FORTY-THREE
Madelyn
The holidays come and go at a swift pace.
On Christmas Eve, we watched as Drake proposed to Hailee in the same spot where they met. It was beautiful, and so sweet. The two of them are perfect together.
We spent New Year’s Eve at the Brewhouse, sharing cocktails—mine virgin—and sugary sweets. The entire night was full of fun and laughter.
Camille revealed a big secret on Valentine’s Day, and somehow, I get the feeling it’s not the only one she’s been keeping.
The past few months have been wonderful.
My friends and family have rallied around us in a constant show of love and support. They’ve been eager to help with whatever we need, even when we need nothing at all. I’ve been blessed with an amazing support system and it’s not something I take for granted. I worried they would be upset that we waited so long to tell them, but everyone was understanding of the reasons we chose to wait.
I’m finally in my third trimester—the home stretch. For all the stress and worry we had at the beginning, everything has gone smoothly so far. I know we’re not out of the woods. I won’t consider anything fully safe until I’m holding my baby in my arms. But Jaxson and I are both more at ease about my pregnancy. We’re not constantly stressing about all the things that could go wrong. We’ve made it this far, so all we can do is continue to take it one day at a time.
Thankfully, my morning sickness finally took its leave. I’ve never been so happy to be able to eat whatever I want. Well, within the limits of what’s safe for the baby. People are constantly dropping by with food for me and gifts for the baby. Little one isn’t even here yet and is already spoiled beyond belief.
The holiday season was a busy time for Jaxson at work, so he’s been working long hours trying to recover from the latest rush. Blackwood Brewhouse hosted its first ever Singles Night on Valentine’s Day and it was a big hit.
I’ll never admit it openly, but when I found out about Holden opening a bar—since I didn’t know Jax was involved at the time—I was concerned how successful it would be in a small town like Blackwood. But they obviously know what they’re doing because they’re killing it. I couldn’t be prouder of my guys.
So while Jaxson spends the day at the bar, doing inventory, or paperwork, or...whatever. I took the day off today because we’ve hired extra help at the bakery, knowing I’ll be going on maternity leave before long. Hailee has plenty of help and I want a day to relax and get some things done around the house.
My lower back has been achy lately—today is no exception—but Dr. Khaskia assures me it’s perfectly normal, especially at this stage of pregnancy. She gave me a list of things to look out for that would cause concern. I’ve got that list memorized. I’m good about listening to my body and slowing down or resting if I need to. I’m not taking any chances.
After a quick lunch, I head into what will soon be the nursery. Jaxson promised he and Holden would paint this weekend so we can start getting everything ready for the baby’s arrival. Until then, I really just want to get some of the stuff in here organized. I appreciate every gift we’ve been given, but so far, it’s all been piled into this room with no rhyme or reason.
Pulling everything out of the bags, I start placing things in neat little piles. When my lower back starts aching worse, I sit on the floor and lean against the wall, doing what I can from here. I pop the tape from the side of a box and when I do, the contents scatter across the floor.
Only I would make such a freaking mess while trying to get organized. Laughing to myself, I lean over to grab a small toy that escaped the box.
Out of nowhere, a sharp pain shoots through my lower back, radiating through my hips and into my abdomen. I suck in a sharp breath, trying to breathe through the pain. It doesn’t work, and several minutes later when it happens again—I know something is wrong.
Using the wall for balance, I carefully make my way to standing and head toward the kitchen for my phone. I’m going to call Dr. Khaskia and if I can’t reach her, I’ll drive myself to the hospital. I’d rather get checked out than ignore the message my body is trying to send me.
I can’t get through to my doctor, so I leave a voicemail explaining what’s going on, and I let her know I’m heading to the hospital. I fight with myself on waiting for someone to come get me, but I’d only have to wait longer, and I don’t want to waste any time.
Grabbing my purse and keys, I get in my car and drive. Using hands-free calling, I dial Jaxson.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Jax.” My tone instantly alerts him to a problem. He knows me better than I know myself.
“What’s wrong, Madelyn?”
There’s nothing I can say that won’t freak him out, so I go with the blunt approach.
“I need you to meet me at the hospital. I’ve been dealing with a little lower back pain, but when I was sitting on the floor in the nursery, the pain got worse. Sharp shooting pains and cramps in my back, hips, and belly. I couldn’t get ahold of the doctor, so I decided to be safe and go to the hospital.”
“Fuck! Wait for me, baby. I don’t want you driving yourself if you’re in pain.”
I hear him talking rapidly to someone in the background.
“I’m already on the way, Jax. I’ll be there in less than three minutes. I’m being careful. I promise. Please just meet me there.”
I swear to God, this man growls at me. He’s lucky I’m in pain and I know that he’s worried or else I’d be giving him so much shit.
“You should have waited, baby. But I’ll meet you there. I’m on my way. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Luckily there’s an empty parking space right up front when I pull into the ER parking lot, so I don’t have to walk too far to get inside. Jax is at my side before I finish signing myself in. Resting his palm against my lower back, he rubs gently in slow circles.
“Go sit down, baby. Let me finish this for you."
I want to be stubborn and argue with him because I’m almost done, but the pain is getting worse. I’m not sure I can stand here much longer. I slip the pen into his waiting hand, but I don’t get very far when a nurse stops next to me with a wheelchair.
“Have a seat. We’re going to take you up to Labor and Delivery.”
Another pain shoots through me as I bend to sit in the chair. I suck in a sharp breath that has Jaxson at attention. He’s in front of me before I can blink, both hands holding onto me.
“Baby? What can I do?”
“Just...help me sit.”
He and the nurse both help lower me to the chair and we start moving immediately. The trip to Labor and Delivery is quick, but not painless. Once in a room, I change into a gown. Jaxson helps me into the bed and the nurse starts hooking me up to a ton of different monitors. The worse is the band she straps around my belly. It’s super uncomfortable, but I know it’s necessary. So much is happening around me, but all I seem to notice is the tight, uncomfortable pain.
I’m not sure how I managed to fall asleep, but I must have. Holden is here now with Jax, and I never heard him come in. Neither of them notice I’m awake at first. I watch them and wonder how I got so lucky to have two amazing men in my life.
Holden sits to my right. His body leaning forward with his head resting on the bed beside me. Jaxson’s to my left, using the space above my belly as a pillow. He’s rubbing soothing circles on my belly and murmuring quietly to the baby. I move a hand to each of their heads, slowly running my fingers through their hair.
Jax notices first. His head jerks up, his hazel eyes filled with relief.
“You’re awake,” he whispers.
“I don’t remember going to sleep.”
“You passed out, baby. The doctor said your blood pressure dropped and that’s what caused it.”
I hesitate. The question I’m desperate to ask feels like poison on my tongue.
“The baby is fine, Mads.”
He always knows. I love this man so much.
He takes my hand, bringing it to his mouth. Pressing a kiss to my palm.
“I was so afraid, baby. I felt like I was losing you all over again. I wouldn’t survive if I lost you.” he rasps.
The worry and fear etched in his features breaks my heart. I hate putting him through this.
“I’m okay, honey. We’re both okay.”
He nods, holding my hand against his mouth with both hands.
“Dr. Khaskia is on her way to explain everything to us. They already told me a little bit, but it’ll be easier to let her explain.”
“Our baby is okay, Jax. That’s all that matters. I can wait for the details.”
Holden begins to stir. I didn’t realize I’d been playing with his hair this whole time.
He lifts his head, smiling at me, just as my doctor walks into the room.
“Hi, Madelyn.”
“Hi, Dr. Khaskia.”
“Has anyone told you what’s going on?” she asks.
“Not yet. We thought it’d be easier to wait for you,” Jaxson explains.
“Okay. When you came in today, you were in the early stages of labor. You did a very smart thing by alerting me and getting yourself to the hospital. Your contractions were coming pretty steadily, so we gave you a drug called Terbutaline. It’s used when women go into preterm labor as a means to prevent, or slow contractions. It doesn’t always work, but in your case, it was successful at stopping your labor. You and baby are both incredibly healthy otherwise. I see no signs of distress, or anything indicating a reason for you to go into labor early, which is a little concerning.
“The good news is, you’re at twenty-nine weeks, so even if you were to deliver early, the baby should be fine. The survival rate for babies born at twenty-nine weeks is ninety-two percent. So you really don’t have too much to be concerned about. Ultimately, though, the longer the baby stays in there, the better. I just want you to know that early labor isn’t necessarily a death sentence.”
Jax and I both flinch at her words.
“Forgive me. That was insensitive.”
I wave her off, knowing she’s only giving me the facts. That’s one of the reasons I like her so much. She gives it to me straight without glossing over the things she thinks I might not want to hear.
“I want you to rest for now, but we’ll keep monitoring you overnight, and we’ll decide where to go from there.”
“Thank you.”
Once she leaves, Holden excuses himself, explaining that our family and friends are all in the waiting room. He’s going to fill them in on what the doctor said.
“Please give them my best but send them home. I don’t want everyone stuck in the waiting room all night. We’ll call them if anything changes.”
“Okay, sis. Be back soon.”
“You too, Holden. You don’t need to sit up here all night.”
He scoffs, closing the door behind him. Guess that means he’s coming back.
“Stubborn ass.” I laugh.
“You definitely take after your brother on that one,” Jax teases. “But you really should try to get some rest.”
“Will you hold me?”
“Is that even a question?”
He slips into the small hospital bed next to me. I snuggle into his side and I know he can’t be comfortable, but with today’s scare, I think he needs to be close to me too.