I was alone in our bed at the compound, and I had no idea what time it was, or where my husband might be. Once the pain subsided, I grabbed my cell phone and texted Doc...just as another contraction hit.
Shit. This hurts!
“Sweetness, you okay?” Doc panted out as he rushed into the room.
“No,” I squeaked. “Where were you?”
“Talkin’ to Doom,” he said, sliding the covers back and settling his hand on my belly. “Breathe, baby.”
“You breathe, asshole!” I snapped, and grabbed for his hand.
He smiled and waited for my body to relax. “I’m gonna do a quick check, then we’ll head to the hospital.”
I nodded. “Make it really quick. I want an epidural. I’m not willing to accept a Poppy scenario here.”
He grabbed a glove and checked me as I squealed out in pain. “I know, baby, sorry. You’re at about two centimeters.” He smiled, removing the glove. “Are you ready to have our kids?”
“Yes.Ifyou get me an epidural.”
“Stay put and I’ll grab our stuff.”
Another contraction hit, so I stayed put and Doc had my go-bag with a change of clothes, plus outfits to bring the babies home in, loaded in my car within minutes. It took longer for him to walk me down the stairs and outside, as my contractions were now about three minutes apart.
I was early, which was normal with twins, but Doc predicted I’d be even earlier from the last ultrasound he took. My stomach washuge, and the babies were running out of room, evidenced by the fact that they were squished so close, we couldn’t tell the sex of either of them.
“Did you call Jasmine?” I asked, as we drove.
“Alamo’s bringing her, baby. She’ll probably beat us there.”
“What about Clem?”
“Sent her a text.”
“Hayes?”
Doc chuckled. “I let your brother know before Clem, but after Jazz. And Willow’s letting everyone else know.”
“Okay,” I rasped, grabbing the handle and trying to breathe through another contraction.
Pulling up to the hospital, Doc grabbed a wheelchair before helping me out of the car and handed his keys off to Otter who’d followed us. Doc wheeled me inside, and the fact he had privileges at this hospital was a bonus for me, because I was settled in one of the best birthing suites without having to wait to fill out paperwork.
“Is Margo coming?” I asked Doc once I’d changed into a hospital gown.
“Yeah, sweetness. Any minute now.”
I grabbed his hand. “I want you here as my husband, okay?Notmy doctor. Can you do that?”
He smiled. “I’ll do my best.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m glad it’s Margo. She’ll verbally spank you if you get in her way.”
“This is true.”
Doc got me settled in the bed just as Jasmine walked in, followed by a nurse who looked far more runway model than medical professional. She was tall, with red hair and big blue eyes, and she was curvy. She looked like she’d stepped out of the pages of an Irish fashion magazine.
“Hi, Olivia,” she said. “I’m Shiloh and I’ll be your nurse through your delivery.”
“Hi,” I squeaked as a contraction took over.
