She nods quickly, her breath returning to normal as the contraction fades. “You better do it fast.”
I work quickly, pulling her sweats off, and then her sweater, before sliding off her panties and attempting to dry her off a little to make her more comfortable. Then I get in the bed behind her.
“Oh God … I think another one is coming already.” Her voice cracks and she leans back against me.
With her back leaning heavily into my chest, in a spoon position, I place my hand on her belly. I can feel it tighten beneath my palm. Olivia grits her molars again and, this time, a long, agonized cry escapes her.
I murmur soothingly into her ear. “That’s it, baby, you’re fucking incredible.”
“It helps with you back there,” she huffs out. “Just a little.”
I kiss her head before digging into my back pocket for my cellphone. I dial emergency and turn it to speaker so Olivia can hear too, then set it down on the bedside table.
A moment passes, then a familiar voice answers. “Please state your emergency?”
“Hey, Katrina, this is Asher Reed. My wife, Olivia, is in active labor at home.” I give her my address, eyeing Olivia as I call her my wife. She’s close enough, even without a piece of paper saying so.
“Contractions have come fast and furious. Her water broke a few minutes ago. Can you send an ambulance our way, please?”
“I can, Chief Reed. But I have to tell you, it’s going to take some time.”
I wince at the reality I already knew, but another contraction starts, and I move back to make sure I’m supporting Liv again. Her shaking has grown more intense and remains even after the contraction ends. Katrina assures me she’ll send an ambulance as soon as she can.
“I know you’re trained for this, Chief Reed. But do you want me to stay on the line?”
“Yes,” I tell her right away, because I’ve never done this alone and never with the woman I love. I could use all the help I can get.
“Let me know when the next contraction ends,” Katrina notes.
“Done,” I tell her as Olivia stops crying.
“Okay. Hi, Olivia,” Katrina says calmly.
“Y-yeah,” she manages.
“Okay, tell me what you’re feeling when the contractions start?”
“Pressure …” Olivia grunts out. “It feels like the baby … is pressed against my back. And it feels like I need to push.”
I hold her as tight as I can, whispering how amazing she is, how proud I am of her.
“Okay, don’t push yet. We don’t want to cause you to tear, or to push before the baby is ready.”
“Well, it feels like I fucking need to push!” Olivia growls at her as she starts to move, turning to her side and gripping her belly. “I can’t sit here, I have to … Asher, I have to move.”
At least ten minutes pass like this as we stay on the line and Olivia has three more contractions. She opens her eyes as the next one ends, and it looks as though she might start climbing the walls. I’ve seen this before, just before a woman starts to push. Letting their body take over for their mind. It’s fucking miraculous.
“I just have to get used to this pain … I have to get used to it …”
My gut clenches. Fucking hell. I hold on to her tighter, letting her lean her weight into me.
“I’m right here, baby,” I whisper, my throat closing with emotion. My words aren’t making her pain any less but, right now, holding and encouraging her is all I have.
A painfully desperate, clawing sound escapes through Olivia’s tightly clenched teeth. Her legs tremble and then she lets out a sob. “I can’t, can’t wait—I need—”
I prop her up a little more, pillows under her to support her, and then I rush to the sink to wash my hands, swiping two towels from the shelf.
“Kat, do you have an ETA?” I ask toward the phone’s speaker when I get back.
