Page 34 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
“Oh I’m gonna be late for my appointment!” she said anxiously. “I hate that!”
Rosie was less concerned with appointment times and more concerned with how far away from a bathroom they were at that moment. “Don’t worry about it. Doctors are late all the time! You’re fine, we’ll be there in a couple minutes.”
They were out of the car in record time and waddling together across the lot like two hippos migrating toward a new watering hole.
“I just…” Tammy puffed. “I need the bathroom first.”
“Hold it,” Rosie told her, staring determinedly at the big glass double sliding doors of the hospital entrance. “Keep your eyes—and your mind—on the prize.”
“I’m doing my best,” Tammy promised, as they kept on keepin’ on. When they finally made it to the promised land, the doors whooshed open to grant them the miracle of air conditioning. Both women, red-faced and sweaty from the effort of making it across the parking lot, sighed with relief.
“Over there,” Rosie said then, nodding enthusiastically at the telltale bathroom sign and arrow on a wall not too far away.
“I’m not gonna make it,” Tammy muttered desperately, grunting with the effort of retaining control of her bladder.
“You’ll make it,” Rosie said with supreme confidence whilst being completely unsure if she was even gonna make it herself.
They kept pace with each other for a couple of yards before Tammy began to flag.
“Oh!” Rosie heard her friend gasp and turned around just in time to see Tammy’s horrified expression as the poor thing went through her pants.
”Ohh…” Tammy’s eyes welled with tears as she realized she no longer needed to go to the bathroom at all.
“It’s okay, don’t worry!” Rosie said quickly, helping Tammy over to a bench that was close by. She snatched a magazine off a rack that was on the wall. “Just sit here, and hold this over yourself like you’re readin’ it down low. I’ll find someone.”
Rosie went as quickly as she could to the nearest nurse’s station.
“Hi,” she said to the nurse on duty, a brunette woman who might have been slightly older than she was. “My friend needs some help. Do you have anyone free?”
“Of course,” the nurse said, standing up as she sensed the urgency of the situation. "Where is she, hon?”
“Just over there,” Rosie said, nodding subtly in Tammy’s direction. “Y’all’ll need a mop. Sorry.”
The nurse took in the puddle of water on the floor before pausing to grab a mop and bucket from a nearby supply closet.
“I’m so embarrassed,” Tammy muttered, mortified as the nurse cleaned up her mess. “They shouldn’t have made me drink all that darn water! I’m so sorry.”
“Nothin’ to be sorry for. Happens more often that you’d think,” the nurse soothed, as she began to clean up. After a moment or two, she moved the mop around in the puddle. “Um, that’s not water, darlin’. Kirk? Can you grab me a wheelchair? Thanks.”
Tammy, still clutching her magazine, looked up at the nurse with realization slowly dawning on her face.
“You mean…”
“Yes ma’am,” the nurse smiled. “You’re about to have yourself a baby!”
“Rosie?”Tammy had been transferred to a wheelchair in record time while Rosie went to the bathroom. When she’d returned, nurses had come out of the woodwork to help Tammy get paperwork, ID bracelets, and more organized. One of them even brought Tammy a spare set of scrubs, which was really kind. Rosie hoped she’d be able to have a quick shower and change once she got onto the ward.
“It’s okay,” Rosie soothed, crouching by her friend as much as she was able. Her own stomach felt like it was tied in. “You’re gonna be fine. You’re already where you need to be at. Remember your breathing and stay hydrated. I’m gonna call Myles and have him bring your things out. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
The brunette nurse glanced at Rosie. “We tried to call, but he’s not answering his phone.”
“I’ll keep trying him,” Rosie promised.
“Thanks hon.” Tammy sighed, placing both hands on her belly as though expecting to be able to feel some baby-arriving-action. “Can she not come with me?”
“Not right now,” the nurse said kindly. “We’re just gonna get you set up and then you’ll be able to have some visitors.”
Tammy’s eyes widened with fear. “What if the baby comes before Myles gets here?”
