I nod. “Are you in pain? Want me to rub your back?”
“I’m good, babe.” She squeezes my hand. “One thing you can do, can you see if this tv gets cable? I wanna watch something.”
“Yeah. I got you. I guess I’ll…be right back. Wait, when’s the last time you had a contraction?”
“Maybe ten minutes ago?”
“How was it?”
She shrugs. “It felt like really bad cramps.”
I take that in for a minute. “Well, you’re doing good, baby girl. I’ma go check on the cable for you.”
“’Preciate you.”
Okay, then.
As soon as I step out the door, my mother is in my face.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“What do you mean?”
Mama’s brows knit together as she lowers her voice.
“She seems very…detached from reality. Like this isn’t actually happening to her.”
“She’s been having contractions, Mama. I’m sure she knows it’s happening.”
“I can’t explain it,” she says. “She’s…it’s weird, Ace. I don’t think she’s bonded with the baby.”
“The baby ain’t even out yet.”
“You know what I mean.”
Unfortunately, I do, but I won’t be explaining it to her. Instead, I hug her again and lead her over to the chairs in the waiting room. “I need to check on something. Sit tight. Alright?”
“Okay.”
I’m standing at the nurse’s station when Kamryn rounds the corner. Once again, she looks like she’d rather be somewhere else.
I forget my mission for a minute and follow Kam, grabbing her arm before she gets to the waiting area.
“Stay outta the room," I say roughly.
“What room?”
“The room where my wife is in labor.”
She rolls her eyes. “I mean, honestly, I don’t wanna be here at all.”
“Then why are you?”
“Because I’m not about to miss my first niece and or nephew being born.”
“And or? The fuck?”
“Shut up. You know what I mean.”
