Page 40 of Shining Pearls
Alex had been busying himself with his phone, but he looked up after she left and asked, “When did she turn into such a fashionista?”
I shrugged before saying, “I guess we’re heading into the unchartered territory of pre-teen diva drama.”
Raising his face to the ceiling, Alex said, “Lord, help us all.”
I chuckled at his dramatic antics as I lifted up my oversized tee shirt and rubbed coconut butter on the taut skin of my belly.
Turning serious, Alex asked, “Are you sure you don’t mind being a chaperone for the field trip tomorrow? I can take a day off from writing if you need to be at the bank, or if you want to just take a day for yourself before the baby comes. You certainly deserve it.”
“No, it’s fine. I want to go.” I smiled to silently thank him for the thoughtful offer. While I was locked in Kevin’s basement, I had promised myself that if I ever got out of that dank, dark prison, I would keep my priorities straight. I wouldn’t let work get in the way of enjoying every moment I could with Hannah. It was already becoming painfully obvious that she wouldn’t be young for long.
Alex was giving me an uncertain look, so I pressed on. “I have plenty of paid time off available and you said you’ve been on a really productive streak with your writing.” Knowing this would seal the deal, I added, “Besides, I think Meg signed up to go on the field trip with Harper.”
“It’s all you then,” my husband grinned.
I’d known the news that my sister would be there would alleviate any doubts he had about not going. The two of them were on speaking terms, but the awkwardness that prevailed when they were in the same room was so thick it needed to be cut with a steak knife.
My phone jangled and saved me from having to lecture him about how he and Meg needed to start getting along. I glared at the display screen when I saw the caller’s name. Josie had given me his contact information so I could call him if she went into labor while we were together.
“Hi, Dean,” I answered, unable to keep the concerned tone out of my voice.
Alex’s head snapped up and his eyes locked with mine as he waited to see what the man was calling about.
I ended the call by saying, “Okay, we’ll be right there. Tell Josie she’s got this.”
As soon as I tapped the screen to end the call, I said to Alex, “She’s in labor. We need to go to the hospital. I’ll call Meg and ask her to watch Hannah.”
With that, we got busy preparing to go meet the newest member of our quickly growing family.
37
Josie
My hair was sticking to my head in sweaty clumps, but I couldn’t have cared less what I looked like. I was panting like a champ and doing everything they suggested, but this was taking forever and the pain was blinding. I had to be ripping in two right down the middle.
Letting my head fall back to the pillow between contractions, I glared up at Claire and accused, “I thought you said this wasn’t as bad as everyone says.”
She held up both hands in an innocent gesture. “You’ll forget all about the pain once your sweet little one is here.”
“I’ll never forget this,” I said between gritted teeth as another contraction sliced through me.
“You’re moving along fine. It will be over soon,” the calm nurse said.
Dean moved towards the lower half of the mattress to check the progress for himself. I stopped him in his tracks by yelling, “Stay up here! Everyone stays up by my top half, unless you’re a licensed medical professional.”
He nodded and obeyed my request, but asked, “Why are you yelling at me? This is all his fault.”
When my eyes followed his finger pointed in Alex’s direction, I couldn’t help but laugh at our absurd situation. The others chuckled uncertainly with me, but my body was soon racked by another contraction, which took all of my focus and energy.
Dr. Wilkes came in, did a quick check, and announced that it was time for me to push––finally. I squeezed Dean and Claire’s hands as the supportive duo stood on either side of my bed. Alex hovered just behind Claire. I tried not to notice that he had the complexion of a flour-coated ghost.
I couldn’t and wouldn’t think about our odd family right now. It was what we had, and it was somehow working, so I focused on my task at hand.
It seemed like an eternity, but it probably wasn’t actually too long before the doctor placed my precious son on my belly. I stared at the tiny human I’d created in awe. Tears were streaming down my face as I said, “Welcome to the world, little man.”
“It’s a boy!” Alex’s words sounded croaky as if he, too, was on the verge of tears as he stared at our child.
My sweet baby was whisked away, so I craned my neck to see what they were doing with him.
