Past and future.
The warrior if I ever knew one.
She’s leaning forward against the wall in a tank dress, with one leg bent slightly to the side. She seems to be coming down from a contraction. The phone at her feet with a timer feels like decoration.
“Rosie… I’m here,” I tell her as calmly as I can, and I walk to her and touch the curve of her warm shoulder.
Relief and a giant smile instantly spread on her face. “You’re here.” She sounds breathless.
I smooth back her hair and kiss her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“That’s good,” she cries. “Because I’m only a minute apart now.”
Reminding myself that a soothing voice is what she needs right now, I speak to her. “That’s, uh… quite close… perhaps a little too close for comfort… How about we call the emergency services again?”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right.” She sighs wistfully.
I can’t help but explore the scene in front of me and Jet who just perked his head up. Rosie notices and scoffs a laugh.
“I wanted to set the mood, and don’t you dare give Jet that look. He’s channeling his inner therapy-dog abilities.”
Even now, when we should both be petrified out of our minds, she causes us to laugh.
Caressing the sides of her face, I kiss her forehead again. “Why are you so calm?”
“I wasn’t. At first, I freaked out in panic. But then, I accepted this is what it is, and I knew deep down that you would be back. So, I set the mood and didn’t want anyone to ruin my aura.”
Only Rosie would do this.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’m so relaxed about it anymo—” She wails as another contraction washes through her body. Rosie grips my arms and squeezes tightly as she works through the contraction.
“Exhale, you’re doing great.” I’m fairly confident telling her to breathe is more for me than her, because it feels far too simple to say considering what she seems to be going through.
The wave floats away, and her short contraction is gone. “We can’t do this here.” She closes her eyes and purses her lips to breathe. “In this room, I mean. But we have no choice.”
I support her arms only for her to swat me away, and she drops down in some odd deep squat. Jet goes to stand by the door and watches us. He seems to refuse to leave.
“What the hell are you doing? Now isn’t the time for yoga!”
She grips my wrists and pulls. “It’s malasana, and it will fucking help get this baby out. He or she needs to feel gravity,” she snaps.
I blow a raspberry.
“Ohhh ahh.” Rosie struggles again. The contractions seem to be short but closer together. “Carter, gahh.” She leans forward to all fours, and I lower to give her the opportunity to lean her head against my shoulder. “There is no way around this. We’re having a baby here.”
Her honesty sucks the air out of my body, and she stalls to ensure our eyes connect in understanding.
“Please,” she begs softly. “Just make this stop,” she whispers.
My thumb swirls a circle on her cheek. “You’re almost there. I’m going to wash my hands and grab towels, hot water too because I think I heard that once,” I answer her. “Can you crawl to the bathroom? It might be a better spot.”
She nods in understanding. “Delivering a baby in our bathroom. Okay, we can do this.” She pants. Then she weeps. “I don’t think I can.” She stalls when she begins to move.
Rosie’s worn out and struggling, I can read it all over her body.
Cupping her face in my hands, I force her to lock our gaze. Her hair is damp, a sheen of sweat on her face, and still, she’s beautiful. “You can do this. I promise you, it will be okay. I’m going to call 911 now,” I inform her quietly. “We are going to have our little girl right here,” I rasp and admit the truth in hopes it encourages her to stay strong.
Her eyes light up, and a smile begins to curve on her lips with fresh tears in her eyes. “A girl?”
