by Felix, Lila
I sat down next to her chair and just watched her. She’d put her tea next to her on the table, filled with stacks of her baby books and began to blow breaths out of her mouth and rub her belly.
“Reed?”
“I think that was a contraction.” Her voice shook as she told me.
I got on my cell phone and called Ella who said she was no more than three minutes out.
She came straight in a few minutes later, not even bothering to knock. We got Reed into the bedroom and then she checked Reed, seeing if she was dilated. Then she checked the girls’ heartbeats and some other things I probably didn’t want to know about.
“She’s already dilated three centimeters. It looks like we’re gonna have some babies tonight. Reed, let’s do whatever makes you comfortable. Do you want to lay down or do you want to walk around?”
“I feel like I need to walk.”
“Ok, Falcon, let’s get her up and walking, it helps move the labor along, anyway.”
We helped her up and she started walking the perimeter of the house; Ella holding her hand while I called the family. And then I took over, knowing they would be here any minute. Reed had a choice and she’d made it months ago. She wanted the family here for the birth. They wouldn’t watch the birth, but she wanted them near, especially Nellie who she did want in the room with us. And my mom, Reed especially wanted my mom in the room.
Ella started prepping the bedroom. Reed wanted to go outside where the air was cooler and fresher. I flipped on the twinkly lights, as she so lovingly referred to them. They were everywhere. So we walked through her precious gardens. She’d stop every once in a while and breathe in and out deeply but keep going with a smile. How in the hell she could smile through labor was beyond me. But this was Reed. She smiled through everything.
“Reed, honey, I need you back inside, let’s check you again, it’s been an hour.”
“Ok.” We helped her inside and she winked at the family and went into the bedroom. They were extraordinarily quiet. But they’d been warned. She told them if they were going to be there, then she wanted quiet. And silence she got.
After examining her again, Ella smiled, “We’re almost there. You’re fully dilated. Let’s get ready to welcome two new baby girls in to this world.”
I told the family and then went back into the room, followed Mom and Nellie. I sat next to Reed on the bed, held her hand.
“Our babies are coming, Falcon.”
“I know, Poppy. I love you so much.”
“And I love you.”
Rex
Popeye the Sailor Man
Lived in a frying pan
Turn on the gas
Burn up his ass
Popeye the Sailor Man
How did I get myself into these things?
Reed was having her baby and I’d volunteered to keep the monkeys so everyone could be there.
I sat at Owen’s kitchen table with Cyrus and Scout, who were mixing every color of Play-Doh together into a huge ball. I was more than positive they weren’t supposed to be doing that but by the time I caught them, it was too late.
“Uncle Rex, we’re hungry. Can you make us a grilled cheese?”
“Yeah!” Cyrus agreed.
“Okay, but don’t violate each other or anything while I’m gone in the kitchen.”’
“Oh, we’ll be good.”
Rule number one of babysitting Scout Alessandra Black, never ever trust a damned word she says. She’s too smart for her own good. And she’s a sneaky little sapsucker. At the same time she was sweet as could be and I loved the tike. She had me wrapped around her finger.
“Ok, I’ll be right back.”
I went into the kitchen and got out the bread, butter and cheese. I heated up the griddle side of the stove and got to work. After a few second I heard Scout talking to Cyrus but it sounded more like she was talking to someone else. It was like a one way conversation.
A few minutes later, I went back to the table with four grilled cheeses—one for Scout and three for Cyrus. He was a big boy and ate Owen and Nellie into the ground. But boys will be boys.
“I like Ms. Hayes, she’s nice.”
“I like her too. I need to call her.”
“Don’t worry she’ll be over soon.”
When Scout said things like that it always came across a little on the creepy side. Her smile when she was up to something reminded me of the older lady on Legion, the one that crawled on the ceiling. Nixon and Journey joked that one day they were going to wake up with her in their faces like Bride of Chucky.
“Sure she will.”
“I gave her the address.”
“Do you know your address?”
“Duh, Uncle Rex.”
“Oh yeah, and how did you give it to her?”
“On your phone, I called her.” She held up my phone and I gasped.
“You didn’t.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Scout, it’s almost ten at night.”
“That’s what I told her. I told her we were up playing and eating instead of being in bed.”
“You’re bluffing.”
She shrugged, “You’ll see in a few minutes.”
“Ok, eat, and then let’s brush your teeth so you can get to bed.”
They ate quickly and went to brush their teeth. Scout had to stand on the stool and give Cyrus a lesson in pushing up from the bottom of the tube.
They were already in their pajamas so they both crawled in Owen and Nellie’s bed and made me put on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
I got a text from Mad saying that Reed was about to have the babies. I decided to call Hayes.
“Hello?”
“Hi. Is it too late to call?”
“Um, no. Are you okay?”
“Yes, why?”
“Well, I got a call from Scout telling me you had them up playing when they should be in bed. Then she asked me to make her a triple chocolate cake. She also asked me to come over there. She said lots of things. And apparently Reed is having her babies.”
I laughed into the phone, “Wow, you know, I didn’t believe her. She told me she called you.”
“Believe it.”
“Well, I was going to call you tonight anyway, but then I had babysitting duty since everyone else is at Falcon’s house waiting for the babies. It’s been a wild night, I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry. I’m glad you called. Are they asleep now?”
“They are in bed watching a movie. Cyrus is probably long gone, but Scout will stay up until I turn it off.”
“Well, I don’t want to keep you.”
“I had a great time last night. I just wanted you to know it. And then I was going to stop by the bakery this morning but my cell phone died, so my alarm didn’t go off. When can I take you out again?”
She ‘hmmm’ed into the phone and I imagined how her lips would look while she made that sound, “I have team dinner on Friday night but that may be cancelled now, bout on Saturday. Vera wanted to go to the Aquarium on Saturday, like a double date with her and her husband, but only if you want to. Otherwise we can go somewhere else.”
A double date with a married couple? I was bad enough one on one, I could only imagine how much of a clunkerhead I’d turn into in front of people. But that was the deal in Pretty in Pink, Duckie ultimately approved their relationship. Is that what this was—the best friend approving? Why was I taking Falcon’s advice to get instructions from an eighties movie?
“Sure, what time?”
“How about you and I go to lunch, pick me up at noon and then we can go to the aquarium afterwards.”
“Sounds good. I’d better go turn off the DVD so the little red head can go to sleep.”
“Rex?”
“Yeah?”
“That was the best date I’ve had—well, like ever.”
“Me too.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
I turned off the DVD in
Owen and Nellie’s room and much to my surprise, Scout was already asleep next to a snoring Cyrus. I texted Mad and he texted back: Any minute now.
I flipped channels on their TV and ended up watching re-run after re-run of Storage Wars. I started to doze off and then the sound woke me up, it was him, screaming my name, banging flat palmed on the wall next to my bedroom. Deciding I needed coffee I walked into the kitchen and got a text. It was nearly four by then: We have nieces, Victory and Veyda. All is well.
I texted back: Tell them congrats for me.
Mad: Will do, Owen is on his way home to relieve you.
I made the coffee anyway. I’d need it to get through the morning. Knowing Hayes was already awake, I texted her.
Me: There’s two new baby girls, Victory and Veyda Black.
Hayes: Such cute names! Tell them congrats for me. I’m making ham and cheese stuffed croissants, want?
Me: Yes, I want. What time do you open?
Hayes: Come around back, knock on the door anytime.
Me: Deal.
Owen got home sometime later and I was given the phone slideshow of pictures of the girls. They were both blonde, but one had blue eyes and one had green eyes. They were precious. Owen told me how Reed had no pain meds, nothing. She was tough as nails.
I went home quickly, showered, grabbed my backpack and drove to the bakery. I walked around to the side, through the alley and towards the back. I knocked on the door and Vera answered.
“There’s an epic joke to be made about you coming to the back door, I just don’t have the energy to make it.”
Hayes walked up behind her, “Would you stop it? Your sexual jokes get worse and worse while Colt’s gone.”
“Good morning, Hayes.”
“Good morning. You can’t come in, health codes and all that jazz and the front doesn’t open until seven. But I have your food ready.” She handed me a white bag and a coffee cup.
“How much?”
“Nope, on the house.”
“Thanks.”
“I need to get back.” She pointed back into the bakery which smelled like flour and yeast and heaven. She had a small circle, a fingerprint of flour on her cheek. And though her brown hair was coated with a film of flour, I couldn’t resist.
“You have,” I used my thumb to brush away the flour and then shrugged, not knowing if that was creepy or weird.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
There was some guy calling her, asking her about a birthday cake and I waved, knowing she needed to get back to work. She closed the door behind her. Walking back to my car, I opened the bag. She’d packed two ham and cheese croissants. I could see the melted cheese peeking out from the dough. And there was a pink piece of paper in the bag too. I pulled it out and smiled, she’d written: Made these just for you. We don’t sell these ordinarily. Thought maybe those muscles needed more protein in the morning. And then she drew a wink face and signed her name.
I had to text her.
Me: Best breakfast ever. Thank you.
Even though I hadn’t even taken a bite, I knew it would be good. So far, Hayes was winning in the romance department. I’d have to do something worthy of a kiss on Saturday.
But I didn’t know what in the hell that entailed.
And Falcon, my advisor, was out of commission.
Later on, rushing from school to work, I got a text from Falcon giving me a list of things to get done. We’d prepared for this. Of course, we didn’t think it would be so soon, Reed was a couple of weeks early, but I knew how to take over for him. Sitting at his desk, I flitted through emails and alerts on all his accounts and took care of everything pressing. I decided after finishing everything to go see the babies. I hoped that was okay. I didn’t know if I needed to call first or what. But then if I called first, maybe I would wake them up and I didn’t want to do that either.
Social distort.
I went over and Chase’s SUV was already in the driveway, so I knew I was okay. I knocked lightly on the door and it was opened almost immediately by Chase.
“There he is! We’ve been expecting you.”
“You have?”
“Of course, you’re the only one who hasn’t seen them.”
“I had school and then I had to work.”
“Everything okay?” Falcon asked, coming in with a bundle. Already he had darkened crescents hanging below his eyes and he wore a rumpled white t-shirt and gray sweatpants.
“I took care of everything urgent. That place runs well. You designed it that way.”
He nodded and stood still for a while, “Sit down, this one is Victory, she has the green eyes.”
I sat down but then he made a downward motion, “No, no, no, I can’t hold her.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve never held a baby.”
“I could rebuild the Berlin Wall with the things you haven’t done. Now…wait, Dad, help me.”
Chase came, sat next to me and situated my arms so they resembled a cradle and they must’ve told me sixteen times to ‘hold her head’. And then they handed the warmed, blanketed tiny human to me and I knew instantly what all the fuss was about. She was asleep and everything about her was just amazing and soft. Just above her chin was indented deeply and her mouth sucked something invisible as she stirred. I gasped touching her fingers when one of her fingernails simply peeled off with my touch.
“It’s fine, they’re so thin. It doesn’t hurt her. In fact, it’s better so she doesn’t scratch her face.”
Ok, I didn’t kill her.
Thank God for Falcon’s quiet patience.
I finally allowed myself to lean back on the couch, letting go of the frozen posture I’d maintained, making sure I didn’t drop her. That would be just like me to drop a kid not even twenty four hours old. Her hair was a mix of metals, shines of gold and bronze and even silver were all present. Then she started to wiggle.
“I think she’s waking up,” I told the air, hoping someone would pick up on my panic.
Falcon got up, he was halfway through a plate of food and Sylvia entered the living room from the bedroom. “Sit down, Falcon. I’ll heat a bottle, Mama and Veyda are fast asleep after her feeding. This time Victory will have to deal with the bottle.”
The little thing opened her eyes and looked around, not focusing on anything just awake.
“Hi, Victory,” I cooed with a voice I didn’t know I owned.
She grunted a bit, more like she was clearing her throat, making sure the room knew she was there, waiting for something. Sylvia sat beside me and I received another tutorial on feeding her. I had to tilt the bottle a certain way and still keep her head steady.
Nellie came in later and she and Sylvia had some kind of pow-wow about everything that needed to be done. Dinner was one of them.
“Let me go get y’all some dinner. I know you’ve got to be exhausted.”
“Man, that would be great. Let me get you some cash,” Falcon fumbled looking for his wallet.
“No, I’ve got it if someone would just relieve me of uncle duty.”
“Wait!” Nellie screeched and then slapped her hand over her mouth. She walked over, focused her phone and took a picture of me and the baby. I thought it was ridiculous but one simply did not argue with Nellie Black—ever.
Chase took Victory from me and I got up, my arms feeling almost nonexistent with the weight lifted. I ran to the truck and headed towards the closest place I knew—a pizza place. I ordered six different pizzas and waited while they cooked. I sat on the red bench by the front door and checked my emails while I glanced back every once in a while at the guy making the pies.
A text came through: This is too cute for words. It was the picture of me Nellie had taken, but the text was from Hayes.
I could strangle her pink headed self for sending that to Hayes.
I replied: I only got to see one. That’s Victory.
Hayes: I bet you smell like baby. That’s the best
smell in the world.
I smelled my arms and hands and then realized how challenged I must look. But she was absolutely right. I smelled like—baby.
Me: I do. And I possibly just embarrassed myself in the pizza place smelling myself. Thanks for that.
Hayes: Anytime.
Me: Wanna hang out? I can bring pizza.
Hayes: Sure. I’m starving.
Me: I’ll be there soon.
I added another large to the order and had to wait a few more minutes. I dropped off the pizzas. Reed and Veyda were up. Veyda was a carbon copy of her sister except she had blue eyes. And Reed was so calm and collected, like she’d prepped for this all along and was just basking in the glow of it. I made my excuses and Nellie just had to add her two cents.
“You’re going to see Hayes?”
“Maybe.”
“You owe me one little bro. I totally knew the baby pic would make her melt.”
“I certainly do owe you one.”
“Pick her up flowers,” Falcon added.
“Okay, anyone else?” I asked the room.
Reed chimed in, “Chocolate ice cream.”
“Ok, bye.”
“Bye, lover boy!” Nellie yelled and while I closed the door, I could hear everyone shushing her.
I drove to the store and picked up ice cream, per Reed’s instructions and then stopped at a florist and picked up daisies, per Falcon’s. Then I drove to her apartment, got everything out and barely managed to knock on the door with everything in my hands.
Hayes opened the door a few seconds later, “Hey! Oh good grief!” She tried to take something from my hands. She took the ice cream since it was in a bag looped around my fingers cutting off my circulation. I stumbled in and put the pizza on the table per her request. She put the ice cream in the freezer and I handed her the flowers, wishing I had something poetic to go with them.
“How are the babies and Reed?”
“Reed looks great. And those babies, well, before today I’d never held a baby and now I’ve held two. They are just beautiful.”
She sighed, “Do you think they’d mind if I went over there?”
“No, not at all. We can go before lunch on Saturday if you want.”
“That would be great. So…”
“So what?” Crap, I’d done something wrong.