Although there were seven women in labor, the day dragged. Her two mothers were doing fine. Linda Abrams, an older mother having her first child, and therefore considered a high risk, had delivered a healthy baby girl. Once the crew whisked away the baby to be checked over, cleaned up, and returned to her joyful parents, Casey Jefferson, another first-time mother, remained the only laboring patient in her charge. A petite young woman, her blonde hair smoothed back into a pony tail, and deep blue eyes that shifted back and forth, missing nothing.
“You’re doing great, hon.” The computer screen monitoring contractions showed everything to be normal.
The young woman groaned and turned her head toward the machine. “I don’t suppose you can tell from that thing how much longer?”
“I can tell you things are moving along well. You and the baby are fine.”
An older woman with short, stylish blonde hair, dressed in gray slacks and a purple print silk blouse peeked around the door after knocking softly.
“Mom,” Casey panted the word out.
“Darling, why didn’t you call me?” The woman smiled in Kerry’s direction as she rushed to the bed. “Hello. I’m Pearl Warren, Casey’s mother.” She smoothed the hair back from her daughter’s forehead. “How is she doing?”
“Just fine. Your daughter and grandbaby are in the best of health.”
Pearl pulled up a chair and sat, holding her daughter’s hand. “I near died when I got the call from David that he’d dropped you at the hospital.” Once again she turned to Kerry, keeping her informed. “David is Casey’s neighbor.”
She nodded, already drawn to this chatty woman.
“I did call you, but I got your voice mail. It seemed faster to just ask David.” The last part of her sentence faded away as she fisted the sheets under her and panted. “It hurts.” The young woman gripped her mother’s hand and squeezed. After the contraction had passed, she glanced in Pearl’s direction. “Can I have some water?”
“Sorry. No water, but your mom can give you a few ice chips.” Kerry took a small cup, scooped out a bit of ice from the pitcher on the table by the bed, and held it out.
“Did you email Stephen?”
Pearl nodded at her daughter’s question, then looked over at Kerry. “My son-in-law is in Afghanistan. He applied for leave, but was denied.” She stroked her daughter’s cheek. “I shot off a note to him as soon
as I got David’s message.”
“I wish he were here.” A small tear tracked down her pale cheek.
“I know, honey,” her mother soothed as she fussed with the sheet. She glanced at Kerry and gave her a slight smile.
After another fifteen minutes and much discomfort and moaning, a quick check verified Casey fully dilated and ready to head into hard labor.
Kerry kept a close watch on the monitor as Casey’s mother rubbed her daughter’s back. “Hold back, Casey, don’t push yet.”
“But it hurts!”
“Hang in there and breathe. It will pass in a minute.”
Casey panted, her mother coaching her as the contraction reached its peak and then eased. Pearl wiped her daughter’s face with a cool cloth.
When Kerry checked the baby’s heartbeat, she turned at the sound of voices in the hallway that stopped abruptly at the door. The partially closed door moved open, and a tall, very handsome African American man dressed in army fatigues stood there. His gaze immediately went to the bed, his brows drawn in. An older couple stood behind him, the woman patting her wet cheeks with a tissue.
“Casey?” The soldier walked toward the soon-to-be mother, as she rolled onto her back.
A smile lit up the young woman’s face. “Stephen!”
His smile dimmed as his wife burst into tears. He leaned down and wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his shoulder.
“Shh, honey. I’m here.”
“I thought you couldn’t get away. You said you couldn’t come.” She placed her fist on his chest and shoved him away, then yanked him back again and cried some more.
“It was to be a surprise, but you almost did the whole thing without me.” He ran his fingers down her cheek, wiping away her tears. “Mom and Dad picked me up at the airport with the news that you were already in labor.”
The couple entered and the older women hugged each other.