Page 15 of Sex, Love & Lingerie

CHAPTER 9

Gloria

My eyes snapped open. Coming out of my orgasmic flashback, it took me a moment to remember where I was. What was happening.

Jaime’s blue eyes were as round as two marbles. “Angel, I see a baby’s head!”

Weakly, I glanced down between my legs. I started sobbing with joy. “Oh, Jaime!”

“Push again,” urged the officer, kneeling beside us.

Using every ounce of strength I could muster, I grunted again and gave another forceful push. Uggggggggh! I heard myself shriek.

On the next harsh breath, a wail pierced my ears, and on one more, a tiny blood-streaked lifeform was in the officer’s large hands. Loud applause broke out among the crowd gathered around us. Quirking the tiniest of smiles, I kept my heavy-lidded eyes on the beaming uniformed man as he handed the infant to Jaime. My darling looked as if he’d at once seen a ghost, then God, the expression on his face a mixture of fear and awe. I wanted so badly to run my fingers along his jaw. Exhausted, I just didn’t have the strength.

“Gloria, it’s Paulette.” His voice was almost tearful. “She’s beautiful. She has your lips and hair.”

I was a speechless, sweating, blubbering mess. Dazed and wasted, I eyed the little bundle of joy, her sweet rosebud lips puckering as she wailed. Our beautiful little girl. My heart swelled with emotion. Finally, one little word tumbled out of my mouth. “Oh!”

Bending down, the kind Chanel manager gently washed our wailing newborn and then swathed her in the pink cashmere shawl. “Your husband is right. She is one beautiful baby.” She gently handed the baby back to Jaime who planted a tender kiss on her porcelain forehead. My eyes clicked open and shut like the shutter of a camera, taking a mental snapshot of this heart-melting moment that would stay with me forever.

I was bursting with love. Oh, how I longed to hold her in my arms, but an intense shooting pain unexpectedly ripped through my core. I winced and quivered. Another baby was on his way. Our Payton. I pushed with another loud grunt, but I felt no movement. I pushed again. Still nada. Panic gripped me. Why wasn’t he coming out? Gritting my teeth, I pushed again. Nothing. Only more agonizing pain.

My watering eyes bore into Jaime’s. Panic was written all over his face too. He knew.

I sobbed. “Baby, something’s wrong. Terribly wrong.”

---