Page 126 of Fighting For Light
“Of course, private, gem. We will have a doctor with us and only us, a midwife, and a team of nurses specifically for our family.”
“Your mom,” I gasp.
“I’ll call her later. You are my only priority right now.”
I nod and take long, deep breaths. A contraction hits again, and I groan, throwing my head back.
“Shit baby, I’m sorry. What can I do?”
I shake my head, ignoring the tears streaming down my face, and focus on breathing. “Tell me it’s going to be okay,” I gasp. “Tell me everything is going to be okay.” I look at him, and he glances at me a few times, driving way over the speed limit. Hedoesn’t want to say it because he doesn’t actually know, but I need him to say it. “Kai,” I whimper.
He reaches for my hand and briefly squeezes it before putting it back on the steering wheel. “Everything is going to be okay. We’re having this baby. He’s coming whether we were ready or not.”
Nodding, I look in front of me, focusing on counting my breaths.
Kai pulls up to a beautiful brick building with ivy crawling up the side. It’s like a modern version of theDead Poets Societyschool. I don’t catch the name on the side as he drives under the brick overpass, and a group of people in scrubs rush to the truck. Kai hops out, and a woman opens my door. “Mrs. Coldwell?” she asks. I nod, and she and a male nurse help me get out of the truck. Kai is talking to a man in a white coat and scrubs as they push me in the wheelchair down the hall and up one level to a large room. I don’t have the chance to take in my surroundings as another contraction hits. I let myself cry as my body feels like it’s being torn apart.
They get me to stand, and someone keeps telling me to take deep breaths.
“Kai,” I cry, not seeing him when I need him next to me.
“I’m right here, baby.”
“We need to get you out of these clothes and into a hospital gown. It’s my understanding you’re about three weeks early? We need to get a look at the baby and take blood as soon as possible.” Panic rises in my chest. I reach out to my best friend, and he’s there immediately. His large hand cups my cheek, and he looks down at me with love and determination.
“I’ve got you, Cordi. I’ve got you.” I nod and take a deep breath as he wipes the sweat from my brow. A nurse begins to take off my dress, but I push her away. “Let me,” Kai says to her. I nod as he removes each item of clothing and quickly puts the gown overmy body before giving the rest of the hospital a peep show. They didn’t tell me how exposed I would be during all of this.
Another contraction hits, and Kai catches me before I fall to my knees.
“Come on, you’re doing so good, Mama. Let’s get you in bed, he says,” lifting me onto the hospital bed.
A nurse appears at my side and pricks my arm to take blood while another hooks me up to machines. It’s all I can do to keep up with how quickly they are moving.
“Mrs. Coldwell, I’m Doctor House, and I’ll be here with you every step of the way. I’m sorry we’re moving fast, but because you’re early, we need to be absolutely sure nothing else is going on. Okay?”
I nod and reach for Kai. He takes my hand and stands guard next to me.
“Great, this is your midwife, Lola. She will be here, too. She’s going to see how dilated you are while I check the results of your blood work.”
Lola walks up to me and smiles softly. “Hey, there. I’m going to check real quick. I know it’s uncomfortable, so let me know if anything bothers you.” At a loss for words, because this feels like déjà vu, they put my legs in stirrups. Lola sends her fingers up my birthing channel, and she didn’t even buy me dinner first.
“Alright, Cordelia. You’re at two centimeters right now. You’re doing good. I’ll go talk to the doctor and be right back.”
“Wait, is that good?” I ask her.
“Typically, yes. Your color is good, and the baby’s heartbeat is nice and strong. I have delivered a lot of babies, and I believe your son wants to make his debut a little early. But let me go talk to the doctor, and I’ll be right back.”
“Thank you,” Kai says, and I squeeze his hand.
He turns so his front is leaned against the bed. He kisses my cheek and tucks his nose in my neck as he whispers against myskin. “It’s all going to be okay. You’re okay. He’s just excited to meet his mama. I love you both so much. You’re so strong, baby. You can do this.”
I nod, still holding his hand. A contraction hasn’t come for a while, and I think that’s normal, but I’m trying not to think anything past that because I may not like what the doctor has to say.
The nurses finally leave, and silence fills the room. “This is a nice place,” I tell him, looking around. There’s a bed on the other side of the room for a guest, with a little sink, microwave, a couch, and a big-screen television.
“Only the best for you,” he says, kissing my forehead.
“Thank you for thinking ahead, I…I realized I never did the whole find a hospital thing because we were on the road for so long.”
