“Don’t be silly.”
In his panic, he kicked the foot of the bed and howled with pain at his busted toe.
Jai came in and put his hand on Hugh’s shoulder. “Come on, man. I think you need to calm down. You’re not doing her any good like this.”
As he guided Hugh out of the room, I screeched with unbearable pain.
“No! Don’t go. Hugh! I need you.”
“What’s all the commotion?”Darling said as she poked her head in the door.
“Yeah,” Susie said. “I thought the party was over and...” She caught sight of me. “Oh. Oh, my.”
“Oh!”I let out, holding my belly as I felt it fall. “I think it’s coming.”
“Now?”Ayra said. “That can’t be.”
“It be!”I screamed as I steadied myself against the dresser. “It be!”
“I’m here,” Abbie said, instantly at my side and holding my hand.
“I’m here, too,” Ayra said, grabbing my other hand.
“Is there anything we can do?”Darling said.
“Oh, my! Oh, my!”was all I could say as I began to breathe in short puffs.
“Okay!”Hugh said, finally finding his wits. “We appreciate you all, but anyone who is not to be involved in this birth, please leave.”
He ushered Jai, Gabriel and Matthew out as well as Darling and Susie.
“It’s coming!”
*****
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, I lay on my back holding the purest bundle of joy I could have ever imagined.
“The doctor is on the way to make sure everything is all right,” Abbie said.
“Thank you,” I said. “Thank you both.”
Hugh nodded his agreement as he brushed a tender finger on our baby’s forehead.
“She’s beautiful,” Abbie said.
“Shall we tell the others?”Ayra said. “I think the entire cast and crew are out in the hall waiting for news.”
I nodded as sweat poured down my forehead and mingled with my tears of joy.
She opened the door and dramatically called out, “Hear ye! Hear ye! Let it be known that Keely Lee has given birth to a beautiful and healthy little girl just minutes before the strike of midnight.”
Muffled cheers blended with tired congratulations as the crowd breathed a communal sigh of relief.
Darling and Susie poked their heads in.
“Does that mean that we’ll be celebrating Christmas, our wedding anniversary and your first child’s birthday all at the same time.”
“Looks that way.”I waved them in
