52. Selena
Selena
The music softens as the reception begins to wind down, conversations fading into tired laughter and the clink of glasses. Guests slowly filter toward the exits as the dance floor empties.
I sink back into my chair with a sigh, one hand absently rubbing the underside of my enormous belly.
I love Sam and Jose more than anything, and I’m so happy to be part of their wedding day, but I am beyond exhausted.
My rambunctious twins have spent the entire day treating my ribs like their very own punching bags. Another wave of tightness rolls across my stomach, and it’s taking everything in me to breathe through it.
Just another round of Braxton Hicks.
I've been dealing with them all day. They started early this morning while I was getting ready, coming and going without any pattern. Two weeks ago, they'd scared my men enough for us to rush to the hospital, only for the doctor to smile patiently and explain false labor.
Braxton Hicks.
I was sent home with instructions to rest, and drink plenty of water. Our babies still had some baking to do.
I've repeated those words in my head all day. Even when the contractions started to feel different. Stronger and closer together.
I haven't said anything. There was absolutely no way I was ruining my best friend's wedding day because I got nervous over another false alarm.
A laugh escapes me as I watch Sam and Jose on the dance floor. Today has been perfect and I’m so happy that I was part of it.
Another contraction builds and I grip the edge of the table.
"Ahh..." The pain steals every coherent thought from my brain. A warm hand covers mine and I look up into Zeke’s worried brown eyes.
"Cupcake?"
I try to smile, but I can’t. "I-I'm..."
His expression changes instantly. "Are you okay?"
"I'm..." I suck in a shaky breath. "Fine." The lie sounds pathetic, even I know it. "But I think we may need to go to the hospital."
His eyes widen. “It’s time?"
"I think this time it’s really happening. The babies are ready to make their appearance." I breathe through the contraction.
For one frozen second he simply stares at me. Then chaos erupts. He spins around, frantically searching the room.
"Eli! Jay!" he shouts when he sees them heading our way.
Eli is first to reach us. "What happened? Are you okay, Princess?”
"She's in labor."
"What?" Jay blurts.
"I think," I correct between breaths.
Eli immediately checks his watch.
"How far apart are your contractions?" Jay asks.
"I wasn't timing them. But they’ve been right on top of each other.”
“How long have you been having them?” Zeke asks me softly as he helps me to stand.
"All day. I thought they were Braxton Hicks contractions and I didn't want to interrupt the wedding."
All three men groan at once.
"Of course you didn't," Eli mutters affectionately.
"Let's go," Jay says as he looks toward the dance floor where Sam is laughing in Jose's arms.
"Should we tell them?" Zeke asks.
"No. They deserve to enjoy their wedding party. We'll call them after," I implore them. “But if we don’t get going I fear the three of you will be delivering them.”
The ride to the hospital is pure insanity. Eli’s driving like a madman and somehow we manage to hit every green light. His fingers drum anxiously against the steering wheel.
I'm in the backseat with Zeke. He has me pulled against him with my legs stretched out along the seat.
Jay’s in the front seat, practically turned around so he can see me. “Breathe with me, Selena. Remember our Lamaze breathing techniques.”
I match his steady breaths. In. Out. In. Out.
All I can focus on is that I don’t want to have my babies on the side of the road.
Somehow we make it to the hospital and we’re rushed to labor and delivery.
The hospital staff sweeps us into action the second they hear I'm carrying twins. Eli helps me into a gown and then into bed. The nurse wastes no time hooking me up to the fetal monitor while another one places the IV.
The nurse smiles. "Oh, honey. You're definitely in labor."
The hours blur together as my labor continues, the contractions coming closer together.
"I'm so tired," I whimper. “I don’t think I can do this twice.”
"You can do this," Zeke whispers, brushing a damp strand of hair off my forehead.
Eli kisses my temple. "We're here for you."
Jay squeezes my hand. "We're not going anywhere."
And they don't. Not once. When one hand grows numb from me crushing it, another replaces it. When one needs water, he returns in seconds. When I cry, all three are there comforting me.
Hours later Dr. Anklan smiles. "It's time, Selena. Are we ready to meet your children? Baby One is ready to greet the world.”
"I can't."
"Yes, you can," three voices answer together.
“On your next contraction, I need you to push,” Dr. Anklan instructs.
So I do. When it hits, I push with all my might.
“Good. Now I need you to do that again,” the doctor tells me.
“You can do this, Princess,” Eli whispers in my ear. I shift my gaze to Jay and Zeke who are smiling at me with tears in their eyes.
When the contraction hits, I push. I feel as if I’m going to die and then I hear it. A cry fills the air. Tiny and perfect.
“Baby One is a girl,” Dr. Anklan tells us.
"We have a daughter," one of them whispers, but I’m so overwhelmed I don’t know who.
Tears instantly blur my vision as they place my beautiful baby on my chest for me to see.
"Okay, Momma, we have one more baby to deliver."
Again. I have to do this again. I’m never having sex without protection again. Eli, Zeke, and Jay better soak this in because there will be no more children.
My baby girl is taken away, just as another contraction hits. Guess I’m not getting a break between births.
“Our baby is perfect,” Jay tells me. “You’re doing so good and you’re almost done.”
I can do this. I’m a woman and our bodies are made for this.
Another contraction hits, and we go through the same process. Pushing with the contractions. It seems like hours have passed when in actuality it’s only been minutes.
“This is the one, Selena. Give me a big push with your next contraction.”
I push again, so exhausted and unsure if I can go on.
Then another cry fills the air.
"We have another girl."
I collapse against the pillows, completely spent.
"They're perfect," the doctor says.
A nurse carefully places my second daughter against my chest. Then her sister is placed beside her. They’re so impossibly tiny with perfect faces. I quickly check and they both have ten fingers and ten toes.
I stare at them in complete disbelief.
"Hi." My voice breaks. "I'm your mama. And these three men are your daddies.”
When I look up, all three of them are crying, tears streaming down their faces.
"They're beautiful," Zeke whispers.
Eli leans down, gently touching our daughters’ tiny feet.
"Our little girls."
Jay kisses my forehead. “You did so good, Momma.”
Each of them carefully kisses the babies.
Fresh tears spill down my cheeks as I look from one tiny face to the other.
"They're beautiful," I whisper.
We stay like that for a moment before two nurses come and take them away to the nursery. “Who would like to join us?”
Eli and Zeke speak up while Jay says he’ll stay with me.
The nurse smiles. "Have you decided on names?"
"Yes," I tell them.
My voice shakes.
"Baby One is Mary Middleton Carter."
The nurse writes it down with a smile.
"And Baby Two is Kate Middleton Carter.”
The room grows quiet.
“You named them after our mom.”
I nod, tears slipping free. “And my dad. My dad always said I was the best thing that ever happened to him. When he passed away, I promised I'd make sure part of him stayed with our family."
I look down at my daughters.
"So both of my girls carry my father's name and honor your mother at the same time," I tell them.
“Our babies are carrying the names of the two best parents in the world,” Eli says as his brothers nod in agreement.
Our babies. I still can’t believe it.