Only Her

She was heading down the stairs. She stopped again and glanced over her shoulder at him. “To give them support Luka. It’s their first baby.”

“Oh,” he still didn’t sound convinced that he understood their role.

At the bottom of the stairs, Ava handed her mother her purse. He grabbed the keys off the side table and they went out the front door to his truck in the driveway.

*****

Skylar played it safe at the hospital. She stuck her head inside the delivery suite door first. “Hi, how’s it going?”

“Get your fucking ass in here,” Ramona shouted. Brett gazed at her with trepidation bordering on outright panic.

“My daughter is behind me.” Skylar could hear Luka chuckling. “You won’t be laughing when it’s me big guy,” she informed him glancing over her shoulder at her husband.

“Probably not.”

“They can come in too.”

Luna was on the other side of the bed holding Ramona’s hand trying to calm her. Luka’s three brothers were leaning against wall where they could hear everything, see their new niece or nephew but not see so much and even they look scared. Skylar stepped inside the room and directed Luka and Ava to stand with Stellan, Dalton and Benji.

Skylar slipped in beside Brett and took Ramona’s hand. “What can I do for you?” She asked her.

“Make the pain go away.”

“Didn’t they give you an epidural?”

Brett cleared his throat. Skylar looked behind her. “She’s one of the small percentage that the epidural doesn’t work.”

Skylar turned her focus back to her sister. “I’m sorry. You can do this.”

“This baby is going to be an only child,” Ramona declared.

Luna looked across the bed and smiled at her son. “Why don’t you come over to this side and hold Ramona’s hand Brett and I’ll go over and stand with Ava and the boys.”

“Luna, thank you.”

She leaned across the bed and kissed Ramona. “You’re welcome sweetheart.”

Skylar brushed her sister’s hair back. “What do we need to do to make you comfortable?” She asked her.

She struggled to sit up. Brett and Skylar pulled her forward. “I’m so uncomfortable.”

Sky kicked off her shoes and got behind her on the bed so she could rub Ramona’s back while she breathed. Her sister leaned back into her. “Is this weird?”

“Not if you’re comfortable.”

Brett was holding her hand.

“I’m comfortable. I just wanted my sister here.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Maybe it won’t be my only one.”

Skylar chuckled. “You can help me in about eight months when Luka is too nervous to keep his head on straight,” she told her sister.

Ramona turned her head and gazed at her sister with a smile. “You’re pregnant?”

“I am.”

“I’m so happy for you.”

“Congratulations,” Brett told her.