Sandy’s down there. “She’s fine. Why don’t you sit behind her to help prop her back up?”
I look at Tera and she sits up. I move in behind her, the pillow between us.
“You hold her right leg, and I’ll hold her left,” Sandy says.
“Damn. Doesn’t that hurt?” I ask.
Tera shakes her head. “Not as bad as birthing this baby.”
“All right. Next contraction, we’re going to push hard,” Dad tells Tera.
She nods, catching her breath. I take the cool washcloth and wipe her forehead.
“That feels good, Xan.”
I blot the droplets of sweat at her temples and on her cheeks, then her forehead again.
“Okay, contraction coming,” Dad announces. I look at the monitor and, holy hell, that’s a big one.
“Push,” Sandy commands.
“Ten seconds Tera,” Dad reminds her.
“Again,” Sandy says, “Push, two, three, four, five, six…”
My girl, she’s giving it all she’s got. There’s a whole lot of nasty coming out down there but pushing that out makes room for our little girl.
“Relax for the next one,” Sandy tells us.
Tera leans back and I use the cool cloth on her face and neck.
“You shouldn’t look in the mirror, Xan. It’s pretty disgusting,” Tera tells me.
“Hell no. I want to see everything. You’re incredible,” I tell her, kissing her temple.
“Here comes another,” Dad tells us. I pull her knee back.
“And push, two, three, four…” Sandy counts.
“It burns!” Tera wails.
“I can see the head,” Dad says, and I look down and sure enough, there’s a tiny part of the baby’s head showing.
“Okay. Push, Tera. Just a little more,” Dad tells her.
“Screw you. You push. Just a little more. I’ll give you a little more,” she yells.
“Good, let’s go!” he replies. He’s got bigger balls than I do. I’d never in a million years say that to Tera right now.
She growls and digs deep, pushing hard. I’m sitting behind her, helping to support her back while she leans forward, giving it all she’s got to give birth to our baby.
“There’s the head,” Dad praises and Tera pants.
“Lots of hair,” I mutter.
Tera’s flopped back against me. “I’m too tired to look.”
“I’ll look for both of us.”
