My Broken Angel

by Heather D'Agostino

  “Let’s do a cool down run on the treadmill, and I think we’re good for the day,” he nodded. “You know, if you cut that you wouldn’t be so hot,” he pointed at my shaggy hair.

  “I’ve just gotten used to it,” I ran my hair through the sandy strands. I’d kept it nearly buzzed when I used to fight, but after I left, I let it grow to a longer length. It was as if I was trying to erase anything that made me like that person I used to be. Now I wasn’t sure if I was him again, or someone else. It was as if I was suffering a little bit from an identity crisis. “I’ll think about it.”

  “You got some attachment to your hair,” Mike teased.

  “Just go google me, asshole then you can tease all you want,” I shook my head, climbed on the treadmill, and tuned him out as I flicked on both it and the stereo. I wasn’t sure what his impression would be, or if he would believe the lies that Vicki had spread, but I had this need for him to know everything and I didn’t think I could go back there to explain it all.

  ooooooooo

  Angela

  When Wes finally decided to stop for the night he looked completely worn down. Sweat drenched his gray t-shirt causing it to darken to almost black. His sandy hair now looked like a chocolate mass plastered to his forehead and neck, and his shorts clung deliciously to his toned ass.

  “Wanna take a soak in the tub with me?” I smiled as I rummaged through the fridge. It seemed lately that I couldn’t stop eating. The baby was so big now that he pushed on my stomach causing me to eat small meals. This in turn caused me to be constantly grazing.

  “I think I’m going to take a quick shower,” he grimaced as he shuffled toward the steps to head upstairs. I could tell Mike had really been pushing him lately, but the Showcase was next month and Wes wanted to win. Linc had not so subtly announced that he planned to take down “The Machine”. Wes had earned the nickname in his early days as a fighter. He had this methodical way he delivered his blows almost mechanical like. Spectators used to tease and taunt him that he was predictable, but truth be told, he was far from it. He may have been methodical, but predictable he was not. He was strong and unrelenting. His fighting style was brutal. He’d spit his opponents out like it was nothing. He was “The Machine” and he worked liked it, too.

  “I’ll be up in a bit, as soon as I get a snack,” I called as I heard the steps squeak. After grabbing a bottled water and an ice cream sandwich, I began turning off lights, and heading upstairs. Mike had gone back to the apartment he was renting in the nearest town, and Wes had made it into the shower. As soon as I heard it roar to life, I sighed. My feet hurt, and I was so pregnant now that all I wanted to do was try and sleep. Wes had been complaining for the last week that I took up too much of the bed. I couldn’t blame him though. I’d piled so many pillows around my back and legs that I took up more than half off the huge king-sized bed.

  As soon as I sat down, the bathroom door opened and he stood there in all his naked glory. Water drops trailed down his bare chest and abs before dripping to the tiled floor below him. His hair was sticking up in every direction from where he’d scrubbed a towel over it. He placed his hands on the door frame and grinned at me. “Like what you see?”

  I couldn’t help but stare at him. Wes has always been gorgeous, but since he started training again, he’d really bulked up. The muscles in his arms flexed as he leaned forward, and I licked my lips. His smirk widened as a confident look slipped into place. He was slowly hardening as he stared at me, and I couldn’t understand why. I wasn’t the petite girl from nine months ago. I was fat and felt really ugly at the moment. My sides had stretch marks from where my baby, who I determined was a boy, had pushed and stretched me to the max. We still didn’t know for sure if it was a he, but based on the flips and kicking I’d decided that it was.

  “I’ve seen better,” I finally responded as I climbed under the covers. I’d finished my ice cream, and as much as I was enjoying his attention, my back was killing me tonight, and I just wanted to sleep.

  “I know you’re tired Angel, but could you help me with something?” His smile faltered for a moment as he watched me.

  “I’m not in the mood,” I grumbled.

  “Not that. Although that would be nice,” he snickered. “I want you to help me cut my hair,” he ran his hand over his head as he watched me. I wasn’t sure what he was planning to do. Wes always wore his hair fairly short until the last few years. Heck, when he was fighting he’d kept it so short at times, he looked almost bald.

  “What exactly am I doing,” I climbed from the bed and groaned. I paused when I got to the door and rubbed my back. “Shit that hurts!” I winced when a sharp pain made its way down my leg. “He’s sitting on a nerve.”

  “Never mind,” Wes turned around, and led me back to bed.

  “No,” I slapped at his hand. “I’m up now. What do you want me to do?”

  He grabbed his electric razor, pushed a guard on the end before handing it to me, and then sat on the edge of the tub. “Buzz it off,” he looked up at me with a guilty face.

  “You want me to what?” I gasped as I ran my fingers through it.

  “Buzz it off,” he shrugged. “I won’t be bald. This will leave about a quarter inch. It’s just easier and cooler. I trust you,” he turned so the back of his head was facing me. “Go for it.”

  I pressed the button on the razor just as another pain sliced through me. What the hell was this? This baby was playing kickball with my kidneys tonight.

  “You ok?” Wes sensed my hesitancy and glanced up at me.

  “Yeah, I’m going to die if this baby doesn’t come out soon,” I whined as I placed the buzzer to the side of his head and took a swipe of hair off right above his ear. The sandy clump fell to the floor near my feet as I reached to make another pass right above the first one. As I continued grazing the razor along his scalp, making my way to the top of his head, the pain in my back began to increase. “I might need to lay down,” I mumbled just as a gush of water came rushing out between my legs.

  “What’s wrong?” Wes looked back as I just stood there stunned. This wasn’t supposed to happen yet. I still had another three weeks.

  “Uh,” I stammered as I shoved the razor back at him. “We need to go…NOW!”

  “Is that?” he pointed to the puddle between my feet right where there was a pile of his hair.

  “Yeah. Baby’s coming,” I growled as pain seized me once again.

  Wes jumped up from the side of the tub, grabbed a pair of boxers, and quickly began dressing. He was pulling a t-shirt over his head when I started laughing and pointing at him. He stared at me; I’m sure thinking I was breaking down before reality set in. Half his head was shaved, and the other half was long. “Better grab this.” He snatched a knit hat from the dresser, tugged it down to cover his hair, and grabbed the bag I’d packed last week before rushing me out the door to his truck. “You ok,” he helped me in before racing around to his side to climb in.

  I nodded just as another contraction tore through me, “Hurry. They’re coming fast. I don’t want to have this baby in the car.” Wes swallowed and blinked a few times as he attempted to start the car. His hands were shaking so hard that he missed getting the keys in the ignition the first few times he tried. “You can do this,” I panted as I reached for him. “I’m counting on you.”

  With that, he cranked the truck, shoved it into reverse, and peeled out down the gravel road. As we bumped along, I couldn’t help but pray we made it to the hospital. This baby didn’t seem to want to wait, and I didn’t know the first thing about delivering a baby on the side of the road.

  Chapter 27

  Wes

  When we’d arrived at the hospital, the nurses whisked Angela away and shoved a pair of paper scrubs at me. They instructed me to gown up if I wanted to stay in the room. At first I wasn’t sure if I did want to be in there. After all, the baby wasn’t mine and Angela had been cursing me the entire ride here. She’d pretty much told me that men w
ere the most evil creatures on the planet, and she hoped we all rotted for what we put women through to have babies. I’d called Cole, and told him he better get his ass up here or he’d be dealing with me the next day. I was not going to do this alone. The three of us had gone through every major life changing event as a group, and this baby wasn’t going to be the first that we didn’t do together.

  “Hey man,” Cole lifted his hand in a slight wave as he shuffled down the hallway of the maternity ward. I had been pacing in front of the door to Angela’s room for the last half-hour. I needed an escape from the screaming and chaos from within.

  “Thank god!” I groaned. “What the fuck took you so long?” I tossed my hands out to my side in annoyance. We’d been at the hospital since around ten last night. It was now six in the morning, and Cole was just now showing up minus Maddie.

  “You said everything was fine. Maddie assured me that babies take a while, so I waited. Seeing my sister squeeze a watermelon out from down there is not something I particularly want to see anyway,” he rolled his eyes as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He stopped when he reached me, turned, and leaned against the wall. He crossed his ankles and released a sigh before slowly tipping his head in my direction, “I’m sorry,” he murmured.

  “For what?” I jerked my head back. He looked different, like he hadn’t been sleeping, and worry etched his features.

  “For being an ass. I swore that I’d never not be there again, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. You’re jumping back into the fire, and here I am letting you do it alone,” he shook his head before releasing a chuckle. “I’m not happy that you hid whatever this is,” he motioned to Angela’s door, “from me, but I am happy that you’re taking on something that has nothing to do with you.”

  “That baby’s part of her. I’ll treat it like my own,” I nodded.

  “You’re a good guy,” Cole clapped me on the shoulder. “Let’s go in so I can say hi.”

  “You might change your mind once you get in there. She’s been refusing drugs, and has turned into a meanie.”

  Cole chuckled as he pushed the door open, and then came to an abrupt halt when Angela’s screeching reached us. I couldn’t help but stumble into his back, before breaking out in laughter.

  “It’s all your fault,” she squealed. “I hate all of you. You can all die!”

  “Um,” Cole stammered as he looked over his shoulder at me.

  “See, she’s possessed,” I whispered just as nurse handed Cole some paper scrubs like I was wearing.

  “I can hear you,” she grumbled as she shoved at the covers. “It’s hot,” she whined. “Make it cooler,” her face tipped up toward the nurse’s as sweat beaded on her brow.

  “Angel, it’s freezing in here,” I scrubbed my hands up and down my bare arms. It must be fifty degrees in the room.

  “Is not,” she pouted as she relaxed. The contraction must have passed because her face softened as she watched us. “You came,” she smiled at Cole.

  “’Course I did, Ang, you’re my sister,” Cole slowly inched across the room like he was afraid of her snapping at him at any moment.

  “But…” her voice stopped mid-sentence as her face contorted once again and the heavy breathing she’d been doing all night started back up. “Ahhh!”

  “Breathe, baby,” I soothed as I rushed to the other side of the bed and grabbed her hand. “Squeeze the pain out.” Cole sat there stunned as fear washed over his face. “The nurse says it’s normal,” I reassured him. “These are coming faster now. Won’t be long,” I grabbed the wash cloth that was sitting on the table beside the bed and wiped it over Angela’s forehead.

  “That’s what you said an hour ago,” she growled as her grip tightened. “Get this baby out of me!”

  As her voice escalated, a nurse breezed in, “Let me check you again. I think it might be time to push.” She smiled as she made her way around to the foot of the bed.

  The last time they did this, Angel flinched as if it hurt, so I stayed in my current position with her hand squeezing mine. “What are you going to do?” Cole slowly stood as he watched the nurse push the covers up over Angel’s knees.

  “Get this baby out!” Angela growled as she stared at Cole.

  “I’m gonna step out,” he pointed to door, and refused to make eye contact with any of us as he began moving toward it. “I don’t really want to see my sister’s hoo-ha on display if I can help it.”

  “Pussy!” I shouted after him just as Angela smacked my chest.

  “I don’t want him staring down there either,” she growled as another contraction ripped through her.

  “Yep. We’re ready to push; let me get the doctor,” she smiled at Angel as she rushed to the door and motioned for someone to enter. She then turned around and began setting things in motion for the little man’s arrival. Angela still insisted that this baby was a boy. She claimed that the reason it was hurting her so much, and taking so long was because it was a stubborn man. I didn’t take the time to remind her that women were usually the ones that were late, and she was just as stubborn as I was.

  “Hi, Miss Walker,” an older gentleman strode into the room and was pulling on a pair of rubber gloves as the nurses began pushing the covers to Angela’s waist. They directed me to one of her legs as another nurse moved to stand behind her head and grip her hands. With the amount of people in the room, I was amazed she wasn’t embarrassed. Here she was spread eagle for anyone to walk in and see. “I’m Dr. Burgess. I’m on call tonight for maternity. How are you?” he smiled as he lowered himself onto a stool between Angel’s legs.

  “Just peachy,” she grimaced. “Get this kid outta me!”

  “That’s the plan,” he smiled as he looked over at me. “You the dad?”

  “No,” I shook my head. “But I hope to be.”

  “Well, all right. When the next contraction comes, you’re gonna push for ten seconds and we’re gonna count for you,” he nodded as he watched the fetal monitor beep along-side the bed. “Ok, here we go… PUSH!” he commanded.

  Angela grunted and screamed as we slowly counted to ten. I could see a shock of hair beginning to emerge as the head slowly began to slide out. “You’re doing it, baby. I can see the head!” I couldn’t help but get excited. I’d never experienced something like this before. I didn’t have any siblings. Cole was the closest thing I had to a brother. “Keep going,” I coaxed. “You can do it.”

  Angela half smiled-half grimaced as she continued to push every few minutes until the contractions were practically on top of one another. “Head’s almost out. One more,” Dr. Burgess smiled up at Angela. You wanna catch this baby,” he grinned at me.

  “Uh,” I stammered. Did I want to do that?

  “Come on. It’s easy,” he motioned for me to stand right beside him. “As soon as I clear the shoulders you’re going to reach down here and catch it. I’ll help you with the rest,” he patted my forearm as I nervously shifted on my feet. Angela let out another scream as she began pushing. “We’re right there, Angela,” he looked up at her. “Don’t stop. Another breath. Keep pushing.” As she bore down again, the head popped free, and Dr. Burgess suctioned the mouth and nose. “Ok. We gotta clear the shoulders. One more big push. Now!” his voice boomed as Angela grunted, and the baby slid into my waiting arms.

  “Is he ok?” Angela panted as tears began streaming down her face and the baby released a garbled cry.

  “You did it!” I smiled up at her with my own tears cascading down my cheeks. “You did it.”

  “Doctor? Is he ok?” she asked again as clips were placed on the umbilical cord, and I was handed a pair of scissors.

  “Baby’s fine, if you’re ok with it being a she?” Dr. Burgess smiled at us as he placed the baby on Angela’s chest and instructed me where to cut. “Congratulations!”

  “Thank you,” she sniffed as she wiped at her nose, and peered down at the squirming bundle in her arms. “She’s beautiful,” she cried before glancing u
p at me. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” I wrinkled my forehead.

  “For being here, and putting up with all this,” she sighed as exhaustion from being up all night finally started to set in. “Can you tell my brother that it’s safe to come back now?”

  “Sure thing,” I smiled at her. “Don’t fall asleep.”

  “Hey, Uncle Cole,” I leaned out the door and chuckled. “Your niece wants to meet you.”

  Cole’s face broke out in a wide smile as he stood from where he’d been sitting slumped against the wall. I held open the door for him to enter the room, and this time he rushed in. Since Angela was quiet with the exception of a few soft sobs, he seemed more eager to be around her.

  “It’s a girl?” he whispered as he moved closer.

  “Un huh,” she nodded up at him. “Wanna hold her?” she lifted the baby toward him, and I had a hard time not laughing when he reached for her.

  He lightly jostled her in his arms as he awkwardly shifted on his feet. She was so tiny, and he’s so hulking that she fit in his arms like a football. “What’dya name her, Ang?” he grinned down at the baby.

  “Riley Anne Walker,” Angela smiled up at him. “It fits, right?”

  “It’s perfect,” I chuckled as I moved to take a seat next to the bed. Cole had commandeered the rocker in the corner leaving me with the simple arm chair. “I’m so proud of you Angel,” I leaned over and placed a kiss to her forehead. “You should sleep some. We’ll watch her.”

  “I’m not tired,” she yawned just as nurse came in to check things over.

  “Honey,” she tipped her head to the side, “when a man tells you he’ll watch the baby so you can sleep, you need to sleep. It ain’t gonna happen often, just you wait.”

  Angela nodded slightly as another yawn escaped her, “You’ll wake me when she wants to eat?” she glanced up at me with a tired smile.

  “I think she’ll wake you up just fine, but yeah. I’ll wake you. Now sleep,” I brushed some of the sweat soaked hair off her forehead as her eyes drifted closed.