Page 15 of Unexpected Delivery

“It’s a girl,” I whisper, blinking like an idiot as he wipes off her face and stomach.

“Oh my god, a girl?” Arbor sobs. “Is she okay?”

“She’s perfect,” Hayes says, smiling. She starts to fuss, and the sound makes my knees weak. “The cord is still attached, and we need to wait a minimum of a minute to clamp it. Closer to three is even better, but once it turns white, she’ll have all her blood back from the placenta. That’s why we don’t want to clamp it too early.”

How the hell does he know all of that?

And why does it make me feel like a useless piece of shit that I don’t?

“You did it,” Morris whispers with tears in his eyes.

The big gooey fucker.

He’s always been a softie, but even I’m a little emotional.

It feels a little like we stumbled headfirst into a miracle we had no right to witness.

Hayes holds the baby on top of the sheet over Arbor’s lower stomach so she can see her daughter. “Let’s just rest her here. See how perfect she is? All ten fingers and toes.”

The little omega stretches an arm down, brushing the baby’s cheek. Her eyes are wide, and I’m a little concerned that she might be in shock.

The baby fusses, rolling her face around as her arms flail.

Arbor groans. “Another contraction is coming.”

“Okay, we still need to deliver the placenta, and I don’t think the cord will reach.” Hayes looks at me. “I need you to take her, but don’t put pressure on the cord. No tugging, no pulling, so I need you to stay down here.”

“Sit next to her hips,” Morris says, nodding at the cushion.

I take a careful seat, despite the puddle of blood, and Hayes unwraps and rewraps the baby in a fresh towel before placing her in the crook of my arm.

She’s still got the bluish umbilical cord attached, and it slides over my arm, which is weird, but I ignore it. I’m already covered in Arbor’s blood, so what’s a little slimy umbilical cord action?

The sweet baby starts to fuss, and I turn to show her to Arbor.

But she’s pushing again.

I pull the baby closer to my chest, taking in her long dark lashes. She’s gooey, a little like something from an alien movie, but she’s perfect.

Her eyes pop open, and I think we’re both shocked. She wails, her little jaw trembling.

“Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” I coo, gently rocking her. “You’re a fully formed little human. That’s crazy.”

“This one should be easy,” Hayes says to Arbor. “It’s nothing compared to what you just accomplished.”

In no way, shape, or form did I see the night going like this after Sunday dinner at Nana’s.

The banging on the door startles all of us, but I can’t get up with the baby still attached to the placenta.

“EMS!”

Hayes and Morris both yell for them to come in.

On one hand,thank God.

We really needed some backup.

On the other, they ruined this perfect moment.

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