Page 109 of Jackson
“My girlfriend, the baby, it’s on its way,” I said, as I grabbed the first nurse Isaw.
“Okay, what’s mum’s name?” sheasked.
“Huh?”
“Your girlfriend, what is hername?”
“Oh, Summer Kimms. She’s in the car and the baby is coming,” I said, my voice rose inpanic.
My heart was beating at a frantic pace in my chest. Shit just got real. All the months of planning, of researching and asking questions, fell apart as I watched Summer being wheeled into the deliverysuite.
I held onto her hand, whispering words of comfort, or so I thought. I swear I heard a bone crack as she squeezed my hand when another contraction hit her. It was all happening way faster than I thought it would. Sweat beaded on her brow, and she was turning a horrible shade ofgrey.
“She’s ill, look, she’s gone grey,” I said as they hooked her up tomachines.
“She’s having a baby, Jackson, she’s fine,” I wasinformed.
I wanted to follow the nurse from the room as she left to call the obstetrician, but Summer wouldn’t letgo.
“Breathe, baby, breathe through it. Remember how well you did with yourtattoo?”
“My tattoo? Fuck you, Jackson,” she said through grittedteeth.
It took too long before the room filled with people. Summer was prodded and poked, scans were done before it was announced the baby was breech. I watched as her stomach was manipulated, they were trying to turn the baby; it didn’twork.
“We need to do a C-section,” the obstetriciansaid.
“Whoa,what?”
“A C-section.”
“I know what one is, oh shit, can’t you turn the baby orsomething?”
“We’ve been trying that. The baby is getting distressed,Jackson.”
He proceeded to tell Summer what was needed. I saw her eyes widen as she looked over to me before nodding. I didn’t get a chance to speak again before the sides of her bed were hooked up and she was being wheeled from the room. I ran alongside and was ushered into an anteroom to change into scrubs. My stomach started to knot, bile rose to my throat at the thought, and it took all my control to not pass out when I saw the largest fucking needle being pushed into herspine.
Everything was moving too fast, I didn’t have time to process. I asked one nurse to tell her parents, not knowing where they were. I stood at the side of the bed, holding her hand and mopping her brow as they got towork.
It was a sickening sound as they cut into her. But it was the sight of the blood that nearly had me losing it. There was too much blood, and even I was able to see the barely concealed panic on the consultant’s face. Words I didn’t understand were shouted, people started running and someone grabbed my arms. I fought until I saw my baby being lifted from her stomach and handed to a nurse. I thought it was all over when I heard my baby scream. I turned toSummer.
“Summer, look. Summer?Summer!”
“We need you out, now, Mr. Walker,” the nursesaid.
“What’s happened, why isn’t she answeringme?”
Summer wasn’t moving, her eyes were open and she stared straight at me, but I knew she couldn’t seeme.
“What the fuck is happening?” I screamedout.
Someone dragged me to the door. I twisted and turned. “Summer! Baby, talk tome.”
“Jack, what’s happened?” I heard. Katie, Richard, and Perri were rushing along thecorridor.
“Something’s gone wrong, I don’t know. There was so much blood,I…”
I started to sob, I leaned back against the wall, glad it was supporting me, and cried out her name over andover.
