Page 111 of Despite It All
When she doesn’t answer, I panic and head straight for the kitchen. I round the corner and Wyla’s standing at the oven making some grilled cheese sandwiches. “Oh, hey, babe.”
I let out that breath I was 100 percent holding. “Wyla, you scared me.”
She laughs. “I scared you? Jett, you ran in here?”
"Well, yeah. Poppy didn’t lick Stevie to death when we walked in and just ran back here to my nine-month pregnant wife who didn't answer when I called.”
Wyla turns off the stove as Stevie walks in. “Hi, Mommy.”
“Hi, sweetie. I made you a grilled cheese.” Wyla plops a sandwich on a plate, and suddenly something in her face changes. “Here you go. Why don’t you eat it in the living room? Auntie Anna will be here soon,” Wyla says quickly and her voice is strained but Stevie doesn’t think anything of it.
She takes her plate and the moment she walks out of view Wyla puts her hands on her knees breathing heavily.
“Fuck, Wy. Are you okay?” I go to her immediately.
She breathes through her pain for another minute before standing back up. “Phew, yeah, I’m good. I’m gonna eat this grilled cheese then we can go to the hospital.”
Did she… “Wyla, baby, are you in labor?”
“Yeah, contractions started a couple hours ago, and they’re starting to get a little closer so we can leave after I eat.” She takes her plate to the table like nothing else is going on.
I know I wasn’t here the first time but I feel like I’m the only one panicking here. I try to stay calm as I walk to the table and take the seat next to her.
“Wyla.”
“Hmm?” She doesn’t even look my way as she starts eating.
“You know I love you, right?”
“Mm-hmm,” is her only reply because she’s inhaling this sandwich.
I hear Stevie squeal Anna’s name as she walks in. Okay, Stevie’s covered now, and I know our bags have been set by the front door all week.
“Wy, I know I’m new to this part of the process but can we possibly eat the sandwich on the way to the hospital before I have a heart attack, and you have our daughter in the kitchen?”
Wyla smiles. “Jett, my water hasn’t even… Oh.”
“Did your water just break?”
She nods.
“Okay, baby, I don’t think I can throw you over my shoulder right now, but I’ll carry you to the car if I have to.”
That smile stays on her beautiful face. “Let’s go have a baby.”
After another two hours laboring at the hospital and twenty minutes of pushing, our little Andie Sage was born. Wyla was absolutely incredible.
I stare at my wife holding our second baby, tears trickle down her face. I catch some with my thumb. “You did amazing, Wy.”
She lets out a chuckle as more tears fall. “Damn, hormones.” She wipes her cheeks and sniffles. “I’m just so happy.”
I kiss her temple. “Me too, baby.”
“Want to hold her?” Wyla hands Andie out knowing my answer wasn’t going to be no.
I take our littlest Ellison and hold her close. Wyla said her eyes will change colors as she grows but for now they match Wyla’s hazel ones and her hair is dark too.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Wyla asks.
