Chapter 30 #2
We’re at the New Beginnings Birthing Center taking a class on water birth, which Dr. Barry tells us sounds old-school and hippie, but is actually the most relaxing way to give birth.
They have actual rooms here at the birthing center with beds and large, shallow pools in the center. When Haddy goes into labor, we will come here and do it all on-site.
We toured them, and they’re really nice. Haddy said it looks like a spa, and it’s fucking expensive as hell—and I don’t give a shit. Anything for my girls.
She’s curious, but first, we have to take classes about it, which brings us to this evening.
“Breathing technique and massage therapy are essential for comfort during a water birth.” A woman in a chocolate brown yoga outfit is in the front of the room walking slowly through the pairs of expectant couples.
“Water immersion promotes relaxation, but it also provides a sense of weightlessness…”
She’s got a soothing voice, and I check out the other couples. They’re all listening closely like Haddy, who I’m sure is applying that scientific brain to everything this lady is saying.
“It makes sense that buoyancy would ease the pressure,” she whispers in my ear. “But I’m not sure how this helps with delivery.”
See? She’s already doing the math. It’s like I can see the equations floating in the air above her head.
“The most inefficient way to give birth is lying flat on your back,” she continues. “Gravity should be used to help bring the baby. In primitive cultures, the women are advised to squat, which makes total sense.”
“Whatever you want, Princess. I’m here to help.”
Her slim brows are furrowed as she listens to the instructor. I’m enjoying holding her this way, placing my hands over Lucy’s foot as it pushes against Haddy’s stomach like a little torpedo.
“That doesn’t hurt?” I whisper, trying not to laugh.
“Not really.” She looks down to where I’m smoothing my palm over the tiny point.
Her hand joins mine, and we’re mesmerized by the strange shapes her stomach takes while our daughter swims around in there.
“She’s so active tonight.” Haddy blinks up at me, and I nod.
“She must be into the water birth idea.”
“I think she knows I like being in your arms this way.” Haddy kisses my cheek. “She’s swimming in endorphins.”
My chest rises at the thought I’ve got both of them in my arms right now. My whole fucking world.
“You’re Gavin Knight!” The lady next to me excitedly whispers a little too loudly. “Look, honey, it’s Gavin Knight, the hockey player!”
Her partner on her back in front of her looks up at us. “Oh my gosh, and you’re the princess?”
Haddy blinks away from them. “I’m just a regular girl.”
“You’re a lot more than that.” I lean down to kiss the top of her head.
“Aw, that’s so sweet.” The first woman coos. “I saw the video of you two kissing at the game with the teams fighting all around you. That’s just good hockey!”
I hold back a laugh as the instructor walks directly in front of us, giving the four of us a pointed look.
“Floating in the water allows you to find the most comfortable position for giving birth…” Her voice grows slightly louder, and I think that’s her way of telling us to pay attention. “It also encourages natural movements, which can help the baby reach the optimal position for birthing.”
Haddy whispers. “I guess that makes sense.”
I look up at the lady, who’s giving us a hard stare, and smile.
“I’m curious about that massage therapy you mentioned?” She didn’t say it was time for questions, but what the hell? We’re already disrupting class. “Is that something I could learn?”
“Yes,” she returns my smile, nodding, so maybe we’re not flunking the class. “We’ll go through the specialized birth massage next week. Thank you, Mr. Knight.”
Whoa, she knows who I am, too.
Leaning down, I whisper, “Zip it, Princess.”
Haddy snorts, and the lady keeps going, guiding us through movements like squatting, kneeling, and even resting her head on her arms on the side of the birthing pool.
Haddy grows serious as the instructor talks about reduced perineal trauma and different things I don’t completely understand. Looks like I’ve got more homework to do.
When she lets us go, I take Haddy’s hand, helping her up from the floor. The leader thanks us for coming, but Haddy doesn’t make eye contact. She only nods and mutters a quiet thank you.
I’m not sure what changed in the last half-hour, but I don’t pressure her as we walk out to Mav’s Rover.
“I guess I need to get off my butt and get one of these before July.” I help Haddy into the passenger’s side, but she doesn’t comment. “We’ll have to have a car seat properly installed and all that stuff or they won’t let us bring Lucy home.”
“Yeah.”
Walking around to the driver’s side, I feel like I missed something. We continue for a little bit in silence, but the birth center is a twenty-minute drive from the house. At this time of evening on a weeknight, it’s even shorter.
“You okay?” I cover her hand with mine, and she blinks up at me.
“I guess I hadn’t thought much about the actual birthing part of the process before tonight.” Her face is in a sort-of cringe. “I’ve got to get this baby out through my vag.”
To be honest, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about that part either. Up to now, the only time I think about Haddy’s vag is when I’ve got my mouth on it or when I’m filling it with my cock.
“Are you saying your Gavin-shaped hole might get a little bigger?” I’m going for humor, but apparently that is the wrong approach.
Her lips twist, and she shoves my shoulder almost like she’s mad at me. “It’s like pushing a watermelon through a toilet paper roll. It’s going to rip it to shreds.”
Damn.
“I guess I hadn’t thought about it that way.” Clearing my throat, I ditch the humor. “Think you should talk to your mom? She had you… maybe she can give you some tips? At least she’ll help you to feel better. She did it.”
“Of course, I’ll talk to Mom, but don’t think that lets you off the hook.” She crosses her arms like she’s still kind of pissed.
“I… don’t.” I’m not really sure how I’m on the hook, but I know better than to argue with a pregnant lady. “I would never think that.”
Sounds like I’ll be talking to her dad, although he wasn’t there when Haddy was born. Still, he’s known them both a lot longer than I have.
We’re at the house, but before we get out, I lift her hand to kiss the back of her fingers. “You can do this, Princess. You’re the smartest, most capable person I know. If anybody can figure out the best way to have a baby, it’s you.”
Her lips press together, and her forehead crinkles. Oh, shit, I know that look.
“I’m sorry, Gav.” Tears pop out onto her cheeks. “I guess I’m feeling a little panicky all of a sudden.”
“Hey… Hang on.” I hop out of the driver’s side and jog around to open the passenger’s door. Rotating her growing body to face me, I pull her into a hug. “This is a big deal. Of course you’re feeling panicky. But I’ve got you. We’ve all got you. You’re not alone in this.”
Her head is on my shoulder, and I feel her nodding as she sniffs. “When that girl said that tonight, I realized… I never told you.”
I place my hand on her back, rubbing up and down. “Told me what, honey? What do you need to tell me? You already know I love you.”
She sniffs, sitting up and wiping her nose with the back of her wrist. I open the glove box and grab a napkin from some fast-food place Mav visited. It’s not the best, but it’s better than her hands.
“I lost my scholarship.” She dabs her face as my throat constricts. “They took it all away. I have to box up my sash and my crown and everything and send it all back within thirty days.”
“Haddy, no…” My stomach churns. “What can I do?”
“We can’t do anything, it’s over. It’s all been decided and announced. That’s why Karen called me.” She sniffs again, dabbing her face, and the pain in my chest twists hard. “She said it was to comfort me, but after a while, I realized it was just to unload on me.”
“In true narcissist fashion.” It’s a low growl. “Haddy, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She shakes her head, doing her best to smile. “I knew it was coming. We’re all over social media. How could they not find out?”
“Bastards. They’re losing a lot doing this to you.”
This time she reaches out to cup my cheek in her slender hand. “It was more important for you to be at those appointments with me. Lucy is more important.”
“But it meant a lot to you. Your feelings matter, too.”
“Not as much as my family.”
This girl. This “regular girl.” She has no idea.
Holding her hands, I help her out of the Rover. She leans on my arm as we walk to the door, and I kiss the top of her head as I open it. I wish I could think of something to say. I wish I could make it all right and give her back her crown.
We’ve just stepped inside the house when familiar, squeaky barks greet us, coming closer as we stand in the doorway.
“What…?” Haddy cries softly as a cinnamon-colored tiny bundle of fur bounces towards us, squeak-barking with each bounce. “Patsy?”
She’s on her knees, and I look up as Gigi hops off the couch, running to us, smiling ear to ear. “She’s home!”
Dropping to her knees beside Haddy, the two of them pet the little dog, who’s frantically licking both their faces.
“The owner said Peepee was so depressed, she wouldn’t even get out of her little doggy bed,” Gigi explains. “She said she couldn’t take it anymore, and if we wanted her back, she’d be glad to send her back to where she was so happy.”
“Oh, Patsy!” Haddy hugs her, and the little dog licks all the tears off her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Mav walks over, a purple bruise under his eye, and crosses his arms. “I gotta say, I missed little Peepee, too.”
“Dude. You got a shiner there.” I point at his face.
“Yeah, but we didn’t lose the game, did we?”
Shaking my head, I can’t argue with that. “Nope.”
It looks like we’re all where we need to be, and in another week, we’ll have the entire family here. I know what I’m going to do.