Page 55 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

Nora had tried to convince me on several occasions that I should just take the drugs and have an easy delivery. It wasn't that I was worried the drugs would hurt the baby, it was that I didn't like to be out of control. I understood that my job was to push this baby out and it made sense to me that I should be able to feel my legs in order to be able to do that. It just felt right.

“Mom,” May said, before I could argue. “This is Aubrey's delivery, you have to let her do it her way.”

I gave May a grateful smile, or I tried to, but another contraction ripped through me. On top of the pain was fear that Nora was going to interfere and change my birth plan against my will, as well as fear that this was just the beginning of me doing things alone and against opinion with this baby.

May put down her phone, grabbed my other hand and gripped it tight. “I'm here, Aubrey. I'll make sure this goes the way you want.” The determination in her expression settled my concerns.

“Of course, I won't interfere if that's what you want,” Nora said. “I just hate to see you in pain, sweetheart.”

George let Oscar off at his car and drove the ten miles to the hospital on the other side of town. May and Nora got me inside and checked in while George parked the car. I'd expected a flurry of activity and nurses rushing me to a room, but everyone was calm and matter-of-fact. We were directed to sit in a waiting area with other pregnant women.

“This is ridiculous,” Nora said. “Someone should be seeing to you immediately.”

I would have answered her, but another contraction stole my voice. A nurse called my name and May helped me to my feet. I was taken back to an examination room and the nurse confirmed that my water had broken and that I was in labor. The nurse seemed as calm and laid back about it as everyone else and her attitude calmed me, even as it seemed to rile up Nora. “You can wait in the waiting room,” the nurse said. “It will be a little while before we have a room for you.”

“She needs a room now,” Nora said, her voice verging on hysterical. “You just said she's in labor.”

“And she could be in labor for the next twelve hours,” the nurse said. “First babies rarely come quickly.”

“But sometimes they do,” Nora said. “I refuse to allow my daughter-in-law to deliver her baby in a filthy waiting room.” Of course, I wasn't Nora's daughter-in-law, but she told everyone I was anyway. She thought of me that way and I didn't see the point of arguing with her.

“Mom—” May said, putting a hand on her mother's shoulder.

“I promise you,” the nurse said, still calm and unruffled by Nora suggesting the waiting room was filthy. “We won't let her deliver in the waiting room. We're busy here tonight and it will take us a little while to get a room ready, but we'll do everything we can to get her into a room quickly.”

“Thank you,” May said. She grabbed Nora rather forcibly and pulled her toward the waiting room. I hobbled after them, torn between laughing at Nora's drama and wishing I had someone with me who was focused on me, who I could lean on without worrying that I'd knock them over. I longed for Noah with an ache that almost overpowered the next contraction that pulsed through me.

“I'm here,” May said. She supported me at the elbow and held me up until the contraction had passed. Then she helped me to my seat in the waiting area. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“I'm okay,” I said. “Just a little thirsty.”

May smiled and turned to Nora. “Mom, Aubrey's thirsty. Can you find her some water?”

“What if they call us back while I'm gone?” Nora asked.

“Then I'll text you with the room number,” May said in a firm voice. I hadn't realized May had such a firmness in her, and I should have. I clearly hadn't been paying attention.

Nora pressed a kiss to my cheek and left us. I turned my attention to May who was watching her mother walk away. I was surprised to realize that Nora, who'd I'd always thought was a pillar of strength, had nothing on her daughter. I might have told May, but another contraction overtook me and I wasn't able to speak.

Nora came back with my water and we were called back to a room less than half an hour later. The single-patient room was spacious, with its own bathroom and a couch. I tried to settle on the bed, but I couldn't get comfortable.

“Feel free to walk around if it helps,” my doctor said. She'd checked mine and the baby's heartbeat and pronounced us both in great shape. I was nowhere near dilated enough to be close to giving birth. “There's a tub in the bathroom and some women find it very soothing to experience labor in the tub.”

“Shouldn't she stay here?” Nora asked, an edge of panic in her voice. “What if something happens?”

“She's in a hospital,” my doctor said in a soothing tone. “There are plenty of people here to help her.”

I pushed my unwieldy body out of bed as the doctor left my room. “I think I'd like to go for a walk.”

“I'll go with you,” May said.

“I really don't think this is a good idea,” Nora said. “You should stay here. If you're uncomfortable, maybe you should have drugs.”

“She doesn't want any drugs, Mom. She wants to go for a walk. Maybe you should get some fresh air while we walk.”

Nora opened her mouth like she was going to argue, but May led me out of the room before she could.

We walked until the contractions made it difficult for me to get very far and then May filled the tub with water and I settled into the warm bath. I was uncomfortable and scared of what to expect, but May stayed by my side, completely calm and supportive. Between her calm and the warm water of the tub, I actually started to get sleepy. The warm water did ease the pain of the contractions a bit. I was just starting to drift off, when Nora's heels clicked on the tile floor.

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