Chapter 40
Forty
ELLIE
“Dom, it bloody hurts,” I say as Dominic drives us as fast as he legally can towards York hospital. I want to tell him to put a foot on it, but I can’t, knowing he can’t go any faster. Between the awful pain of my contractions and worrying about Kaiden, I can’t think straight. He has to be okay. I think back to when we first met and the cheeky smile he had. The sweet date he took me on at the butterfly farm and every little moment we have had together. I know I can’t lose him now, it wouldn’t be fair. Kaiden has to survive this so he can meet our little girl. I panic when I realise how early she is, I’m not even thirty-seven weeks yet. I think back to my last midwife appointment when she told me about how babies born after thirty seven weeks are more likely to have no problems. S he has to be okay, just like Kaiden.
“We’re here,” Dom says, he sounds as relieved as I am, and I lean back in my seat as he pulls up outside the giant hospital. The hospital looks like one giant block, with God knows how many windows at the front in rows.
“Holy ducks, get me in there, so I can find the drugs because this bloody hurts,” I say to Dom, who nods with a look of worry and undoes my seatbelt and his. Dom gets out of the car, with one more look at me as a contraction takes over, and I have to bite down on my lip to keep the scream in.
“Help us, my girlfriend is in labour,” I hear Dom shout, just as my door is opened. Dom leans in and helps me out, just as another contraction comes and the urge to push is so strong with that one. All I want to do is push, and I know I can’t, not yet.
“Dominic,” I say in a whimper, and he picks me up in his arms, holding me close as he moves us.
“Here,” I hear someone say, and Dom puts me down on a bed, staying close to my side as some paramedics wheel us into the hospital. I hold in a scream as another contraction comes, and the pain is blinding. They rush us into a lift, and then out into another corridor. Another two contractions come, and I have to push. I can’t stop the urge to anymore.
“The baby is coming,” I pant out, just as I’m pushed into a room. A midwife comes in with a big smile, and she is followed by two other doctors who run around the room. I look around and see the small cot by the window, just seeing that makes me want to push and meet my little girl. This pain is just temporary.
“What’s your name?” she asks me.
“Ellie,” I say.
“She’s only thirty-six weeks, the baby is early,” Dominic says as he stands next to me.
“Seems your little one is in a rush. Now don’t worry, but I’m going to have a look, okay?” she asks as she pulls my dress up, and I nod. I help her get my knickers off, and she places a blanket over me.
“You can do this and I’m right here. Let’s see our little girl and . . . I love you, Ellie,” Dom whispers to me, and I can’t reply to him as tears fill my eyes.
“I love you, too,” I say eventually, just before another contraction comes.
“I can see the head, Ellie. Now push,” the midwife demands, and I look up into Dominic’s eyes just as the contraction comes, and I do just that.