The next contraction stole Tess’s breath. She felt the difference, the reality that she was just about to tip over the top for that final roller coaster drop. The pressure and intense urge to push was about to outweigh everything else. It was now or never.
Gasping, she laid her head against Mitch’s shoulder. “Okay, let’s do this thing.”
“I don’t have my official notes, so I’m gonna wing it.” Sandy smiled at both of them. “We are gathered here in the sight of God and the presence of these witnesses to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
“You’re gonna want to do the abridged version,” Dr. Jenkins warned.
“Okay then. Do you Mitch, take Tess to be your lawfully wedded wife? Will you love her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?”
“I will.”
“Okay Tess, when this next contraction hits, I’m gonna need you to bear down and push.”
“Got it.”
“Do you, Tess, take Mitch to be your lawfully wedded husband? Will you love him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health and forsaking all others so long as you both shall live?”
“I will…ooooh holy shit!” Tess clamped down on his hands as the shock wave of pain rippled through her body.
“Breathe, baby. I’m right here with you.”
“Push!”
“Not. Yet,” she gritted out. “Finish it.”
“Oh, oh, now the vows. Do you have any written?” Sandy asked.
“Are you kidding me?” Mitch asked.
“Okay, improvise. Repeat after me. I, Mitch, take you Tess, to be my wedded wife.” She reeled off some variation of every classic movie vow ever.
Shifting around so he could look into her eyes, Mitch repeated them. “—for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish ’til death do us part.” Not a single waver.
Despite the waves of pain and stress coursing through her system, a rush of pure love for this man swept over her. Tess got halfway through her own vows before the next contraction hit. She screamed her way through the end of them, and this time there was no stopping that wave.
“It’s crowning! Look at that thick head of hair!”
“Oh my God, it’s happening.” Mitch swayed a little.
“Don’t you dare pass out on me,” Tess snarled.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. I love you. You’ve got this.”
“Tess, honey, you need to bear down with everything you’ve got,” Dr. Jenkins ordered.
“We’re gonna just fast forward to the end. By the authority vested in me by the state of Mississippi and the office of Mayor, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
It was official. She was a Campbell, and it was time to bring this baby into the world. Knees pulled up to her shoulders, she bore down with all her might.
“The head’s out. Stop pushing, Tess, for just a second. I’m just going to clear the baby’s nose and mouth.” The doctor made some adjustment to the baby’s position. “Okay, one more push.”
She pushed, and the baby slid right out into Dr. Jenkins’s waiting hands.
“Time of birth 13:48.” Hands gently supporting the baby’s head and butt, she raised the tiny figure into the air. “Congratulations, you two! It’s a girl!”
The baby let out an offended wail, as if she disapproved of the fanfare. Tess laughed through the tears she hadn’t noticed.
“Holy shit, we have a daughter,” Mitch breathed.