“Yes, honey. Do what feels good to you.”
“Okay.” Jenna sucks in a deep breath. “Okay.”
“You’re doing so well, Jenna,” Cynthia says, and I’d practically forgotten she was still in the room. “I’m going to go downstairs with Maeve and James. We’ll wait for the ambulance and let them in.”
Jenna nods and offers Cynthia what I think is the bravest smile I’ve ever seen.
“We love you, Jenna,” Cynthia says, touching Jenna’s leg, and then she’s gone.
“Okay, has that last surge passed?” Mom asks from the phone.
“Yeah,” Jenna says.
“Good. Enjoy this rest by taking nice deep breaths and filling your mind with happy thoughts. Tell me, where’s your favorite place in the world?”
Jenna’s answer is immediate. “Crete, Greece.”
Marty smiles and leans over to kiss her cheek.
“And what do you like about Crete?” Mom asks.
“The sunsets,” she says and then exhales long and slow.
“Will you take baby to see those sunsets?”
“Yes, definitely,” Jenna says and this time a smile comes easily.
“Abso-fucken-lutely,” Marty adds and continues to leave gentle kisses on Jenna’s face.
“I can tell this child is going to be so very loved,” Mom says.
“I agree,” I say. “And not just by you both. Maeve is so excited to meet her.”
Marty keeps his head pressed against Jenna’s but looks up at me. “I can’t believe this is the first time we’re meeting you.” He chuckles.
“I’m literally naked and on the toilet,” Jenna adds, wincing.
“Would you believe me if I said I’ve seen much, much worse?”
Jenna and Marty laugh lightly together. “Oh, we believe you,” she says. “Thank you for helping with my article, by the way.”
“A pleasure,” I say and I mean it. The emails we shared gave me a lot of food for thought.
“Oh, fuck. I’m having another contraction,” Jenna says.
“Okay, Jenna. Let it happen. Let it wash over you. Don’t resist it. Welcome how it’s bringing you closer to your baby,” Mom quickly says but still somehow sounds very, very calm.
“And I can push?”
“If it feels good, yes,” Mom says.
A roar of a groan rips out of Jenna and I wish I could call out to Maeve that everything’s okay because I can almost feel her worry from downstairs but I don’t. I stay silent and watch as Jenna’s face tightens and reddens, and Marty moves his body so he can bracket her closer.
“Oh fuck,” Jenna says as she stops moaning.
“That was fantastic,” Mom says. “You’re doing so good, Jenna.”
“You really are.” Marty moves hair off her forehead and places a lingering kiss there.
