Page 70 of Wall

I know I said I wanted a big family like the one I come from, but I have changed my mind. The past eight-and-a-half months have been hell. First, there was the implantation bleeding. We got through that. Then they thought she had hyperemesis gravidarum she was puking so much, and that led to the iron deficiency.

Then they found out the baby has a single umbilical artery, which isn’t a big deal, except it is. That’s why the baby has to get popped early with the Pitocin.

And this is the weird part—Mona’s been cool as a cucumber after that first panic. She gets upset; she drives out to our tree. Or I drive her. Since she got the big belly, I don’t like her drivin’.

She ain’t cried once. It’s like she’s becoming one of those mama bears. She’ll cuss you out now. It’s cute as hell.

“Mr. Wall?”

A nurse tries to scoot past me. This room’s too small, but I ain’t leaving, so I suck in what I can to let her through.

“Is this normal?” I gesture to the machine behind Mona’s bed. I ask all of the nurses. Most foist me off on someone else, tell me the doctor will talk to me when she comes by, but I ain’t seen hide nor hair of her since two hours ago. Mona was still holdin’ my hand, then. Now she’s got her fists balled close by her sides.

The nurse squints at the monitor. “Looks good. How you feelin’?” She brushes damp hair from Mona’s forehead. The lady’s my mom’s age, short gray hair, glasses on a string around her neck.

Mona looks to me, so I answer for her. “She don’t feel good. How much longer ‘til she can get the epidural?”

The nurse watches the black lines go up and down a few seconds longer. “I’m going to call Dr. Ephron. I don’t think there’s going to be time for the epidural.”

Mona lets out an awful sound, half sob, half scream. My muscles tense all over my body.

I’m scared as hell. My body wants to fight, and I’m surrounded by women, a thing called a panda warmer, and a white board that saysGoal: Meet Baby Wall.

I screw my eyes shut, ‘cause that’s all I can do, and then a small, clammy hand slips into mine.

“How you doing, John?” Mona pants through clenched teeth.

Hot damn, she’s beautiful. Her hair’s stickin’ to her head, and her pupils are blown out. Her boobs are massive, hanging out of the hospital gown that’s all askew. And her belly. It’s huge with angry red lines all over like someone cracked an egg.

That’s my baby in there.

“I’m great, Mona. Hang on.” Her belly kind of quivers, and a foot bulges by her rib. I reach out and rest my hand on the little kicker. This kid is strong as hell. He’s been whoopin’ up on her insides for months now.

We found out about the single umbilical artery at the twenty-week ultrasound. Just when Mona was starting to sleep a little better. Wham. We had a hard, few days. We talked through it. Well, Mona lost her shit, I dragged her to bed, and made her cum until she started babbling like she does when she’s dicked out of her mind.

“You decided on a name yet?” the nurse asks.

Mona’s hand tightens on mine, a low moan interrupting her response.

“I’m letting her pick,” I answer for her.

It takes Mona a half-minute to catch her breath and pant, “I already picked.”

“You said Margaret or Ansley for a girl, and John or Wyatt for a boy. You didn’t pick which.”

Another nurse and young guy in a white coat who introduced himself as the intern or something filter in. The nurse is pushing a cart filled with stuff. I guess shit is about to go down. My heart starts beating against my ribs. This is it.

“I want you to pick, babe,” I tell her, hunkering down. “I like ‘em all.”

“You—” She’s huffin’ and puffin’. “Pick!”

“Baby, it’s all you.” I bend over, press my forehead to her sweaty brow. “You’re about to give me everything I ever wanted. I want you to have it your way.”

“Awww.”

I look up. About six people in scrubs are standing at the foot of Mona’s bed. Her knees are up, and her robe’s undone. She’s buck ass naked, and I don’t think she’s even noticed. She’s got her eyes locked on mine.

“Can I get you to hold her leg?” the doc asks me, and then she shows me how to cradle Mona’s thigh while she coaches her to push and bear down, and there is a shit ton of blood, and I ain’t never been so scared in my entire life.

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