Page 50 of After the Red Carpet
“SEVEN CENTIMETERS? THAT’S ALL?How can that be? It’s been eons since I was at four!” Ella howled, flailing back on her pillow and writhing in pain in the sheets drenched with her sweat.
“I know it’s hard,” Dr. King said, “but you’re getting there. Keep it up with the breathing exercises. I’ll be back to check on you.”
As soon as she left the room, Ella exploded into tears. “I can’t do it. I can’t do it,” she cried.
“Shh . . .” Finn whispered, caressing her forehead. “You are so strong. What you’re doing to bring our babyinto the world is incredible. I’m in awe. I wish I could take the pain away.”
“If I don’t make it, promise me you’ll make sure Betty is okay,” she cried.
“Baby, you’re going to get through this. This pain is only temporary.”
She shook her head, tears falling uncontrollably from her eyes. “Women die in childbirth all the time. I’m afraid that’s what’s happening here. That’s what it feels like. This doesn’t feel right. I’ll never even get to meet her,” she sobbed, dissolving into hysterics.
“Sweetheart . . .”
“Oh, God!” she screamed, leaning forward as another contraction came.
“Breathe, baby. Breathe,” Finn encouraged.
Ella continued wailing until the contraction ended. She looked up at Finn, her face a red, blotchy mess. “Please, you have to listen to me. You have to listen to me.”
“I’m listening, sweetheart.”
“If there’s a choice to be made, save Betty.”
“Ella . . .”
“Promise me, Finn. Promise me right now.”
“Okay, baby. I promise.”
“And if I’m not here to raise her, make sure she knows how much I loved her,” she sputtered in between her sobs. “Find out who she is. Let her be her own person. Celebrate her for who she is. Help her to discover her passions and follow them fearlessly, whatever they are. Be patient and kind, even when it’s hard. Don’t ever break her spirit. Enjoy all the precious moments,” she choked out, her tears gushing like a waterfall. “Blue eye shadow. No one ever looks good in blue eyeshadow, but if she paints it all over her eyelids and squeezes herself into spandex, tell her she looks pretty.” A smile flickered across his face and he almostlaughed, but she continued, “Teach her to have an open heart, to love with everything she has. And you have to love whoever she loves. Make sure she knows that love is all that matters. Promise me, Finn.”
“I promise you, baby. I promise,” he said, leaning down and kissing her sweaty forehead. “But in my heart, I know you’ll be here to teach her all that yourself. Just breathe.”
ELLA HAD BEEN PUSHING FOR OVERan hour, beads of sweat dripping from her brow as she gripped Finn’s hand.
“Ella, bear down and push. I know you’re exhausted, but you’re in the home stretch. I need you to push. She’s almost here,” Dr. King said.
“I can’t do it. I can’t do it. I have nothing left,” Ella muttered. She looked into Finn’s eyes, but she was barely able to focus. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. You can do this. Betty is almost here,” he assured her. “Push, Ella. Push.”
She pushed as hard as she could.
“I see her head,” Dr. King said. “Push, Ella. One more big push.”
Ella bore down with all her might, and through an earth-shattering scream, she pushed.
Suddenly, she felt a wave of relief. “Congratulations,” Dr. King said just as the room filled with the sound of a newborn’s cry. “She’s a healthy baby girl.”
“Oh my God. She’s so tiny, so beautiful,” Finn said, choking back tears.
“Here, Dad, you can cut the cord,” Dr. King said.
The nurse helped him cut the cord, and then she put the baby on Ella’s chest. “Oh, you sweet girl,” Ella said, hot tears streaming down her face. She looked at Finn. “You were right. The best was yet to come. She’s perfect.”
“She sure is,” he agreed, rubbing Ella’s hair. Washed in a look of love, tears cascaded silently down Finn’s face.
