Page 55 of The Ties That Bind
Brie let out a sigh of relief. “Good.”
“If you’re ready, I’ll get that area numbed up right now.”
Brie nodded, then took Sir’s hand while the doctor had her lay on her side. She squeezed it tight when she felt the bite and the burn of the initial numbing shot. The doctor rubbed the area for several minutes while a nurse prepared the materials for the epidural.
Brie was too scared to even look at the tray.
Sir kept his eyes on Brie the entire time, his reassuring smile helping her to remain calm. But she immediately tensed when the anesthesiologist said, “This next part may feel strange. I’m going to push the needle between your vertebrae and into your spine. It might feel uncomfortable, but only for a short time.”
Brie shut her eyes when she felt the needle slowly enter. It was a completely unsettling feeling, and she had to force herself not to whimper.
But, before she knew it, the nurse was taping the catheter in place. “All done, my dear!”
Brie couldn’t believe it and smiled at Sir.
Before the anesthesiologist left, he told her, “I suggest you rest now, while you still can.”
Brie nodded, although she knew it would be impossible. She was far too wound up to even think about sleep. However, she took extreme comfort in the sound of her baby’s steady heartbeat.
Sir got out his phone again. “I’ll call your parents, and then inform Unc that Hope may need to stay an additional day or two.”
“Could you get my phone, Sir? I’d like to call Rytsar back.”
He got the phone out of her purse and handed it to her, explaining, “While I’m making those calls, I’ll also check the front desk to see if my keys made it back safely.”
As she took the phone from him, she squeezed his hand. “Thank you for getting me to the hospital so quickly—with a police escort, no less.”
He paused for a moment, then glanced at the fetal monitor. “I’m grateful you and the baby are safe.”
Despite his calm exterior, Brie knew he’d been equally shaken by the ordeal. Pressing his hand against her cheek, she looked up at him and smiled. “We are, Sir, because of you.”
Welcome to the World
The moment Sir left Brie, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. She shivered from the chill of it and immediately called Rytsar.
“Radost moya, tell me you are well.”
“I am.” She smiled to herself, touched by his concern. “In fact, I got the epidural and I’m listening to the baby’s heartbeat right now.”
She held out the phone so he could hear it, then put the phone back to her ear. “Isn’t that a wonderful sound?”
“It is,” he answered gruffly.
“I’m sorry we had to cut you off before.”
“Although I understand, this is not easy for me.”
“I know… Sir’s calling my parents and his uncle right now since none of us were prepared for this early arrival.”
“What is it with your babes,radost moya? Don’t they know how good they have it inside your belly?”
She laughed. “I guess they’re just eager to meet theirdyadya.”
“I want to be there for the birth.” She could hear the sorrow in his voice. “I failed to appreciate how hard the distance would be…” He suddenly changed his tone and asked, “Tell me, how ismoye solntse?”
“Luckily, she was staying with the Reynolds overnight and wasn’t exposed to the chaos this morning.” Caressing her stomach, Brie confessed, “I’m trying to be brave.”
“I know Kylie’s death haunts you today.”
