The Game-Kirsten Backhard

by Shawnte Borris

  “Stop fucking looking at my vagina!” I yelled back.

  “Well, Liz, it looks like you are moving along very nicely. I’m gonna say seven centimeters dilated.” Dr. McKael closed my legs and draped the blanket over my knees. “We are going to get the room ready for delivery. You are going to see the nursing staff and the NIC unit come and go, but don’t worry, this is all normal. I need you to turn over onto your left side and try to relax.”

  The doctor looked over to Kirsten as she was still staring at my vagina. “Kirsten, why don’t you get Liz some ice chips from the patient kitchen? Drew can rub Liz’s back until Dad gets here. Okay, everyone?”

  We all looked at her and nodded.

  “Don’t look at me like that, guys. This is the exciting part. You waited nine months for this moment. Now is not the time to freak out. Now is the time to celebrate.”

  Kirsten mumbled, “Freaking-out time is when you pee on the fucking stick.”

  The doctor laughed as she walked out the door, taking Kirsten with her.

  Drew walked over to me. “I, uh, called Brad. He should be here shortly. He’s catching the next flight out.”

  “Okay.” I started crying as I cuddled with my pillow.

  “Here.” Drew lifted his phone. “Let’s see if we can FaceTime him.”

  “Hi, baby!” My husband beamed. “How are you holding up? I’m coming to you as quickly as I can.”

  “I know.” I wiped away my tears. “I’m scared. It’s too early.”

  “Baby, I’m there. I’m with you and our son. It’s going to be just fine, I promise.” Brad smiled. “I love you so much.”

  Drew started rubbing my back. “She’s having another contraction.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut.

  “Baby, breathe. One…two…three…four…five…breathe.”

  “He’s coming, Brad. I can feel it.”

  “How far are you dilated?”

  “Seven centimeters.”

  “That’s good, baby. I should make it there on time. If not, I know that Drew is gonna look after you. He won’t let me down.”

  “Never, buddy. I got this,” Drew replied.

  “Thanks. I gotta go, honey. They are calling my flight.”

  “Don’t go.” I cried harder.

  “I’m never letting go. I love you and our son so very much. You make me so proud, Liz.”

  “I love you so much, Brad. I want you here with me. I’m not sure if I can do this without you.”

  “Yes, you can, sweetheart. I’m always there with you.” He pointed to his heart. “Always. Thanks, Drew, for being there for her. I love you, man.”

  “I love you, too, bro. Get on that plane and hurry your ass home!”

  “Will do.” Brad laughed. “I love you, Liz, always and forever.”

  “See you soon.”

  “See you, my love.” Brad air kissed his wife.

  When the phone disconnected, I cried into my pillow.

  I felt Kirsten slide into the bed behind me. “Stop crying, Liz. Everything will work out just fine. Our parents are in the waiting room with Derek. Adam and Caroline just arrived.”

  “What’s Caroline doing here?”

  Kirsten let out a giggle. “She was with Adam apparently.”

  “Really?”

  “Don’t know what she sees in that twatwaffle. He must have a big penis.”

  “Must have,” I replied while turning over into Kirsten. “I’m so scared. What if…what if the baby—”

  “No. No talking that way. Your son has a strong heartbeat. Listen to him.”

  I laid my head on my best friend’s chest, listening to my son’s heartbeat beating off the hospital walls.

  The contractions started coming stronger and stronger, faster and faster.

  “Can we turn up the medicine? My back is killing me.”

  “Is it pain or pressure, Liz?” asked the nurse.

  “Pressure, I think.”

  “If it’s pressure, then there is nothing we can do about that. Would it be easier if you went on all fours to release the pressure?”

  I snorted. “I guess he might as well come out the way he came in.”

  “What the fuck? What is that coming out of her vagina?”

  I could feel Kirsten stepping in to take a closer look.

  “Don’t fucking do it, Kirsten Backhard!”

  “Her mucus plug and water just broke.” The nurse went about cleaning the sheets and whatever else she needed to do. “The baby is officially on the way. I’m just going to let the doctor know.”

  I looked over at Kirsten as I was on all fours, rocking back and forth, trying to release the pressure. “Liz, I don’t…I don’t think I can do this.”

  Kirsten started swaying and hit the floor.

  “For fuck’s sake, you bitch. Now is not the time to be passing the fuck out.” I pushed the call button.

  “Yes, how may I help you?” asked the nurse.

  “Pregnant chick down.” I laughed.

  The door instantly flew open. I was hoping to see my husband, but it was Drew.

  “What happened?” he asked, panicked.

  “My water broke, and then she passed out.”

  “Fuck.”

  “You’re telling me.”

  Drew picked her up. “Are you okay, Liz?”

  “Do I look fucking okay to you?”

  “Another contraction?” he asked sheepish.

  “Get out!” I screamed. “Unless you are my husband. Where the fuck is he, Drew?”

  “I don’t know. His plane should be landing any second now.”

  I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my breathing.

  “I’m here, baby. Breathe.”

  “Brad?”

  “Yes, honey, I’m here.”

  “Thank God. I was so worried.”

  “Don’t be, love. I’ll always be with you.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you more than you will ever know.”

  “Liz, my name is Dr. William. I’m from the NIC ward. I’m here to assist Dr. McKael with delivering your son. Don’t panic wondering why I’m here. We always come down when babies are born a little early. We just want to be prepared if the baby needs to be warmed up a little after birth, okay.” The doctor smiled, “How about we help turn you over? Then, we’ll get started. I do believe the nurse said that you are fully faced and ready to push.”

  I looked around my room. “Where’s my husband?”

  “I’m not sure, ma’am.”

  “He was just here.”

  “When I walked in, no one was in the room, except for you and the nurse. Is there anyone we can ask to come in during the delivery? Or do you want to do this on your own?”

  “I’d like someone with me, please, especially my husband if possible.”

  The nurse gave my hand a tug. “I’ll do my best. I’ll be right back.”

  The door opened again, and Kirsten’s brother walked in.

  “Derek?”

  “Hi. If you’d rather me—”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “They brought Kirsten to a room to check her out. Mom, Dad, and Drew are with her. Adam and Caroline went to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Your parents and Brad’s went to the gift shop. I was the only one left in the waiting room. Do you want to me to get—”

  “No.” I closed my eyes, breathing through another contraction.

  “It’s time, Liz. On your next contraction, I want you to start pushing, okay?”

  I looked over at Derek. “Just until Brad gets here?”

  “Just until Brad gets here,” Derek confirmed while holding my hand.

  Derek supported my back and slowly counted to ten in my ear, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “Eight…nine…ten…and out. Great job, Liz.”

  I flopped back into the bed. “Where’s Brad? He should be here by now.”

  “I don’t know, Liz.”

  I could see the worry in his eyes, which mad
e me want to cry.

  “Okay, Liz, let’s do it again,” Dr. McKael said.

  I pushed low and hard.

  Derek whispered in my ear, “That’s it, Liz. You’re almost there. Four…five…six—”

  “Fuck, why is it burning down there?”

  “The head is crowning. If you put your fingers down here, you can feel his hair. Would you like us to bring the mirror over?” asked the nurse.

  “No, thanks. I’ll only think it will hurt more, and then I’ll stop pushing.”

  The nurse laughed. “Fair enough.”

  “Sir, would you like to look?”

  Derek stiffened. “No…no, thank you. I’m good up here, looking at shoulders…Liz’s shoulders, I mean.”

  “Push hard, Liz…one shoulder out…and here’s the other.”

  I could feel the rest of him slide out. I looked at Derek. “Is he okay? Why isn’t he crying?” I grabbed on to his shirt.

  Silence cut through the room.

  Within a few minutes, we heard the most treasurable squeal.

  “Oh, thank God,” I breathed.

  “With screaming like that, I’d say we don’t have to worry about underdeveloped lungs,” joked Dr. William. “We’re going to bring him up to the NIC unit to check everything out and bring his body temperature up. Once he’s stable, we will bring him back down to the nursery.”

  Derek looked at me with pity in his eyes.

  “Where is he?” I cried.

  Derek wiped the sweat off my face. “I don’t know.” He laid a kiss to my forehead.

  The nurse walked over with my son. “Here you go. You can have a few minutes with him until we are ready to move him.”

  I lifted my arms, and they laid my son on my chest. I looked up at Derek. “May I introduce my son, Ryder James Edison?”

  The doctor told the nurse, “Time of birth was 3:02 a.m. He weighs in at eight pounds and four ounces. He is twenty-two inches long, and he looks healthy.”

  Derek and I let out our breaths.

  “Congratulations, Mom.” He smiled.

  “Thanks.” I kissed my son on the head and held him close.

  “Liz, you are in need of a few stitches. When we are all done, we can move you up to the maternity ward.”

  “Derek, would you like to hold him?”

  “Uh…I…”

  “Just hold your hands out.”

  Derek held out his arms.

  “Support his head, and you’ll be fine.”

  Derek took Ryder, snuggled him on his chest, and sat in the chair. He looked over to me. “Liz, he’s beautiful.”

  I could see the awe in his eyes, and I started crying.

  “I know, Liz. He’ll be here,” reassured Derek.

  “All done, Liz. We are going to move you into room 106. Once Ryder is all warmed up and passes all of his tests, we will bring him down to your room.” replied Dr. McKael.

  “Thank you,” I sighed.

  Derek passed me Ryder. “Should I tell the others?”

  I nodded. I placed my hand on Derek’s and leaned into this chest.

  Derek kissed the top of my head. “You are absolutely wonderful. This almost tops the day when I was drafted into the NHL.”

  We watched as they took my son out of the room.

  “Okay Liz, your turn. Let’s get you settled into your room.” said the nurse.

  Derek held my hand until I was turned to go down another hallway.

  Derek walked into the waiting room with his hands in his pockets. “Liz had her son,” he said with a grim face.

  “How is she?” I asked.

  Derek walked over to me and engulfed me in his arms. “It was the most amazing thing that I have ever witnessed,” he whispered against my shoulder.

  “When can we see her?” asked Liz’s mom.

  “The nurse said she’d come and get you when Liz was ready for visitors, but Liz asked that you all go home and get some sleep.”

  Drew looked around the waiting room. “Where is Brad? Did I miss him in the hallway?”

  “The last we heard, our son’s plane was sitting on the tarmac with mechanical problems,” Brad’s dad replied, holding on to his cell phone.

  Derek looked over to Drew as he held on to my side tightly. “When was the last we heard from him?”

  “Eight hours ago,” I whispered.

  “Did you guys call the airline or ask the hospital staff if any emergencies were called in?”

  Brad’s mom started to cry. “I know my son. My son wouldn’t miss this. He would never leave Liz and miss out on the birth of his son.”

  Mr. Edison went over to his wife and consoled her.

  Drew walked over and said quietly, “I phoned the airline, and all I got out of them was that his flight was still on the tarmac. Now, the customer service center is closed for the night, and I can’t seem to find another number to call.”

  “How fucking stupid is that?” my brother exclaimed angrily. “Why wouldn’t they let him off the plane to transfer flights or something?”

  “I don’t know, man, but, fuck, I don’t have a good feeling about this. We know Brad. He would never miss this. He’d walk if he fucking had to.”

  “Mom and I are going to go home. Please see that Liz gets these blankets and onesies from us,” my dad offered while Mom gathered up their coats.

  Adam and Caroline were the next to leave.

  “Really, Adam? You brought a bottle of whiskey?” I laughed.

  “What? We needed to celebrate with Brad.”

  Caroline kissed my cheek. “We’ll stop by first thing in the morning.”

  Both Brad’s and Liz’s parents were next to leave. They each kissed my cheek, “Give our daughter all of our love. We will be back first thing in the morning.

  I hugged them all. “Always.”

  I looked at Liz’s mom and placed my hands on her cheek. “We’ll hear from him.”

  She nodded and left in her husband’s arms.

  “The family of Liz Edison, please?” the nurse asked while Drew and I were embraced in each other’s arms.

  “Yes, I’m Kirsten, her sister.”

  “Liz is all settled in her room, and the baby should be down shortly. Everyone is both perfect and healthy.”

  Drew and I held each other’s hands tight. We didn’t need to say a word about how scared we both were as we headed to Liz’s room.

  When I opened her room door, she was facing the window. I slid into bed behind her and snuggled her as she cried in my arms. Drew walked around the bed, sat in the chair at the end, and rubbed her feet.

  An hour later, when Drew stood up, he startled me awake. I opened my eyes and looked down at Liz. She was in an exhausted sleep. I blinked a few times. The room door opened slightly, and Drew went to stand in front of it.

  “Are you the next of kin of a Brad Edison?” asked a hospital employee, holding a clear plastic bag of stuff.

  I sucked in a sharp breath and watched as Drew’s shoulders lowered.

  “Yes, I’m his brother, Drew, and his wife, Liz, just gave birth today. My fiancée, Kirsten, is here as well.”

  “May I come inside?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t,” Drew said, clearing his throat.

  “I understand. I’m here to inform you that Mr. Edison was in a plane accident late yesterday evening. I’m sorry. We tried everything we could, but he didn’t make it.”

  I sucked in an overwhelming need of oxygen.

  “When was his time of death?”

  “This morning at 2:35.” He handed the bag to Drew. “Again, I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  Drew took the bag and closed the door. He slid down to the floor and looked at me with tears falling down his face.

  Liz took in a deep breath and let out an agonizing scream.

  “I know.” I hugged her tightly. “Let it out, Liz. Let it out.”

  Hours later, Liz whimpered, “I already knew he died.”

  “What, love?” asked Drew. />
  “I knew when he died. He came when I was giving birth to Ryder.”

  I knew Drew wanted to ask how, but I shook my head. I wanted to leave that memory between her and Brad.

  At eight o’clock, the door opened, and Ryder, Liz’s son, was wheeled in.

  “Good morning, Mommy. This little guy is hungry. We have given him two bottles since he was born, so you could have time to rest, but if you want to breastfeed him, then it’s time that we introduce him to it.”

  “No, thanks,” Liz said as she turned the other way.

  “Liz.” Drew walked up to her. “You need to be there for Ryder.”

  Liz screamed at him. “Who the hell is gonna be there for me?”

  “We are,” I insisted.

  “What good will that do me, huh? Will you be there for all the night time feedings? How about when he is screaming his fucking lungs out? Will you be there to walk the floors at night when he’s colicky?” She looked between Drew and me. “What about when it’s time to teach him to pee or play hockey or shave? Are you going to drop your lives for my son and me? You have your own family coming in seven months. So what? We’re going to play family until then?” She angrily smeared away her tears. “Who’s going to be there for his first step, first word, his first broken heart, and graduation? Because all I see is me!”

  “We’ll be there.”

  Stunned at the sounds of the three of them, we all turned around to see Derek, Adam, and Caroline standing there.

  Caroline continued, “We are family, and I don’t care if you like it or not, we’re gonna stay together.”

  Right on cue, Ryder started crying.

  “Are you going to pick him up?” questioned Drew.

  Liz shook her head.

  Drew walked over and cooed, “Hello there, little guy. I’m your Uncle Drew, and this is your Auntie Kirsten.” He lifted Ryder to face the others. “And that’s your other Uncle Derek, who you already met. That’s Adam and your crazy Auntie Caroline. We are your family, buddy, always and forever. You and your mama will never be alone, ever.”

  The nurse walked in with a bottle for Ryder. Derek took it from the nurse and walked over to Drew. He sat in the rocker, waiting for Drew to give Ryder over. I looked at my brother and raised my eyebrow at him. Liz looked at all of us and her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

  “Oh my god! Liz! We need a doctor in here!” I screamed.