Page 64 of Interception

“The head’s out. Do you want to see, Mr. Danford?”

“Ye…”

“Hell, no! Stay where you are. You’re not seeing my vagina with a head coming out of it. That’s too much.” Just as I say the words, Faith comes barreling into the room.

“I’m here! I’m here. Did I miss it?” She stops dead in her tracks. “Oh my God! My eyes! Jesus Christ.” She covers her eyes and turns away. “Why isn’t there a sign on the door to warn people? What I just saw will haunt me forever.”

“Faith! Open your damn eyes and get over here. I don’t need you falling and banging your head right now. I’m sort of busy, pushing a baby out of my body!” She scurries over to my side with her eyes firmly on the floor.

I think Coop is happy he’s not the only one being shouted at right now. “You know they do actually have a sign on the door saying that it’s occupied with a woman in labor? It sort of infers that you might see some messed-up stuff.” I squeeze his hand with all my might.

“Will the two of you just shut the hell up? I’m exhausted, and I have a head hanging out of me. The miracle of birth is fucking painful, and I hate both of you right now because you aren’t in agony.”

“I think you’ve broken two of my fingers if that makes you feel any better.”

“Not really.”

“I’ll just shut up now.”

“Good idea. You and your swimmers are banned from my body for… ever.” Then I turn my attention to Faith, whose face has drained of all color. “And you, when your vagina hangs in the balance, I’m going to start shouting about how it offends my eyes.”

“Sorry, bestie. I was prepared for a C-section.”

“No shit! So was I, but here I am…”

The doctor interrupts our bickering. “Okay, time to welcome this baby boy into the world, Zoey. One more big push, and he’ll be out.”

“You’ve got this, beautiful. We’re about to see our son for the first time.”

I muster strength from the very depths of my soul, and I push. I’ve never felt so relieved in my life as I do the moment I feel my son being born. “Is he okay? It’s too early. Is he breathing?” Before I can say another word, the most beautiful sound echoes around the room. Our son lets out a cry, and Faith bursts into tears beside me.

“You’re a mom. Zee, you’re a mommy.”

The doctor lays our son on my chest, his tiny body so amazing, I have no words. Coop kisses my head and reaches over to run his fingers over our son’s cheek. “Hey, little guy. We’ve been waiting to meet you. You gave your mom a rough time of it, but that’s just the way us Danford men are.”

I can’t contain the overwhelming love that washes over me at the sight of our baby boy. He’s perfect, and he looks just like his daddy. He’s a tiny little Cooper.

“Zoey Danford, I fucking love the crap out of you.”

I cover the tiniest ear I’ve ever seen. “Don’t swear in front of the baby.”

He laughs and nuzzles into my neck. “Already an amazing momma.”

“Sorry to interrupt the party, but we have another baby to deliver.” My stomach is in knots. For just a moment, the pain dissipates as I gaze at the most miraculous human being I’ve ever seen.

Coop says what I’m thinking but too afraid to ask. “Will it need to be a C-section, Doc?”

I can feel her examining me, and I’m holding my breath. I thought I wanted to be whisked away to the operating room, but as painful as giving birth is, the thought of having to relinquish this little guy for even a moment makes me anxious.

“No. Baby B is getting ready to make his way into the world. This is going to be easier than the first one, Zoey. Your body knows exactly what to do, and when you feel the urge to push, push. Can someone take the baby while Momma gets his little brother out safe and sound?”

“Coop, you take him. I want you to be the first to hold him after me.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Faith can take your place, right?”

“Yes!” Faith props me up while Coop climbs down off the bed.

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