The Rocker That Savors Me(27)

“What’s wrong?” she demanded.

I sighed, wanting to tell her everything. She looked thoughtful as I moved around fixing Emmie a glass of iced water while I told her how the doctor’s appointment had gone. When I was done, she just smiled and left the kitchen. I found her sitting by Emmie in the living room.

Emmie was sobbing while Layla held her close, gently rocking her. “I know it’s scary, Emmie. I would be terrified to, honey.”

I had never seen Emmie cling like that to another female before. It was gut wrenching to watch her crying, but I was glad that it was Layla that was holding her close, whispering soothing words to her while she got it all out of her system. Emmie had never had a friend that could help her through female things like this. Even though the guys and I would move mountains for her, we have never been able to soothe her like Layla was now.

“I bet it’s on YouTube,” Layla said once Emmie had calmed enough that she was no longer sobbing. Dammit, those little hiccup noises were just as bad if you asked me. “And if not, we could get you a tape of an actual C-section. I bet the doctor made it sound terrifying. I think seeing it will help you understand better. But Lana was born by C-section and my mom said it was much better than having me the old fashioned way.”

“I’m so scared, Layla,” she whispered.

I wanted to punch something. Emmie had had enough fear growing up. I had promised her and myself that she would never have to be scared again the day she came to live with us. There was nothing I could do about the fear she was feeling right now. There was no one that I could destroy to make her fear go away this time. I was useless right now, and it was killing me.

“Every woman is scared when she’s having a baby, Em. I swear that what you’re feeling is natural. It’s going to be okay. You and the baby are going to be just fine.” Layla was stroking her hair, moving it back from her damp face, offering gentle smiles and tender words.

“Let’s get your computer and check out some sites,” Layla said. She glanced up at me, gave me a reassuring smile, and held out her hand for the glass of water I had clutched tightly in my hand. It was a wonder I hadn’t broken the glass the way I was holding it. Her fingers lingered just a moment longer than necessary on my hand, but in that moment I felt some of my tension ease. “How about getting Emmie’s laptop for us?” she murmured.

Finally something I could do! I nodded and practically sprinted down the hall to get Emmie’s computer. When I returned she was sipping the water and her tears had mostly dried up. Layla took the computer from me with a smile and opened it. I stood there, not sure what to do, while the girls pulled up site after site on C-sections.

When I heard a baby crying, I stepped behind the sectional and crouched down so that I could watch too. There was a woman laid out on a table, a tent separating her head from the rest of her body. Several people wearing surgical scrubs stood on either side of the woman’s stomach while the one I assumed was the doctor worked on the woman. “Going to feel some pressure,” the doctor told the woman.

The whole thing only took minutes. When it was over, there was another screaming baby. Apparently, the woman had been carrying twins. A nurse took the baby from the doctor, wrapped it up in a blanket, and showed it to the mother.

“What do you think?” Layla dared to ask after the video had stopped.

Emmie shook her head. “It’s still scary…but you were right. The doctor made it sound much scarier than the video showed it to be.”

“Well, Nik will be there with you.” Layla assured her. “You get to have someone back in the operating room with you. Nik will make sure that you are fine. Right, Jesse?”

“Fuck yes, he will.” I gripped Emmie’s shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. “You and the baby are going to be just fine, sweetheart. I promise.”

The front door opened and slammed shut. I figured Nik had to have broken every traffic law in the state to get home so quickly. It was just a little over an hour’s drive to the studio with traffic. Nik had managed it in half that. “Baby?” he called out, sounding frantic.

“I’m here,” Emmie called.

He fell on his knees in front of her, his hair looking crazy, his face pale and his eyes blood shot. “Fuck, Em. Tell me what’s going on?” His voice was thick with emotion. “I’ve been going out of my mind…”

Layla stood, and I followed her from the room while Emmie told Nik about the visit to the doctor. She glanced at me over her shoulder as she walked toward the kitchen. “You look like you could use a drink,” she murmured softly.