Page 32 of Doctor Mile High
“Me too, sweetheart. I wouldn’t want any other doctor here. Let’s have your baby, okay?” I’m doing all I can to remain calm and collected.
There’s a slight tremor in my hand from nerves, knowing that this could very well be my own son or daughter I get to deliver. What are the chances of us meeting on a damn plane? After all the attempts to look for her, we meet here. The universe has an odd way of bringing people back together.
“Okay, Dove. I’m going to have to take your pants off to see how dilated you are. Unfortunately, a few flight attendants might see you.”
“I don’t care! Just get this damn baby out of me!” She screams the last sentence so loud, it echoes through the entire plane, no doubt making other passengers worry about what’s going on.
I tug her pants down and toss them to the side. “Where’s the vodka?”
“You’re drinking?” Dove screeches, narrowing her tired eyes at me.
I chuckle, unscrewing the bottle to dump over my hands. “No, I’m doing what I can to make sure I’m sterilized.” I empty onebottle on my left hand and forearm then do the same to the other. “By chance are there gloves on this plane?” I ask Nancy.
“No, no gloves. Sorry. We aren’t prepared for situations like this.”
“I figured. It didn’t hurt to ask.” I give Dove my full attention. “I’m going to check to see how dilated you are and then we can figure out where to go from there, okay? If we’re lucky, you can hold out until the plan lands.”
“We have thirty minutes,” Nancy informs us.
“See? We’re so close. Sometimes labor takes hours?—”
“Hours!” Dove screeches, her hair damp with sweat as another contraction hits. She snags my wrist again. “You better hope this baby flies out of me or so help me, Winston.”
Threats are completely normal during a time like this, but I should have been smarter with my wording. Who would want to be in pain for hours?
I ease my fingers inside, my brows raising to my hairline. “Okay, we don’t have hours. Dove, you’re fully dilated. How long have you been experiencing contractions?”
“I—I don’t know. I thought they were Braxton Hicks. I even went to the doctor to get approved for travel and Dr. Leighton said they weren’t contractions I needed to worry about. It’s happening. This is happening. Okay.” She breathes in and out. “I can do this. I can do this in an airplane with no epidural. Plenty of women do it every day, right?”
Holy shit.
It was her at the hospital. She’s been right under my nose the entire time.
“You can do it. I have no doubts. Do you think you’re able to get into a squatting position for me? It will be easier for you to push. It opens the pelvis. I can help you.”
“I don’t know.” She squeezes her eyes shut and a tear drips from the corner. “I don’t think I can. Not alone.”
I run my knuckles down her face. “Then it’s a good thing you’re not alone, isn’t it?” I give her a soft smile, hoping it brings her peace.
Taking her hands in mine, that familiar spark warms my veins, sending an electrical impulse throughout my entire body. The universe is telling me I’m exactly where I need to be with who needs me the most.
And I never plan on being away from her ever again. I’ve already missed too much. I’ve missed every doctor’s appointment, every day she didn’t feel well, every opportunity to massage her back and ankles.
I’ve missed it all.
Which means baby number two will have to happen in the future, because I refuse to miss anything else when it comes to building a future with the woman I’ve been dreaming of since day one.
“Nancy, I need you to hold her for support, okay?
“Okay. No problem.”
“No. No. Go get Muffin,” Dove pants.
“You want a muffin right now?” Nancy asks, holding Dove’s shoulders to be there for support.
Dove exhales an annoyed breath. “No. Muffin. The guy who sat next to me on the plane. He’ll be able to support me more. No offense, Nancy. You seem like a really nice person but I’m feeling kind of violent right now and I’m in a lot of pain. I need someone who can handle that.”
Nancy nods in understanding. “No problem at all. I’ll get Muffin and I’ll be right back.”
