Her Delayed War
Page 17
“Will after Will from group?” My mouth hangs open at her nod of approval at my words. Well holy shit. “Baby that is beautiful, I can’t wait to tell Sam.”
“He knows; I asked him a few months ago at group when he popped in. He cried and said he was glad Will had the chance to meet you even though it didn’t work out the way everyone wanted, but he’s happy he’s gained a namesake and a godson.”
“You asked him to be god parent?”
“Yep and Emily, so you can choose the last girl. Two girls one boy is tradition.”
“I’d like to ask Donna.” When Jodi nods, I continue, “If we want the best then I think she will be after Ems that is.” Jodi nods her agreement and pulls Will closer to her body sniffing his amazing baby scent in while her eyes close.
“Can you ring our parents and get them to bring Cleo to meet her baby brother.”
“They are all in the waiting room.”
“All?”
“Yep all. I’ll see if a nurse will allow them all to visit if not, I’ll just bring Cleo-Rory in, simple as.”
“Thank you my love.”
Jodi
Cory leaves while I snuggle my little man. He smells amazing and is the spitting image of his daddy.
“Be prepared, everyone is coming in but they only have ten minutes. After that it’s only the four of us.”
No sooner did he speak, they have all been in and are all leaving; I swear we have three amazing sets of grandparents even if they didn’t start that way. They all argue amongst themselves about who has which weekend so we get every weekend free for now. I’m not sure they will all fight for Will as bad as they do for Cleo but they all promise no changes.
“I can’t freaking believe I missed this baby coming.” Emily shrieks from the doorway before it fully shuts.
“We didn’t want to wake you up.” Cory speaks up in our defence.
“Cory, press that button please.” I say as Emily drops to the floor clutching her stomach. “Press the fucking button quickly baby.”
“We need help in here.” He screams when he realises how serious this is.
When the doctors and nurses swoop in and see Emily lying on the floor, they take over bringing a stretcher in and grabbing our friend to find out what is wrong.
Cory
Helpless!
That’s the only thing I can describe the air that fills the room.
“What the fuck is going on?” I hear myself but don’t realise it’s me shouting until Jodi tells me to go with Emily. I follow behind the gurney and can’t work it out. I can’t get my head around all of this because Emily has always been my rock even when I was being a dick.
“Seems baby is on its way. Do you know how she got here?”
“To the hospital?”
“Yes.”
“Erm no, sorry I’m not sure, she is our bestfriend. Her husband should be around somewhere. Maybe he’s parking the car.”
“Ok, I’ll get security to find him. Do you want to be with her in case he doesn’t get here in time?”
“Yes.” I smile at her as Emily comes around and screams in pain. “Is she ok?” I ask as the nurse attaches her to a monitor and the baby’s heart beat shows on the monitor.
“Yes, do you know when she is due?”
“She is four weeks behind my wife who just gave birth.”
“Well, it looks like this baby is ready to come so we better be quick.” The nurse says, rushing us to a room down the hall. Obviously no time to get to a delivery suite.
“Shouldn’t we wait for her husband?” The panic is evident in my words.
“We don’t have time.” She says after she glares at me while doing her checks. “I need you to hold her hand and keep her calm.”
“Emily, I’m here for you.” I say stupidly as Emily grabs my hand and squeezes it hard.
“Okay, so let’s get a doctor in here.” The nurse says while quickly leaving the room as Emily bares down then screams at me.
“Cory, it’s coming out.” Shit. “Cory, quick get the doctor.”
I look at her then down at the bottom of the bed my heart is beating out my chest and Emily grunts and screams beside me.
“Cory!”
I move from beside her, pulling my hand from hers and barely make it to the bottom of the bed before I’m delivering my best friends baby. I barely had time to move before instinct took over and the sounds she was making took a hold. I knew I wasn’t going to make it to the door. The head was already out and just as my body reached the end of the bed, the baby was there and in my arms still attached to the umbilical cord and the nurse was walking back in.
“Oh gosh, that was fast.” She says as the doctors rush in behind her.
“Good work daddy.” I’m flustered.
“This isn’t my baby.”
“Oh sorry.”
“No that’s my baby.” Terry says as he walks into what can only be viewed as something from a television soap.
“Don’t just stand there Terry, come over here and help me out.” The nurse and doctor start doing their job as Terry moves quickly towards the bed and kisses his wife, my best friend on the head. “Can someone take this baby?” They all look at me again before jumping to action.
I’m dazed an hour later as I sit back with my wife.
“How is she?”
“Emily is fine. Me, not so much.” Jodi looks startled and a little scared, “Jodi you have no idea, I caught that little one in my arms because she was coming so fast.”
“Baby, do you feel guilty?”
“No, I mean no it was amazing but Terry should have been there, she’s early.”
“They had a girl?”
“Oh shit I didn’t check, they said congrats to me and Terry was there, all of a sudden I had to leave. I had already told that nurse I was her best friend.”
“Oh god, he will hunt you down.” She says while laughing at me.
“Seriously?”
“Oh baby you know it.”
“He’s my friend, you know he won’t.” I doubt my words.
Before Jodi is discharged the next day, Terry wheels Emily into the room with a beautiful baby swaddled in her arms.
“We were going to come see you all before I left honey.” Jodi says while she’s dressing baby Will.
“We thought we would save you the time and bring our princess to meet her future husband and her god parents.” Emily beams at us both. Jodi sobs from beside me; stopping her task to wipe the tears from her eyes.
“You had a girl?” Emily nods quickly, the smile reaching her eyes pulling at the scars on her face but she looks amazing.
“Yes this is April Lilly Lawson. I can’t thank you enough for being there to catch her yesterday Cory. Like, literally catch her.” I just smile as I move towards her bending to kiss and hug her hard.
“I’m still a little freaked about that Ems but I’m glad I was there.” She hands her little one over to me and my heart swells, she’s beautiful. I didn’t even take that in yesterday when I delivered her into this world.
“She’s beautiful.”
“She sure is, looks just like her beautiful mummy.” Terry coos from beside me. “Thanks for being there yesterday man, couldn’t find a parking space and didn’t think it would happen that fast.”
“Give me a cuddle from your little man, Jodi. I still can’t believe I missed his birth.”
Jodi
Life is hectic between therapy and sessions at our own group and two kids. My world seems to be flashing before my eyes but I wouldn’t change it. I wouldn’t, not one thing. If PTSD has taught me anything it’s that even though I suffer, I can still live. It gave me the love of my life and two beautiful children, some amazing friends and a fountain of knowledge to use to help others struggling to get through their own war.
THE END
After Note From Author
Studies show that every year the statics rise dramatically in the number of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder suff
erers. I didn’t write this book to make it into something it isn’t. I wrote it to outline something’s the sufferers go through. This book is mine and mine alone and if one person reads it and enjoys it that’s all it takes.
PTSD sufferers are among us every day; be it the teacher at the school, the old man next door, that homeless person you walk past on the street, the decorated hero at the memorial parade. The girl or boy who walks by you and puts their head down not wanting to make eye contact.
Not everyone speaks out about suffering PTSD it’s an almost silent condition which tortures a person and makes them hate life. We can all help.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would just like to say thank you to some pretty amazing people. Those who have stood by me while I’ve been in my own little writing world.
My amazing husband and kids I love you all immensely.
Alison you have been my rock these last few years and are always willing to read and help me with anything I ask.
My amazing editor Kirsty thank you for all the help finishing this book.
Sarah at Indigo Cover Creations for my beautiful book cover I love it.
Lynne Atkinson for reading this book at every single stage and pushing me to keep writing because you always wanted more.
To anyone who purchases this book I hope you enjoy it.