Page 117 of Roughing the Player
“Mom!” A wide-eyed Kaylee screams.
I bound up the stairs and kneel next to the love of my life. “Ellie?”
Ellie’s quiet demeanor belies the intensity of the moment. “I’ve been having contractions since early this morning. I guess my water broke.”
“Right.” I could demand to know why she didn’t say anything, but that’s not important right now. Not when I have to get her to the hospital. “Kaylee, get your mother’s go-bag.”
Taking Ellie’s hand, I help her to her feet. But when I guide her down the front porch steps, she stops. “Wait. I’m not going to the hospital like this. I need to change.”
Ruth, ever the voice of reason, says, “Honey, you’re just going to get another dress wet.”
Brock, Jr. pats my leg. “Daddy.”
I pay him no attention.
Which doesn’t stop him from smacking me again. “Dad!”
“Yes, son.”
“What did mom mean her water broke,” he says, scratching his nose.
“It means your brother and sister are coming.”
Kaylee runs out with Ellie’s go bag and squeezes it into the back of the car. Somehow, she had the presence of mind to bring a towel as well which she lays over the SUV’s passenger seat.
“I’m coming, too,” she says.
“Okay.” She’ll have to drive her own car, since mine is packed to the gills with her college things.
“I’ll stay and watch over Brock, Jr.,” Ruth hollers from the porch.
“Thanks, Ruth,” I yell over my shoulder.
Sundance is jumping around Ellie and me, making a nuisance of himself. Butch’s plopped his butt on the porch, next to Ruth and Brock, Jr. As if to say, you go and take care of things. I’ll watch over the kinfolk. As proof he’s on the job, he barks at Sundance who promptly makes a beeline for the porch.
“You okay, sweetheart?” I ask, Ellie.
“Never better.”
I lean over to kiss her lips. “I love you. Always and forever.”
She cups my cheek. “Me too.”
On a normal day, the drive to the hospital lasts thirty minutes. I intend to make it in twenty. If anybody stops me, I’ve got the best excuse in the world. On the way, I call the hospital, so when we arrive, they’re at the entrance waiting for us. Once Ellie’s tucked into the ugly hospital gown, they allow me to enter the labor and delivery room. I assure them this is not my first rodeo, that I was present for the birth of my son.
At first, everything proceeds smoothly, but two hours later, one of the babies goes into distress.
Her obstetrician says, “We’re going to have to do a C-section.”
My heart plummets. I can’t lose this woman I love more than life. “Do what you have to, Doc.”
They only allow me inside the surgery suite, so Kaylee has to wait outside in the family room.
“She’ll be okay, Dad. She’s strong.”
“I know.” I know no such thing. Inside I’m a quivering bowl of jelly. If something were to happen to Ellie . . . I can’t finish that thought.
As it turns out, I have nothing to worry about. The procedure goes off smoothly, and before I know it, Ellie’s putting our baby boy to her breast.
