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“No, baby, something is wrong.”

Those words scared me more than her screaming had. She had given birth a total of three times, and she had to know what this feeling was. But the panic in her eyes was what was scaring me. I wrapped an arm around her waist and tried to help her toward the bed. Behind me, MJ rushed to Daddy.

“Pops, what the fuck happened?”

“I fell. Don’t worry about me. I said get your mama!”

“I got her!” I yelled. “MJ, stay with Daddy.”

Tahari came into the room and immediately went toward him.

“Mr. Browne, did you hit your head?” he asked Daddy.

“No.”

“Where are you hurting?”

“My hip, but I’m straight.”

“You don’t know that.”

Daddy looked like he wanted to argue, but Mama screamed again. Every head in the room turned toward us. Her fingers dug into my arm.

“Ahhh! Oh my God!”

“I got you, Ma. Breathe.”

“I’m trying!”

I helped her sit on the edge of the bed. She was trembling. I crouched in front of her and grabbed both of her hands.

“Mama, look at me.”

Her wet eyes met mine.

“We’re going to the hospital.”

She nodded quickly.

“Okay.”

“Your bag is already packed. We’re gonna get you there,” I reassured her.

Another tear rolled down her cheek.

“Okay.”

Daddy tried to move behind me, but Tahari stopped him.

“Don’t, Mr. Browne.”

“I need to get up.”

“Give us a second,” Tahari said.

“My wife is in fucking labor. I don’t have a second.”

I looked over my shoulder, and Daddy’s face broke my heart. He wasn’t angry. He was scared.