Late Arrivals (Special Delivery Book 4)

by J. A. Armstrong

“Which is?”

  “Ethan,” Rachel said flatly.

  Brooke sighed. “I’ll bet Tess hates me about now,” she commented sadly. Rachel laughed. “Told you that, did she?” Brooke guessed.

  “No,” Rachel said. “She loves you, and you know it. I think it’s just hard for her to relate in a way.”

  “Why? She’s been through it.”

  “Not with a partner at her side,” Rachel reminded Brooke.

  “Shit,” Brooke mumbled. “Whoops, sorry, buddy,” she whispered to Devon, who was sleeping in her arms.

  “I don’t think he’s paying attention,” Rachel laughed.

  “I don’t mean to be such a…”

  “Such an asshole?” Rachel offered.

  “Thanks, Rach.”

  “I know you don’t,” Rachel said. “She knows that too. Try and relax a little, Brooke. I know you wanted this to be textbook. No pregnancy is textbook. It might seem that way to us when we are watching from a distance. You don’t really understand it until you live it,” she offered honestly.

  Brooke chuckled. She was learning each moment how true Rachel’s words were. One thing Brooke did believe; she was certain she would be a more empathetic doctor in the future.

  “I really need to make the last few weeks up to Tess,” Brooke mused aloud.

  “You will,” Rachel said. She watched Brooke snuggle Devon and squinted in question when she saw Brooke flinch slightly. “Brooke?”

  Brooke shrugged. “I’m fine, just a twinge.”

  Rachel nodded and decided to keep a silent watch on Brooke for the next couple of hours.

  ***

  Tess rubbed her eyes when she heard Davey’s voice enter the living room. “I must have drifted off.”

  “Mom!”

  “I heard you,” Tess grumbled.

  “I said, Aunt Rachel is on your phone,” he said, handing his mother her cell phone.

  Tess tried to shake herself awake. Brooke must want to come home. “Okay, thanks,” she said, taking the phone. “Hey, Rach. Is she ready to come home?” Tess asked. “What?! You’re not kidding; are you?”

  Davey looked at his mother curiously. Tess seemed to have awoken in an instant.

  “Okay,” Tess said, hanging up the call. She sat shell-shocked for a second.

  “Mom?” Davey took hold of Tess’s shoulder, shaking her from her stupor.

  Tess smiled at him. “Go get your sneakers and your jacket. I need to call Grandma and have her pick up Dani from her lesson,” Tess said as she headed for the stairs.

  “Where are we going?” he asked.

  “Looks like to the hospital,” Tess told him.

  ***

  “Brooke,” Tess spoke soothingly. “Try and relax, love.”

  “How can anyone relax like this?” Brooke asked viciously. Tess flinched. Brooke groaned. “I’m sorry,” Brooke looked at Tess apologetically.

  Tess smiled genuinely. “It’s okay. I remember. It isn’t the most pleasant experience.”

  Brooke laughed, surprising Tess. “You sound just like a doctor—politically correct and empathetic,” Brooke snorted. “Ow!”

  Tess smirked. “Brooke…”

  “Ugh… What?”

  “Let them give you the epidural.”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  Tess pursed her lips thoughtfully. Brooke’s doctor had just been in and had suggested that Brooke agree to an epidural. Brooke’s labor was progressing slowly. Ten hours into a late night, she was still only slightly dilated. After some prodding, Brooke had conceded that Pitocin might be advisable. She’d walked, she’d changed positions, and walked again. Things just were not speeding up. Dr. Liz Kowalski had pulled Tess aside and expressed her concern. Brooke was afraid that an epidural might slow the labor process more. Liz Kowalski was concerned about Brooke’s blood pressure, which had risen in the last hour. Tess could see the strain on Brooke’s face. The physical and emotional stress was beginning to take a toll. Tess was not willing to risk either Brooke or Ethan. She understood Brooke’s fear, but she also felt it was time for Brooke to listen to her doctor.

  “Brooke,” Tess leaned in and kissed Brooke’s forehead. “Please, love, listen to Liz. Please.”

  Brooke heard the tension in Tess’s voice as it caught in Tess’s throat. “I’m okay,” Brooke told her. “I just want it to…”

  “And, I need you both to be healthy,” Tess finally spoke firmly. “What would you do, Brooke? If you were Liz? What would you advise right now?”

  Brooke groaned. “Tess, sometimes… I’ve seen it…. Sometimes an epidural…”

  “And, if it does stall everything, then we will deal with it,” Tess said. She winced when Brooke grabbed her hand. “Brooke,” Tess urged her wife. Brooke closed her eyes and nodded silently in defeat. Tess kissed her again. “I’m going to get the nurse,” she told Brooke.

  Brooke nodded again as she watched Tess head for the door. Oh, come on, Ethan, help me out here.

  ***

  A sleepy-eyed Dani wandered into the living room to find Rebecca sipping a cup of tea on the couch while Brad slept in a recliner. “Grandma?”

  “Dani? It’s five in the morning. What are you doing awake?” Rebecca asked.

  Dani rubbed her eyes and made her way to sit beside her grandmother. “How come it’s taking so long?” she asked innocently.

  “Babies take as long as they take,” Rebecca replied as Dani collapsed against her.

  “But, he was supposed to be here last week.”

  “Well, haven’t you ever been so comfortable in your bed, you just didn’t want to get up?”

  “Yeah, but he doesn’t have a bed yet,” Dani said with a yawn.

  Rebecca suppressed her laughter and pulled Dani down to lie in her lap. “No, I guess that’s true. I suspect he’s just happy where he is.”

  “Did Mom call?”

  “About an hour ago, she did—yes. Brooke is okay, Dani. It’s probably going to be a few more hours.”

  “That’s like a whole day,” Dani said with another yawn following.

  Rebecca chuckled and looked up to see Davey practically tripping over his feet as he entered the room. Peas in a pod.

  “Is he here yet? Davey asked.

  “No. I told you that I would wake you up when Mom called,” Rebecca reminded him.

  “Dani’s up,” Davey pointed out.

  Rebecca looked down at Dani, who had fallen back to sleep. “Not anymore,” she said. “Do you want to stay down here too?” she asked him.

  Davey nodded and climbed onto the other end of the large couch. “I wish he’d hurry up,” he said, yawning and folding up into a ball.

  I’ll bet you are not the only one. “He’ll be here soon enough,” Rebecca said, deciding she might as well close her eyes too. Who knows when she’ll call?

  ***

  “Doing okay?” Tess asked. Brooke nodded, but her smile did little to conceal her fear. Tess hoped that someone would be in to check Brooke again soon. Brooke had grown quiet in the last few minutes. Tess was beginning to wonder if she was in pain again. Just as she was about to offer up a silent prayer, Liz Kowalski walked into the room.

  “What’s up Doc?” Liz asked Brooke lightheartedly. “What do you say, I check things out and see where we are at?”

  Brooke nodded. Tess held Brooke’s hand while Liz set about her task. She checked the monitors first and studied a long slip of paper. Tess couldn’t read anything in the doctor’s expression. Her eyes were riveted to every move Dr. Liz Kowalski made, hoping to discern some news—any news.

  “How’s the pain?” Lis asked Brooke.

  “It’s there. Not like it was. It just feels a little different, I guess.”

  “In what way?” Liz asked curiously.

  “I can’t explain it. Like I need to get up and use the…”

  Liz’s eyebrow shot up. “Uh-huh,” she commented absently. Crazy how we can’t figure things out when it is us in the bed. Liz tried not to reveal h
er suspicion. “Just going to check things, okay?” she told Brooke.

  “Do me a favor and tell my son to get a move on while you do,” Brooke tried to joke.

  “I’ll see if he picks up my call,” Liz deadpanned.

  Tess was still focused on Liz when she felt Brooke squeeze her hand hard. She immediately shifted her focus to her wife. “Brooke?” she called gently. Brooke pressed hard on Tess’s hand again, just as Liz stood to face them both.

  “Guess he was waiting for your call,” Liz laughed.

  Brooke made no reply. The death grip she had on Tess’s hand told Tess everything she needed to know.

  “You ever decide to do this again; you’d better get here pronto,” Liz laughed. “You just went from four centimeters to plus one in twenty minutes,” she told Brooke.

  Brooke looked at Tess. “Oh, God…”

  “Don’t push yet,” Liz directed. “I know you want to. Not yet,” she said, making her way to poke her head out of the door.

  Tess heard Liz call down the corridor just as Brooke groaned. “Don’t push? What am I supposed to do?” she whined. “Oh, God. I am never telling anyone that again!” Brooke cried out. “Jesus…”

  Tess bit her lip. “Just think, he will be here soon,” she said.

  Brooke’s head fell back against the pillow, and she groaned. “He’s grounded.”

  Tess smiled. She could tell how uncomfortable Brooke was. She remembered the feeling well. But, she also sensed that Brooke’s fear had abated, at least slightly. Brooke was talkative and displaying the humor Tess had come to know often served to mask Brooke’s uncertainty. “Going to make him change his own diapers?” Tess asked.

  “Maybe!” Brooke gritted her teeth.

  Liz fell back into position, and moved Brooke’s legs to where she needed them. “Well, looky here,” she laughed motioning to the nurse that had entered the room.

  “Oh, Dr. C!” the nurse addressed Brooke, “he’s crowning!”

  “Makes sense,” Brooke choked. “Feels like he has his foot up my ass!”

  Tess laughed and held Brooke’s hand firmly. “Glad to see you have your sense of humor back,” she said.

  “Why? Did I say…Ugh… something funny?”

  “Okay, Brooke… Push. Push until I say stop,” Liz directed

  Tess hoped she would regain use of her hand quickly. Brooke had hold of her with so much force; she momentarily thought she might need a doctor’s attention soon. At least, I am in the right place.

  Liz looked up at Tess and nodded with a smiled. “Breathe, Brooke.”

  “I am breathing!”

  Tess kept encouraging Brooke. Brooke was getting tired. Tess hoped that the pushing wouldn’t last much longer.

  “You’re doing great. You okay up there?” Liz asked Brooke.

  Brooke tried to take in a full breath. She as dizzy from the breathing and the pushing. She felt hot and was quickly feeling the energy drain from her body. “How long have I been doing this? Ugh.”

  Tess stroked the back of Brooke’s hand with her thumb. “He’s almost here,” she told Brooke. “Just focus on seeing him.”

  “Big breath and a big push,” Liz called out. “Shoulders next. You know the drill. Breathe and…”

  “You’ve got it, love,” Tess encouraged a soundless, sweaty Brooke as Brooke pushed.

  “Okay…” Liz’s words trailed off, and Tess felt her heart rise into her throat. She jumped when she heard a screech followed by an excited declaration. “You grow giants in your family?” Liz teased. She laughed. “Meet your son,” she told Tess and Brooke.

  Brooke looked down at the baby as he was laid on her chest. She found herself speechless. Tess reached over and let her lips linger on Brooke’s head. “He’s perfect,” she told Brooke.

  Brooke stroked his head as he whimpered some more. “Tess…”

  “I know,” Tess said, wiping the tears from Brooke’s cheeks.

  “Tess? You going to do the honors here or what?” Liz asked.

  Brooke squeezed Tess’s hand gently. “Go on,” she said.

  Tess stepped up and performed her appointed task. She looked down at the baby and began to cry. “Hello, Ethan.”

  Liz patted Tess’s arm. “Let me get him weighed and do those mundane things we need to do, and then you can take him to Brooke.” Tess nodded dumbly. “Ha! Geez, Brooke. I was kidding about the giant thing,” Liz said. “Boy was I off the mark. Nine pounds, three ounces and twenty-one and a half inches.”

  Tess laughed as she accepted her son from the doctor. She placed Ethan in Brooke’s arms. “And, here I thought the Hulk thing was a joke.”

  Brooke snickered. She stared at Ethan and shook her head, almost as if she disbelieved he was real. “I don’t know, Ethan. You look more like a Superman to me. You must take after your mom here.”

  Tess let her head rest against Brooke’s. “He’s beautiful, Brooke.”

  “Just like you,” Brooke looked up at Tess with tears in her eyes. “I love you; you know?”

  “I know. I love you.”

  “What time is it?” Brooke asked.

  “Just after eight-thirty,” Tess said.

  “Will you call…”

  “I’ll call Mom as soon as they come to take Ethan for his prodding,” Tess laughed.

  “I don’t want to let him go,” Brooke said. She kissed his tiny fingers. “Ten fingers,” she counted. “You look like a little football, all wrapped up,” Brooke mused. “Guess we’ll have to count your toes later after they get your little footprints.” Brooke heard Tess sigh and reached up to pull her down for a kiss. “I can’t believe he’s here,” Brooke marveled. “He’s really here.”

  Tess smiled. “Yes, he is,” she agreed. Tess let her fingertips roam softly over Ethan’s hair. She giggled. Ethan had a full head of dark hair. “No wonder you had heartburn,” she laughed.

  “That’s a myth,” Brooke said.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “No? Did the twins have a lot of hair?” Brooke asked, wondering why she had never asked that before.

  “Davey did.”

  “Hum, maybe it’s a thing with the Sinclair men.”

  “Could be.”

  “I wonder if he’ll like mint chocolate chip ice cream. Davey loves my ice cream.”

  Tess kissed Ethan’s head and then moved to kiss Brooke’s lips softly. She pulled back, and her eyes twinkled with mirth. “Mm… Well, as long as he doesn’t start sipping that nuclear waste you insist on drinking.”

  “Oh, Tess! Can you ask my mom to get me some?” Brooke asked genuinely.

  Tess laughed and looked down at the baby with Brooke. “Welcome to the craziness, Ethan,” Tess said. “Mommy and I have been waiting to meet you.” Ethan stretched and yawned.

  “He’s bored with us already,” Brooke laughed.

  “Somehow, I don’t think boring will ever describe our life, love,” Tess chuckled.

  “I can hope.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “Would you still love me if I was boring?” Brooke asked. Tess nodded. A tear cascaded down Tess’s cheek. “Happy tear, I hope?” Brooke asked.

  Tess nodded. “Thank you, Brooke.”

  Brooke smiled and kissed Ethan’s head again. “No, Tess—thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For my family,” Brooke said. “I know it gets crazy, but…”

  “It will never be boring,” Tess laughed.

  “Not married to Wonder Woman with the Wonder Twins and Superman to supervise—no,” Brooke laughed.

  Tess rolled her eyes. “Good thing there’s always a doctor in the house.”

  ***

  Rebecca hung up the phone and turned her attention to three impatient sets of eyes.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake—you all know it’s a boy.”

  “What’s he look like?” Dani asked.

  Rebecca laughed. “Well, your mom says Ethan arrived just before eight-thirty. He weighs a little over nine
pounds, and he’s twenty-one and a half inches long.”

  “But, what does he look like?” Dani asked again. “Does he look like Mom or does he look like Brooke?”

  “Well, she did say he has a full head of hair, just like your brother did.”

  “He looks like me?” Davey asked.

  “I’ll bet he looks a bit like all of you,” Rebecca offered.

  “Can we see him?” Dani asked.

  Rebecca nodded. “Yes, you can. In fact, Brooke asked if we would bring you over after breakfast.”

  “You talked to Brooke?” Davey asked.

  “I did, and she said to tell you that she misses you both and can’t wait for you to meet Ethan.”

  Davey beamed and grabbed Dani’s hand. “Come on, Dani! I’ll get the cereal. You get the milk.”

  Rebecca shook her head at the twins as they scampered off together.

  “So, how did she sound?” Brad wondered.

  “Which one?”

  “Either. Both,” he replied.

  “Happy… and tired,” Rebecca laughed. “A condition, I think they will be living with for a very long time.”

  THE END

  To Be Continued In

  Best Practice

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