“Sir, I need to check my patient. Please step outside the room.” Between the pushy doctor and Remi’s tear-splashed face, I wasn’t going anywhere. This doctor had better treat her right with the upmost care, or I was going to find myself stripped of my badge, beating his ass in the hospital. I didn’t know where this protectiveness came from. It was out of my wheelhouse, but someone had to step up and take care of her.
“No, I’m going to stay with my girl.” I didn’t know where the fuck those words came from, but I held on to Remi tighter and urged her to lie back so the doctor could look at whatever was happening down below. I kept my eyes looking up at the popcorn tiles of the ceiling, focused on soothing Remi with my hand on her back. I was pretty sure after tonight, I was off the pussy indefinitely.
7
Remi
“Hmm. Only four centimeters dilated but your water’s broken.” The doctor wheeled himself back, peeling off his purple gloves with a snap that made me queasy. His voice sounded disappointed as if I had something to do with the non-magic happening below. So far nothing with this pregnancy was going according to plan. Whatever happened to those books I read and the women who supposedly mapped this out step by step?
“Only four?” Didn’t the book say I would be around six by now? I whimpered, wanting nothing more than to throw that book out the window. Bullshit liars. Who writes a book about natural childbirth, all smiles and shit with makeup and matching pajama sets? Suburban bitches with blogs, drinking merlot while dumping breastmilk, and buying organic co-op boxes of seasonal vegetables for pureed baby food, that’s who. My anger was completely irrational if not justified.
“Four is good, right? It’s better than nothing?” Evan was still there, bless his heart the sweet man that he was, and I just didn’t have the energy to rail at him too. No. Four is not good. Four wouldn’t squeeze out a peach or the impending watermelon child I was having. I couldn’t even blame him for not knowing despite his first-responder training. I had a feeling bachelors weren’t informed about giving birth unless it directly related to or impacted them. A farmer might know, but Evan Rooney was clearly out of his depth. Actually, I might have worried if he was more informed.
At this rate, my baby wouldn’t be born for hours yet. I shuddered to think about the painfully long night ahead of me, alone in the hospital. Thinking you’re ready to have a baby and then having to actually do it were two completely different ballparks. It was like Yankees versus the Mets, and I wasn’t going to win no matter what.
“Sure, I guess,” I mumbled.
“Since your water has broken, the concern for complications will rise each hour your labor doesn’t progress.” He jotted down notes on his clipboard, and I willed my half-dragon baby to leap out of my belly. My anxiety ramped up, and the next contraction was more painful than the last, sapping my energy.
“Complications?” Evan took a step toward the doctor. I didn’t need him freaking out; that was my job. I worried he might hit the doctor the way his hands clenched, so I pinched his arm to get his attention. He came back to me, grasping my hand and leaning over me in a gesture that felt protective. His neck turned toward me and my free hand reached for his hair, running my fingers through the short spikey pieces. He looked down, giving me a small smile and for whatever reason, my chest released the pressure it had been holding onto the last few months. I breathed deeper, more relieved than maybe I had a right to be.
The doctor waved off Evan’s concern and kept speaking. “We’re going to keep you here until the baby is born. It’s just going to take some time, that’s all. My shift just started so let’s see how the night progresses.”
Wonderful. I slammed my head back down on the stiff pillows, exhaling a breath and a string of prayers.
“Do you want to try walking around?” One of the nurses helped me to sit up, and I let my legs fall over the bedside.
“I don’t think I can.” I hated feeling helpless. I had been on my own for years, but this was awful. My whole world felt turned upside down, and the person who should have been there wasn’t, by his own selfish choice.
“Let me help you, Remi.” Evan gave me his arms, bracing me, and the nurse helped me slip from the bed on unsteady legs. It felt marginally better, but that wasn’t much, and my balance was precarious at best.
“Keep her upright. If the contractions change, push the call the button.” Evan nodded and she left us alone. I stepped forward and Evan supported my movements. My hands griped his arms tightly, and he took my weight easily.
“Not how you pictured your night going, was it?” I said, waddling around the space.
Evan chuckled, keeping in step with me. “Oddly, no. I’m uh, not going to write you any tickets in case you were wondering.”
“Oh! I had forgotten. Baby brain and all.”
“Pretty sure little momma here has a legitimate excuse.” He winked and I could have melted right there, bad enough I was my own little puddle already. His words made me blush, and I wished we were anywhere else in time. I wanted my baby, but I wanted Evan too, and I knew I couldn’t have both. Life didn’t work out like that for girls like me.
“Is uh…your car all right?” I cringed, thinking about it. The blanket he’d given me for the backseat should be burned, but I didn’t say anything.
“Car is the least of my worries. A few more steps now.” He walked me back around the room, holding me upright with his huge hands supporting me.
“Right. Will mine still be there, after all this?” I focused on my feet, following his shuffling along between breaths.
“I’ll have one of the guys call for a tow to take it back to the bar lot.”
“Thanks,” I said, trying to add up all the favors I was cashing in. I hated feeling like I owed anyone.
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Evan held me up, guiding me slowly. His warm, heavy hand on my lower back kept rubbing in strong circles, taking some of the pain.
“I feel like a turtle with a top-heavy shell.” My belly protruded so far out I was rubbing against Evan without meaning too. I tried to step back, but he only stepped closer pressing against me gently.
“Prettiest turtle I’ve ever seen.” He stared at me and I ducked my head away shyly. Despite getting pregnant, my experience with guys was limited. Evan had a way of making me feel new at everything all over again.
“Thanks, not sure turtles have beauty contests or anything.”