Stepping outside, I raise the gun and turn the corner, coming face to face with my husband.
“WOO! What are you doing out of bed?” He takes the gun away as I clutch my belly.
“I had to pee and called out to you. God, you scared me.” He hugs me tightly.
“I’m sorry. I had to change the filter in the air compressor. The house wasn’t cooling down even though I had it set to freezer for you. For once, it wasn’t your hormones. Come on, let’s get you back to, oh shit.” A splash hits the deck and soaks our feet.
“Oh my,” I whisper in shock as I watch the fluid roll away.
“I think your water just broke.” I nod, dumbfounded.
“Looks like that’s a good bet. Okay, you call Sunny. I’m going to clean up and get back in bed.” He nods and starts rattling off lists of things that he needs to do, but I barely pay attention, waiting for the first pains of labor to hit me.
An hour goes by, then two. I put on a movie and relax, falling asleep for several hours, waking up to a few contractions, but nothing regular. The baby wiggles and kicks, and before we know it, half a day has gone by, and my labor hasn’t progressed.
“Sunny, is this normal?” I question as she checks my cervix again.
“It could be. No labor is the same. Still only three centimeters. Let’s get you up on the ball. Let gravity do its thing.” I eye the large inflatable workout ball with trepidation.
I don’t have the best balance, and Bruno must sense my apprehension.
“I’ll be sitting right behind you.” I sigh and nod.
A few hours later, Sunny calls it.
“It’s offically time to go to the hospital, folks. It isn’t safe to wait too long after the membranes rupture.” I start to shake and start sobbing.
“No, I won’t go. They try to take the baby again. Bruno, I can’t!” Sunnt frowns as Brunno tries to calm me.
“We need to compromise here, people. If you need a C-section, we need to be closer to a hospital than here. You can tryone more option, but if you don’t dilate, then we have to go.” He nods as he rubs my lower back.
A contraction hits me, and I wince, grabbing his arm for support.
“I think the baby agrees too. That one was strong.” Sunny laughs as they both help me over back to the bed.
“I’m going to start an IV of oxytocin. You’ll need to stay on the fetal monitor in bed. It’ll limit your movement.” I frown but accept the terms if it means I get to stay in the safety of our home.
They’re outside waiting to take the baby. I can feel it in my soul.
I won’t let them take my baby.
Chapter Fourteen
Bruno
“This isn’t working.” Sunny pulls me aside as I watch Rosario curl around her belly as another contraction hits her.
“Are they in trouble?” Sunny sighs and shakes her head.
“Not yet. But I would rather it not get to that point. The labor is progressing slowly, but I’m worried. She seems to be fighting it. What is she so scared of? She said she someone would take the baby? Was she talkig baout those goons that wanted to buy me?” I nod as I cross my arms and bite my fist as I watchher suffer alone.
It goes against the grain.
I’d do anything in my power to take the pain away, but I’m fuckingn powerless here. I run my hands through my hair and consider my options.
“Listen, I’m going to check her one more time. If she’s not any closer, we have to move this venue, or the party might turn into a funeral. Are you catching my drift here?” I snap my eyes to her serious face.
“Got it.” She nods and pats my shoulder.
