“Angela’s the nurse,” Piper offers with an understanding smile but says no more.
After a while ponytail and freckles are joined by a third nurse, this one older and with graying hair pulled back in a low no-nonsense bun. Her face is weathered and kind. They converge around the fetal monitor discussing something in low tones. It’s the first inkling I get that something might be off. I glance at Piper, seated beside me, and find her studying them intently. Clearly, I’m not the only one picking up on their tension. She notices me watching her and offers a reassuring smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. Getting to her feet, she holds up her phone.
“I’m going to go try Noah and Aidan again,” she says softly then slips from the room.
Where is he?
Noah, dammit,I need you!
Piper returns with no news. Aidan is still trying to track him down.
Pain radiates down into my legs now with each contraction as they start coming faster, and faster still, and last an agonizingly long time. A wave of nausea washes over me and I can feel sweat beading heavily along my hairline.
“I think I’m going to puke!” I announce on an urgent breath, then promptly lean over the side of my bed and spew. Piper dives out of the way just as ponytail smoothly catches it in a nearby bowl. Impressive reflexes. Anddamnall these bodily fluids, I think, as I wipe my mouth with the offered towelette. Isn’t it enough that we have to suffer this pain for hours, or evendays (fuck, I hope not), before then having a tiny human essentially rip their way out of our bodies? Isn’t it enough that we have to abandon all sense of propriety and dignity to allow multiple strangers to poke and prod around in our most private places?
I mean seriously!
Is it too much to ask to not have toalsodeal with every bodily fluid there is too? Between mucous plugs, and waters breaking … not to mention tears from the pain …
Thenvomit.
I swallow thickly.
And poo …
Ugh, yeah, that one seems like the absolute worst of the lot, and I’m particularly anxious about it for some reason. When the next contraction subsides I’m still worrying about the possibility of pooing while also trying to push out my baby. I confess my fear to Piper and she gasps.
“That’s a thing?”
I nod sagely and she shoots me a sympathetic smile.
“Oh crap,” she mutters.
“Yeah. Literally.” I’m not one to get easily embarrassed, but Ireallydon’t want Noah to be present for that.
If he even gets here at all …
Grey bun overhears us and chuckles. “Not to worry, hun, it’s totally normal and if it does happen I promise we’ll whisk it away before he even notices,” she says with a wink.
More intensely painful contractions.
Still waiting on that damn epidural.
A gaggle of nurses again stand around the monitor looking concerned. Ponytail and grey bun exchange a meaningful look before grey bun murmurs something and strides swiftly from the room.
Shit. This is bad, I know it. Something is happening and IneedNoah.
I can’t– whatever is going on Ican’tgo through it without him.
I don’t care about the fight and the tension anymore.
I don’t care about our unresolved issues.
I just need him here.
CHAPTER 25
NOAH
