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“Raul, are we fucking there?” I snap at him before turning more gently to her. “It’s fine, sweetheart. It’s fine.”
Raul takes a sharp turn into the parking lot as Mercedes lets out an ear-piercing cry and doubles over.
“They’re going to fucking kill me.”
“We’re here, honey. We’re here. We’ll get that epidural first thing.”
“No! I said no epidural!” She turns feral eyes to me. “Do you ever fucking listen?”
“That’s right. I’m sorry. I forgot. I was just trying to help. I—”
She clutches my shirt again as two nurses appear at my door that Raul opens. They have a wheelchair ready but get one look at Mercedes, who honestly looks a little wild, and turn to me for instruction.
“Honey,” I start. “Let’s get you in that chair so the nurses can—”
“If you call me honey or sweetheart one more fucking time, I’m going to kill you. Get the fuck out of my way!”
I nod, hearing Raul’s chuckle, which he’s quick to hide when I look his way, and help my wife out of the car and into the wheelchair.
“No epidural,” I tell the nurses as we rush in. “It’s in her birth plan. I have it…” I look around, realizing I must have still forgotten the case. I set it down to get her into the car. It’s probably still just outside the house.
“Yes, epidural. I changed my mind!” Mercedes yells.
“It’s the pain talking,” I tell the nurses. “She was adamant—”
Mercedes swivels her head toward me Exorcist-like, and I shut my mouth. “You fucking asshole,” she says, voice low and a little terrifying. “I am birthing not one but two of your little monsters. You think you can dictate if I get a fucking epidural?”
“No, sweetheart. You can get what you want. Anything you want.” Because right now, I’m honestly a little afraid of her.
She nods as the nurses wheel her into her private room. It’s the one we arranged for, another perk of The Society. I stand back as her doctor rushes through the door and watch, stunned, from my place in the corner as they get her set up and the doctor checks how far she is.
Another contraction hits, and I want to warn the doctor, but she seems unfazed.
“Judge!” Mercedes calls out, extending her hand.
I hurry to her side and hold on to her, kissing her forehead, wiping away the sweat.
“You’re halfway there, Mercedes,” the doctor happily announces, standing and wiping off her hands. She then gets a look at my wife’s face.
“Halfway? Are you kidding?”
The woman looks at me, but just then, Solana comes flying through the door, and Mercedes seems relieved. Solana goes to her other side and hugs her, placing her bag down. She takes candles from it, setting them on the table beside the bed while talking quietly to Mercedes, who seems to be listening and calming.
“Where’s the music?” Solana asks me after a quick search of the room.
“I forgot the suitcase,” I confess.
“You forgot the suitcase?” Mercedes explodes. “You had one thing to do. One thing while I push your babies out of my body, and you forgot?”
Solana grins happily. “It’s okay, sweetie. I have us covered.” She reaches once again into her giant bag and produces a small speaker. A moment later, soothing New Age music is playing. She holds my gaze over Mercedes’s head but addresses Mercedes. “Why is it the men are so big and strong while depositing their seed but go green when the time comes to reap what they sow?”
Mercedes looks up at me and laughs, then cries with the pain of a new contraction.
“Judge, go get her some ice chips. Go on. Out.”
I nod, grateful to Solana, and find Georgie outside. He takes one look at me, and I wonder if I look like he does. Pale and completely out of our element.
“Ice chips?” I ask him. Why do I ask him?
