Page 85 of This Love
Tucker
Traffic was lighter when commuting an hour earlier. I had everything arranged for my week off, so I left early. It was the last day I wouldn’t be a dad.
My coworkers had given me some gifts during lunch. An outfit or two. A case of diapers. Some toys. It was nice.
We were packed. Ready. This was happening. If we could get through the surgery without any incidents, we’d be home free.
But as I turned onto our street, the bright turn of red and blue lights filled me with dread. Please don’t be in front of our house. Please.
But it was.
The yellow ambulance was pulled into the drive.
I parked in front of the neighbor’s house and flung myself out of the car.
Isadora stood on our porch, wringing her hands. “Tucker! You’re home. Oh, God. It’s so terrible.”
I didn’t even ask her what had happened. I raced inside.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Ava on the floor, seizing. Or getting oxygen, if it were over.
I didn’t expect two EMTs to be standing near the end of the sofa.
“What’s happening?” I asked, shoving the coffee table aside so I could get closer.
“Do you live here?” one asked, a tall man with a shock of red hair.
“I’m her husband. She’s pregnant.”
“We can see that. Can you call off the dog?” A woman stood close to Rosie, who I spotted by the arm of the sofa.
“Where’s my wife?” I asked.
“Behind the dog,” the woman said.
I walked closer. Rosie stood guard, one paw forward in a powerful stance. This must have been from her K-9 training.
“Rosie,” I said. “Sit.”
Rosie relaxed when she saw me, but she didn’t sit.
I approached slowly, extending a fist to Rosie as I got closer.
Then I petted her head.
Rosie whined and turned around to show me Ava.
She was curled in a tight ball, hiding in the space between the sofa and the corner of the wall.
“Ava,” I said. “Baby. Come out.”
“We think she’s in labor,” the woman said. “She’s had two huffing spells we think are contractions.”
Huffing. No. No, no.
I got on my knees. “Ava, can you look up? I’m Tucker, your husband.” I reached out to touch her arm.
She yanked it back. “No, no, no.” Her face next to her right eye was swollen and purple. She must have fallen.
