Page 56 of Joker's Ghost
An overwhelming desire to push takes over, and I grunt, digging my heels into the tile.
“Don’t push,” the paramedic yells. “Not yet.”
Is this guy kidding? That’s like telling someone not to sneeze. I feel the pressure of their hands against my thighs, and the need to push comes stronger.
“Okay, we’re ready.” The paramedic nods to Joker. “Get behind her and support her shoulders.
Joker smooths my hair off my face. “You can do this,” he whispers in my ear.
“Take a deep breath.” The paramedic locks eyes with me. “Exhale, now take another, and on my count, give one long push.” He holds up his gloved hand. “One, two, three, push.”
I squeeze Joker’s hand and push with all my might.
“Okay, that was great, but hold up a minute.” I feel the pressure of his hands again.
“Good, baby, you’re doin’ great,” Joker encourages.
“One more should do it.” The paramedic shifts forward. “Another nice deep breath and bear down hard. Again on my count. One, two, three.”
I push with everything I have, the pressure releases, I collapse against Joker, and three seconds later, I hear the squawk of my baby.
“You have a healthy baby girl,” the paramedic announces.
“Afterbirth delivered.” The other paramedic moves between my legs. “Excessive bleeding. Gauze, give me gauze.”
Sticky wetness and then pressure as the paramedic presses the gauze into my body.
“You did it, babe, you did it.” Joker smiles down at me.
“We have another girl.” I gaze up into Joker’s smiling face. He leans in for a kiss, the room spins, and everything goes black.
CHAPTER 19
JOKER
“Daisy?” I grab her shoulder. “Stay with me, baby.”
I jerk my head to the paramedic. “What’s going on?”
“Starting IV.” The paramedic rips open a package, swabs Daisy’s arm with alcohol, then inserts the needle and attaches a bag of fluid. “Pushing fluids wide open.”
The other paramedic wraps our little girl in a sterile blanket and hands her to me. “She’s breathing on her own, but they’ll do a full examination at the hospital.”
I cuddle the baby to me, but my eyes are fixed on Daisy. “What’s wrong with her?”
The paramedic rips open more gauze packets while the other one clamps an oxygen mask over Daisy’s face. They wrap Daisy in another blanket, then lift her onto the stretcher along with the IV drip. Their actions are precise but urgent, and it’s scaring the shit out outta me.
“You gotta help her,” I beg.
“You can ride with us. We’re taking her to Henderson Hospital,” the paramedic throws over his shoulder.
“Dad?” Derek searches my face for answers I don’t have.
“I’m going with your mother. Stay here with Deana. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
Cobra catches my arm. “Take it easy; they’ve got her.”
I gaze down at my baby girl. “This can’t be happening again, right?”
