Page 11 of The Champion

He didn’t stop but he did complain the entire trip abouthow he was starving and that I had no right to throw his muffin out the window.I had no sympathy for him or his stupid muffin.

On the way there, I called our family and let them knowwe were heading to the hospital and wouldn’t be there for Christmas morning.Instead, we’d be bringing our son into the world if we stopped arguing longenough to actually get there.

I still couldn’t grasp that this was it. For the past fewmonths, I had imagined what this would be like, going into labor. Now that itwas finally here, I had no idea what to do. I was a nervous fucking wreck andmuffin boy beside me wasn’t any better.

Spencer and Alley were already in Olympia so they werethe first to arrive, although I didn’t want Spencer anywhere near the hospitalwhen I had the baby.

I was frightened enough thinking a child was supposed tocome out of my crankcase making it the size of the Grand Canyon.

That shit will never be the same.

Dr. Sears met us on the labor and delivery floor as soonas we arrived. After getting me settled in a room and hooking up the monitors,he sat down to give us the news.

“Sway, your water has broken.”

Well at least I knew that I didn’t pee, slightlyreassuring.

“I need to do an exam.” He said putting his gloves on.

Immediately I felt Jameson’s hand tense around mine whenhe checked my cervix. I’m sure this was awkward for him to watch. Who wouldwant to watch another man stick his fingers inside his wife’s crankcase tocheck her bearing alignment?

Definitely not Jameson.

When the doctor hadn’t moved his hand as quickly as myoverbearing husband wanted, Jameson shot him a glare.

“Are you finished yet?”

Dr. Sears ignored him and delivered the news I wasdreading. “So it looks like you are fully effaced and dilated to a five. You’remeasuring at thirty-four weeks and the baby looked great on the lastultrasound. If everything goes okay we should have him in your arms thisevening depending on how your contractions progress. Looks like we’ll have aChristmas baby!”

This should have been good news to me but the wordcontraction was haunting me. I didn’t like that word, feared it actually.

“What are contractions?” I asked with a hesitation amother-to-be shouldn’t have. I skipped certain parts of those pregnancy booksfor a reason. Denial. “I mean...Iunderstand they’re like cramps, right?”

“Yes Sway.” Dr. Sears laughed but held some concern forhis patient and her being a dumb shit. He was probably wondering if he shouldcall social services now in fear this child shouldn’t be with someone like me.I would if I was him.

“The contractions are whatpushthe baby out.”

“Do they hurt?”

His brow furrowed and his eyes darted between Jameson andme.

“Well, I’ve never had a baby but from what the women Itreat say, yes...badly.”

“Can’t you just knock me out?” I whined.

“No, we don’t do that these days.”

“Shit.”

I looked down at my bulging belly and wondered why hecouldn’t have magical powers and just magical-power his way out of me.

Jameson reached for my hand pulling it to his lips. Asmall smirk appeared across his lips as though he was thankful he wasn’t theone doing this.

“It’s okay honey.” He had the nerve to say. “You’ll dofine.”

“Do me a favor.” I told him pulling my hand away. “Don’tsay that. For the sake of my sanity through this, do not say everything will befine.” I motioned to my stomach. “There is a watermelon trying to squeeze outof my crankcase right now. IT IS NOT FINE!”

He laughed. Fucking laughed.

---