Just a Little Misgiving (Shades of Deception, Book 3) (17 page)

"I can't tie my shoes," she sobbed.

Myles put his arms around her and drew her close, as close as her stomach allowed. It became hard, tensing up until it felt like a major-league bowling ball. The Braxton-Hicks contractions, preparing her body for the real event, had been on the rise lately, but this one was worse than most.

"There... there now," he soothed, kissing away her tears and pushing back the tangle of her hair. "I'll tie them for you. See? They're done. Now, why don't I help you up and we'll go see our friends. They'll miss you, even if you are the prettiest one there, and you'll feel better if you see some other pregnant women. At least they're as miserable as you."

"I wish you wouldn't be so nice. It makes me feel bad, and I feel bad enough as it is."

"I know you do. I'd have the baby for you if I could."

She sniffled and held tight to her husband. Knowing that he would do anything possible to ease her discomfort, even the pain to come. It gave her the fortitude to put her depression aside and try to make the best of the night. Myles was right. She would feel better after seeing their new friends, friends from all walks of life who shared in the excitement and intensity of becoming parents soon. They would do their exercises—again—they would visit and then go to the nursery window in the hospital where the classes were held and dream of seeing their baby there soon.

"Okay." She swiped at her nose and the few remaining tears, then summoned a halfhearted smile. "Help me up and we'll go."

"That's my girl. Hang in there, sweet. It won't be long. And just remember, I'm with you all the way."

With a practiced motion Myles fitted his arms beneath hers and lifted. Faith stood, teetering as she gained her balance. She tried to remember what it was like when she'd sauntered around on high heels with a self-assured sway of the hips. It seemed so long ago; now she waddled like a duck.

Myles tucked an arm around her waist and helped her down the stairs and to the mini-van they'd bought. Just as she put a foot on the running board, she tensed.

He knew from experience that she was having a Braxton-Hicks contraction and quickly whipped out his stopwatch. This one seemed harder and was lasting longer.

"Well get a head start on the class with our practice. Breathe with me now. Deep breath... let it out slow... and inhale—"

"Put it away," she growled, impatient with the techniques they practiced
ad nauseum
each night. "Just put the damn stopwatch away while I—Oh!"

Warm water gushed between her thighs, streaming down her legs into her shoes, thoroughly soaking her pants.

"Myles! My water! It—"

"Ohmygod!
Oh, no, stay calm... stay... what do I do? Go to the hospital... call the doctor... pack your bags—"

"Myles, get a grip. I packed two weeks ago, remember?"

Faith struggled with the impulse to laugh hysterically at the sight of her controlled husband going into a tizzy.

"Packed, right. The bags, the bags. I'll get the bags."

He automatically pivoted, ready to head for the house.

"Myles! Don't leave me here! I'm completely wet. Help me inside so that I can at least change my clothes."

"No! Get in the car. We're leaving right now."

"I can't get in the car. The seat will get wet."

"The hell with the seat. We're having a baby!"

Faith resisted as he tried to urge her inside.

"We're not having a baby until you get my bags and something for me to sit on. I'll wait here while you go back and—"

She almost doubled over with another gripping contraction, latching onto Myles and digging her fingers into his arm.

Myles started breathing with her as if on automatic pilot. Once the contraction was over, he gathered his wits, ready to assume his role of coach and husband and father.

"Okay, Faith. This is what we do. You get in and don't say another word about the seats. This is our baby and I'll keep this car till the day I die because its water is on it. I'm going inside and calling the hospital to let them know we're on our way. While they call Dr. Laurentz, I'll get those bags you want, and then we're gone." He kissed her in reassurance, and in the dim light his eyes willed his support to her, his belief in her courage. "Can you handle five minutes alone?"

She nodded, and he quickly helped her up. Handing her the stopwatch, he instructed, "Keep this. If you have another one, time it." Seconds later when he was already inside the house, she felt the beginnings of another contraction.

"Please, God," she whispered. "Please let me be strong. I'm hurting and I'm scared."

She rose to the challenge of another contraction; only it was harder, longer, fierce. Nothing was as she'd imagined it. Her first birthing was supposed to start slow and give her a chance to get ready. It could take hours... hours! How could she endure it?

A vision of Myles gave her the answer. For him she would endure anything, even this terrible pain she had never imagined possible. She focused on him, she focused on the baby, the moment they would claim it in their arms....

"They're expecting us," Myles said excitedly, throwing her luggage into the seat behind them and slamming the door shut. "Did you have another one?"

"I'll say," she said, dreading the next one. He revved the engine. Faith grabbed his hand. "Don't leave me," she said urgently as her stomach began to knot up. "Please don't leave me again."

He returned the pressure of her grip. "I'll never leave you. I love you."

"Myles," she whispered, tears gathering again, of joy then the pain this time, "I lo—ah!"

He helped her through it, then immediately shifted the van into gear. Like a man possessed, he drove through the thin traffic, following the route they'd mapped out before. Faith noticed a flashing red light coming up close behind them, but Myles was oblivious to the siren's sound.

When he didn't pull over, the police car drove up to race alongside them. A horn honked, and the officer gestured.

Myles rolled down his window. "We're having a baby!" he yelled.

Whether the officer could read lips or was able to see her doubling over, she wasn't sure. But he quickly nodded and with a grin signaled for them to follow him. He zipped in front and led the way, giving them an impressive escort right to the emergency-room entrance.

"I told you I had clout," Myles said with a chuckle as he quickly helped Faith from the van. The policeman hopped out to ask if he could be of further assistance.

"Thanks, officer. You've done plenty," Myles assured him, fumbling with their bags and managing to give the man a business card at the same time. Faith concentrated on puffing and panting. "Give me a call and I'll be sure to give you an extra good deal. Along with a cigar."

An orderly appeared with a wheelchair, and before Faith could blink, she was being raced inside. Everything happened so fast, she didn't have time to think. There was the quick change to a gown, a prep, an I.V., and electrodes to monitor the baby. Sandwiched between all this, a nurse measured her dilation, then quickly ran back to the birthing ward's station. Myles disappeared just long enough to throw on a surgical gown.

"Myles!" she cried, grasping his hand when he returned. "Don't leave me again. You said you wouldn't leave—"

"Oh, baby, I'm sorry." He winced as her nails dug into his hand. "How bad is—breathe... pant, pant—"

"Shut up!"

Myles's startled and uncomprehending gaze swung to the composed face of Dr. Laurentz, who was garbed in sterile hospital green.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "She doesn't really know what she's saying. She's striking out at the pain, not you."

"Give her something. Don't let her hurt anymore," he pleaded. "I can't stand it."

"Too late. She was dilated eight centimeters when the nurse measured her ten minutes ago. We're already going into the final stretch, and a shot or an epidural would only prolong her labor. I've seen more births than I can count, but your wife's coming faster than any first baby I've seen." She patted Myles's free hand while his other stroked a wet cloth over Faith's fevered brow.

"But what can I do? Tell me. Anything and I'll do it."

"You already are." She nodded at the gentle way he tended his wife. "Don't worry. You're doing great. Just keep reminding her the baby's almost here." Leaning down, she said firmly, "Faith, can you hear me?"

Her head thrashing against the white pillow, she fought the pain engulfing her body. Why were they bothering her? When would it end? The pressure... the pressure bearing down...

"I have to push!" she screamed.

"Don't push," Dr. Laurentz ordered sternly. "Wait until I give you the okay."

"
I have to push,
" she urgently insisted. "Oh God, I have to—"

"Now I need you," the doctor said to Myles. "While I'm measuring, you get in her face and make her pant. She'll listen to you before she will me." Slapping on a pair of thin plastic gloves, she turned to the nurse hovering close by. "Get the other nurses. Make sure the anesthesiologist is around, just in case. Call the nursery to get that incubator here pronto and make sure the delivery tray's ready."

Myles turned his back to the frenzied activity. "Faith, don't push, please."

She swiped at him, and he grabbed her hands. "Listen to me," he ordered. "You
can't
push."

Even though his face was mere inches from hers, she had trouble focusing. Myles wasn't making any sense. Not push? How could she not push when the pressure was so immense, demanding she bear down with all her might?

"I... can't... stop...." she groaned between clenched teeth.

"You can. I know you can. Just hold tight to me and pant... pant!"

She did hold tight, squeezing the circulation out of his hands. She tried to concentrate on his face, blocking out everything but him and doing her best to imitate his rapid, shallow pants. Myles was her rock, her one link left in the world. She clung to the strength he offered. Myles would keep her safe. Myles would take care of her and make everything all right. He loved her. He would never leave her.

"Great news!" Dr. Laurentz motioned the nurses to set up the bed for delivery and position a mirror so that the parents could watch their child emerge. "Not only are you fully dilated, but your baby's close to crowning. I can see hair. Lots of it!"

"Did you hear that, sweetheart? Our baby has hair!"

"Hair?" she whispered. "Our baby's so close?"

"Yes," Myles assured her in a choked voice. "Look at the foot of the bed. You can even see the top of the head in the mirror."

She stared down in wonder at the tiny bit of life she had carried inside her body, a person created from her union with the man she loved more than ever in this moment of pain and glory.

"Can I push?" she asked anxiously.

"Next contraction, Faith." Dr. Laurentz positioned herself on a stool and accepted an instrument. "First I have to make sure you don't tear. Look at Myles while I do this and you won't feel a thing. Believe it or not, I deadened you while you were busy with your husband. All that pressure you've been feeling actually helps me out. Nature knows what she's doing. I'm just assisting."

Faith stared up at Myles, her eyes filling with tears while the excitement of it all lifted her soul to heights unknown.

"Lift her up, Myles. And Faith, you push. Push like your life depends on it."

She did, the sensation of relief near ecstasy. Myles cheered her on, and she pushed even harder. It became a ritual of push... relax... push.... Time lost all meaning as they worked together.

Suddenly Dr. Laurentz called out, "The head is coming. Push hard!"

"Push... push...
Push!"
All the nurses chanted, with Myles's voice overriding theirs.

With a magnificent growl that ripped from her throat, Faith bore down with renewed strength.

"Stop!" shouted the doctor. "Just a small push and... oh boy, what a beautiful little head and enough hair for two."

Faith and Myles watched in the mirror, entranced as she delivered the head and began to turn the shoulders. All hands were on deck, ready with clamps, suction, a blanket.

"This is important, Mom and Dad. Myles, you keep hold of her hands. Nature's going to insist that she grab for her baby, and I have to keep a sterile field. Last push. Faith. Just don't push too hard. The baby's slippery, and I don't want to play catch."

The new parents were torn between staring into each other's eyes and watching the grand finale. With a grunt, Faith pushed, and they watched their baby enter the world together.

"A girl!" called Dr. Laurentz. "Congratulations, Mom and Dad, you have a beautiful baby girl!"

Her first cries filled the room with indignation. She was so beautiful and perfect. Faith began to cry and laugh with joy. Tears streamed down Myles's face, and he was laughing too.

"Our baby, our baby," they said, clinging together and raining kisses on each other.

"Please, let us hold our baby," she pleaded as soon as the umbilical cord was clamped and the placenta delivered.