“Oh, Gwyneth, do you know where Sly and Morgaine are?”
“Yeah, they went to New York City for a spell.”
“A spell? Morgaine had to go all the way to New York for something to do a spell?”
Gwyneth chuckled. “Well, yes and no. I meant they went away for a while. A spell is just another way of saying ‘a while’. As it turns out, Morgaine is givin’ a friend some magical help too.”
“Oh...Oh!” Merry clutched her pregnant belly and doubled over with the pain of another contraction.
“I do declare, Merry. Are you are in labor?”
She did her Lamaze breathing and nodded.
“Oh, dear. Where’s Jason?”
When the pain eased, she straightened. “At his parents’ house in Minnesota. His dad’s had another heart attack. We decidedthat since it’s about three weeks before my due date, I shouldn’t fly. Roz is my back-up, but I can’t get a hold of her.”
“Oh my goodness. Well, what did you have planned? Was you doin’ a home birth or hospital?”
“Hospital. I can’t drive myself though. Can you drive?”
“I ain’t got a driver’s license, but I’m sure I could figure it out if y’all have an automatic transmission and I don’t have to shift the thingy.”
Merry laughed. “No offense but driving in this city isn’t a piece of cake for experienced drivers. Never mind. I’ll think of something else.”
“Maybe Nathan can drive. Let me run down and ask him.”
“Let’s take the elevator.”
“Too slow. Y’all can take it—or better yet, wait here and I’ll call up to you with what he says.”
Merry worried about another contraction coming on, so she just nodded.
Gwyneth took off running down the stairs. She disappeared from view, and Merry heard her footsteps fade as they tapped out a staccato beat on the marble steps.
She braced herself through the next contraction and barely heard Gwyneth talking to the resident of Apt 1A.
After a brief wait, Gwyneth yelled up the stairwell. “Nathan don’t drive neither, but he says he’ll take y’all on the back of his bicycle.”
Merry laughed and called down. “No, thank you.”
Gwyneth’s feet tapped up the stairs again. “Let me try Jules or Lily.”
“Never mind. I’ll take a cab.”
When Gwyneth finally reached her, she was panting. “I’ll go with you.”
“That’s sweet, but you don’t have to.”
“Y’all need a birthin’ coach, right?”
“Have you ever witnessed a birth before?”
“Sugar, I’m from the hills of Tennessee. I’ve seen my share of home births. A hospital with doctors and nurses helpin’ should be a piece of cake as y’all would say.”
Gwyneth wouldn’t have been her first choice, or even her third, but at this point she couldn’t be picky. “Thank you. I’ll need my suitcase.”
In the Admissions waiting room, Gwyneth paced while Merry waited patiently. How could she be so cool, calm, and collected? Maybe it was just the relief of knowing she was at the hospital. She probably felt comfortable here, bein’ a nurse and all.
