Page 68 of Beautifully Undone

“Put the phone on speaker and help your wife, the ambulance is on its way.”

I put the phone down. I didn’t say anything, just swiped my hand over my face and got on my knees so I could face Mel.

“Ash? Did you hear me? You’re going to have to help your wife deliver that baby.”

Fuck. “Yeah. I heard.”

Okay. I could do this. Beads of moisture beaded on Mel’s forehead. I unbuckled her seatbelt and helped her shove her pants down.

“Okay, her pants are down,” I yelled into the phone.

“What’s your wife’s name?”

“Melody.”

“Melody, you’re doing great.” I appreciated his sentiments, but fuck a duck. We were having a baby right here in the fucking car.

“I feel the baby’s head,” Mel said and grunted. With one hand on the door and the other on the middle console, she held herself up off the seat and pushed as the head came out. I felt completely helpless. There wasn’t a thing I could do to help Mel.

“The head is out,” I said.

“Good. That’s good news, Ash. Melody, we need a big push from you so your baby can come out the rest of the way.”

“Oh my God!”

“What is it, Ash. What do you see?”

“The cord. The cord is around the baby’s neck.”

“Okay. Don’t panic. Don’t push anymore, Mel. Wait. Ash, use your fingers and pull the cord away. Clear it from the baby’s neck so it can continue out.”

“Okay.” I slipped my fingers in under the cord and pulled it out over the head. The baby’s face was down, which I was glad about. “Okay. I freed the head.”

“Okay. Melody. One more big push. You can do it,” Tom said.

“Come on, baby. I love you,” I told her as she squeezed down again and the baby slipped out into my hands.”

The baby had a purplish tint. I cleaned out its mouth the best I could with a hooked finger and held it face down, rubbing it’s tiny back until a couple of seconds later, it cried. “It’s a boy,” Mel cried, as I turned him over a little then helped her place him on her chest.

“Now what?” I asked.

“He’s crying, that’s good. That means his airway is clear. Ash, do you have a blanket or anything in the car?”

“Um...yeah,” I said, remembering the small yellow blanket Mel had packed in her overnight bag. I reached into the backseat and tugged on the bag, unzipped it, and searched for the blanket. Everything inside felt the same, either soft cotton or plastic diapers and it was dark. I finally found the blanket and pulled it out.

“Ash, are you there?” the male voice came over the phone.

“Yeah. I’m here. I have the blanket.”

“Okay. Just place it over the baby to keep it warm until the ambulance gets there. There’s nothing else for you to do now except wait for the paramedics. Congratulations.”

I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Good job.” A soft female voice came from behind me. “You did great.”

I beamed and looked at Mel as I placed my hand over my beautiful son.

Welcome to the world, Becket Theodore Beaumont,” Mel said. I kissed my beautiful wife.

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