Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
E lla
I was due in two weeks, and the baby couldn’t come fast enough. Comfort wasn’t my friend these days, and neither was my bladder. I’d never peed so much in my life. Waddling my way through the hospital, I placed my hand on my belly, for I was experiencing some serious Braxton hicks. I tried to ignore it the best I could while I scrubbed in for an important surgery.
“Are you okay, Dr. Kind?” Gabby, one of the scrub nurses, asked as she gowned me.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I smiled. “Okay, people. Let’s get this surgery started.
“Your patient is out, Dr. Kind.”
“Thanks, Marty.”
As I cut open the patient’s head, the Braxton hicks intensified.
“Can someone please turn down the air? It’s sweltering in here.”
Gabby walked over with a cloth and dabbed my forehead.
“Thank you.” I inhaled a sharp breath as the pain wrapped around my back. “Oh God.” I removed my hands from the patient’s head and doubled over.
“Dr. Kind?” Dr. Sommers said.
“Are you in labor?” Gabby asked.
“I’m fine.” I stood up straight as the pain passed. The entire surgical team stared at me.
I continued working on the patient, trying to get to the tumor. Beads of sweat formed faster than Gabby could wipe them away, and another round of pain shot through me, causing me to drop one of my instruments.
“Oh God. Gabby, page my Uncle Jackson. I know he’s at the hospital today.”
“On it, Dr. Kind.”
“Ella, the patient’s pressure is bottoming out. You need to get out of there,” Marty said.
“Give me a second, Marty.”
The O.R. door flew open, and my Uncle Jackson ran in.
“I got this, Ella. Get a wheelchair and get her up to the OB Unit.”
“Jackson, there’s no time. We’re going to lose the patient.”
“Gabby, wait.” I stopped her from wheeling me out of the O.R.
“We’re not going to lose the patient, Marty. Relax. There we go.” He held up the tumor. “Your patient is going to be fine, Dr. Kind. Now, go have that baby. We’re all dying to meet her.”
“Gabby, can you find out if my husband is back yet?”
“I’ll find out now, Dr. Kind,” she said, wheeling me into the room.
“I’ve already called Georgia,” Kathy, my nurse, said. “Let’s get you in this gown, hooked up to the fetal monitor, and then I’ll check you.”
I lay on the bed and concentrated on my baby’s steady heartbeat while Kathy checked me.
“You’re dilated to six already. How long have you been contracting?” she asked.
“Just since this morning.”
“Dr. Kind, I couldn’t get a hold of Dr. Malone. But I do know they’re on their way back. The chopper just left Ohio.”
“Okay. OH GOD!” I screamed when a contraction hit. I gripped the bed rail as if my life depended on it. Once it passed, I picked up my phone and called my dad.
“Sweetheart, is everything okay?”
“Dad, I’m in labor, dilated to six, and Graham isn’t back yet with the transplant team. I need you.”
“I’m on my way right now!”
Of all the days to go into labor. My mom and Willow weren’t due back until tonight, and my husband went with a doctor from the transplant team to Ohio to get a new kidney for a child.
“Hey, sis. Your bro is here.” Nicholas smiled, strolling into the room.
“How did you get here so fast?”
“I was down the street on a date when Dad texted me.”
“On a date? In the middle of the afternoon?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Is there a rule that dates can only occur in the evening?” His brows furrowed.
Another contraction started to hit, and I held out my hand to my brother. He ran over, grabbed it, and soon regretted it as I almost broke it.
“I need an epidural!” I shouted.
My nurse, Kathy, walked in. “It’s too late for one. I just got off the phone with Georgia, and she’ll be here as soon as she’s finished with her patient. She said you have time.”
Suddenly, another contraction hit, and I wanted to die. Squeezing my brother’s hand, I let out a howl.
“Damn, Ella.” Nicholas shook his hand.
“I’m here, sweetheart.” My dad ran into the room.
“Thank God, Dad. She’s trying to kill me.”
“Thank you for being here,” my dad said to him.
“No problem. Anything for my big sister.” Nicholas grinned. “I’ll see you when the baby’s born.”
“Hold on a second. Where do you think you’re going?” my dad sternly asked.
“To the cafeteria to get something. I didn’t get to eat what I ordered because you called and told me to get over here. Besides, laboring women aren’t my thing.”
“You’re not going anywhere. Sit your ass down. Your sister needs you.”
“But you’re here, Dad.”
“She needs more than just me by her side!”
“Okay. Okay. You don’t have to go all psycho on me.”
“Daddy, it hurts.” I cried as I gripped his hand.
“I know, baby girl. It’ll be over with soon. Where’s Georgia?”
“With a patient. She’s coming right over, Dr. Kind,” Kathy said.
“I have to push. I have to push!”
Kathey lifted up the sheet and examined me.
“Uh, Dr. Kind. The baby is coming now,” Kathy said to my dad.
“What?! My husband isn’t here yet, and neither is my doctor!” I shouted.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” my dad said, walking over to the sink and grabbing a pair of gloves. “Kathy, get me a gown, please.”
“Seriously, Dad? You’re delivering Ella’s baby? That’s just weird,” Nicholas said.
“OH MY GOD!” I shouted. “Get it out of me. Please, Daddy. I’m begging you.”
“Son, grab hold of your sister’s hand.”
“Dad, do I?—”
“Do it!” he spoke through gritted teeth.
“I have to push, Dad.” I grabbed hold of my brother’s hand.
My Uncle Christian ran into the room and over to my bedside, grabbing my other hand.
“I see you’re delivering babies now, bro.” He smiled.
“Thinking about changing specialties.” My dad smirked. “Okay, sweetheart, I can see the baby’s head. I want you to push.”
With my Uncle Christian on one side and my brother on the other, they sat me up, and I pushed as hard as I could before falling back onto the bed.
“You got this, Ella,” Uncle Christian said.
“I want my husband!”
“ETA is ten minutes, Ella,” Kathy said.
“Okay, sweetheart. One more big push for your dad.”
Sitting up, I let out a howl as I closed my eyes and pushed as hard as I could, hearing the sweet cries of my baby.
“Here she is,” my dad exclaimed, setting her on my chest.
“She’s beautiful, sis.” Nicholas kissed my forehead.
“Here, Nathan. Why don’t you do the honor and cut the cord since Graham isn’t here?” My Uncle Christian said.
“Hi, baby girl.” Tears streamed down my face.
“We’re going to clean the baby up and get her weight.” Kathy smiled. “We’ll give her right back to you."
Georgia ran into the room. “She’s here already? Who delivered her?” She looked at us.
“Don’t look at me,” Nicholas said.
“I delivered my granddaughter.” My dad smiled.
“Okay. I got the placenta,” Georgia said.
My dad leaned over and kissed my forehead. “Good job, Mom.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“So, what are we calling the little angel?” my dad asked as the nurse handed my baby to me, swaddled in a pink blanket.
“Aubrey Rose Malone, I’d like you to meet your grandpa.” I smiled.
Graham ran into the room, stopped, and covered his mouth with his hands when he saw me holding our daughter.
“I missed it? God, babe. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. She wasn’t supposed to be here for another two weeks.”
“And who has a baby that fast?” Georgia said.
“Look at her. She’s beautiful.” Graham leaned over, kissed my lips, and took her from my arms. “Hi, Aubrey Rose. It’s your daddy.”
“Dad, did you call Mom?”
“I called and told her on my way here. She and Willow are on their way back now. They should be here in a couple of hours.”
“Don’t you think you should call and tell her that the baby is here?” Nicholas asked him.
“I’m going to right now, son. Gee, did you think I wouldn’t let her know?”
“It kind of looked like you weren’t going to.”
“Go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat right now, “ my dad said, gesturing at the door.
“I sent a message to the family about the arrival of Aubrey Rose,” my Uncle Christian said.
“Shit, bro. Why did you do that? If Sofia sees that before I call her, I’m dead.”
“You were knee-deep in delivering your granddaughter. She’ll understand.”
“I’ll be right back,” my dad pulled his phone from his pocket and stepped out of the room.
I looked at Graham holding our baby and never taking his eyes off her.
“She looks like you, babe.” He smiled. “God, I’m such a horrible father. I couldn’t even be here for her birth. I’m already setting her up for failure.”
“Graham.” My Uncle Christian placed his hand on his back. “You’re a doctor. Shit happens. It’s not the end of the world. You were getting a kidney to save a child’s life. Your daughter will understand that when she gets older and if you decide to tell her.”
“He’s right, babe.” I smiled. “I understand, and Aubrey will, too.”