She nods.
“We might have to give you an episiotomy, Tera. I don’t want you to tear,” Dad says.
“Do what you gotta do,” she tells him.
Sandy takes a syringe from another nurse and hands it to Dad.
“Big poke,” he warns.
“That’s what he said,” Tera jokes, then winces.
Dad chuckles. “You’re all numbed up. We’ll try a small cut.” He looks up at me. “You sure you wanna watch this part?”
I shake my head. “No, not that.” I smooth back Tera’s sweat-damp hair, my hands wrapping around her, and rubbing her belly. “It’s so hard.”
Tera nods. “Not for long.”
“All right. Time to push,” Dad instructs.
Tera pushes with all her might while Sandy and I hold her legs open.
I lean over her shoulder to take a look. I make a face at all the goo and blood and Tera snickers. “You should see your face right now.”
I grin. “All that… goo and blood. She looks like an alien baby.” I scrunch up my nose.
“I’m totally not looking. I don’t want to see how big my vagina has gotten to accommodate this child,” she pants.
“It all goes back to normal,” Dad reminds her. “Do Kegels.”
“Kegel this,” she says, giving him the finger.
Dad laughs. “I know you don’t really mean that. It’s the pain talking.”
“No, it’s really not. I mean it. I mean it a whole fuck of a lot,” she replies.
Dad just laughs more.
“Dad,” I begin, “ixnay on the aughinglay.”
He laughs again.
“You got a death wish, old man?” I ask, in shock.
“One more little push, not too hard, Tera. You’re a superstar,” he croons.
“Damn right I’m a superstar,” she answers. “Just look at this baby hanging out of my vajayjay.” A contraction hits and she groans, pushing a bit, and out slips the baby.
“Whoa,” I mutter.
“Here she is, your baby girl!” Dad announces. “Do you wanna cut the cord?”
“I don’t want to move,” I tell him.
“No worries.”
They bring the baby close and hand me some scissor-like thingies to cut the cord. It’s kinda gross, really. I get mesmerized by our daughter as the nurse suctions her mouth and nose, and a second nurse cleans off the gunk. Yuck.
“Jesus, Tera. Look at her. She’s so small. Look, her face is all scrunched up just like yours does when I fart. And look at all that dark hair,” I ramble.
