I press my foot down hard on the pedal, “Okay, I’m driving!”
Traffic isn’t working for me as I weave in and out of lanes in the new car I bought Emma, trying to reach the hospital. “How you doing over there?”
Emma raises her head from her chosen spot against the window. Her damp hair sticks to her forehead. Her cheeks are flushed and taut. She glares at me, her blue eyes spitting fire. “How does it look like I’m doing?” she growls before grabbing her stomach and gritting her teeth as a loud groan erupts more like a roar.
I push the pedal harder.
“Are we almost there?” she yells.
“Working on it, Em!” I try to assure her as I jerk the car across two lanes of traffic to get ready to take the next exit.
Her legs spread and she grips the door frame before gripping my wrist.
“Holy crap, Emma!” I wince as her nails dig into my skin and her fingers press against my wrist like a vise.
“You haven’t seen anything, Steele, if you don’t get me to the hospital, now!” she pants, her breathing becoming more labored.
“Just keep your legs closed, okay?”
“Yeah, because that’s gonna keep the baby from coming, idiot!” she growls vehemently.
“Damn, woman, you’re mean when you’re in pain,” I try to tease. She finds no humor in that.
I jerk the vehicle to a stop in front of the ER and jump out, sliding across the hood before yanking her door open. Men with a wheelchair come out of the sliding glass doors. “Over here!” Emma’s hands are gripping the dashboard, and I take her arm, trying to help her out, but she slaps my hands away.
“Alright, Mrs., we’re going to put you in this wheelchair and take you in while your husband moves the car,” the medic explains.
Emma grabs my hand, jerking me towards her, “Don’t go. Don’t leave me.”
I toss the keys to the other medic. “Sorry, buddy, you’re going to have to do the honors,” I call over my shoulder as I try not to wince from her bruising grip while I follow them to the delivery room.
Emma tries to stifle her cry, but can’t keep from groaning in pain as she arches her back, almost falling out of the wheelchair.
“Is she supposed to be in this much pain?” I panic, squeezing her hand.
“It is labor,” the jackass quips.
“Well, give her something!” I bark, blanching when she lets out a loud cry.
“We’ll call the anesthesiologist when we get her in the room.”
Emma doubles over in pain, grabbing her lower belly.
“Screw that, you’ll call him now!”
Two male nurses pick her up and move her to a bed, one taking a quick cursory glance at her pelvic area, “There’s no time for that, the baby’s coming now! Call the doctor.”
Scrubs are shoved my way and I scramble into them, barreling into the room. Emma grabs my hand, squeezing the hell out of it, when she has another contraction.
“Her water just broke twenty minutes ago!” I blurt, confused at how everything is moving so fast.
“The baby doesn’t seem to care about that,” the same jackass blurts, and I want to shove his face against my knee but I don’t; I need him to help Emma right now.
A pained grunt fills the air and my fingers get squeezed to the point I think my bones might break. “BRECK!”
“I’m here, baby, just breathe.”
“Push, Emma,” the nurse orders, “we don’t have time to wait on the doctor.”
My hand goes numb as Emma grunts, her face turning scarlet as she pushes. Her forehead is covered in sweat and her chin drops forward from exhaustion after another hard push. Damn, I want to take away her pain. Two more pushes and I hear the baby’s cry.
Emma falls against the bed, her hands flying to her mouth as tears fill her eyes. Then, tears fill mine, when the nurse places Kylie in my arms. I’m in awe, looking down at this squirming baby girl staring right at me. My arms shake, but I hold her tight, wrapping her blanket snuggly around her. “Oh my God, Emma, look at what you did,” I can barely manage to speak.
Emma holds her arms out and I place Kylie into them, pure love bursting through me when I watch Emma smiling at our daughter. “No, Breck. Look at what we did. She’s beautiful.”
“Just like her mother,” I sweep my lips against Emma’s forehead, “I love you so much!” I slide on the bed next to her and place my hand on Kylie’s back as I wrap my arm around Emma, just wanting to hold both of them. We stay like this for so long, until Emma’s body gives into the exhaustion from her earlier exertion. She was in so much pain but she was so brave going through the delivery, especially without any medication. I chuckle at how her strength wasn’t as quiet this time, but just as strong.
It’s early when Kylie cries and I pick her up, rocking her. My gaze falls on Emma sleeping peacefully and a tear slides down my cheek. Closing my eyes, I shake my head, whispering, “I don’t know how to do this. I haven’t talked to you since – I don’t even remember when, but – thank you.”
When my eyes open, Emma is staring back at me, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, “Did you just say a prayer?”
“I figured it’s time since so many of the ones I never asked for have already been answered.” I swipe the tear away, looking at my beautiful wife and daughter, “So - you up for sharing your angels?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen in love with writing. Her prior written works are The Rain Trilogy: Saving Rain, Healing Rain, and After the Rain. Her debut novel, Saving Rain: The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy, was a nominee for the Book Junkie’s Choice Awards and is a nominee for the 2013 RONE Awards to be held July, 2014.
When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.
Readers can contact Karen-Anne at www.karen-annestewart.com.
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