Sly rushed over. “The baby’s coming? Now?”
Gwyneth’s jaw dropped. “Goodness. Ain’t Jason home yet?”
“No, the blizzard hit Minnesota before he could get a flight out. Now there’s one here, so even if he could take off, he couldn’t land.”
“Oh, dear. And Roz?”
“I didn’t call her. I don’t want her to drive all the way from Newton in this storm.”
By that time, Morgaine had joined them. “Merry, I can help you. I’ve been trained in midwifery.”
“You have? Awesome!”
“So, where do y’all want to do this? We can kick everyone out and use my apartment…”
Merry looked horrified. “No, goodness no! I already called a cab. I just wanted someone to go to the hospital with me…you know, in case something happens, and I get a cab driver who doesn’t know how to deliver a baby.”
Sly stepped forward and took her hand. “Morgaine and I will both go to the hospital with you, sweetheart. Don’t worry about a thing. Now, let me get your bag.”
“Thanks, Gramps. It’s upstairs.” Merry winked at him and he gave her as big a hug as he could around her belly.
“I’ll just grab my coat,” Morgaine said and hurried across the hall.
Gwyneth rushed after her. “Morgaine, wait.”
Morgaine stopped. “What is it?”
Gwyneth leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Talk to Merry about our little problem in the basement while you’re waiting with her.”
“Oh, Lord and Lady, Gwyneth. Now’s not the time.”
Chapter twenty
As Merry began her fourteenth hour of definite, genuine labor, she found it hurt less when positioned on her side. Or maybe it was the low back rub Morgaine was giving her that eased the pain. Sly sat on the opposite side and held her hand.
“How are you doing, honey?”
“I’m fine,” both women said at once. Then Morgaine let out a nervous giggle.
Merry suddenly realized Morgaine had been standing in one spot for a long time. “I’m sorry, Morgaine. You don’t need to keep massaging me, if you’re getting tired.”
“I’m not.”
“Oh, thank goodness, because it feels really good.”
Sly chuckled. However, it was the kind of nervous noise that relieved an awkward moment.
Sly voiced what she had been hoping for ever since her labor pains sped up. “I’ll bet Jason will be here any minute.”
“Is it still snowing?” she asked.
“I doubt it,” Sly said. It’s almost morning, and it began yesterday afternoon.
Morgaine stopped massaging just long enough to stroll around the curtain to the window. Merry was glad the semi-private room was the only one available when they checked in. Sharing her experience with someone else who went through it would help with sympathy. Her roommate had gone to the delivery room an hour ago.
“It’s stopped,” Morgaine said.
“Finally! Maybe Jason’s plane has landed, and he’ll get here in time for the birth. Although I’d feel kind of bad for the two of you going through all these hours of labor with me only to miss the grand finale.”
