Epilogue
Christmas Eve
The ranch was decorated for Christmas. Adam brought in a beautiful, tall spruce tree and they all decorated it with the ornaments from their childhood. This occasion was the first time they celebrated the holiday since their parents had died.
Millie couldn’t help much as she was very, very pregnant and due any day.
Adam fussed over her constantly, barely letting her go to the bathroom by herself.
For her part, Millie rolled her eyes and let her husband do what he needed to do. She thought agreeing was the best way to keep the peace.
His brothers teased him constantly about being worse than any security guard where she was concerned. Benjamin was the worst of them, managing to get under Adam’s skin on more than one occasion.
Millie still did most of the cooking. She had a brother or two to help with the prep so she could put her feet up, but the actual cooking of the meals fell on her shoulders.
The family sat down to Christmas Eve dinner of turkey and all the fixings. They would have prime rib for Christmas dinner itself. Millie already set the roast marinating in the refrigerator. She quietly leaned over toward her husband and whispered. “Adam. We have a problem. My water just broke.”
Adam stood so fast his chair toppled backwards. “What?! Now?!”
She nodded. “Just now. I don’t think we have to—”
“Okay, let’s get you to the hospital.”
Suddenly chaos erupted as all the brothers tried to get close to Millie and help her from the table at once.
Benjamin let out a shrill whistle. “Everyone, stand back and let Adam do his thing. We’ve practiced for this event.
Adam will get her to the truck. I’ll follow him with her overnight bag.
Christopher will follow with the baby’s bag.
The rest of you will clean up from dinner, packing the food away so it doesn’t spoil.
Millie won’t be cooking for a while, and we might as well save as much as possible of her good food before we have to rely on ourselves again. ”
“Wait.” Millie looked up at Adam. “I need my coat, and so do you.”
He set her on her feet. “Right. Coats.”
Everett came running into the kitchen carrying both of their coats. “Here. Put these on so you don’t freeze to death.”
Adam picked Millie up like she weighed no more than a feather pillow. “Daniel, go open the truck doors so I can get Millie in without having to put her down.” He started toward the door.
Once Adam had her situated in the truck to his satisfaction, he shut the door and hurried around to the driver’s side.
Benjamin waited for him there. “We’ll all be down in a bit, but I don’t want you to wait.”
“I wasn’t going to. I need to get her to the hospital now. With the roads the way they are the trip will take an hour at least.”
“Okay, get going and be safe.” He shut Adam’s door.
The truck was still cold but would heat up soon enough.
Despite the heavy coat she wore, Millie shivered. “Ah…doggonit that hurts.”
“Should I start timing the contractions?”
“Probably a good idea.”
He looked at his watch. “Okay, I’m timing them.”
They drove for another few miles.
Millie grabbed her stomach and began her breathing exercises. When the pain passed, she relaxed back into the seat. “Dang it all. Why does this have to hurt so much? I think if we have more children that you should birth them.”
Adam chuckled and looked at his watch. “Just under five minutes. We are still in good shape to reach the hospital in plenty of time.”
All the way to the hospital proceeded in this way, checking the time between contractions. By the time they arrived, the contractions were three minutes apart.
Adam pulled up outside the Emergency Department, slammed the truck into park and killed the engine. Then he hustled around the truck to Millie’s door.
She’d opened the door but that was as far as she got before he slipped his arms under her and lifted her off the seat.
He stopped long enough to let her slam the door shut but then he practically ran through the automatic door faster than it opened. Once inside they had to stop at security.
The guard called for a wheelchair.
Millie moaned softly as she sat in the chair.
Adam had to empty all his pockets and go through the metal detector. Once he was through he shoved everything back into his pants and wheeled Millie to the intake desk. “My wife is having a baby.”
The woman looked up wearily. “How far apart are the contractions?”
Another pinching pain radiated across her belly. Millie closed her eyes and moaned.
Adam looked at his watch. “Three minutes.”
“Okay, she’s still a good while out, so I think we have time to get all your information. Name?”
“Adam Sullivan.”
“No,” said the nurse gently. “You’re wife’s name.”
“Milena Sullivan,” said Millie with a chuckle. She heard the clack of the nurse’s nails on the keyboard.
“Date of birth,” continued the nurse.
Millie answered that one and all the questions that followed.
The nurse clipped a hospital ID band around Millie’s right wrist. “Okay, you’re all checked in. You can go to the waiting room, and they’ll call you as soon as possible. If something changes please let me know right away.”
“We will,” said Millie. I’m glad to be moving to the next step.
Adam wheeled her to the end of one of the rows of chairs and then sat in the chair next to her. “I feel silly that we got here and apparently had more time. I needn’t have rushed you.”
Millie took his hand and laced her fingers with his. “We didn’t know. It’s not like we’ve done this before.”
He chuckled. “That’s true. We’ll know better next time.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and squeezed his hand. She tried not to make any noise as the next contraction hit, but she let out a quiet moan.
“Millie?” Adam looked at her. His eyebrows were furrowed with concern. “Are you okay?”
Nodding, she didn’t make another sound. She massaged her stomach and counted through the contraction. Soon the pain eased and she opened her eyes.
Her dress was still soaked from her water breaking and the longer she sat there the more uncomfortable she became.
“That one was at the two minute mark.”
“You should probably tell the nurse.”
Adam nodded and stood. He walked over to the nurse and told her the information.
She made an entry on the computer.
The next thing Millie knew, Adam was back and growly.
“She said she’ll check with the doctor.”
Millie patted his hand. “It’s going to be okay. I’m sure of it.”
“Milena Sullivan.” A man holding a purple folder stood at the doorway.
Adam’s head snapped up. “That’s us.” He stood and started pushing Millie toward the double doors. He followed the man wearing scrubs to a curtained-off room.
“Please get into the gown and tie it in front, then get onto the bed. Can you do that? Or do you need my help?” His voice was soft and gentle.
“I’ll help her,” said Adam.
She stood.
Adam stripped her, put the gown on her and then lifted her onto the bed and adjusted her gown so it was closed as much as possible over her belly. Then he pushed the wheelchair just outside the curtain.
“My name is Kevin Rogers. I’m a nurse practitioner here. I’ll take your vitals and then the doctor will be in to see you. How far apart are the contractions now?”
“Less than two minutes,” answered Adam.
“Okay. Let me get the doctor in here and I’ll take your vitals while she talks to you. I believe we need to get you to the birthing facility ASAP.” Kevin left the room pulling the curtain behind him.
Less than a minute later, he returned with a woman.
She had bright red hair and the bluest eyes Millie had ever seen. She stepped up to Millie’s left side. “I’m Doctor Anderson. I’m the OB-GYN on duty today. Let me take a look at you and then we’ll go from there.”
Millie hadn’t had time to change her underwear and they were still wet which caused her cheeks to heat.
“First let’s get this underwear off. I’ll have a much clearer picture without them.” She chuckled.
Millie did, too. She was very happy this stranger doctor had a good sense of humor. It helped to put her at ease. That was one of the things she liked about Dr. Brainerd, as well.
Adam grumbled. He was panicked and wouldn’t let Millie’s hand go.
Once the offending garment was off the doctor began her exam. “Milena—”
“Millie. I go by Millie.”
“Very well, Millie. Raise your knees and open them wide.”
She did as asked, using her hands to lift her knees because her stomach muscles were otherwise occupied.
Dr. Anderson looked at Millie. “Well, you’re dilated to nine centimeters. I’m sending you to a birthing room immediately and then I’ll be up.”
I hope I don’t end up giving birth in the elevator.
Twenty minutes later, in their private birthing room, Dr. Anderson was at the bottom of the bed watching as Millie pushed.
The baby was almost there just a little more pushing was needed. She didn’t know if she had it in her, she was so tired.
Dr. Anderson looked around Millie’s knees. “Millie, I want you to push now as if your life depended on it. Push as hard as you can.”
Millie bore down as she held onto Adam’s hands, squeezing them, knowing she was leaving nail marks in his palm and she didn’t care.
The doctor popped her head up and looked at Millie. “That’s good. Just a little more.”
Millie felt the baby’s head first. Then she felt the doctor turn the baby so she could ease the shoulders out one at a time. Then she felt the baby slide from her body. “What do we have?”
“You have a beautiful little girl.” The doctor lifted the baby and placed her on Millie’s chest for about thirty minutes before she cut the umbilical cord.
After that time passed, a nurse came over and took the baby away to be cleaned up and swaddled.
When she brought the baby back, she handed her to Adam.
He looked down at his daughter as tears streaked down his cheeks. He leaned over and gave Millie a kiss. “Thank you for giving me everything I didn’t know I needed.”