“All right, everybody out.” Anna was older, probably could’ve been any of our grandmothers, and she didn’t take shit from nobody, which was good, because that was what I needed. I didn’t want them to leave but figured she had a reason. She’d never told them to leave before.
Anna sat on the edge of the bed, took my hand, and asked me to tell her everything I felt physically since I got up, and not to leave anything out, not even when I had to pee. It was embarrassing going through all of it.
She’d made the right call about not having my mates there because, well, some of it was kind of gross. That was the thing they didn’t warn you about pregnancy. Sure, you glowed and were radiant and all of that, but there was an icky side to it, too. Pregnancy could be kinda gross. I wouldn’t change a moment of it, but facts were facts.
She examined me and decided I was in labor.
“I don’t feel like I’m in labor.”
“Well, technically, you’re not going to be until you drink this. It was more of a prep-you-for-reality declaration of labor.” Shehanded me a little cup with a tincture in it. “But you need to be in labor, so just down that.”
There was something in her voice that told me not to argue or pause to ask a question. So I didn’t. I drank it despite the awful scent and flavor.
Whatever she put in that tincture, it had me going from no contractions to all the contractions in record time. I kept asking her if it was safe for me to be laboring so quickly, and every time, I’d get cut off by the next contraction.
She did let my mates back in. Cannon rubbed my head while the other two each held one of my hands as the contractions came harder and faster and harder and faster, until I heard the wonderful sound of our sweet baby girl.
“Cord cut, get your mate outside and make her shift…a lot.”
I wanted to argue, but I didn’t have the strength.
I wanted to pull away as Cannon picked me up to carry me out, but I couldn’t so much as move.
I wanted to look and see our baby girl, but my eyes wouldn’t cooperate.
I didn’t even remember getting the rest of the way outside, or what I later discovered was my mates freaking out because I was barely conscious and blood was everywhere.
It wasn’t until Cannon forced my shift again and again and again and again that things came into focus. After the fourth shift, I told him no more, that I needed to see our child, and ran inside. She was bundled in a blanket, being held by the midwife.
“You look better now.”
Anna had managed to change the bed as well as getting the baby all weighed, measured, and ready for snuggles. I didn’t know how. It felt like I was only out there for a second, but that hadn’t been true.
It was only later I discovered it had been over an hour. That tear I felt was part of my body separating. In those moments, thebaby had been at risk, and I definitely was. If we hadn’t called the midwife, neither one of us would be here.
As I held our sweet daughter for the first time, I looked down at her perfect face. I was so grateful everyone was there and that I’d gone out to that workshop, because if I hadn’t, the day could have gone so horribly wrong.
“Welcome to the world, Alice. We’re so glad you’re here.” I kissed the top of her head and looked up to see all three of my mates, teary-eyed as they watched her sweet face. “We’re so glad you’re here.”
Epilogue
Millie
I stepped out of my shower feeling very fresh, ready to tackle the day. I’d had the best night’s sleep since Alice was born, her first time sleeping through the night. It was fabulous.
Felix called to let me know that breakfast was almost ready, and I hurried to get dressed. I was starving. When I got to the kitchen, Alice was on Tyrone’s hip, Cannon was cooking eggs, and Felix had just finished setting the table.
“Well, aren’t we the picture of domestic bliss?” I loved it.
Alice turned to face me. “Mama, Mama.” She had just started saying my name, and I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of hearing it.
I went over and picked her up. “Yes, Mama’s here. Are you ready for yums?”
We were heading out to the farmer’s market, partly to see our friends, partly to pick up some supplies, and partly as a way to spend time together where we didn’t feel the need to do some sort of housework. There was always something to do around here, whether it was the typical cleaning or working on one of the many projects we had going at one time. I didn’t mind, but every once in a while, we needed an outing.
The cabin had been transformed since the first time I saw it. Everything had been painted. The living room looked like people actually lived there and not like the room someone forgot to grab the last few items from when moving. Felix and I had refinished the cabinets together. They were now a shade of light blue that I absolutely loved. The place was great. There was still more to do, but that would forever be the case.
We ate, Alice mostly picking at her eggs, and then drove to the flea market. The place was packed, and, as we walkedaround, I found more and more things we could use. We’d been coming regularly, and it had helped a lot with filling in the gaps with the things we didn’t want to do ourselves. The canned veggies, honey, soaps, handmade towels and washcloths for the kitchen, along with some lotion filled Alice’s stroller as I carried her.
