Page 35 of Lucky Dance Date
“I’ll understand if you don’t. It’ll be a fantastic performance though.”
“Bye kids,” I called as they started filtering back out of the dressing rooms. “Next time you see me, I’ll be a papa.”
They all chattered excitedly as José helped me outside to the car. Then we were off to the hospital.
“How far apart are your contractions?” José asked.
I winced as another hit. “They just started so I haven’t even had enough to really count. But my water broke, and they seem to be coming hard and fast.”
“Ok,” he replied, growling softly as we had to stop at a red light. “I called Mama and Papa on my way to get you, and they’ll meet us at the hospital.”
I breathed as another wave hit. “Your entire family is going to be in the waiting room, won’t they?”
José glanced over at me, then breathed a sigh of relief as my contraction ended. “Of course.”
I took a deep breath. “They… they all know to keep my parents away if they show up, right?”
José reached over the center console and took my hand. “Don’t worry love. We’ve talked to the hospital, and they know not to let them in. Every alpha in my family also knows what they look like. They won’t get near you.”
“Thank you.”
José’s family had rallied around me as they learned more about how my parents had treated me, and over the course of several months I’d learned how protective they were—and how fast a large family like his could react. My parents barely had chances to start a rumor before some cousin of José’s heard about it and everybody countered it with the truth.
From what I heard through the grapevine, my parents’ attempts to slander me were backfiring on them more and more. It turned out that most people were only willing to listen so many times before seeing their words for what they were, and in nine months just their closest friends remained.
Even their dental practice was failing.
I couldn’t bring myself to feel sorry for them. There would have been a time, but, as my therapist reminded me, I shouldn’t feel guilty when their attempts to hurt me backfired.
We reached the hospital, and a nurse cousin was already waiting outside with a wheelchair next to José’s parents. They helped me from the car, then José’s papa drove the car over to the parking structure while the nurse wheeled me in.
It was in the elevator up to the maternity ward that an even more intense contraction hit, and it took my breath away.
“Wes?” José asked, leaning over.
I gave him a thumbs up, but as the contraction seemed to go on I got worried.
“You ok Wes?” the nurse asked.
I forced myself to breathe through the pain, knowing I should get a break soon. But the contraction barely ended before the next one started.
“Whoops,” said the nurse as we reached the room. “I think we might have an eager beaver here. Let me get a doctor in, but we might be moving you right to labor and delivery.”
I nodded as another contraction tore through me.
I reached out and grabbed José’s hand, squeezing it as I tried to ground myself.
“I’m here Wes,” he said, kissing my hair.
Things quickly became a blur as one contraction seemed to blend into the next. I was aware of being wheeled out of my room again, then José helping me onto a bed in the delivery room.
“Ok Wes, time to push.”
“What?” I cried. “I just got here!”
“I’d offer a longer labor,” the doctor joked, “but this little one makes the rules, and they’re saying that it’s now.”
I whined and José kissed my forehead, then another contraction hit.
