Blake noticed how Vera looked at Dr. Jacobs at the last part as well, comforting both of them. She hadn’t thought about how nerve-wracking it must be for Dr. Jacobs to operate on her boss’s daughter with her boss in the room.
But all other thoughts cleared her mind the moment Blake heard her daughter’s first cries.
“She’s beautiful, Blake,” Vera had her hand to her chest as she looked over the drape at the baby. Beside her, Alexis kissed Blake’s forehead as their happy tears mixed together. “Look up,” Vera pointed as Blake did.
It was then Blake’s eyes landed on her baby girl. She looked beyond adorable as Dr. Jacobs held her up so Blake and Alexis could see. Blake tried to remember everything about the moment, even with tears clouding her eyes. Her daughter was safe, and that was all that mattered.
“Hi, baby,” Blake marveled at the baby girl she’d been carrying for nine months.
“She’s here,” Alexis said as she kissed Blake again. “You did it. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“They’re going to take her to the warmer and check her over, but she looks good.” Vera smiled down at Blake.
“She looksgreat,” Dr. Jacobs added, and Blake could hear the added emotion in her voice.
As two nurses tended to the baby, Vera sat back down and hugged Blake tightly. Blake felt someone take off thestraps on her arm and realized it was Melanie. She put her arms around Vera’s neck as she clung to her mama and cried happy tears.
“You did it, baby. I’m so proud of you. She’s beautiful.”
“Thanks, Mama.” Blake felt her tears keep falling as Vera wiped them away. “Thank you for being here for us.”
“Always, Blake. Always.”
“Mackenzie,” one of the nurses Blake vaguely recognized called out to Vera, “come here and get your granddaughter.”
