Page 112 of Beyond Friendship

I nod, and Kim follows us upstairs to the bedroom. Amanda, who’s standing by the window, looks up with a glowing smile as we enter and greets Kim warmly. I’m in shock—here I am, a bundle of nerves, and she has the energy to smile in the middle of labor.

“Are you all set to become parents and find out what you two are having?” Kim queries.

“Absolutely,” Amanda answers with an exuberant grin. “He thinks it’ll be a girl, but I’m placing my bet on a boy.”

Kim and Amanda carry on their conversation while I pace back and forth across the room.

“Okay, let’s check how many centimeters dilations you have.”

My amazing soon-to-be spouse gets on the bed and I hasten over to take my place beside her while Kim does her thing.

“Well, your cervix is already five centimeters dilated, Amanda. That is fabulous. If this keeps going at this rate, the new addition to your family will show up shortly.”

My lungs are desperate for oxygen as I hold my breath when Amanda’s face contorts in pain during a contraction. I feel powerless sitting here holding her hand while she does all the work.

“How can I help?” I ask with an elevated voice.

“Just be here,” Amanda says as the contraction subsides. She reaches for my cheek and caresses it gently. “You being here is enough.”

“I don’t feel helpful,” I comment.

Both women have a smirk on their faces as I make this statement.

“We’re going with the natural process, Brian. This means Amanda will inform us what she needs at this stage of your journey to Parenthood.”

I help her out of the bed and, for the next hour, we move around the room. Every time a contraction begins, we stop so she can lean on me until it’s over. After another sixty minutes pass, we find ourselves back on the bed. Amanda lies between my legs, her head on my chest. Her nightgown is gone, replaced by sweat. Her contractions are like waves coming in quick succession, and my forearm is marked with a unique pattern of scratches from her nails digging in. I don’t mind, though; if it helps ease the pain for her, she’s welcome to scratch me all she wants. Seeing the woman you love in agony is nerve-wracking, to say the least. Amanda heaves with every contraction and I whisper sweet words as I wipe away sweat from her face with a cold cloth that Kim had given me.

“Oh my God! I have to push. I can’t hold it,” Amanda cries out.

“All right, just keep breathing in and out while I check.” Kim smiles. “It looks perfect; you can push when the next contraction arrives.”

Amanda turns her head to look at me and our eyes lock.

I give a reassuring smile and whisper softly, “You’re doing amazing, Brownie. I’m so proud of you.” I press a kiss to her cheek as another painful contraction takes over and she grabs my hand tightly as she pushes. Instead of screaming like what is depicted in movies, Amanda retreats into her own world, humming and groaning loud, listening to her body while paying full, careful attention to what she’s doing.

“You’re doing great, Amanda! Almost done, just one or two more pushes and your little one will be here,” Kim comments as another wave comes.

Amanda inhales deeply and brings her chin to her chest as she pushes with a wave of labor. A tiny cry escapes from her lips and I feel my veins grow cold from her tight grip on my hand. Seconds later, Kim is lifting a slimy, crying infant into the air.

“Congratulations, guys.”

“What is it?” Amanda pants, resting her body against me.

My throat tightens with emotion as Kim lays our newborn onto Amanda’s chest.

“It’s a boy!” I say in awe.

Amanda places small kisses on our son’s head and sobs of joy trickle down her cheeks.

“Oh, Brian, look at him. We have a son. He’s perfect.” She glances up at me with a beaming smile.

I bend down to kiss her lips, and my own eyes fill with tears. “Yes, he is, just like you.”

Kim turns to us and asks, “Do you two have a name?”

Touching his cheek, Amanda answers, “Yes. Chase Alexander Fox.”

“Charming name. Would you like to cut the umbilical cord, Brian?”

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