“Ahh,” I groaned, rubbing my stomach.
“Did you call and let them know that you’re on the way?”
“Shit.” The thought had slipped my mind. Unlocking my phone, I dialed my OBGYN’s office and got the after-hours line. After telling the machine my information, I was transferred. “Hey, my water just broke. I’m on my way to Baptist East. Can you let my doctor know?”
“Who’s your doctor?”
“Dr. Barnett.”
“I’ll let the doctor that’s on call that you’re on your way in.”
“Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that my doctor isn’t gon’ deliver my baby?” My eyes shot in Aria’s direction.
“She’s not on call tonight. There’s a Dr. Jacobs. When you get to the hospital, go straight to labor and delivery. They’ll be expecting you.”
My lungs tightened. Not only will my man not be there, but my doctor won’t be either. I’m gonna die.
I ended the call and called Uncle Trayvon. At least I’ll be able to have him in the room with me other than Aria. “Yeah?” he answered the phone.
“It’s time,” was the only thing I managed to get out before another contraction hit me.
“Are you serious?”
“I’m on my way to the hospital right now.”
“Okay. On the way.” I ended the call and looked up, we were pulling into the parking lot of the hospital. I’m not sure how fast Aria was driving to get me here, but we made it here safely.
Sliding the truck in park, she jumped out and ran around to my side. She opened the door for me and then grabbed Zion from the back seat. We entered the building through the emergency entrance and the security immediately met me with a wheelchair. He opened the door, and a nurse ran over to me. “I’ll take her from here,” she said and wheeled me toward the elevator.
We got up to labor and delivery and I was taken straight into a room. Another nurse came in with a clipboard while the other one helped me from the chair. “We need you to change out of your clothes.”
Aria covered Zion’s eyes while I stripped out of my clothes and got into the hospital gown. I then climbed over into the bed and laid down.
“How far together are the contractions?” the nurse with the clipboard asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t counted them.”
“Do you know if you’re dilated?” I shook my head, and she went over to where the gloves were and pulled a pair out the box. “I’m going to have to check you.” Popping on the gloves, she stepped to the right side of my bed and said, “Placing your feet together like this.” She grabbed my ankles and pressed the soles of my feet together. “It might be a bit uncomfortable but try to be still for me.”
Lifting my gown, she slipped her fingers inside me. “You’re definitely dilated. Six centimeters. I need to see if the doctor has gotten here yet.”
“They aren’t here!” Aria eyes bucked as she stared at the doctor. “She’s about to have this baby. Y’all gon’ be delivering it.”
“I’ll be right back,” the nurse said and rushed out of the room.
“I’m calling Maniac.”
Maniac
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I leaned back and removed it to see that it was Wren calling me. She better not be calling me to tell me that she had the baby already or else whoever made me miss the birth of my daughter gon’ have to pay extra for that bullshit. Swiping the screen, I said, “I’m on the way.”
“Huh? I can’t hear you.” The blades from the helicopter were too strong for her to hear what I was saying.
“I’m on the way!” I screamed a bit louder.
“Please hurry up. I don’t want to have her without you here.”
“You won’t. I promise!” I yelled and ended the call. “Hurry the fuck up!” I told the pilot.
