The Things We Do for Love

Food, frozen in Tupperware, ready to be heated at a moments notice and served. No doubt each of them had been cooking double dinners for a week.

New mommies didnt have time to cook.

Angies chest tightened again. She didnt want to go over there and see the evidence of what was coming. "Come on over," she yelled to her sisters and mother. "Were playing cards. "

Mama walked across the room and snapped off the stereo. "That is not music. "

Angie smiled. Some things never changed. Mama had started turning off Angies music in the late seventies. "How about some poker, Mama?"

"I hate to take advantage of you all. "

Mira and Livvy laughed. Livvy said to Lauren, "She cheats. "

Mama puffed up her narrow chest. "I do not. "

Lauren laughed. "Im sure you would never cheat. "

"Im just very lucky," Mama said, pulling up a chair and sitting down.

Before Mira got to the table, Lauren said, "Ill be right back. I have to go to the bathroom for about the fiftieth time today. "

"I know the feeling," Livvy said, rubbing her own big stomach.

"How is she?" Mira asked as soon as Lauren left the room.

"Its getting close, I think" was Angies answer. A silent look was passed around the table. They were all wondering the same thing. Would Lauren be able to give her baby away?

"We brought food," Mira said.

"Thanks. "

Suddenly the bathroom door cracked open. Lauren ran into the living room and stopped dead. She stood there, looking pale and terrified. Water ran down her legs and puddled on the hardwood floor. "Its starting. "

"BREATHE," ANGIE SAID, SHOWING HER HOW. HA-HA-HA.

Lauren lurched upright in bed, screaming, "Get it out of me. " She grabbed Angies sleeve. "I dont want to be pregnant anymore. Make it stop. Oh, God, aaah--" She flopped back onto the pillows, panting hard.

Angie wiped Laurens forehead with a cold, wet rag. "Youre doing great, honey. Just great. " She could tell when the contraction ended. Lauren looked up at her through tired eyes. She

looked impossibly, heartbreakingly young. Angie fed her some ice chips.

"I cant do it," Lauren whispered in a broken voice. "Im not--aaah. " She was stiffening up, arching in pain.

"Breathe, honey. Look at me. Look. Im right here. Were breathing together. " She held Laurens hand.

Lauren melted back into the pillows. "It hurts. " She started to cry. "I need drugs. "

"Ill find some. " Angie kissed her forehead, then ran from the room. "Wheres our damn doctor?" She raced up and down the white corridor until she found Dr. Mullen. He was the doctor on call tonight; their regular obstetrician was on vacation. "There you are. Lauren is in pain. She needs medications. Im afraid--"

"Its okay, Mrs. Malone. Ill check her. " He motioned for a nurse and headed for Laurens room.

Angie went to the waiting room, which was filled to overflowing. Miras family, Livvys family, Uncle Francis, Aunt Giulia, Conlan, and Mama all stood in the tiny area, taking up too much space.

Along the other wall, sitting alone in a mustard-colored plastic chair, was David. He looked dazed and scared.

God. He was so young.

Angie stepped into the room.