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A few minutes later, we speed into the ER circle, and it’s not surprising to find a man with a wheelchair waiting for her. He helps her out, and then my door is opened and a cute young boy is offering me his hand. “Miss Rhodes, we’ve been expecting you. I’ll get the bags out, park your car, and bring your keys to Mr. Kendrick.”
“What the hell?” I jerk back.
“Ma’am, Mrs. Jill Kendrick is auxiliary and had this set up.”
“Oh shit, of course!” I throw my fob at him unnecessarily, grab my phone and purse, and shove a wad of cash in his hand. “Thank You!”
Darby is chatting casually with the man rolling her wheelchair when I catch up to them. The elevator ride is peaceful, and when we get to the maternity floor and the door opens, Darby is greeted by a bunch of smiling faces. She waves as she’s taken to a room. I stand to the side, watching her take the gown offered and move to the bathroom to change. She is back in less than a minute, crawling in the bed.
She’s laughing while they take her vitals, get her hooked up to something, and then she knifes up, screeching in pain.
That’s when I’m on her, taking her hand. “What can I do?”
“We need to examine her, ma’am. But this boy may be ready.” A nurse steps in.
“I can wait outside?” It’s an offer to give her privacy.
Darby shakes her head, gripping my fingers fiercely.
I don’t pay attention to what’s happening behind my back as they instruct and prep her. She listens and doesn’t even flinch when they check her.
“You can get an epidural anytime you’re ready,” the nurse says, and there’s the first flare of panic in Darby’s eyes.
My phone buzzes in my dress pocket, and I’m grateful when Miller’s name pops up. “Hey, we’re in her room.”
“Traffic is closed off. I’m stopped but Pierce took off. He’s running.”
“Running? He’s running?”
Darby giggles sweetly and releases my hand. “Of course he is.”
I don’t see the humor and turn. “Miller, they may be ready for epidural. She’s going quick.”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. Don’t leave her.”
“Never!”
“Be there.” He disconnects, and I glance back at Darby, who remains calm.
“Your husband is running because of traffic.”
“Got that.”
“You’re stuck with me.”
“I’m happy to be with you, but how are you with needles?”
I cringe overdramatically. “Better with assholes that need to be taken down a few notches because of their over-inflated egos.”
She lurches up, laughing so hard her nurse panics.
“Mrs. Kendrick! You can’t do that!”
I zip my fingers across my mouth and give the ‘stop’ signal to the nurse who’s getting her set up with machines. When she gives the IV, it gets real, and Darby motions to me from the other side of the bed.
“He’s coming,” I try to assure her.
As if on cue, the door flies open and sweaty, dirty, and very unnerved Pierce Kendrick appears. He’s at her side in less than a second.
“Baby?”
“I’m good. The anesthesiologist can come anytime, but so far, it’s bearable. Quick pinches of pain and some pressure with stinging.”
“No shame in getting ahead of it early. I don’t want you to have unnecessary pain. Remember what the doctor told us.” He bends, caressing her cheek affectionately.
The room is full of people, but I begin to feel uncomfortable. This is an intimate moment. I step back, ready to slink out gracefully when Darby shocks me.
“Get in that shower. I have Ashlyn for a few minutes,” she instructs Pierce. “You’re dirty, and he’s got a while before he’ll be here.”
He looks at me, torn and uneasy, but I get it. “I’ll take care of her.”
He kisses her and grabs a bag, disappearing into the private bathroom.
She reaches for my hand again, and I comply. “You know this could go on for hours, sitting here waiting.”
“It could also go quick. It’s better to be ready for anything.”
“Any chance we can barricade the door until we figure it out?”
The door swings open again, and the crowd files in. Annie, Edward, Evin, Jill, Warren, Stephanie, Renee… I lose count as my chest squeezes. Throughout it, Darby holds my hand. It isn’t until I feel Miller’s arms around my waist, his face at my neck, and his lips at my ear, that she loosens her grip.
“Princess, you did well.”
My heart takes over hammering as the impact hits me. Months ago, I would have called nine-one-one and had no idea what to do. But this is family. My instincts knew.
This is my life. And it all overwhelms me too much, but at the same time not at all.
“I think I need to—”
“Got you.” Miller bends down, kisses Darby’s cheek, and leads us through the throng of family, taking us into an empty room. “You did great.”
“For a split second, I was scared, but Darby wasn’t. Right after her water broke, I kinda lost it, but she gave me a verbal slap in the face and it all clicked. She was so unruffled, so peaceful—even knowing the immense gravity of what was happening. It was… I can’t even explain. She is amazing.”
