A Humble Heart

by R. L. Mathewson

  She closed her eyes and muttered a few choice words as she slowly fell asleep. She wasn’t sure how long she’d slept when she saw Edward sneak back into the room. He quietly walked over to her.

  “You feel better?”

  She nodded sleepily and began closing her eyes again.

  “Scoot over, sweetheart.” She moved to the edge and waited as Edward climbed on the couch to lie behind her.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her tightly against him and kissed the top of her head.

  “Go back to sleep, baby, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he whispered against her ear.

  She tried to force her eyes open, but they were so heavy. “I’m sorry, baby. I don’t know why I’m so exhausted.”

  He laughed softly. “Might have something to do with you being pregnant with my children. Just relax. We’re all set for another two hours.”

  “Edward?”

  “Yes?”

  “What happens if they strike before the film is finished and I’m really fat when we start filming again?”

  “I don’t know. Eric said he doesn’t foresee any problems. He said if that happens we’ll have to use body doubles for you. I hope it doesn’t come to that. I want you off your feet and resting as soon as you can.” He kissed her neck.

  “Me too.”

  He chuckled softly. “Go to sleep, sweetheart. It will be fine.”

  Chapter 17

  “You’re being such a bitch!” Edward yelled at Dana.

  She stopped walking in the woods and turned on him.

  “I’m being a bitch?”

  He got into her face. “You, my dear, are being a bitch!”

  Her mouth hung open. “At least I know enough to put gas in the car when the indicator comes on and not stupid enough to pass by a gas station because I have to save ten cents a gallon!”

  Edward threw up his hands in frustration. “Well sorry, madam, we can’t all be born with a silver spoon in our mouths. I’m sorry you have to get off your high and mighty ass and take a walk through the woods. God forbid!”

  “When we get out of here you stay the hell away from me!” Dana said.

  “Gladly,” he stepped around her to take the lead. “From now on I’m sticking to homely fat girls.”

  Dana shrugged. “That sounds about your level,” she said sarcastically as she bent to take her high heels off.

  “Make sure they’re also blind and deaf so they don’t know what they’re getting themselves into.”

  Edward stopped and turned around to say something else when Dana pushed past him. He grabbed her wrist and held it.

  “What are you doing?” Dana demanded.

  “Throwing you over my shoulder. The faster I get us out of here the sooner I can get away from your flat bony ass!”

  Edward said.

  Dana looked back. “My ass isn’t flat or bony!” she gasped.

  “Cut, that’s a wrap!” a man yelled.

  Dana sighed with relief and leaned against a large tree.

  She placed her hands over her large stomach. Edward walked over and placed his hands on her stomach as well.

  “Are you okay, honey?”

  “Dana, are you okay?” the director asked.

  She bit her lip and held her breath.

  Edward started to panic. “Where’s the medic?”

  “Get the medic!” someone yelled.

  Dana held up her hand to stop them. “No, I’m sorry, everyone. It’s just Braxton Hicks.” She exhaled slowly as she held onto her stomach.

  Eric walked into the woods, looking out of place in his tailored suit. “Dana, are you okay?” he asked, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.

  Taking deep slow breaths, she nodded.

  “I’m really sorry filming took so long. We were hoping to get this done before you started to show.” He looked down at Dana’s very large stomach and chuckled softly. “I guess the strike and the earthquake kind of slowed us down.”

  “Just a little bit,” she said dryly.

  “Thirty eight weeks pregnant and you’re still busting your ass,” Eric said, grinning. “You know I owe you one, don’t you?”

  “I plan on taking you up on that when I need a babysitter.”

  His face scrunched up. “Dana sweetie, I’d rather do public access television than change a diaper.”

  She laughed. “I’m guessing Janet babied you too much with the kids.”

  “Damn straight.” He chuckled. “I wasn’t allowed near the oldest boy until he was ten. She was so afraid I would corrupt him.”

  The director walked over. “Thank you, Dana. That was the last time we are going to need you. Just let us get a shot with Edward and the body double then the both of you are completely free.”

  “That sounds great.” She nearly groaned with relief. She walked slowly over the terrain trying to avoid rocks and tree roots.

  Eric put his arm around her to help steady her. “Have I told you lately that you’re huge? Because you are you know.”

  She playfully slapped him. It had as much force as a butterfly’s wing. Eric led her to a chair in the clearing and tried to sit her down, but she didn’t want to.

  “I’ll just wait for Edward. He’ll be done in a few minutes.”

  “Okay, but I’m staying with you,” Eric said. He watched her nervously as her breathing deepened.

  They watched Dana’s body double stand in front of Edward. They were keeping her busy the last month. Dana was just glad they got the sex scenes out of the way. She didn’t like the idea of a double doing that. It would have been annoying to keep trading places.

  A deep pain in her stomach made her tense up. The water that flowed down her leg made her wince. “Oh no,”

  she gasped softly.

  “What?” Eric asked.

  She bit her lip and turned to look at him. “My water just broke.”

  Eric’s eyes shot down to look at the watery mess on the ground. All the color in his face disappeared. He started to look around nervously. Eric was about to yell for help when Dana placed her hand over his mouth to silence him.

  She breathed through the pain. “Eric, it took us almost six months to finish this film. We are on the last scene. If you say anything it will be another month before Edward will get back here and if you are the reason why Edward is pulled away from me when I am left alone with two one month old babies screaming and crying I will personally hunt you down and beat you. Do you understand me? Let him finish.”

  Eric’s eyes widened and he nodded frantically. She removed her hand. “What do we do?”

  She held onto her stomach. “Just let him finish please.

  Where’s Amy? She needs to call Dr. Downy.”

  Eric grabbed a random person walking past them. “Go get Amy Pierce right now, go run!”

  The young man nodded and ran away. Dana grabbed the back of a chair and gripped it tightly as a contraction ripped through her body. “Oh god,” she whispered as she doubled over.

  “Dana, I think we should tell Edward,” Eric said. He took a step towards Edward. Dana’s hand shot out and grabbed his hand firmly.

  “Don’t move, Eric. Just stay with me please. I’m begging you to let him finish.”

  “O-okay,” Eric said. He shifted his feet anxiously.

  Dana started to walk away from the chair. She didn’t want Edward to see her in pain. Eric held onto her as she made her way to their trailer. He had to give her a gentle push to help her up the stairs. She made it to the sofa and sat down, releasing a huge sigh.

  Less than a minute later another contraction ripped through her body. “Oh, Eric, I need to lie down, please!”

  He put his arm around her and brought her to the floor.

  He helped her into a sitting position. Eric began to panic, looking around the trailer for help that wasn’t there.

  “Just lie me down on the floor please, Eric!” she begged.

  He nodded and helped her lie down. He sat behind her so she cou
ld lie back against him instead of the hard wall.

  “Better?” he asked.

  “Much better, thank you,” she mumbled between panting. A scream began to escape her lips. She clasped her hand over her mouth to muffle it quickly.

  The door to the trailer flew open and several people ran inside. “I’m getting the medics.” Bernice, the sound expert, said. She took off out of the trailer.

  Amy came running in with Eleanor and James hot on her heels. Dana forgot they were visiting the set today.

  James dropped to his knees beside her and took her hand.

  “Are you okay, sweetie?”

  “I’m fine, Dad,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Her water broke,” Eric mumbled.

  “Big mouth!” Dana shot back.

  “Where’s Edward?” Amy asked.

  “Let him finish please. This is the very last scene. I need him to be done,” Dana said, panting.

  “I’m calling Dr. Downy.”

  Dana nodded and tried to focus on her breathing when another contraction ripped through her. “Uh, Dana, you’re less than a minute apart, sweetheart,” Eric announced.

  “Don’t say that!” Dana cried.

  “Yes, she’s less than a minute apart

  ..check what?”

  Amy asked, looking stunned. She shot a look at Eric. “Is the baby’s head crowning?”

  “How the hell would I know?” Eric shot back.

  “Well, go look!” Amy snapped.

  “I can’t. I’m holding her,” Eric said, glad to be stuck behind Dana. He loved her, but he was sure he would either pass out or vomit if he saw her crowning.

  “The medics are here,” James announced.

  “The doctor wants you to see if she’s crowning,” Amy said.

  The older paramedic nodded. The younger man handed him a sheet. Dana pulled her legs up and spread them while he laid the sheet over her knees to give her privacy.

  He reached in and moved her panties to the side to get a better look. “Oh boy,” he said.

  Dana’s eyes shot open. “What?”

  “You’re crowning. Dave, run and grab the OB kit.”

  “Better make that two, she’s having twins,” James said.

  “Alright, people, I need blankets right now. This baby is coming and I want something soft beneath her in case.”

  James ran to the back of the trailer and came back a minute later carrying every towel, sheet, and blanket that he could find.

  Another contraction ripped through her. “Edward!” she screamed.

  ********

  Edward’s head whipped up. He dropped the body double and took off running toward his screaming wife. It was the fifth take with the body double and if they didn’t have a good shot he didn’t give a rat’s ass.

  He heard the scream again and realized it was coming from the trailer. He burst inside and saw Dana lying on the floor in Eric’s lap, holding his father and mother’s hands, panting and crying while a medic knelt between her legs with his hands under a sheet.

  “Holy shit!” he said, dropping next to Dana and taking her hand from his father.

  He blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Baby, what are you doing? You’re supposed to be having a csection.”

  “Tell that to your sons!” she screamed. “Oh god, I’m serious, Edward, please tell them to stop it!”

  He couldn’t stop himself from chuckling. She glared at him. “Edward

  oh!”

  “You need to push now!” the medic ordered.

  Eric held her hand. She squeezed Edward and James’

  hands as she bore down. “I can’t do this, Edward, I can’t do this!”

  “Yes, you can. Just push,” Edward said. He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

  “No, I’m serious, Edward. Just push them back in and we’ll go see Dr. Downy and let him knock me out with some lovely drugs. Please!”

  He pushed back her damp hair. “You have to push, sweetheart.”

  “I know,” she whimpered. Then she bore down and closed her eyes.

  “Here we go!” the medic said.

  Edward watched his wife pant and push down. She was in so much pain. He didn’t complain as she squeezed his fingers to the point of breaking them. It was the least he could do. A baby’s cry caught his attention. He looked over to see the medic holding a bloody screaming baby. It was absolutely beautiful.

  The second paramedic wrote something on a tag and tied it around the baby’s leg. Then he wrapped a tag around Dana’s hand. “Someone want to grab this baby from me? Dave suction out his mouth and nose,” the paramedic said.

  Amy stepped forward, holding a clean white towel. She took the baby and wrapped him up. “Here we go, Dana.”

  “You’re doing so good, baby,” Edward said.

  She nodded weakly and pushed down again. “Oh god,”

  she whimpered.

  “That’s it, one more push should do it,” the medic said.

  She pushed down with everything she had. “Got him!” the medic announced a few minutes later.

  Edward watched as the second paramedic finished suctioning out his first son’s mouth and nose and moved to attach a bracelet to the second baby’s leg and then one on Dana.

  “Dad, you want to hold your son?” the paramedic asked.

  Edward nodded. His mother handed him a towel.

  Edward took the towel and held out his arms for his son. He took his son and gasped. He looked just like a perfect mix of Dana and him. His eyes opened up and he cried. “Hi, handsome,” Edward said. His mother used a face cloth to wipe the blood off the baby. Edward kissed his son’s head.

  “Shit!” the paramedic said.

  “What?” Edward asked.

  “She just delivered the placenta

  .but

  .fuck

  .she’s bleeding out.”

  bleeding out.”

  “What?” Edward looked at Dana. She was pale and unconscious.

  “Mom, take him, please,” Edward said. Eleanor gently took the baby and stood near Amy.

  “Fuck! Where’s that second ambulance?”