I get in the car and as I’m starting it up, I look over at my girl. “We’re doing this, babe. You’re going to make the best mommy to this little girl.”
She beams back at me and I expect her to say something equally as supportive and encouraging, but what comes out of her mouth certainly isn’t that. “There’s no time for your sappy bullshit. Hit the gas. Let’s go!”
Well, damn. She’s fucking feisty today and I love it.
I do what the boss says and get us to the hospital. Heidi isn’t exactly a local so it’s a long two-hour drive, and I’ve never seen my wife so damn impatient. “I’m going as fast as I can,” I tell her, already breaking multiple traffic laws.
“I don’t care. Go faster.”
I reach over and take her hand, trying to help calm her. She’s a mix of nerves, excitement, anxiety, and terror, and it’s all too much for her to deal with. “You’ve got this, Bry. Just breathe.”
She gives my hand a squeeze and glances over to me. “I love you,” she murmurs, taking slow, deep breaths.
I smile back at her, knowing our world is about to get so much bigger. “I love you too.”
We pull up in the hospital parking lot and hurry in. Neither of us has been here before so we rush around the foyer looking like a couple of fucking idiots until we can find someone to point us in the right direction.
As we reach the maternity ward, Brylee grabs my hand and stops. “Holy shit. We’re having a baby.”
I grin down at her, pulling her into my arms and pressing a kiss to her forehead, loving the way that it seems to only be hitting her now. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Are you ready?”
She looks up at me with wide eyes and lets out a shaky breath. “Yeah,” she says. “I am. So freaking ready.”
“You know I love you, right?”
Brylee grins wide. “Shut up, I love you too.”
“You better,” I tease, pulling her along. “Let’s do this, Freckles. Let’s meet our baby.”
We find Heidi’s room and walk in to see her looking incredibly uncomfortable with her legs up and a doctor’s head wedged between them, examining her. I instantly spin around to give the poor woman some privacy while Brylee beams and walks straight to her side, not put off by the vagina on show in the middle of the room.
“Brylee,” Heidi beams. “You made it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she tells her before looking over at me and demanding my full attention. “Would you get over here?”
“I just…I don’t want to see anything that Heidi isn’t comfortable with me seeing.”
“Seriously?” Heidi laughs. “Thanks, but I’m about to push your baby out of my vagina. Being comfortable went out the window a long time ago.”
I nod and make my way over to Brylee’s side as she holds onto Heidi’s hand. “How’s it going? Are you doing alright?”
The doctor sticks his head up and looks to us. “You made it just in time. Heidi is just about ready to push. We’ll start setting everything up and by the time we’re done, you’ll be ready to meet your new baby.”
Brylee gawks up at me. “Fuck, we nearly missed it.”
“I know.”
“Don’t worry,” Heidi laughs. “I would have held her in for you.”
A contraction comes on and Heidi practically breaks my wife’s hand before screaming out in agony. I look on in horror. What the fuck is this? One second ago, everything was fine and now it’s like a scene out of a horror film.
As Heidi busily screams in agony, the midwives rush in and start preparing everything just as the doctor had said and before I know it, there’s a room full of people and I’m standing at Heidi’s side, holding her leg up near her head.
Jesus. If I live through this moment, I going to need to go home and thank my mother. This shit is horrendous.
The doctor tells Heidi to push and Brylee takes her hand again, helping her through it while reminding her to breathe. This goes on for what seems like forever until I look down and see a head hanging out of this poor woman.
Holy fuck. Is that my baby? But more importantly, is Heidi okay? Surely that shit couldn’t be comfortable.
The doctor holds the baby’s head and cleans it off quickly before checking the umbilical cord isn’t wrapped around her neck. All thoughts of trying to protect Heidi’s dignity are gone as I gape down at my child, hanging out of her. It’s fucking disgusting but also the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I’m absolutely speechless, already in love with this beautiful little girl.
I glance up at Brylee and see that she’s been watching the show just as closely as I have. Tears stain her cheeks as happiness and unconditional love overwhelm her. “Alright, Heidi,” the doctor says. “One more push and she’ll be out.”