Page 28 of Forbidden Fruit

“The Range. I can help her in and out of that one easily. And call the Levine’s, Ma.”

“Okay,” she said, rushing out with Vashti’s bag.

“I’m scared, Drek,” Vashti said, holding on to my shoulders while I helped her get her underwear and sweat pants on.

“Don’t worry. I’m here every step of the way. Okay? You my lil soldier, so I know you got this.”

After putting her shirt on, I wiped her tears, then scooped her up and headed out the door.

By the time slow-ass Carol got us to St. Elizabeth, Vashti was damn near screaming in pain. The Levine’s were walking in the ER when we pulled up, so her dad rushed inside to get a wheelchair, and Mrs. Loretta helped me with Vashti. “Baby, you’re having a baby!”

Vashti completely ignored her mother as her knees buckled. My natural instincts to pick her up took over, and I ran right past her dad and the wheelchair. The nurses ran and directed me to the third floor to get her checked-in and situated. Once there, they immediately put her in a room and one nurse checked her vitals, while another checked to see how far she’d dilated. “Baby, you’re at a six. We’re having a baby tonight. When the doctor comes in, she will break your water if that hasn’t happened by then.”

“That’s all that sexing y’all been doing,” my mama said as Vashti’s cheeks reddened.

“Breathe, baby. You got this. Ignore Carol.”

Ma rolled her eyes as Vashti grabbed my hand and squeezed tightly. She’d made the decision to do this naturally, and she was doing a great job. For her last appointment a couple of weeks ago, the baby was only six pounds, so at least she didn’t have to push out a huge baby. My boy Zay walked through the door with a huge teddy bear and cigars. I smiled at him, then shook his hand.

He and Vashti argued all the time, but it was out of love. They got on each other’s nerves. However, him seeing Vashti in so much pain had him on his best behavior. Staring at her had brought his sensitive side to the forefront. “You just gon’ stand there and gawk at me or what, nigga?”

He chuckled, then said, “Even in pain, your mouth doesn’t know how to rest.”

Zay kissed her forehead and walked over to talk with my mama. Grabbing Vashti’s hand again, she squeezed the fuckin’ life out of it. “Gray! Shit!”

“You got it, lil mama. It’s almost time.”

The doctor came through the door and put gloves on to check Vashti. “We’re having a baby tonight! Let me break your water, sweetheart. These contractions are going to really get fast and furious, Ms. Levine. So, prepare yourself.” Dr. Satterwhite checked her, then broke her water and said, “You’re a seven. Rest up, Mommy, you’re gonna need it.”

“Oh, that’s so warm. It feels good,” Vashti said.

The doctor giggled. “I’ll get one of your nurses to bring you a warm blanket. I’ll be back to check on you in a little bit. In the meantime, we’re gonna get you on a Pitocin drip to speed this up a bit.”

“Okay.”

The doctor turned off one of the lights to try to get Vashti as comfortable as possible. Hopefully, she didn’t have to labor too long. I hated seeing her in pain. Watching the monitor, I saw the squiggly lines shoot up at the same time Vashti tensed up. “Remember to breathe, baby.”

“Drek,” she breathed out.

“I gotchu, lil mama.”

I kissed her forehead, praying for her, as her mom stood on the other side of the bed, rubbing her hair.

* * *

“Push, Vashti!”

Growling through the process, Vashti pushed, giving it everything she had. This was her third push. I stood beside her, holding her hand and her mother held the other. My mama was right next to me, rooting her on. “Okay, Vashti! I see the head. Relax for a second. With the next contraction, push.”

I wiped the sweat from her face with a cold towel. “I love you, Vash. You’re doing so good, lil mama.”

“Push, Vashti!”

And just like that, the lioness came out of her once again. This time with even more progress. “The head’s out, Vash!” I yelled. “Our baby has sooo much hair! Just like you!”

I was so excited! I kissed Vashti’s head as she relaxed for a little bit. From what I could tell, the baby looked like her. So beautiful.

“Okay, Vash. Give me a good one. Now!”

---