Page 99 of The First Cut
“No. No, I can’t have him here. What if he needs help, Hannibal? What if he’s sick or?—
“He’s gonna be fine, Lola. But he’s coming whether you’re ready or not, so I need you to take a deep breath for me. And when I tell you to, I want you to push for me, okay?”
“I can’t. I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you fucking can,” he tells me, his voice leaving no room for arguing.
I pant and close my eyes, focusing only on meeting my boy.
I jolt when the door opens and Jolene rushes in with Snoopy right behind her. He takes one look at me and kneels on the floor next to the bed. Gripping my hand, he smiles wildly. “Come on darlin’, let’s show everyone what a badass you really are.”
I swallow down a sob just as Hannibal yells, “Push, Lola.”
I squeeze Snoopy’s hand and push as hard as I can. I collapse against the pillows as Jolene moves around the other side of the bed and dabs at my head with a towel.
“You’re doing awesome, Lola. Soon, you’ll get to hold your baby in your arms, and all this will be nothing but a memory.”
“That’s it, doll. That’s a nice big push for me.”
I grit my teeth and push with everything I have. This goes on for what feels like hours, and I’m ready to cry from exhaustion until Hannibal locks his eyes on mine, tethering me to him.
“One more, baby. You can do it.”
I take a deep breath, keep my eyes on him, and push until I have nothing left to give. And then I hear it, the most beautiful sound in the world. I feel tears running down my face as I cry right along with him.
I watch as Hannibal lifts my baby onto a towel Jolene lays down for him. He checks him over as he squalls, snipping the cord and clipping it.
“Is he okay?”
Hannibal wraps the towel around him and lifts him to his chest before he looks at me. “He’s perfect.”
“You did great, Lola. Fucking proud of you,” Snoopy adds, sounding a little choked up himself.
“He’s beautiful Lola,” Jolene murmurs as she moves aside.
She says something else, but I miss it as Hannibal sits on the bed beside me and lays my son on my chest. Hannibal places a kiss on my temple as he reaches out and strokes the baby’s tiny hand. His fingers open and latch onto Hannibal’s pinky. I tear my eyes away from the sight, look up at my man, and watch him fall completely in love with my boy.
“Look what you did, doll,” he whispers just as the door opens and two paramedics walk in.
“Looks like you already did the hard part,” the younger of the two women grins.
Jolene and Snoopy slip out the door as the paramedics take over. They check the baby and help me deliver the afterbirth. All the while, Hannibal keeps a protective watch over both of us.
Hours later, after I’ve fed the baby, napped, and fed him again, I get up with Hannibal’s help and take a shower. Jolene comes in, strips the bed, and helps get the baby dressed while Hannibalslips out to let everyone know we’re both okay. I’m just sliding my feet into a pair of flip-flops when there's a knock at the door, and Millie pokes her head round.
“Come in.” I smile tiredly when I see her.
“I came to see you earlier, but you were asleep. How are you feeling?”
“Tired but happy. Never thought for a second I’d be giving birth at the clubhouse, though,” I joke, making her laugh.
“There we go. All snug as a bug,” Jolene coos as she hands him over to me.
“Thanks, Jolene. I couldn’t have done it without you. You were wonderful.”
“Think nothing of it, Lola. Us old ladies gotta stick together.” She winks, and I take the olive branch for what it is. A fresh start.
When she leaves, I sit on the end of the bed as Millie sits beside me.
