by Marla Monroe
“Devin?” she called out.
He walked in and instantly knew something was wrong. He hurried over to the couch and knelt next to her head.
“What’s wrong, Libby? Are you hurting somewhere?” He brushed her hair back behind her ear.
“I think I’m in labor. I’m having pains about every fifteen or twenty minutes,” she told him.
Another pain hit her, and Devin tried to breathe with her as she puffed out her breaths. A look of panic flowed over his face, his eyes growing wider as he looked her over then stood looking down at her with a frantic expression.
“I’ve got to call Levi to come home. Wait, he needs to meet us at the hospital. We’re not waiting for him to get here,” he said. “Let’s get you in the truck, babe. The hospital is a good twenty minutes away. Maybe we should have rented a house close by these last two weeks. Never mind. We’ll think about that next time.”
Next time? Libby realized he was serious about that. It warmed her heart until the next pain hit her, making her cry out despite her resolve not to.
“I need my bag, Devin. Put it in the truck then come back and get me,” she said once the pain had passed.
“Bag, right. I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
Libby rolled her eyes. Like she could get off the couch and run off on her own. She’d be lucky if she could waddle out to the truck by herself. He was panicking. If she wasn’t so anxious, it might have been cute.
She watched him run through the house with her bag then heard the back door slam. Then he was back, staring down at her with wide eyes.
“Let’s get you to the truck, Libby. Nice and slow. I don’t want you to fall, babe.”
“Just haul my wide ass up and let’s go, Devin. I don’t know when the next pain is going to hit, and I really don’t want to be standing up when it does.”
Devin helped her stand then led her through the kitchen to the back door. He opened it wide and held her arm as she stepped out onto the back porch. Then he stood in front of her as she slowly negotiated the steps down to the ground. Before they made it to the truck though another pain grabbed her around the belly like a giant hand squeezing her there. She yelled out and would have doubled over if her body could have done that with the dinosaur-sized egg protruding out in front of her.
“Damn, babe. Hold on to me. I’ll keep you up.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her as she panted through the pain.
Once it was over with, she felt wrung out and didn’t know how she was going to make it to the truck. Devin half carried her the rest of the way. Once inside, she relaxed. Devin stretched the belt across her upper abdomen and clicked it before racing around the front of the truck to climb in and start the engine.
She had to grasp his arm and tell him to slow down when he raced out of the drive.
“I’m not about to have the baby right now, Devin. Slow down so we actually make it there in one piece,” she said.
“Sorry. I’m worried. You still have two weeks,” he said.
“Two weeks isn’t long. I’m ready for the baby to be here. Just drive carefully.”
“I need to call Levi.” He pushed the call button on the steering wheel then told the answering voice to call Levi.
“Hey, Devin. What’s up? How’s Libby doing?” Levi asked over the speaker.
“She’s in labor. Meet us at the hospital. I’m on the way there now,” Devin barked out.
“Is she okay? You do have her in the truck with you, don’t you?” Levi’s voice sounded strained, and Libby could hear that he was running.
“Of course I have her with me. What do you think I am? Crazy?” Devin snapped.
“Just making sure. You’ve been so on edge I wouldn’t be surprised if you forgot something. Oh, do I need to swing by the house and get the baby bag?” Levi asked.
“No. I got it. I’m not that far-gone.” Devin’s grip on the wheel looked almost painful to Libby.
“I had to remind him, Levi,” she called out with a grin then moaned as another pain gripped her.
“I’m on my way, honey. Don’t forget to breathe out through the pain. See you soon,” he said then hung up.
“How much longer until we get there?” She huffed out as the pain slowly subsided.
“Another ten or twelve minutes. You’re going to be fine, Libby. They’ll take good care of you, and Levi and I will be right there with you,” he said.
Libby could hear the strain in his voice as he spoke. She knew he was worried, but there was nothing she could say to waylay his fears. He’d just about memorized that damn baby book and all the things that could go wrong.
This time. He said this time like he expects there to be more. Do I want more with them? I sure as hell want forever with them, so I guess more children would be natural. I wish I’d agreed to marry them before the baby came.
She needed to know that they weren’t going to change their minds after the baby was born. She needed to know that they were serious about wanting forever with her. Women weren’t the only ones who changed their minds. She needed to be sure.
But they told me they love me. That should be enough for me to believe they really do want forever with me. I’m worrying for nothing. Oh, God! The contractions are killing me.
Libby breathed through the next one, sure that she’d pass out before it was over and she could breathe normally again. They seemed to be getting more intense and closer together with every minute.
“We’re nearly there, babe. Hold on.”
She wanted to tell him to hold on himself after the next pain had her digging her fingers into the seat. She clutched the seatbelt once it was passed and panted, trying to relax in between.
“Just a few more minutes. Hold on, Libby. You can do it.”
She growled. Let him deal with the pain where it felt like everything inside of her was clamping down while this huge ball pressed down inside of her. He had no freaking idea.
Finally they pulled into the emergency room entrance. Devin jumped out of the truck and raced around to her side of the vehicle to unfasten her belt then help her down from the truck. The second he set her on her feet, her water broke, gushing from between her legs.
“Oh hell, babe. I squeezed you too tightly. Are you okay? Fuck,” he said with panic widening his eyes to the point that she was afraid they’d stick that way.
“It’s just my water, Devin. It means I’m getting closer to having the baby. I’m positive they covered that in that damn book you’re always reading.”
“I guess it just shocked me. Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?” he asked.
“I’m sure. Get me inside. I need to lie down.”
Someone met them with a wheelchair after only four steps toward the entrance, helping her sit before addressing Devin.
“Park your truck in that parking lot over there. Stop by the front desk and give the lady all her information. Then you can come back. She’ll give you directions to where we’ll be.”
“I don’t want to leave her,” Devin told him.
“She’s in good hands and won’t be doing anything except getting set up in her room. You’ll be back there in no time if you follow the admission clerk’s directions,” the man said.
Devin gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head and squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll be back there as soon as I can, babe.”
Libby didn’t want to go back without him but knew she also didn’t want to sit there in that wheelchair having contractions for the next twenty minutes either. She reached up and grabbed his hand before the orderly was wheeling her inside the entrance to the hospital.
* * * *
In between contractions Libby looked around the nice room she was in. The hospital used birthing suites where the family could relax in the room with her. The bed was turned into a birthing table until she had the baby, and then it was set back into a regular bed where she would be more comfortable once the baby had been born. She was glad of the size of the room since there would
be two very large men staying with her.
Libby briefly wondered how the staff would react when they realized both men would be staying with her. She had a brief moment of panic at how they would react then didn’t care once a particularly hard contraction wrapped around her belly making her grunt and growl with it. Where the fuck were Devin and Levi?
On the heels of that thought the door burst open and Devin raced into the room. He spared a look around before zeroing in on her. The lines creased in his forehead told her how he was worrying about her. She wanted to soothe him that everything was fine, but it wasn’t fine. She was hurting when the pains came. And they seemed to be coming sooner and sooner.
“I’m right here, baby. Hold my hand and squeeze when you need to.”
“I should have asked for drugs,” Libby complained.
“If you need them, then ask for them. I hate seeing you hurting like this,” Devin said. “Do you want me to get the nurse?”
“I can call her from here, but I’m okay. They’ll be in to check me again in a little while. I was dilated to four centimeters. I still have a ways to go,” she told him.
“Are you sure you don’t want that epidural thing?” he asked.
“No. I want to feel it when my baby comes into the world. I might curse and scream up until then, but I don’t want to miss a single second of her birth.”
She threw back her head and groaned as another pain hit. Devin alternated between rubbing her belly in soothing circles and squeezing her hand. When it was over with, he helped her sit up so he could massage her back. It felt so good.
“Where’s Levi? I don’t want him to miss the baby. Why isn’t he here yet?” she asked, unable to help the tears in her eyes from leaking down her cheeks.
“He’ll be here in a minute, Libby. Knowing him, he stopped by the house to change clothes. He was probably covered in dirt and sawdust. He wouldn’t want to bring that into your room while you were having the baby.”
“I don’t care. I want you both here,” she said.
When the next pain hit, she yelled, cursing both men for all she was worth. Then she apologized to Devin with teary eyes.
“It’s okay, babe. I know you don’t mean it.” He looked a bit chagrined though.
Twenty minutes later, Levi burst into the room and made a beeline to her. He grabbed her other hand and squeezed it before leaning down to kiss her forehead.
“Sorry it took me so long, but I had to change clothes. I was nasty. No way I was going to tromp dirt all into the room where you would be having our baby,” he said.
“I’m just glad you’re here. I wanted both of you here for this,” she said.
“We’ll be right by your side the entire time,” Levi promised.
A nurse whisked into the room with a smile that grew strained when she was greeted with two men standing on either side of her bed. Libby knew they looked alike enough that it would be obvious they were brothers. The nurse drew in a deep breath then, to her credit, said nothing about the two men holding her hands.
“I’m going to check and see where you are in this. Won’t take but a second, hon,” the nurse said. “Do you want them to step out?”
“No. I want them with me. It’s their baby I’m having.”
The nurse’s face gave away her complete shock before she managed to get control of her features once again.
After she’d checked her, she smiled at Libby. “You’re progressing well. You’re up to six centimeters now. How are the contractions? Have you been able to time them?” the nurse asked.
“She’s having them fairly regularly at eight minutes apart,” Devin told her.
“Remember to call if you need anything or feel like you need to push. Guys, um, you can help by reminding her to breathe through the contractions and rubbing her back in between. She can have ice chips but nothing else to eat or drink.” The nurse gave them one last glance before hurrying out the door.
The next few hours seemed to drag for Libby. She groaned, moaned, and cursed throughout the entire time as contraction after contraction tore through her. The guys were champs, but soon they were just as tired as she was of the constant strain.
“Fuck, babe. You should have gotten that epi thing. I can’t stand to see you hurting like this. We aren’t having any more children after this,” Devin said.
“We might not be having this one if she doesn’t hurry up and come,” Libby snarled as yet another contraction seemed to come on the heels of the last one.
“Call the nurse, Levi. The pains are getting closer together now.” Devin held Libby’s hand with both of his as she screamed out a promise to whack off their balls as soon as she got the chance.
Seconds later the nurse hurried into the room. She took one look at her then the men before gloving up.
“Let’s check and see how you’re doing.” She arranged the covers and had Libby bend her legs as she checked her.
“Well, young lady,” the nurse began after helping her relax once more, “looks like you’re ready to have this baby. The baby’s head is crowning. You made a lot of progress since the last time I checked you. I’ll call the doctor to tell him you’re ready.”
“Thank fuck,” Devin said.
“Do you hear that, hon? You’re ready to have this baby. Little Kimmy will be here before you know it.” Levi brushed her wet hair out of her face with one hand while she continued to grip the other one.
After what seemed like forever, the doctor breezed into the room, followed by the nurse. He greeted them with a broad smile while the nurse converted the bed into a birthing table. The men stepped back until she’d finished.
“How are you holding up, Libby?” he asked.
“Ready to get this baby out of me. She’s killing me,” Libby said with a tired voice.
“The nurse said the little one is crowning, so it won’t be too much longer now. Just follow my directions and it will be over with before you know it,” the doctor said.
He checked her and nodded to the nurse. She walked out of the room. only to return a few minutes later with another nurse and a crib. along with a pack of something she opened up on a table next to the doctor.
“Don’t push until I tell you to, Libby. Okay?” the doctor said.
She wanted to tell him okay, but a particularly hard contraction had her screaming in pain. She felt the urge to push but held off despite it nearly killing her. After what felt like hours, but was probably only five or so minutes, he instructed her to push with the next contraction. She couldn’t wait.
The guys hovered at the head of the bed whispering promises and soothing words in her ears, but honestly, she couldn’t hear them with the roaring in her ears as she bore down with the pains like the doctor instructed her to.
The second that little Kimmy had made it into the world, Libby collapsed with exhaustion. The sound of Kimmy’s high scream was music to her ears.
“She’s healthy and looks great, Libby. Now who wants to cut the cord?”
Devin nodded to Levi. “You cut this one. I’ll cut the next one.”
Libby growled. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going through this again.”
The doctor laughed. “You’ll forget all about this once you’ve had time to relax with your baby in your arms.”
“Not likely,” she muttered then sighed when they placed a swaddled Kimberly into her arms.
“She’s beautiful,” Levi said as he touched one of her hands.
Libby looked at her features and cried at how perfect she was. She kissed the top of her head and sighed.
“She is. She’s the most beautiful little girl in the world,” Devin agreed.
“Let’s have her back so we can bathe her and weigh her, hon,” the nurse said, reaching for the baby.
“Okay, guys. Why don’t you go out to the nursery and watch them while we finish up here with Libby? The nurse will come and get you once we have her cleaned up and resting,” the doctor said.
“Honey? Do you wa
nt one of us to stay with you?” Levi asked.
“No. I’ll be fine. This is the messy part. I’d rather you weren’t here,” she admitted.
“If you’re sure.” Levi nodded at his brother, and after each of them gave her a quick kiss, they left the room to watch as the nurses cared for little Kimmy.
“How bad is it?” she asked once they’d left.
“Not too bad. You have a small tear that I’m going to suture up, and the bleeding is a little more than I like, so the nurse is going to squeeze on your abdomen to help stop it by shrinking your uterus. Just relax and let us do all the work.”
The doctor did something that felt like a needle prick, and then, after a minute, she didn’t feel anything that he did down below.
She was sleepy and so very tired. She closed her eyes and despite the feel of the nurse squeezing and rubbing hard circles on her belly she dozed off with exhaustion.
Chapter Seventeen
“What’s taking so long? Shouldn’t they have finished up by now?” Levi asked. “You read that damn book from cover to cover at least a dozen times.”
“This part can take a while. She might have a tear that he has to sew up, and there’s all that afterbirth mess they have to clean up. I have to admit I really didn’t want to be in there during that part. There’s a lot of blood with it.”
“Shit, man. I didn’t have to know that.” Levi shook his head.
“She’ll be fine. Did you see how cute little Kimmy was? The nurse said once Libby is relaxed they’ll bring her in to start nursing. The baby nursing will help her heal. Something about the pull on her nipples helps to shrink her uterus back to normal,” Devin told him.
“I can’t wait to hold her.”