by I. T. Lucas
“What’s going on in there?” Bhathian grabbed Andrew’s arm.
“Bridget is giving Nathalie an epidural. Let go. I need to take a piss. I’ve been holding it in for hours.”
Bhathian nodded, and his hand dropped away.
When Andrew returned, he was in a better state to notice what was happening in the corridor outside the clinic. Guardians and civilians were everywhere, talking, eating…
“Where did everyone get the food?” he asked Syssi.
“Carol is making rounds. She went to the kitchen to make another batch. I think I hear her cart rolling back.” She looked behind his back.
“Okay, gang. I made more!” Carol called out before noticing Andrew.
“Hey. How are things going? Is Nathalie okay?”
“So far so good. She is so brave.”
Carol pulled out a sandwich and handed it to him. “Yeah. I never want to be where she is now. I’m going to come play with your baby, but I don’t want any of my own.”
Andrew unwrapped the napkin and peeled away the top slice to see what was inside. “Lots of meat. Just as I like it.”
“Enjoy. Coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
Robert poured some into a paper cup. “Milk? Sugar?”
“No, thanks. I take it black.”
“Here you go.” The guy handed Andrew the cup.
The two continued down the hallway, with Robert pushing the cart and Carol handing out stuff. Nice collaboration. Maybe their lack of compatibility wasn’t a forgone conclusion.
Andrew was on his last bite when Bridget came out. “You can come back in.”
“Dispose of it for me, will you?” Handing Bhathian the wrapper and empty cup, Andrew rushed in.
Inside, he found a different woman than the one he’d left only moments before.
Nathalie’s face was relaxed, and she smiled as soon as he came in. “This is amazing, Andrew. No pain. None at all. The only way I know I’m having a contraction is a slight rolling sensation, or seeing that graph spike.” She pointed at the monitor.
The relief was so tremendous Andrew had to sit down. “You have no idea how happy it makes me.”
“Oh, yes I do. But not as happy as me.”
He chuckled. “True.”
Bridget came in and dimmed the lights. “Try and get some sleep while you can, Nathalie. Andrew, do you want me to get you a cot?”
“No, I’m fine on the chair.”
“As you wish.” Bridget backed out of the room and closed the door.
“I think I’m going to listen to the doctor.” Nathalie closed her eyes and a moment later began to snore lightly.
Excellent. She needed as much rest as she could get.
Following Nathalie’s example, Andrew let his eyelids drop. The next time he cracked them open was when Bridget came in to check on her patient.
“I’m sorry to wake you guys up, but I have to check Nathalie’s progress. Andrew, do you mind?” She started lifting the blanket.
He turned away and looked at the monitors. The big spikes were getting closer. Their daughter was almost ready to come out.
“We have an eight. It won’t be long now,” Bridget confirmed his uneducated guess.
But an hour later the opening was only eight and a half.
Bridget pulled the surgical gloves off and sighed. “I’m afraid we will have to do a cesarean. The baby is big, and she is stuck in the birth canal. I don’t want to wait any longer and risk her going into distress.”
Nathalie and Andrew exchanged glances. Bhathian had talked with Nathalie about a cesarean, but she’d dismissed him. For some reason, neither had considered that it might be a real possibility.
“I’ve always been told that I have childbearing hips. You want to tell me that they are good for nothing except making shopping for clothes a nightmare?”
Bridget smiled. “That’s an old wives’ tale. How you’re shaped on the outside has nothing to do with how you’re shaped on the inside. Let me call Gertrude. We need to wheel you out to the operating room.”
“I can do it.” Andrew stood up.
“Sorry, buddy. Medical staff only.”
“Please don’t tell me that I’m not allowed in the operating room. I need to be there for Nathalie.” And to witness the birth of his daughter. Andrew wasn’t going to miss that for the world.
“You can follow behind. Hildegard will give you scrubs to change into and show you how to properly clean up before entering the OR.”
Pressing the button that lifted the back of her bed, Nathalie asked, “Are you sure there is no other way?”
“Theoretically, we can wait and see. Maybe a miracle will happen, and you will dilate fully. But I don’t advise it. It’s safer for the baby if we act now.”
“Okay.” Nathalie looked deflated.
Bridget patted her hand. “Don’t look so glum. The way she is born is not important, only that she’s healthy and thriving. Most mothers expect to have a vaginal delivery, and yet around one-third of births end up being cesarean. And if you’re worrying about the big, ugly scar, don’t. After the transition, there will be no trace of it.”
“I know. It’s just that I’ve never considered it, and I wasn’t mentally prepared. I was so sure I’d be in the two-thirds that have a normal, vaginal delivery.”
Bridget patted Nathalie’s hand again, then turned to Gertrude. “Let’s get this party moving.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
Chapter 4: Bhathian
When the door opened and Bridget stepped out, Bhathian’s gut clenched with worry. The doctor didn’t come out unless there was trouble.
“Talk to me,” he barked.
“Calm down, Bhathian, everything is alright. You’re getting your wish granted. Nathalie is going for a cesarean.”
Eva walked up to Bridget. “Why, are there any complications?”
“The baby is stuck in the birth canal.”
That didn’t sound good. Bhathian didn’t remember reading about it. “Is Nathalie or the baby in danger?”
Bridget shook her head. “It’s nothing out of the ordinary. A common problem and a common procedure. I’m going back to get ready.”
“Wait, can we see her before she goes in?”
“Sorry, but no. By the way, there is a waiting area next to the operating room. It’s two doors down. You’ll be much more comfortable there.”
Eva tugged on his arm. “Let’s go. I prefer sitting in a chair to standing or sitting on the floor.”
He nodded. “Anyone else want to join us?” he addressed Syssi and Amanda who were standing right next to Eva and him. Not that he really wanted company, but it would’ve been impolite not to offer.
“Sure. Do you know if there is enough room?”
“How should I know? I’ve never been there.”
The four of them proceeded down the hallway and found the waiting room. The place was utilitarian but cozy. Its six chairs were divided into two rows of three, one on each side of the room. A square wooden coffee table, topped with stacks of old magazines, was part of each row, tucked between the second and third chair, and there was a slim fridge next to the door.
Opening the thing, he was surprised to find it stocked with soft drinks. Bhathian wondered how long they had been there. Probably years, unless the room was a late addition to Bridget’s sprawling underground empire. He couldn’t remember anyone using or even mentioning this room before. “Anyone want a Coke or a Sprite?”
“Is it Coke or Pepsi?” Eva asked.
“Coke.”
“Then I want one.”
Bhathian smiled and tossed her a can, then pulled out one for himself. “I don’t like Pepsi either.” He loved to discover another thing he and Eva had in common.
Syssi clicked on the television that was mounted above the fridge and started flipping channels, then clicked it off. “There is nothing on.”
Amanda picked up a magazine then dropped it back on the table and picked ano
ther one. A moment later she dropped it too. “The stress is killing me.”
“Where is Kian?” Bhathian asked Syssi, just to start a conversation and lower the stress level in the room.
“In his office.”
“This late at night?”
“Sari called. Over there it’s the middle of the day. Something about a car manufacturing facility that came up for sale on her side of the Pond.”
That piqued Amanda’s interest. “Cars? That’s new.”
“Not just any cars. Flying ones. They think there is a market for them in Alaska.”
“What about California?”
Syssi chuckled. “Maybe in rural areas. I can’t see flying cars in the city.”
“Bummer.” Amanda lost interest and picked up another magazine.
Eva shifted in her chair. “Have any of you heard about a club named Allure?”
Amanda shook her head. “I know of a cruise ship by that name. But I’m not up to date on clubs. That chapter of my life is closed. I’m happily mated now.”
Syssi cast her a sidelong glance. “Do you miss it? You used to love the club scene.”
“Not at all. I’m a home body now. Spending time with Dalhu or with you guys is all I want to do.”
Syssi shook her head in mock despair. “How have the mighty fallen.”
Amanda lifted a finger. “Not fallen, risen. No one compares to Dalhu.”
Eva seemed fascinated by the exchange. “I haven’t met your husband yet. And after all that praise I’m curious.”
“Dalhu is not my husband. Mated is not the same as married.”
“How so?”
“Mated means that he is the one and only for me, and I’m for him. We don’t need a big party or a piece of paper to sanction our union.”
“Are you saying that it’s for life?”
“Of course. And a very long life at that.”
“So you guys stay together no matter what? What about cheating, or discord?”
“There is none.”
“How is it possible?”
Amanda put down her magazine and crossed her legs. “I don’t know if Bhathian explained it to you, but we have a concept of fated mates. It doesn’t mean that everyone finds one. Even in the old days, when there were plenty of potential mates to choose from, only a few were lucky enough to find their one and only.”
Eva frowned. “How do you know, though? How does a fated mate differ from a non-fated one?”
Amanda pinned Eva with her blue stare. “When no other man would do. When being away from him means agony, and being with him is the only thing that feels right even if your mind tells you that it’s all wrong.”
Next to her Syssi nodded. “Exactly. I couldn’t have said it better.”
Eva turned to Bhathian and regarded him as if seeing him in a completely different light. “Is it true? Is that how you feel?”
He grabbed her hand and clasped it. “I’m not as eloquent and concise as Amanda, but I told you the same thing once or twice.” He lifted her hand and kissed it.
On the other side of Eva, Syssi cleared her throat. “Amanda, are you up for another cup of coffee? Carol said she used the commercial coffee maker in the basement kitchen and made enough to last everyone the entire night.”
“Sure, why not?”
“You don’t have to go.” Eva lifted a hand to stop them. “I promise not to embarrass you guys again.”
Amanda’s brows lifted, making her expression seem condescending. “I’m not embarrassed. It would take much more than a little love talk to achieve that.”
“I don’t think an orgy would.” Syssi snorted. “Amanda thrives on scandalizing people. Especially me.”
“That’s because you blush so prettily. You make it far too easy.”
“You know I can’t help it.”
“I know.” Amanda leaned over and kissed Syssi’s cheek. “I love you just the way you are.”
Watching Eva listen to the friendly exchange, Bhathian was surprised to see a look of longing on her face. Was she envious of Amanda and Syssi’s close relationship? Did she lack female companionship?
“You seem really close.” The tone of her voice more than the words themselves confirmed his assumption.
“We are. As soon as Syssi walked into my lab, I knew she was the one for my brother. I fell in love with her first.”
Syssi blushed and leaned her head on Amanda’s shoulder. “I love you too.”
Eva cast Amanda a curious look. “How did he feel about your matchmaking? From the little I’ve seen of him, Kian doesn’t strike me as a man who would let anyone interfere in his life.”
“The old goat fought me every step of the way. But then fate intervened and he had to come to my lab. It was a done deal the moment he laid eyes on her.”
“How about you, Syssi, was it a done deal for you too?”
Eva’s questions gave Bhathian hope. Perhaps she was finally ready to accept that they were meant for each other.
Syssi nodded. “I wanted Kian like I’ve never wanted any man before, but I thought it was just an infatuation. Someone as incredibly handsome as Kian would make any woman weak at the knees. I tried to shield my heart and not fall for him because I was sure he was going to chew me up and spit me out. But it was futile. There was no fighting this thing between us. And mind you, I was still human back then, and although Amanda believed I was a Dormant, Kian didn’t. We both thought our relationship was doomed, and yet we couldn’t help the incredible pull. Luckily for us, I transitioned and the impossible dream became a reality.”
There was a suspicious shine in Eva’s eyes. Was his tough-as-nails mate a closet romantic?
“Unlike Amanda and her mate, you guys got married, though, right?”
“We did. Since it was the first the clan ever had, Kian wanted a huge wedding. I was terrified. An introvert like me hates big crowds in general, and especially when all the attention is on me. But I did it for Kian and for the clan. The funny thing was that I ended up enjoying our wedding tremendously, which proves that sometimes we need to step outside our comfort zone to find out what makes us happy.”
Chapter 5: Nathalie
“Can you feel it?” Bridget pricked Nathalie’s belly again.
After the fourth or fifth prick, when Nathalie kept insisting she could still feel the needle—which meant that she wasn’t numb yet—Bridget began looking doubtful.
It was the scariest thing. What if the doctor started cutting her open before she got numb?
With the previous one, Nathalie wasn’t sure if she felt the prick or just the pressure. But this time she’d hardly even felt the needle touch her belly. It was time to get on with it.
“No, I didn’t feel it this time.”
“Good. Let’s do it,” Bridget said.
Nathalie squeezed Andrew’s hand, and he squeezed back.
Neither of them could see what the doctor was doing behind the screen Gertrude had hung just below Nathalie’s chest. Which was good. This was scary enough without watching her stomach getting split open.
“I’m in,” Bridget said.
Nathalie hadn’t felt a thing.
“You’re going to feel pressure as we push on your belly and massage the baby out.”
Weird. The cutting hadn’t registered at all, but the pushing did.
A few moments later Nathalie heard the best sound in the world: A soft baby cry. But why so quiet? A big baby should have a mighty cry, not a little whimper.
“Is she okay?” she asked.
“She’s perfect. Gertrude will clean her up a little and then hand her over to Daddy, and then Daddy will hold baby for Mommy to see.”
Daddy.
Tears misted Nathalie’s eyes. “You’re a daddy, Andrew.”
“And you’re a mommy.” He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
As Bridget and Hildegard got busy putting Nathalie back together, Gertrude handed Andrew a tiny bundle wrapped in a pink blanket. “You can lay h
er on Nathalie’s chest,” the nurse said. “But hold on to the baby.”
There were tears in Andrew’s eyes as he kissed their daughter and then gently lowered her to Nathalie’s face, so her soft tiny cheek touched Nathalie’s. “Say hello to Mommy, precious little one.”
Chapter 6: Syssi
As Bridget opened the room to the waiting room, Syssi loosened a breath. The doctor’s scent told her all she needed to know. Bridget was happy.
“Congratulations to Grandma and Grandpa and aunties. Phoenix weighs a healthy ten pounds and two ounces.”
“Can we see her?” Eva made a move to step through the door to the operating room area.
Bridget stopped her. “Andrew will bring the baby out in a moment. Mommy is resting in the recovery room and shouldn’t be disturbed.”
Eva looked like she was about to argue, but Bhathian put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll wait for when the doctor says it’s okay.”
It wasn’t long after Bridget had returned to her patient that Andrew opened the door, holding his bundle of joy close to his heart with the other. “Bridget said to make it brief.”
“How is Nathalie doing?” Eva asked.
“She’s good, sleeping.”
Eva came closer to take a peek. “Oh, my goodness, look at this little beauty. She looks exactly like her mama did when she was born. Can I hold her?”
“Only for a few moments.” With utmost care, Andrew transferred his baby to her grandmother.
As Eva cooed to the baby, Kian came rushing in. “What did I miss?”
Syssi wrapped her arm around his waist. “Nothing. Andrew just came out to show us his daughter.”
“Where?”
Syssi pointed at Eva.
“Oh.” He craned his neck to look over Eva’s shoulder. “So tiny.”
“Actually, Phoenix is huge for a newborn. Ten pounds and two ounces,” Andrew said proudly.
“Congratulations, man.” Kian offered his hand and pulled Andrew into a bro hug.
Bhathian went next, clapping Andrew’s back so hard that the baby started fussing.