by Lily Harlem
“Do you need me to help you?” he asked.
“No, I’m not that pathetic…yet.” She smiled, hoping to ease the worry in his features. “I’ll see you in a minute. Thank you for the curry.”
The shower water was the only thing that really soothed the aches in her shoulders and back, so she stood for a while, enjoying the buffeting stream. Having taken her bra off, her breasts throbbed and she held them, wondering if she’d bought enough nursing bras.
Another practice contraction spread over her belly. It was painful, unlike the others she’d had, and she closed her eyes, waiting for it to subside. It took a full minute, after which she decided it was time to get out of the shower. She needed to lie down.
But as she turned off the water and stepped out, she realized something wasn’t right. Water was still trickling down her legs. Warm and clear, it kept on flowing.
She gasped, knowing instantly what it was. Her waters had broken. The babies were on their way.
She reached for a towel and wrapped it around herself. When she reached the door, another gripping sensation spread over her belly. It was so painful she gritted her teeth and clung to the frame.
Damn, that hurts.
Oh, she’d known labor was going to be painful, of course she did, but wow, that was all-consuming, relentless…and only the start.
She stepped into the bedroom.
Raul stood by the bed, naked, and holding a small brown bottle and a spoon. “I have the castor oil.”
“I don’t think we’ll need it.” She grasped a piece of furniture and took another pace, but walking was hard—her legs were both weak and crampy. “Or the sex.”
“Mi niña hermosa!” He abandoned the bottle and rushed over to her. “What is happening?”
“I’m having the babies.” Saying the words, having it out in the open, made it all the more real. She was in labor. “I’m having the babies now.”
“Now! Now!”
“Yes.”
“Okay, okay, let’s get you onto the bed.” He steered her across the room.
Halfway she paused, the pain returning. “Oh fuck,” she muttered, clasping his hand.
“Olivia.” He held her around the waist. “What is it?”
“A contraction, what do you think it is?” She closed her eyes as the pain built. It didn’t seem to want to stop, just kept growing.
All she could do was wait until it reached a crescendo, dulled, then passed.
“Is it finished?” he asked when she blew out a breath.
“Yes, I think so.”
“Come on, to the bed, that will be better.”
She wasn’t sure if anything other than drugs, strong drugs, would make it better.
But even so she let him settle her on the bed. The sheets were cool on her skin, and she rested back to wait for the next contraction.
“I have to call Harry and Evan,” Raul said, hopping on the spot then turning in a circle. “And the medics!”
“Yes,” she said. “But first, call Dr Grace, let her know what’s happening.”
“Si, si. I will.” He raced to the door. “I will do all of that now.”
“Raul!”
“What?”
“Put some bloody clothes on!”
“Si, si, of course.”
She straightened her legs and let the pillow support her back. But just as she was settling and feeling comfortable, another contraction came.
She tipped forward, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth. On and on the pain built, spreading like a tight band around her abdomen.
When she opened her eyes, Mason and Lucas were there. She was pleased to see them.
“Olivia,” Lucas said, reaching for her hand. “What can we do to help?”
“I want a t-shirt on. Can you reach one for me?”
“Of course.” Mason tugged open a drawer. “This one?”
“Yes. That will do.” It was a nice big soft white one.
“Dr Grace is on the way,” Lucas said as he helped her pull the t-shirt over head and get her arms into it.
“Good, because these contractions are coming fast and—” Another one gripped her. She couldn’t speak through it. All she could do was try to breathe as her body seemed to be overtaken by another force.
“That’s it, keep breathing,” Mason said, stroking her hair. “Keep breathing, in and out.”
“Of course I’m breathing,” she managed. “And I know how to do it.”
They glanced at each other.
“I’m sorry,” she said as the pressure faded. “But don’t say stupid things.”
“Okay, hen, we’ll try not to.” Mason dropped a kiss to her head.
“Olivia.” Harry rushed into the room. He still wore his riding boots. “Are you okay, what’s going on?”
“I’m having the babies, what does it bloody look like?” she snapped. Damn, the pain in her thighs was horrible, and she was sure her back was about to break; it hurt as if someone had kicked her as hard as they could right at the base. And to top it all, the curry had given her heartburn.
“Aye, don’t say stupid things.” Mason pulled a face and shook his head at Harry.
“What’s stupid is her not being in hospital. She’s clearly in agony.” Harry placed his palm on his forehead and stared down at her. “This is madness.”
“It’s what she wants,” Lucas said, squeezing her hand.
“And I won’t discuss it anymore.” She leaned forward. “Can you rub my back, Lucas, at the bottom.”
“Of course.”
“I’m sorry,” Evan said, striding in. “Took me a minute to sort out both horses.” He rolled his eyes at Harry. “How are things going in here?”
“It’s started,” Olivia said. “And hopefully it won’t last long.”
“First labors can last for days,” Evan said.
“Jesus Christ, what is it with saying stupid things to me?” Olivia curled her toes and clenched her fists. Another contraction was coming.
“These are close together,” Mason said. “She’s not getting much rest between them.”
“Fuck! And it will be over an hour until the professionals get here with the helicopter.” Harry looked at his watch.
“Dr Grace is on the way.” Raul appeared at the end of the bed. “She said Olivia can take a bath if she wants to. It often helps with the pain.”
“I don’t want a bath,” Olivia said. “I don’t think I could move from here.”
Lucas was working magic on her lower back; it was feeling a little better.
“I’ll run one anyway,” Raul said.
“But I don’t want one,” she repeated.
“It will only take a minute.”
“Can’t you hear me?” she shouted. “I don’t want one. Now please, go and check on the kids, and don’t let them in here.”
“Er, si, okay, I will do that.” Raul disappeared.
“And, Harry, why have you got your filthy boots on in the bedroom?” she snapped. A contraction was building up again, like a knife dragging through her insides. Her abdomen turned to steel.
“Er, sorry.” Harry looked at his boots.
Evan did the same and took a step backward. He, too, hadn’t removed his boots.
She gritted her teeth and reached for Mason’s hand.
He allowed her to squeeze it as tight as she could, without even grimacing.
When the contraction passed, she pulled in a deep breath. Her brow was peppered with sweat. “Get those boots out of here,” she said. “We want this room clean for the babies, don’t we?”
“Er yeah, sorry, babe.” Evan grabbed Harry’s elbow. “Come on, mate. Let’s go.”
Lucas rubbing her back suddenly became irritating, and she flopped onto the stack of pillows, narrowly missing trapping his arm.
“What do you need?” he asked.
“I need these babies to be born,” she said wearily.
“They will be, soon,” Lucas said. “Take no notice of Evan.
From what I’ve read, when contractions come close like this it means labor will progress quickly. I don’t think it will be days, more like a few hours.”
“I hope you’re right.” She smiled at him. “I’m sorry for being cranky with everyone.”
“You’re allowed to be, you’re in pain and giving birth. We love you and hope you love us even if we say stupid things.”
“Thank you.”
He pressed a kiss to her lips. “But I’ll be happier when Dr Grace is here.”
“Me, too, she’ll have drugs.”
“At the risk of saying something stupid, I thought you wanted it all natural,” Mason said.
“That was before I knew how much it was going to bloody hurt. Fuck, here’s another one.” She braced, knowing what was coming and being helpless to stop it.
“You’re doing really well,” Lucas said. “Just think, soon we’ll be able to meet the new twins in the family.”
That thought got her through the contraction. She’d resisted finding out the sex of the babies—she wanted to do it the old-fashioned way, when they were born.
Before Olivia knew it, Dr Grace had arrived. Her kind, familiar face made Olivia feel a little better.
“Well, you’re certainly on the way to having your babies,” she said, wrapping a blood pressure cuff around Olivia’s arm.
“The contractions are ranging from between two and five minutes apart,” Mason said.
“That’s good to know, thank you.” She glanced around. “Where’s Daddy…Evan?”
“He was scared of being told off for saying something stupid,” Lucas said. “So he went.”
“I’d have thought he’d want to be with his wife at this time.” Dr Grace frowned.
The twins glanced at each other.
“Perhaps you’ll go and get him while I examine Olivia,” she said.
Mason stood. “I’ll go.”
Olivia gripped Lucas’s hand—she didn’t want him to leave her.
Dr Grace quickly checked Olivia’s blood pressure. She then turned to Lucas. “I need to perform an intimate examination, it’s best for you to leave, Mason…or are you Lucas?”
“Lucas.”
“He can stay.” Olivia gripped him tighter. Another contraction was coming.
When it had passed, he stood. “I’ll go out for a minute, Olivia.”
“I think it’s appropriate,” Dr Grace said, heading into the en suite. “And if you could organize some water, with ice chips, and some towels, that would be good.”
“Aye, I can do that.” Lucas slipped from the room.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dr Grace came over to the bed, drying her hands. “Shall I see how far along you are, Olivia?”
“Yes. Okay.”
After a quick examination, Dr Grace snapped off her gloves. “You’re much further along than I’d expected, seven centimeters. Your strong young body is serving you well.”
“Can I have some pain relief?”
“To be honest I’m reluctant to give you pethidine at this stage, being out here and all.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The babies will be loaded up with it when they’re born, and you might be too groggy to push.”
“Damn it.” She should have asked earlier, the minute Dr Grace had arrived.
“But we can use the tens machine. Let’s try that.”
A huge rumbling sound filled the room. The windows rattled, and several bottles of perfume and cologne on the dresser clattered together.
“What on earth is that?” Dr Grace said, looking up from her bag.
“It’ll be the helicopter Harry organized.”
“Helicopter?”
“It’s a neonatal one, full of experts and equipment in case of emergency.”
Dr Grace’s mouth fell open. “What is he, a billionaire or something?”
“Yes, yes, he is.” Olivia dropped her head back onto the pillow and shifted her ass. She was getting a sore butt from sitting in one position.
“Oh, okay.” Dr Grace frowned. “Well we won’t be needing any of that.”
“I hope not.” She closed her eyes as another contraction came and went.
“Here, let’s put this on, lean forward.”
Olivia did as Dr Grace had asked.
Soon the tens machine was in place and giving off a small electrical current to help with the pain. Olivia wasn’t sure how much good it was doing but it gave her another sensation to think about.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Dr Grace called.
Raul stepped in, holding a tray with a water jug full of ice and lemon and two glasses. He had a stack of towels balanced under his arm. “I have brought the water and the towels.”
“Ah good, thank you,” Dr Grace said.
Raul shut the door and set down the tray. He poured a glass of water, then sat on the bed next to Olivia. “Here, mi niña hermosa, have a drink. Having babies is hot work, si?”
“Yes, it is, very.” She took a sip.
“Thank you,” Dr Grace said. “You can tell Evan I don’t think it will be much more than an hour or so until he meets his new twins.”
“Er, si, okay.” Raul made no move to get up.
“I think Olivia would probably like her husband here,” Dr Grace said a little more firmly. “Otherwise he might miss the birth.”
Raul went to stand.
“No, don’t go.” Olivia grabbed Raul’s hand. “Stay with me. I want you to be with me.”
“Of course, of course. I will not go anywhere.” He leaned forward and kissed her, first on her damp brow, then on her lips.
“Thank you,” she said. “I need you here, Raul. For the whole thing.”
“Then I am here.”
“I don’t understand,” Dr Grace said, her brow creased in confusion.
The last thing Olivia could be bothered to do was defend her relationship with five men. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of her pulse in her ears.
“We are not a conventional family,” Raul said. “We are all here for each other, and Olivia and our children. Love is the fuel of this family, nothing more and nothing less. That is all there is to understand.”
Dr Grace was quiet, then, “That sounds the perfect way to fuel a family. And for the record, I’ve seen many unhappy conventional families, so if you are a happy unconventional one then what right does anyone else have to an opinion?”
“Yes, yes, that’s what I think,” Olivia said, opening her eyes. “Thank you, Dr Grace, it’s one of the reasons we’re here, so we can raise our family without having to explain ourselves.”
“Well you certainly couldn’t be much more remote.” She walked to the window and glanced out. “But if you’ve got the money to bring the services of the city here when you need them, I guess that’s not a problem.”
Olivia could hear her words but another contraction was holding her hostage. When it subsided, Raul dampened a flannel and set it on her brow.
“Thanks,” she said.
He cupped her cheeks and stared into her eyes. “You are doing so well. Not long now. I’m so proud of you.”
She nodded. “Oh, there’s another one, already.”
A particularly fast and agonizing contraction solidified her belly. She closed her eyes, folding in on herself. All that existed was the pain. Bright lights danced behind her eyelids. She could hear Dr Grace and Raul talking, but it sounded like they were underwater, as if they were in a different time and place to where she was.
A huge pressure pushed down between her legs.
The sound of primitive grunting filled her ears, then she realized it was her making the noise.
“That’s it, Olivia, we’re nearly there.”
She opened her eyes.
“You’re getting ready to push, let’s get these babies out.” Dr Grace pulled on a pair of latex gloves.
“Raul,” Olivia gasped. “I’m scared.”
“Don’t be
. I’m here for you. It will be okay. Soon you will have your babies in your arms, just think of that.”
“Oh, God, it’s here again.” Her body didn’t feel like her own, it was a massive spiral of hurt. How could she survive the agony? Surely this was too much. Something was wrong.
“You’re doing great.” Dr Grace had positioned herself between Olivia’s legs. “Push when you need to push.”
She did need to push; it was an instinct, a force, one that could not be ignored.
“Good girl, that’s it, there’s a head.”
A head.
“Olivia, you are doing it,” Raul said, holding her hand and pressing the flannel against her brow. “Keep going.”
She curled forward. The job of pushing gave her something to do. It meant she could put energy into the pain and work with it, rather than fighting it.
“That’s it, now breathe,” Dr Grace said.
“I can’t…it’s coming again.” She pushed. A burning, stretching sensation grew.
“That’s it, you’ve done it, the head is out.”
She dropped back, gasping for air.
“Now keep it controlled on the next contraction,” Dr Grace said.
Olivia didn’t answer, her body was squeezing again, forcing the baby from her.
“That’s it, first one out.”
“It is?” She opened her eyes and stared at the slippery little baby in Dr Grace’s arms. “What is it?”
“It’s a girl,” Raul said. “We have a daughter.”
Her heart swelled with love. She had a baby girl. A baby girl with a good set of lungs, too.
Dr Grace quickly cut the cord and wrapped her in a towel. “I’d normally give her to Mommy, but as there’s another one on the way, here you go, Daddy can have first cuddle.”
Raul was there in an instant, reaching for his daughter. His eyes were alight with wonder as he stared down at her. “Ohh, do not cry, beautiful baby, do not cry, I’ve got you.”
Olivia enjoyed the sight for a second, but then her body demanded attention. Another contraction seized her.
“Gosh, this one is in a hurry to get out,” Dr Grace said. “Try and keep it controlled, pant through it. We don’t want it too fast.”
But Olivia couldn’t hold on. It was as if she was possessed. Her womb was clamping down, pushing the second baby from her. It hurt more than ever, but she knew this was the final stage and that kept her going.