Stand By Me

by Blu, Cora

  Was she deaf? He barked over the counter at the disinterested nurse, “Kenya Blakemore…they just brought her in?” The woman didn't look up only held a finger up. Before he had a stroke, the sound of shoes slapping over the hard floor filled the hallway. Jamie stalked toward him with Julia in tow.

  Julia looped and arm through his pulling him away from the counter. “Look here...go with Jamie and get your blood work done. Give me your insurance card 'cause I've already started on getting Kenya registered. Go before your son gets here.”

  He kissed Julia's face shoving his wallet into her hands and looked at the map on the wall instead of questioning the nurse for radiology.

  “Mr. Blakemore you need to come with me. Your attorney already called,” a security guard ushered a hand out indicating the elevators. “Radiology is waiting to give you yer blood test.”

  Heart pounding in his throat, Jonathan sprinted into the elevator with the security and Jamie. Pacing the elevator, he sprung when the doors opened. “Which way?” He shot a look down the hall. Shoes slapping over the tile, the sound followed him into a room where a tech waited with three vials to take his samples. He announced, “Jonathan Blakemore. Yer taking me blood?”

  “Mr. Blakemore, come sit down. The doctor's informed me yer in a hurry. That bairn won't wait, so we'll get this done right away.”

  “Appreciate it.” Pulling off his jacket, he dropped it on the floor and he shoved his sleeve up dropping down into the chair. Pounding footsteps echoed the halls outside the room. The door flew open as his lawyer and an officer joined him.”

  “Och, I doona want to know how many traffic violations we made on the loop...ye drive like a maniac.”

  “I was in a hurry.”

  The tech got his attention. “Alright, one vial left then I'll get started.” Jonathan turned to his lawyer. “I'm going to me wife. No one's keeping me from me son's birth,” his brogue had swallowed his clear English completely.

  “As long as ye stay in the hospital with a guard, yer not in violation of house arrest,” Hines informed him.

  On his feet holding the piece of cotton, he barely gave the nurse time to remove the rubber strap on his arm before he bolted out the door for the elevator at the end of the hall. Hines ran down the hall, his jacket flapping out around his body.

  Praying he hadn't missed the birth of his child, he set his gaze on the floors going by. If Kenya has the baby...

  The doors slid open, he saw Steve then Kenya's soft face greeted him, tired and flushed. “Oh, honey,” Kenya cried falling into his arms big and round. Beautiful. He scooped his wife off the floor kissing her mouth hungrily. Kenya's belly keeping him from getting any closer he touched and stroked his wife. Her sweet lips he greedily devoured walking down the corridor oblivious to the people walking and Kenya dragging her IV pole behind them.

  Kenya gripped her stomach; her mouth going slack. “Oh...mmm,” she groaned into his chest, her nails digging into his skin through the dress shirt. He loved every biting sensation. He'd made it in time. Another contraction bowed her over. “Ugh! I wanna push, Jonathan, put me down and get the doctor.”

  He turned bracing Kenya as he yelled down the hallway to the nurses’ station, “The bairns coming...get me a doctor, now.” In Kenya's room, he lowered her feet until they rested on the bed then as careful as possible he bent over until her behind met the bed and laid her back against the pillows. Uncertain of where to touch her as she writhed in pain, he settled on pulling a sheet over her and kept her from falling off the bed by rubbing her shoulders. He'd nearly missed the birth of his child. Nurses and a doctor poured through the doorway covered head to toe in scrubs. Family filled the doorway. The nurse pulled the curtain on the show.

  “Ah,” Kenya groaned clutching her belly. “He's coming. Mmmm...” she grimaced through compressed lips squeezing his hand. Jonathan stood at her head; he held her hand between both palms. A sense of helplessness swept through him.

  “Are you the father, sir?” the nurse asked.

  “Yes, this is my wife,” he announced proudly stroking Kenya's hair back off her face. She was beautiful, swollen with his child. He jerked his head up at the doctors getting his attention waving a hand through the air.

  “Och, go and get scrubbed. I'll have no germs infecting the mother or the bairn.”

  Jonathan whispered, he'd be right back, over Kenya's ear then followed the nurse through the swinging doors. Scrubbed clean he came back to Kenya's side tucking himself behind her on the bed supporting her back.

  “Mrs. Blakemore, I want you to breathe for me, in through your nose and blow it out through your mouth, nice and slow. Doona bear down until I tell you to...this little guy will be here before ye know it. I need to check you...how far your cervix has effaced.” The doctor propped Kenya's knees up and held them out wide in stirrups at the foot of the bed. “Yer doing great...good, just like that.” She said her voice rising from between Kenya's legs. Jonathan couldn't see her with her head so low.

  “Ta' mo chroi' istigh ionat, you're amazing, Kenya,” he whispered along her face. “That's it. Blow it out through your mouth Mo Ru'n,” he urged easing her back into his chest after the last breath. This was his world giving birth to their future. A nurse handed him a washcloth. Kenya leaned into his hand covered in the cool towel stroking gently back and forth. He whispered, “Yer doing great, Mo Ru'n,” her breathing sped up. “Slow yer breathing sweet wife. I love you and the wee bairn you're bringing into the world. Hell, Kenya yer beautiful and mine and for these past months you gave me a lot to think about regarding you and making a family with you here in Ireland.”

  Reaching down he massaged the thigh he could reach down to her knee.

  Kenya said in a low voice her head back on his chest, “I'll live wherever you are,” she confessed on a long breath. Kenya's tired smile filled his heart proud. “Ahh...” she groaned pressing a fist into her thigh. Her mouth went slack behind the next groan.

  “Aye, this little one wants to greet the world and is not waiting much longer.” The doctor informed scooting closer to Kenya's open thighs. Jonathan felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back and a pressure in his chest he's never experienced forced a lump in his throat knowing he would meet his son soon. “Mrs. Blakemore, when I say...bear down right here,” she directed. Jonathan watched Kenya give a quick nod but he had no idea what or where the doctor meant but Kenya seemed to know. “Okay Mr. Blakemore brace your wives back she's gonna need to push your son out for a count of ten.”

  Jonathan blinked embracing his arms snug around Kenya and waited for the doctor's signal. Things moved in slow motion after that. An hour later, he sat blotting a cool towel over his wife's face as exhaustion drained her fight in between contractions.

  “Is this normal, Doctor? The birth? Should it be so hard on Kenya?”

  “Aye, she's fine. I dinna wanna give pain killers now. The little one will get sleepy and I need him to push himself out.” The doctor angled her chin up. “Yer little bairn is nae so...little, “the doctor announced over the sheet shielding them from what he was certain wasn't a pleasant sight. “As long as he's not in distress it's best to have him without medical interference.”

  “You mean a caesarean section?” he asked pain eating at his heart for Kenya going through so much to bring his son into the world.

  “Yes. I'm only here to assist if need be. Your wife, Mr. Blakemore, is all your son needs at this point. Birth is a natural process that we're fortunate to be witness to.”

  Kenya's face twisted behind each contraction along with his heart and the knot in his gut. The bleeping of the monitors sped up, announcing Kenya's and the baby's heart-beat.

  “Ah, here we go,” the doctor said excited, scooting in close between Kenya's legs bracing a hand to her left knee. “Somebody's ready to make their debut. And it's a slick, bald one.”

  “You can see the bairn?” Jonathan asked impatiently.

  The doctor glanced up. “I can see the top of a ba
ld head. Okay, Kenya I want you to push and count to ten. Don't stop until I tell you.”

  Kenya's skin glistened with perspiration after the last round of pushing and he felt sweat beading on his forehead.

  “Ugh...Mmm...,” Kenya moaned.

  “I'm here. Yer amazing, Mo Ru'n. I'm so proud of you.”

  “Mr. Blakemore support yer wife's back when I tell her to push.” He nodded cradling Kenya's head to his chest. Pictures ran through his mind of all the times Kenya could've lost the baby. Her fighting Morgan out in the field, running to him in the caves...and the fire in the barn, either one could have taken both from his life. He clenched his jaw against the helpless feeling of losing her and all she had done for him and their son.

  “Mr. Blakemore...it's just us four...let your wife see what I'm seeing. Look back at yer husband, Mrs. Blakemore.”

  He fought the tears grinding behind his eyes. Those brown eyes found him. Kenya angled her hand back stroking his face. He pressed a kiss into her hand. She knew what he needed. Kenya said through tired gulps of air, “I can feel his heartbeat against my back...those aren't tears for me. They're for the future he sees with his son and all the good times he's got planned. I know my husband, doctor.”

  He kissed the top of her head. She always left him with his pride.

  “Well get ready, yer little guys coming. Kenya...push,” the doctor directed. Jonathan bit down on the inside of his cheek watching his wife bring their son into the world. Hell, he almost missed this. This is what his entire existence is about and he'd always be there for his family. “Seven...Eight...Nine...Ten...great now relax. Yer doing perfect. Take a few breaths and let's do it again.

  Kenya inhaled and blew out her breath; her nails biting into Jonathan's palm.

  “Alright, let's get this boy out to meet his family. Push Kenya. One...Two...Three...” Jonathan counted along Kenya's face with the doctors. Kenya's stomach stood hard and high and he had no idea how she was able to handle the pain.

  “Okay, stop,” the doctor urged. “Ye'll feel a good amount of pressure as we deliver these shoulders. This time push slower. I need to get him past the tightest point. Ready, go. That's it Kenya. Yer doing wonderfully.”

  “Mmmm...”

  Blood rang in Jonathan's ears with every breath she took. Kenya collapsed against his chest making him shoot a worried look at the doctor.

  “Shoulders out and...welcome to the world...you’re a handsome one aren’t ye?” The doctor brought her face up smiled at Kenya then him then down at the baby and her brows jacked up in question. “Do ye have a name picked out for this beautiful little boy?”

  “Ethan, Ethan Jonathan Blakemore,” Jonathan said, proudly, smoothing beads of sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.

  “Aye, there ye go little one. Welcome to the world, Ethan. Ye gave yer mother a workout.”

  Voices spilled from around the curtain and the nurse stuck her head through the veil. “A lot of family out here anxious to know. Can I tell them?”

  A hand over his heart, Jonathan inhaled and said on exhale, “Ethan Jonathan Blakemore...my son.”

  Pride coursed through him when the doctor held their son up to lie on Kenya’s stomach the cord still attached. Ethan screamed and squirmed arms flailing through the air and Kenya ran a hand over her son’s head, tears streaming down her face.

  “Oh he’s beautiful, honey…so handsome.” Kenya said voice low as her body lay weak against Jonathan's chest. “Is he okay, doctor, why is he doing that with his head?” Kenya worried. The doctor smiled at both of them.

  “Ye’ve not had much experience with a bairn, Mrs. Blakemore.” Kenya shook her head then angled a look over her shoulder to Jonathan and he shrugged. “He’s rooting; looking for yer breast to nurse.” Another nurse came over began wiping the white film from the baby, him struggling against her administrations.

  The doctor said, “Dad, come cut the cord.”

  Propping the pillows behind Kenya, he dipped down kissing her dry lips running his tongue lightly over the surface. When he lifted away enough to see her face, he held it. “Look at me.” Kenya tipped her head back. Blinking, he watched one teardrop onto her nose to run down her shiny face to slip between her lips. “That one's for you,” he said staring proudly at the miracle, he called his wife. His pulse beat wild in his temple from the excitement that he was a father. Kenya licked the tear and released one of her own to slide down her face. He quickly kissed the salty tear from her face, mouthing, I love you, against her skin. Backing away, he kept his eyes on her and moved closer to the doctor. Accepting the scissors, he cut the surprisingly hard cord connecting his son to his wife. Ethan made a noise then as if he sprung a leak, a stream of pee jetted into the air over Jonathan's scrubs. He had a son.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Security in tow, Jonathan and Jamie left his family in the anxious care of Kenya’s parents, Steve, Karla, and Fiona as Kenya slept. He jogged down the stairs, too worked up to wait for the elevator he needed to see Seamus. They had a few more hours before the blood test were due back and that was rushing the tech's as it was. Stalking the quiet floor of the therapy wing, he went to the nurse's station.

  Jamie caught him up on Seamus's condition. In therapy three days a week, he needed to strengthen the leg he was shot in. When everything exploded at the trial, Gretchen wanted Seamus to have his blood pressure checked. His therapist agreed to see him while they waited for the baby to be born as his appointment was for tomorrow anyway.

  His leg was improving every day. Past the high white counter, around the half-opened blue and green curtain, Jonathan could see Gretchen sitting on a bed face in hand. They’d provided her with a room to rest in while Seamus went through his two hour therapy.

  The slack tilt of her head broke his heart. Tension rode him seeing the impact of his imprisonment had on Gretchen. Threading a hand through his hair down to his neck, he scrubbed at the nape of his neck. Padding across the marbled floors, he eased the overly laundered curtains behind him filling his view with one of his favorite sights, Gretchen.

  Squatting low before her he lifted her face with his knuckle, greeted by her weathered skin. Her scent he loved as he kissed her cheek. He cast a quick look to see if the window was open after touching her cold skin. Satisfied it wasn't he pushed off his knees, picking her up and laying her on the single bed. Her blue eyes stared glassy up at him.

  “Aye, me boy,” Gretchen gripped his hand to her bosom fighting back the tears swimming in her eyes. “That Kenya of yours...nae had the bairn, yet? Aye, it'll come when ready,” Gretchen said weakly. He stared at her excited tone waited until she stopped ranting to tell her about Ethan. The loose skin on her hands appeared paler under the sallow light over the bed.

  Easing down beside Gretchen dragging the thin blanket at the foot of the bed over her body, he tucked it around her slack shoulders. The normally robust woman appeared translucent; her perpetually flushed cheeks pale. The last year had taken a toll on his gran.

  “You have a great grandson healthy and strong like all Blakemore's.”

  “Och, the bairn is here?” That brightened her eyes and her smile as she smacked a hand to his cheek rubbing with a renewed vigor. “Why are ye no with her instead of this old woman? Seamus can come up after his therapy.”

  “I came to check on you. Kenya's resting and they're waiting on the blood test to come back for me.”

  She really smacked him then. “Oy, what did they do to ye in prison that yer doubt that gal,” she said rolling over to her side to push up to a sitting position. “Why do ye need a blood test? That's yer boy.”

  His eyes widened cutting off the unspoken accusation on Kenya's loyalty to him. “That is me boy,” he said proudly. “No I'm referring to Calder...from the trial?” She blinked then sighed.

  “I almost forgot about the test. We came down here straight from the court. Seamus was breathing heavily after Brian's show. Kenya's sister took the veil from me son's lies,” she said
closing her hand over his on the sheet.

  He blinked slowly. “Gran...Kenya is more than I expected to ever have in a wife.”

  “Ye are a good man and she knows this.”

  “You don't know her the way...”

  “Dinna think girls don't talk.” Gretchen smiled up at him. “She was upset when ye had words in the barn… started to leave you then.”

  “I can't see Kenya telling anyone about what went on in there.”

  “She dinna need to. The sexy heels on the floor in yer suite held straw covering the heels. She dresses for yer pleasure. And when I told her I wanted to rattle her cage,” she laughed bringing a hand to her mouth. “Aye, let me see what was it she said...Och, If you don't mind my cage has had the jaws of life gnawing at it today.”

  “Did she?” He rested an elbow on the bed and cupped his chin. He'd treated her unfairly that night, astonished she made love to him after that. Hell she'd rode him like a horse that night and he'd left bite marks on her tight butt. Jonathan spread his leg allowing the erection growing more room in his jeans. He caught the knowing stare from Gretchen. “I questioned if she was a spy for Brian.”

  “Aye, so ye did inherit a wee bit of the jackass trait the Blakemore men fall prey to every moon or two.”

  “Appears so,” he said dropping his head; he kissed the back of her hand. “I'm gonna get someone down here with you. I need to check on Kenya.”

  A nurse wheeled Seamus through the door. Jonathan moved to his grandfather getting to his feet and embraced for what had to be a solid minute.

  He caught him up on what was happening and what they were waiting to find out.

  “My brother was very much like Brian. He died before you were born, but he always wanted the other kids to know we came from money. I'd hoped the trait died with him, I guess it held strong.”

  Gretchen touched his face. “Ye hope yer Calder's boy. I see it on yer face.”

  He scratched his temple hesitant to answer her honestly, but she'd know a lie. “Brian's known all my life that I wasn't his son.”