“I do, but at the same time, I’d rather it happenafterthe baby’s born because then it won’t put that seed of doubt in his head, you know?” she asks. “I know with us being married, it’s a moot point, but I don’t want him knowinganythingabout me, period.”
“Agreed. Now, kiss me, wife, so I can go to work,” I instruct. She leans up and I kiss her so thoroughly, she shivers, causing me to add, “we don’t have time for that right now.”
“Too bad because it could trigger labor,” she muses, grinning at me.
“We can try that later if we need to,” I reply. “Lock up behind me, kitten.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” she replies while rolling her eyes.
Thankfully, my shift goes off without a hitch and I head home, the back of my truck laden down with gifts from the office staff who heard we were having a little girl. Hell, they even brought in a cake which is on the seat beside me so I can share it with Mindy. It was a nice surprise for sure, and I know my kitten will be thrilled to have more things for our girl. As I pull down our road, I see all the lights on in Jolie and Dex’s house, but what has my brows raising is seeing my wife waddling across the road.
Stopping the truck and putting it in park, I hop out and run over to her. “What are you doing? What’s going on?”
“Jolie’s in labor,” she squeals. “I was going to ride to the hospital with them, Cruz! We promised we would be there for the other one.”
“Okay, okay, but I’ll take you, since I’m sure Dex has his hands full,” I reply, watching as Dex comes out their front door with his wife in his arms, trailed by Nonna, Abuela, and the three kids. “Come on, kitten, let me help you into the truck and we’ll follow behind.”
“What’s this?” she asks as I move the box of cake to the back seat before I lift her up and into the passenger seat.
“The ladies who work in the office found out we were having a baby girl so they had a little shower for me at work today,” I admit as I make my way to the driver’s side and climb inside. “That box has cake in it, and the gift bags have all sorts of things for Violet.”
“That was so sweet of them!” she exclaims before she bursts into tears.
“Are those happy tears?” I question.
“Yes, of course they are, but that’s honestly one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard of, Cruz, don’t you think?” she replies while she continues to sob. “Gah, I’ll be glad when these hormones stop, I feel like I cry at the drop of a hat anymore!”
I don’t agree or disagree with her, because sometimes, that sets her off as well. Then, she feels bad and apologizes profusely. Right now, it’s about all of us getting to the hospital safely so that Jolie can deliver hers and Dex’s little girl. Part of me wishes it was us, but at the same time, if it’s another few days or even a week, that’ll be okay too.
Reaching over, I lace her fingers with mine and give them a gentle squeeze. “If memory serves, and keep in mind that I’mnotan obstetrician, but I think the hormones are still a little crazy after delivery, kitten. But it’s okay if you cry or laugh or even rage because you’re growing another human being in your body and that probably deserves those feelings.”
She giggles and soon ends up doubled over around the seatbelt as best as she can over her belly while she continues to wipe her tears away. “Just don’t let me turn into one of those psychomoms who wants to hurt their baby, Cruz. That would kill me if I did that!”
“I’ll make sure to keep an eye on you, sweetheart. I honestly hate that there are women who have developed postpartum psychosis. I suspect that once they return to themselves, they’re full of guilt,” I reply. I know men can have hormonal issues; hell, there are a shit ton of commercials on every night talking about ‘low T’ or testosterone, but it’s nothing like what a woman deals with, that’s for sure.
We’re in the waiting room on the labor and delivery floor and I’ve been watching my wife with an eagle eye. Every seven minutes, I see her stomach clench as she winces, but she hasn’t said a single word. I’m about to say something to her when she says, “Oh, no!” and I watch the front of her pants change color as if she wet herself.
Leaning over, I ask, “Kitten, did your water just break?”
“I think so,” she replies, her eyes wide. “Because it wasn’t like when I have to pee if that makes sense. It was just ‘whoosh’ there it is!”
Grinning, I kiss her and say, “Let me go get a nurse, looks like we might be having a baby tonight too.”
“I’ll text everyone,” she replies, pulling out her phone as I stand and practically run to the nurse’s station, just as Dex comes out of the birthing room.
Seeing me, he says, “She’s asking for Mindy.”
“Not sure what to say, man, because her water just broke,” I reply as I reach the counter. The nurse, hearing me, asks for Mindy’s information and before I know it, the two of us are being taken into our own birthing room.
“Well, this sucks,” Mindy grouses as I help her change into a hospital gown from her wet clothes. “We had a plan. I was going to be with Jolie, then she was going to be with me.”
I chuckle and reply, “Babies have their own agenda, kitten. Now, let me help you into the bed so the nurse can get your IV started.”
Her eyes get huge again and she whispers, “Do you think there’s still time for an epidural?”
“I don’t know, Mindy, it’s going to depend on where you’re at dilation wise,” I reply. “The doctor should be in shortly and she’ll check, okay?”
Mindy nods and I watch closely as the nurse gets her IV inserted and fluids started. I may be out of the game, but one of the things I was good at was sticking patients with ease. I send a text to Dex to let him know we’ve now been admitted as well, then hear my phone chime with an incoming message from my parents.
