“No! Not in my new car. Wait! You’re still wet from peeing!”
I shook my head. “I didn’t pee! My water broke!”
“I hope that doesn’t stain.”
My eyes were closed. “Are you still bleeding, and are you really worried about that right now, Finn?”
I could hear him open the glove box.
“Nope. I’m good on both counts.”
We somehow made it to the hospital and safely up to the labor and delivery floor. Finn’s nose started to bleed again, and the nurses had to tend to it. It wasn’t lost on me that it took three of them to stop the nosebleed.
Right as I got settled into my bed and asked the nurse for the magical shot that made all the pain go away, Finn walked in with Harmony.
“I found your poor husband practically being raped by a couple of nurses.”
Finn rolled his eyes and walked to the side of the bed. Leaning down, he kissed me gently on the lips. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
“You have, but I sure could hear it again.”
“She’s dilated ten centimeters. Page Doctor Tilly now,” the nurse said.
“What?” Finn and I said in unison.
Harmony started for the door. “So this is my cue to take it on back to the waiting room.”
“Harmony!” I yelled out. “You can’t leave. What if he passes out?”
“Hey, I’m not going to pass out.”
Just then the doctor walked in. It hardly made an impact on me. Between all the people rushing in and out of the room, Finn being hit on by nurses, and the pain from the small human trying to rip itself out of my body, I didn’t know which way was up or which way was down.
I glared at Harmony. “You owe me—you’re not leaving.” Focusing in on the doctor, I stated, “I need drugs, Doctor. They’re coming…so fast now. So. Fast.”
He glanced up and made a face that said, Oh shit, sorry but I can’t help you with that request. “Too late, Rory. Your baby wants to make her debut.”
“Or. Him,” I said between pants.
Doctor Tilly chuckled. “Or him. All right. Finn, you ready to do this?”
“I’m ready.”
“Another one is coming,” I said as I squeezed Finn’s hand.
“That’s it, Éan. I’m heeeerrrreee—holy shit, she’s trying to break my hand!”
Harmony stood behind the doctor. “I’m going to stand here. Don’t worry, Rory: I’m a nurse—I’ve seen everything. I’m here for when Finn passes out again.”
I nodded and looked at Finn. He was glaring at Harmony.
“I’m sorry about your hand,” I told him.
With a wink, Finn kissed my lips. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m…ohh…ow!”
Another contraction had hit.