Page 54 of Noah

“Bean,” I whispered Sean’s endearment to get her attention, knowing it would help and also that we didn’t have time for each syllable of Avery’s name, “you’re doing amazing. I know it hurts like a bitch, but you’re doing it. Push when it feels natural. These babies are going to come out on their own. I’m right here to guide them. You’re going to be fine. I promise.”

“Noah,” Lizzie breathed, and I looked once to catch her blue eyes wide with fear, “it’s…oh my god!”

The first baby was entering the world in a peculiar, yet enamored, silence. I reminded Avery to breathe, and both of them yelled at me. I crouched closer to Avery, slowly guiding her first baby into the world. We heard Sean’s pounding footsteps as he entered their condo while screaming all of our names with about seven profanities.

“Sean, take off your shirt!” I shouted before he entered the bathroom.

“Oh, yes,” Lizzie erupted in laughter. “I love it.”

“Elizabeth!” Avery seethed. I shook my head at Lizzie when she looked at me, her expression full of confusion. Sean burst into the bathroom, shirtless and quick to start washing his hands.

“Five times, Daddy,” Lizzie informed him as she rested her head on Avery’s shoulder.

“Bean,” Sean called behind him while drying his hands, “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here. I got here as fast as I could. I love you. I love you. Oh my god.”

“It really hurts,” Avery cried. She was a champion, though, but I knew telling her that would probably piss her off.

I couldn’t look anywhere but the small shoulders balancing in my palm while holding Avery’s right thigh as she pushed. “Sean! I need you right now.”

The water turned off, and he was kneeling at my side, replacing my hand with his against Avery’s thigh, waiting for my direction. His eyes were wide and full of tears, locked on Avery. He leaned forward over Lizzie’s lap to kiss Avery.

“I love you,” he whispered over their mutual sobs.

“I can’t do this,” Lizzie uttered, staring at me blankly. I know the piercing look I gave her shocked her system because she turned away and started rubbing Avery’s back.

“We can all do this,” I responded, leaning over to quickly kiss her shoulder. “Sean,” I ordered, getting his attention. “Okay, Avery. This is the last one for this little nugget. Give us the biggest push you can. Keep breathing.”

“I can’t!”

“Yes, you can!” Lizzie challenged her. “Your stupid, gorgeous, billboard husband is an asshole who did this to you! You two fought time and death together. Don’t tell me you can’t do this, Avery!”

“Wow, Lizard.” Sean shook his head at Lizzie. “I don’t know whether to love you or really dislike you right now.”

“You showed up shirtless to your own kid’s birth,” Lizzie tried to tease him.

“So did you, auntie Elizabeth.”

“Would you…two…just stop…oh, god!” Avery screamed between us.

Their banter ceased with Avery’s agony, and Sean’s trembling shoulder pressed against mine in the small space as he followed my lead.

I slipped my other hand under the baby as Avery pushed once more, roaring her brief hatred toward Sean, guiding the little girl to life and quickly calling for Lizzie to get me a clean towel. As I turned away from Avery, rubbing her daughter’s belly while its new cries crackled into the air around us, Sean took my place and hovered over her. Their son came in a flash and fury not three minutes later, crying against Lizzie’s bare chest.

With the babies safe, I guided Avery to turn over and cheered her on for the rest of the delivery. Sean and Lizzie might as well not have been there, as not a peep came from their gaping mouths. I peeked once, catching them staring at each other with silent tears.

“Avery,” I asked, “do you want me to cut their cords or leave them?”

“Leave them,” Sean replied for her. “She wants them on as long as possible.”

I leaned back, my knees sore while pressing into the floor, and took a moment to catch my breath. The bathroom was stifling, squished with five bodies, but none of us moved. I worked to squeeze more towels behind Avery so she could sit up and hold the babies, getting her comfortable just as the ambulance arrived. Avery and their babies were healthy, but I knew it would be helpful to have an objective medic examine all three.

***

I crashed onto the couch next to Lizzie, staring blankly at the ceiling. I felt her palm on my thigh, her fingernails piercing through my jeans.

“I know,” I whispered in quiet agreement, continuing to let my eyes gloss while losing focus on the ceiling.

“Don’t ever do that to me.”

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