Ghostface Killer(84)

"I should be in a hospital," I cry. We discussed home birth, but there was supposed to be monitors and a doula-and drugs! Lots of drugs!

"There's no time for a hospital. This baby is coming now. You have to push, Stevie."

"With pleasure." I'm slowly breaking down.

"Baz, help her hold her legs," Dr. Miranda instructs. I wrap my hands around my shins and pull my knees up to my chest, groaning miserably from the excruciating cramps holding my entire abdomen hostage.

"Okay, Stevie, push." Dr. Miranda looks like she's about to catch a football.

I push as hard as I can, broadcasting a bloodcurdling scream.

"I see her head!" Baz leans over the edge of the mattress. "She's got blonde hair!"

"She has hair?"

"Peach fuzz, but it looks blonde."

"Okay, Stevie, one more big push, and this baby is here."

I heave, dead tired on my back. "I can't."

"You can. Baz support her back," Dr. Miranda orders. She is such a gestapo.

Baz slips his hand under my spine and lifts me gently.

"C'mon, baby. Don't you want to meet our little girl?" Of course, I want to meet her. I have secretly wanted this since I was fourteen years old.

Baz is such a damn manipulator. He has some Benny in him after all.

I suck in a deep breath, and with every ounce of fleeting energy, I push again.

Screaming loudly, I give it everything I have, then suddenly all the pain and pressure disappears.

There's a wail, and Dr. Miranda announces, "You did it, mom." She immediately places the squirmy, yelping baby on my chest. It all happened so fast, I can barely believe I'm holding her. One look at her smushy face and I instantly fall in love. She's perfect. Ten fingers, ten toes, and a full head of blonde peach fuzz, just like Baz said. I start to cry. It just comes out of nowhere. The feelings stirring inside me. The love, the happiness, the maternal bond, it's like a cyclone of untapped emotion.




 

 

Baz cuts the cord as Audie roots around on my chest.

"Someone's hungry." Dr. Miranda takes her from me way too soon. "We'll clean her up, check her out, and give her right back to you."

I look at Baz. He's already shadowing the two doctors, an expression of pure awe on his face.

When the whirlwind stops, I realize I'm still lying on wet sheets and a soaked mattress. Yuck.

I reposition myself on the dry side of the bed as best as I can as I wait impatiently for my baby girl to make her way back to me.

"We're going to have to break into the baby clothes tomorrow, so a clean towel will have to do for now." Baz walks out of the bathroom holding Audie proudly in his arms. He looks like he just crossed a warzone. His T-shirt is wrinkled, and his hair's a mess. The elastic is barely holding the long strands in place. "But she's totally perfect, Stevie." He sits down next to me and holds her up. She looks so small wrapped in the big, fluffy towel.

It's amazing how good he is with her already.

"Let's give her a quick feed, and then we'll check you out, Stevie. You're going to breastfeed, correct?" Dr. Miranda pushes some dark hair out of her eye. She's in pajamas like the rest of us. Her petite frame a contrast to her imposing personality.

"I'm going to try." I reach for Audie, and Baz struggles to give her up. Looks like I'm not the only one who fell madly in love.

"Just for a minute," I persuade him.

Baz reluctantly hands her over.

Dr. Miranda walks me through my first feeding, and Audie takes to me like a champ. Baz makes a face while she feeds. "Those are supposed to be mine," he whispers so only I can hear.

I laugh. "You can share them for a little while."

"Fine." He pouts like the man-child he can sometimes be.

After the feeding, Baz takes Audie into the hallway to meet everyone while I get checked out. Pregnancy, labor, and birth is a very immodest experience. I have never felt on such display.

"Just so you know, Stevie, that birth was highly unusual." Dr. Miranda snaps her gloves as she pulls them off. "Your first one is usually never that fast. Or second or third." She laughs. "I can count on one hand how many times I've had to catch a flying baby."

"She really is Baz's," I quip.

"All clear?" Desmond knocks on the bedroom door.

"You can come in." I'm decent now, all wrapped up in a blanket on one of the sitting room chairs. After everything, I feel amazingly well.

He enters with Bull and Gun, sliding a new mattress into the room. "I was told you needed this." 

I turn bright red. "Um, yes. That one sort of got destroyed." I thrust my chin at the messy bed. It looks like a murder took place with all the fluid and dried blood.