Page 101 of Certified Pressure 4
It was the middle of the night when I felt my shoulder bein’ rocked. My sleep was deep too, that kind of sleep where you forget what day it is, but I felt Pluto’s touch and knew somethin’ was off. I turned slow, my face still pressed in the pillow, and when I opened my eyes, Pluto was lookin’ down at me with that worried crease in her forehead. Her hand was still on my shoulder, her voice soft when she whispered, “I think it’s time.”
For a second, I just stared at her, tryna wake up enough to process what she said. Then I blinked a few times, looked at her belly, and everything clicked. My heart jumped even though Ikept my face calm. I reached over and placed my hand on her stomach, rubbin’ slow like I was tryna talk to my baby through my touch. “You sure, baby?” I asked, my voice full of sleep.
She nodded quick. “Yeah, I’m sure. I been up for a while. My contractions like five minutes apart now.”
I moved closer, kissin’ her shoulder before leanin’ down to kiss her belly. “A’ight, lil’ man,” I whispered, “you ready to come out and meet us, huh? You pickin’ a wild hour, but it’s all good. I been ready.”
Pluto smiled weakly but then winced, her hand movin’ to her side as another contraction hit. I kissed her stomach again, whisperin’ another soft promise that I got her. Then I sat up, slid out the bed, and hit the light.
Pluto looked beautiful even in the middle of labor. Her black silk gown was thin and see-through, showin’ that long brown line runnin’ down her belly. I came around to her side of the bed, crouched down between her legs, and kissed that line slow, both my hands on her thighs.
She tensed up again when another contraction came through, breathin’ heavy and squeezin’ the top of my head for balance. I let her, lettin’ her pull as hard as she needed to. I wasn’t movin’ nowhere.
“Breathe, baby,” I murmured. “You good. Just breathe through it.”
I was watchin’ her every move, watchin’ the time between the contractions. I wanted to be sure before I made any calls. The first time, when she had Prestyn, everything had been crazy as hell. I was speedin’ through traffic, my heart beatin’ out my chest, not knowin’ what the hell I was doin’. That night had changed me. It taught me patience and control. I swore I’d never let my woman go through somethin’ that wild again.
Right after Pluto had our first son, I walked out them hospital doors thinkin’ I could finally breathe. Then Kashmerepopped up. She was cryin’, talkin’ crazy, and before I could even make sense of it, she pulled that trigger. I felt every shot hit me, one after another, like fire runnin’ through my body. I dropped right there in front of the damn hospital.
That’s why I wasn’t lettin’ Pluto have no more hospital births. Fuck all that. That night showed me how fast peace could turn into some bullshit. So, this time, I stayed calm. I had control. I had my people in place. I wasn’t lettin’ nothin’ touch my family again.
I counted her contractions. I paid attention to her breathing, her expressions and the rhythm of her pain. Every time one came, I kissed her belly, talked to her and reminded her that she was built for this.
“You good, baby. You got this,” I whispered against her skin.
Her eyes were watery, but she nodded. “They getting stronger.”
“I know,” I said, standin’ up and rubbin’ her arm. “Hold tight, I’mma get everything together.”
I moved around the room quick, but careful. I pulled on a shirt and some sweats, grabbed her bag, and set it by the door just in case. I wasn’t takin’ her to no hospital this time, but I still wanted everything we needed ready.
I made a couple calls. First my mama. She picked up quick like she already knew what was goin’ on. Then I called my aunt Treasure. She was the one we trusted to deliver the baby at home. She’d done this her whole life, and she already told me she was just waitin’ for my call.
When I hung up, I went back to Pluto. She was sittin’ against the headboard now, her hands on her belly, breathin’ through another contraction. I could see the sweat glistenin’ across her chest and the tiny tremble in her thighs.
I climbed onto the bed behind her, pullin’ her back against me. My hands rested on her stomach, my lips brushed her ear. “You doin’ perfect, baby. I’m proud of you,” I said.
She leaned back into me, whisperin’ that she was scared, and I kissed the side of her face. “Ain’t nothin’ to be scared of this time. We ready now. We done practiced. We done prayed. We good.”
I wasn’t just sayin’ it for her either. I believed it. Every class I took, every book I read, every talk I had with Aunt Treasure, it was all playin’ back in my head now. I knew what to look for and what to listen for. I knew when to help her move, and when to help her breathe. This wasn’t panic. This was purpose.
As the contractions got stronger, I started massagin’ her back and helpin’ her change positions. I rubbed her lower back in circles, then kiss her shoulder and told her she was killin’ it. She gripped my hand and moaned through the pain, and I whispered that we was almost there.
At one point, I slipped out to make sure the kids was good. I told the nannies to keep Prestyn and Zurie on the other side of the crib and not let them come near. I ain’t want them hearin’ nothin’ or gettin’ scared. This moment was for me and Pluto, and soon for our son.
When I came back, she was standin’ by the bed, leanin’ over and breathin’ heavy. I went straight to her, slid my hands up her sides, and kissed her shoulder. “You good?”
She nodded but didn’t speak. She just gripped my arm tighter as another contraction hit. I started countin’ in my head, kissin’ her cheek while she breathed through it.
“Good job, baby. You doin’ so good,” I whispered when it passed. “They gettin’ close together now.”
Before long, I heard the sound of car doors outside. My heart jumped again, but it wasn’t fear. It was excitement.
A few minutes later, the door opened and my mama and Aunt Treasure walked in. They came in calm and professional, carryin’ bags full of supplies. Aunt Treasure looked like she was in her element. She set her stuff down on the dresser and went straight to Pluto.
“How far apart?” she asked me.
“About four minutes,” I said, watchin’ her closely.
