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"I'm not sure you want to do that," Becca says seriously. She puts her hands on her hips and squares off with Ransom. "You go in there, you're going to see a side of Holly you've never seen before. While you idiots were busy sneaking around the hospital, Evie came out and gave us an update."
Ransom lets go of the door, eyes looking panicky again. "What? What was the update?"
The rest of us echo him, shoving in closer, all desperate for an update. This is our first baby. Excuse us if we're a little excited.
"Well," she says slowly, drawing it out on purpose. "Apparently, things are progressing way faster than they expected. She's in something called transition. It's where the labor goes from manageable to overwhelming, I guess. And Holly opted for no pain meds. She's decided on a natural childbirth."
"Why would she do that?" Kade asks, looking horrified by the idea.
"Something about wanting to experience everything and stay in control," she winces. "I don't think much about this process can be controlled, but I get where she's coming from. She'll be okay."
Something flashes across Becca's face that makes me look closer. Beneath her usual bravado is fear, something I've never seen from her before. She's been doing a good job hiding it up until now, but things are moving fast and she's obviously worried. Holly is her best friend, and she feels protective of her on a regular day. Today? It's probably near unbearable.
Ransom's face changes too. He sees her fear, and he takes a step closer. "She'll be okay," he says looking fierce, like his words alone can make it so. Becca's looks at him, her lower lip clamped between her teeth, unconvinced.
Ransom, being Ransom, is completely unable to resist a woman looking worried, even if it is Becca. Instinctively, he moves in, pulling her carefully into his arms. I get the careful part. Becca's scary when startled.
But she doesn't push him away. She actually lets him hug her. It's a moment I never thought I'd see. Their relationship is mostly sarcasm and teasing because Becca's tougher than nails, and doesn't need or want Ransom's nurturing. But today is apparently the exception.
She allows herself to lean on him for a moment, eyes closed. But it's a brief moment. Then her eyes clear and she grins. "Sing me a song, Ranny. Something about kitties. It will make me feel better." She's shaking with laughter even before Ransom shoves her away.
He scowls at her and puts a finger in her face. "You call me Ranny one more time..." he trails off, like he can't think of a threat big enough to scare her. He probably can't. Becca's not spooked by much. Then an evil grin crosses his face and he leans in close, whispering something in her ear.
"Uh oh," Kade says under his breath.
Becca's face flattens. "You wouldn't dare."
Ransom straightens, looking quite pleased with himself. "Oh, I would. I guarantee it."
She scowls at him, searching for cracks in his satisfied expression, but finds none. "Fine. I won't call you...that, anymore."
Ransom nods, satisfied, and turns back to the door. "I need to see them," he says quietly. Becca backs up and leans on the wall, but Kade, Colton and Jonas, back from the trash can, Maverick and I all push closer. Despite Becca's warning, we all want to see Holly. John doesn't seem to feel the same way, moving to stand next to Becca in the hallway.
Ransom knocks this time, but doesn't wait for an invitation, slowly pushing open the door. We shove in behind him. The room is dim, the city lights and a small corner lamp the only light in the room. We all squint toward the bed and find it empty. We step in closer and finally spot Holly. She's sitting on one of those exercise balls. Micah is on his knees in front of her, and her arms are around his shoulders. Evie's behind Holly, pressing on her back.
Holly lifts her head, spotting us. She smiles. "Hey guys."
We take that as an invitation and crowd in. Holly's face and hair are sweaty. She's in a long black gown that's hiked up to her thighs. I make sure I keep my eyes on her from the shoulders up. I'm not prepared to see that side of Holly. I'd never be able to look her in the eye again.
"Hey Holly," Ransom whispers, crouching down next to her. He doesn't seem bothered by the bare thighs. "How you doing? Hanging in there?"
She smiles tiredly and rests her cheek on Micah's chest. Micah's eyes look a little wild, but when she looks up at him, he forces a smile. She seems satisfied and settles back down.
"I'm okay. It's harder than I thought it would be. The lady in the class made it seem like the breathing would take away the pain, but it doesn't really. But Evie's helping. My back is so sore. I'm really glad she's here."
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be, Hol," Evie says, rubbing her back gently.
Holly looks teary, but her face quickly shifts. Her fingers tighten on Micah's shoulders, and she presses her forehead into his shoulder. A low moan escapes, a sound that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. It's a warning that we're approaching dangerous territory.
Kade apparently doesn't get the warning. He squats next to Holly and Micah, and opens his big fat mouth. "Remember your breathing, Holly. See?" He does the funny hissing breaths, and I take a step back when Holly's head moves horror movie slow, to face him.
"You want me to breathe? Mister I went to one class and now I'm an expert?" Another low moan escapes and her face twists, but she zeroes back on her target right after. "I'll tell you what mister expert, you go ahead and push an eight pound pot roast out the tip of your dick, then you come back here and coach me. Until then, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM!"
We run out of there so fast, we leave skid marks on the floor. We fall into a pile in the middle of the hallway, Kade and Ransom landing on top of us. We just lay there for a second, stunned.
"We should not have gone in there," Kade mutters, slowly rolling off the pile. "I think maybe we better go to the waiting room."
"Yah think?" Becca and John say, staring down at us and shaking their heads. They look all superior, but I'm not mad about it. Going into that room was the wrong call. No doubt about it.
