by Carolina Mac
A nurse from maternity showed up and pushed me in the right direction. Lonnie followed behind humming a little tune.
He’s singing. I should have told him a while ago. Didn’t know he’d be happy as a pig in mud.
The maternity nurse prepped me while Lon sat in a chair reading a magazine. He was breathing a little rapidly and I stole a couple of glances at him from the birthing bed. My doctor had been called and the nurses were keeping a sharp eye on my dilation.
“Hey, cowboy, can you call CAA and tell them where to tow my truck?”
“Sure, baby.”
“You’ll have to step into the waiting room to use your phone, sir,” said the nurse.
Lonnie stood up and cast me a glance on the way out. “Don’t do anything until I get back.”
“I’ll try not to,” I said, and the nurse chuckled.
Lonnie was back in position when the doctor arrived. Dr. Riaz was a short man of Indian persuasion with slicked back black hair and glasses. “Are we ready to rock, Grace?”
“I think so, doctor.”
Dr. Riaz donned a latex glove and shoved his hand into the nether regions. Lonnie sucked in a huge breath and his eyes widened as he witnessed the process.
“Let’s do it,” the doctor said. He turned and stared at Lonnie. “Time for you to do your stuff, Dad.”
“What do I do?” Lonnie looked like he might choke, faint, hurl or all three.
“You stand up there and hold Grace’s hand while she pushes. She’s going to need all the strength you can give her to get this baby out.”
Lonnie cursed under his breath. He stood beside me, then bent down and kissed me gently. “I love you, Grace.”
With the onset of the next contraction I squeezed his hand and screamed. “I want to push,” I hollered. My body was drenched in sweat, my black mane of hair hung in wet strands around my face.
“Not yet. Give her some ice, Dad.”
Lonnie was paralyzed but he took direction relatively well under pressure. He put a chip of ice in my mouth and resumed holding my hand.
I shook my head and hollered, “Get my hair back, cowboy. Out of my way.” He pulled the mop of hair away from my neck and shoved it somewhere behind me. I felt a little cooler.
The doctor checked me from the bottom end and nodded. “Okay, Grace on the next contraction we’re going to push. Don’t start until I tell you.”
“Okay, doc.” I was breathing in shallow pants as the contraction started and my hand was almost sliding out of Lon’s he was sweating so badly.
“Now…push…push…push, good one.”
I screamed through the whole contraction and pulled down hard on Lonnie’s arm.
“Rest now until the next one. Give her more ice.”
The next contraction started and the pain was so bad I started to cry.
Lonnie was distressed. “What, baby?” He smoothed my hair back from my face.
“The pain,” I whispered.
“Okay, I see the problem,” said the doctor. “Wait until I turn him a little bit. That’s better.”
“Is the baby okay, doctor?” asked Lonnie. His hands were visibly shaking now.
“He’s okay, but no more delays. We need him out right now. I need you around here Mr. Lonnie. On the next big push, I need you to catch your son.”
“Me?”
“You’re the dad, aren’t you?”
“Yep. For sure I am.” Lonnie grinned like a Cheshire cat as he hustled around to the other side of the birthing bed and took up his position. He towered over Doctor Riaz.
I started to moan as the contraction heightened in intensity.
“Okay, Grace. This is the one. Push…give me a long steady push…that’s a good girl…there’s his head…keep going now …don’t quit on me. There’s his shoulders. I’ll just turn him a little… Grab him Lonnie.”
“I’m dizzy,” Lonnie hollered as he reached for the baby and cradled him in two large hands.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked at Lonnie’s face. His mouth was agape in wonder as he held the little guy in his big capable hands while the doctor cut the cord. He hesitated and pulled back a little when the nurse asked for the baby. For a moment, I didn’t think Lon was going to relinquish him.
“I’m going to weigh him and clean him up. That’s all,” said the nurse. “Then you can have him back.”
“Okay, thanks,” Lonnie said barely audible. He came around to the head of the bed and held me in his arms. “I love you, Grace. That was the best moment of my life.” He kissed me gently and I closed my eyes.
I dozed until the baby was returned to me all snugly wrapped up in a blue blanket. I hadn’t brought any sleepers to take the baby home because of the emergency situation.
“Lon, honey,” I said, looking across the room at him. His eyes were glazed over and he was staring into space.
“Uh huh.” He jumped up and stood beside me at the ready. “What do we do now?”
“You, not we.”
“What do I do now, Gracie?” He stroked my damp hair.
“You go home. Take my purse and the keys to my trailer. There’s a car seat in the front room in a box. Install it in my truck. Then bring me dry clothes to wear home. Sweats and underwear. Also, there is a bag on the dresser with clothes for the baby to wear home and there’s a blanket there as well.”
“Say it again. One more time.”
I repeated the instructions and pointed to my purse. “The baby can’t go home from the hospital without a car seat. It’s the law. We have to wait here until you come back for us.”
“Okay, right. I’m all over it.” He grinned.
LESS THAN TWO hours later, Lonnie was back. He had cleaned up and shaved and he smelled great. I was dying for a hot shower and a change of clothes myself. The shower would have to wait.
“You hold the baby while I get dressed.” I handed the bundle to Lonnie.
He took him carefully, supporting him in his strong arms and gazing down at the little guy.
“What are we going to name him, Grace? Do you have something picked out?”
I wanted to name him after Rob, but now that Lonnie knows he’s the father, I can’t do that.
“I thought we should do that together.” I tugged on my sweats and straightened my wild black hair with my hand.
“Thanks, for that.”
“You have rights, Lonnie. You’re the baby’s father.” I messed up his hair.
Even though you dumped me in my first trimester.
“Guess I’m not used to being a father yet.”
“I should have told you sooner. I realize that now, but I didn’t know how you were going to react with all the other stuff…that we’re not going to talk about…ever.”
“Right. Never. That’s the best idea.”
“What was your father’s name?”
“Joseph Charles Chandler.”
“My dad’s name was Wilson but everybody called him Porky.”
“I don’t want to call the baby Porky,” said Lonnie with a chuckle.
“How about Joseph Wilson Chandler, and we’ll call him Joey.”
“I like it.” He grinned, and nodded. “Joey Chandler.”
The nurse came in and helped us change the baby into his own sleepers and I bundled him into his bunting bag and blanket.
“He looks like a little Eskimo,” said Lonnie. “He’s so cute. I love him.”
“You better.”
Lonnie chuckled. “Yeah, I better.”
The nurse wheeled me and the baby to the door and we waited while Lonnie got the truck. The snow had stopped and the night air was clear and cold. Lonnie fiddled with the straps on his first try figuring out the car seat. I sat in the shotgun seat happy that it was over and happy that Lonnie had taken to the idea so readily.
“All set,” he said as he jumped in the driver’s seat. I needed instructions for that fucking car seat. That thing was a nightmare to install.”
I giggled. “I s
aved it for you, cowboy.”
“Thanks, Grace.” Lonnie grinned at her, “Who are you phoning?”
“Hi Jerry, it’s me. Yeah, I’m fine and so is the baby. Yep. Kind of a surprise arrival. I’ll tell you all about it. Seven pounds, nine ounces. Dark hair like Lon. Come up and bring Chinese food or something. We’re on our way home now and we’re starving. Yeah, me and Lon and Joey.”
“Jerry knew about this, of course,” said Lon.
“Yes, he did. I usually can’t keep anything from him. He kept saying it would all work out.”
“Is it going to work out for you and me, Gracie?” Lonnie had stress written on his face.
“I don’t know if it will and I can’t make any predictions. For now, we both have to concentrate on taking care of our son. One day at a time.”
Lonnie grinned. “I can do one day at a time, Gracie. I love you.”
Thank you for reading
I sincerely hope you enjoyed Paradise Park, book one in the Paradise Trailer Park Series.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carolina Mac is the author of Lily, the prequel to the Regulator Series, the 11 book Regulator Biker Series, the 13 book Quantrall cowboy PI series, and the off-beat trailer park mayhem series, Paradise Park.
Carolina lives with her family in Ontario, Canada.