Lila smiled. Her best fri
end would get to experience the wonder and fright and joy of that soon enough.
“She’s not kicking. Shouldn’t she be kicking?”
“If you don’t get stressed out, she won’t get stressed out,” Nora said soothingly from where she sat beside Margo. “Keep focusing on your breathing. And we’ll wait for the next contraction.”
“Li? Did yours kick before you gave birth?”
“Yes, but intermittently. There’s a lot going on inside you right now.” Lila moved closer to Margo and wiped a wet washcloth over her friend’s forehead. “Are you sure about not going to the hospital to be checked out? It could just be Braxton-Hicks.” She glanced at Nora. “Not that you aren’t in very capable hands.”
“It doesn’t feel like Braxton-Hicks. It feels weird.” Margo rubbed her belly. “I wish she’d just move. She’s freaking me out.”
“She was moving earlier, wasn’t she?” Nora’s calming voice helped to ease the crackle of nerves buzzing between Lila’s shoulder blades as well.
It was one thing having a C-section with a team of medical professionals. As skilled as Nora was, Lila wished they were in a hospital. She never would’ve guessed Margo would prefer to stay home, even with the ominous weather.
“Yes, she’s been kicking my bladder and using me for a punching bag. That’s why I don’t understand why she’s so quiet now.” Margo cupped her belly and took a shallow breath. “Oh, God, here comes another one. And wait—wait.” She hesitated and then broke into a weak grin. “She’s hitting me again. Oh. This is a strong one.”
“Grip the tiger and focus on your breathing, just as we practiced. In and out. There we go.” Nora touched Margo’s rippling belly. “You’re doing just fine.”
A few minutes later, Margo exhaled. “I think I’m regretting skipping drugs now.”
“We can still go to the hospital—”
“No, the idea of all that chaos and being under all those harsh lights, when our birthing center is so calm and peaceful… I just don’t want to do it. Not when the storm is coming in. If there was an accident—” She bit her lip and broke off. “Plenty of women have babies at home without drugs. It’s natural. I am warrior. Hear me roar. Where the hell is Simon?”
Lila had to laugh as she took Margo’s hand. “They’re coming. I’m sure they had to pull over and do deep breathing exercises to get up the nerve to walk in here.”
“But it’s getting bad out. The rain’s starting now.” Margo closed her eyes. “Simon is a jackass. We should’ve stayed home.”
“While I can’t argue with either of those assessments, you were right about the rest too.” Lila squeezed Margo’s fingers. “You’re a warrior and you so can do this.”
“Thank you for being here with me. I know it’s kind of icky. No one really wants to see their bestie’s lady bits.”
“All our lady bits look the same pretty much. I’ll probably live. Did you know my mother helped two babies come into this world?”
“Really?” Margo opened her eyes and focused intently on Lila’s face, proof that her best friend was in pain. “Who?”
“The first was a woman whose car broke down outside Happy Acres. Snowstorm of course. Because what else?”
“Oh, God, she had the baby in a car on the side of the road? That’s far worse than here.”
Lila smiled. “Undoubtedly, since this really isn’t bad at all.”
Christmas music was playing softly and the small tree in the corner of the bedroom offered a twinkling glow. And if she cocked her head just so, she could see the “penis” palm tree outside, bending in the gusts from the storm and still shimmering with lights all the while. The howling wind and the stampeding rain in the background weren’t as nice, but she had to believe the weathermen who’d said the storm was shifting away from here.
They’d all had enough to deal with in the past year. It was time for them to get their happy endings.
She shifted back toward Margo. Especially her best friend and Simon and baby Raine.
“She’s going to be here soon,” she murmured softly, smiling as Margo swallowed a sob. “It’s going to happen so much faster than you think.”
“Yes, it is, because I think my water just broke.” Margo blew out a breath. “So much for Braxton-Hicks.”
Lila and Nora exchanged glances. Yes, not so much.
After they changed the sheets—much to Margo’s consternation and embarrassment, no matter how much they told her not to worry—and put down lots of towels, Margo got back in bed. Almost immediately, she had another longer, harder contraction.