45. Sloane Two-for-One
sloane: two-for-one
“I HOPE WHOEVER INVENTED EPIDURALS won a Nobel Prize,” I said sleepily to Adam.
My body, which had been so wracked for hours on end, was now relaxed and soft.
I mean, I was still in labor, and, worse yet, I knew from my two prior experiences how this was going to end for me.
(It would be hard.) But, for the moment, sweet relief was coursing through my body.
Adam kissed my forehead and sat down on my birthing ball super close to me, holding my hand. “Honey, I can’t believe you were in labor all that time and didn’t tell me.”
I smiled at him. “But, see, it was kind of perfect because I was so distracted for six whole centimeters that this won’t seem so bad.”
There was a tap at the door and I looked up, expecting to see a nurse or doctor. But when the door opened, I was shocked to see Jack. Alone.
“Hey,” I said, attempting to sit up. “What are you doing here? Seriously, I’m good. Everyone should stay at the wedding. It’s their big night!”
Jack nodded and sat in the chair closest to me.
“You know, Sloane, I spent like thirty years wondering about you and your sisters. What you were like. Were you happy? Had I done the right thing? Sometimes I get really sad about all the things I missed out on in your lives. But today, I already got to walk two daughters down the aisle. And now I have the chance to be here when my third gives birth? See a grandchild right when it comes into the world? I’m not missing out on that. ”
That was really sweet. But also… “Um, Jack. That is adorable. But the giving birth part isn’t really, like, a family affair.”
He laughed and stuttered. “Oh, God, no. I’ll be out there, in the waiting room, pacing. Maybe I’ll get some cigars to hand out.”
I gave him a thumbs-up. “Well, in case I’ve never said it, I’m glad we get to make up for lost time now.”
Adam shook his head. “You’ve really had to father up today, Jack. Well done.”
We all laughed. I looked up at the clock on the wall. It was almost eleven. I felt a tiny pang of sadness that I wasn’t watching my sisters—or sister?—leave the wedding in a sea of glorious rose petals.
“So, Jack, give us the rundown on the night. Did Caroline and Emerson both do all the bride things? Or just Emerson?”
“Well, Caroline tried to get out of it, but Emerson was uncharacteristically adamant about sharing the spotlight.”
That made me laugh. “You really get her. I like the insight.”
“They both danced with their husbands to ‘The Way You Look Tonight.’ ”
I smiled. “Notably, that is Caroline’s favorite song. Definitely a Caroline choice.”
“And then they each danced with me for half of ‘My Girl.’ ”
“Adorbs. And Emerson all the way.”
I was proud of my sisters for sharing so nicely.
And I, the peacemaker, hadn’t even been there to coach them through the sharing.
“I hate that I missed it,” I said. And I wished I hadn’t.
Because then this sadness washed over me that my sisters weren’t here.
I didn’t want to be selfish. It was the most exciting night of their lives, and they shouldn’t be here.
But, still, Mom, Emerson, and Caroline had all been there when AJ and Taylor were born, and, yes, Adam was incredible.
But it didn’t feel right to bring a new Murphy into the world without the women in my family by my side.
“So, who ran out in the rose petals?”
The door swung open. “Neither of us,” I heard Caroline’s voice say.
I squealed when I spotted her. I needed her here. I would never have asked, but, oh, how I needed her. Then I heard Emerson chime in, “We had a sister over here giving us another niece or nephew. We didn’t even want to stay to cut the cake.”
“Except I made them.”
Mom!
“Do you know how much I spent on that cake?” she asked.
Jack stood up and went to her, sliding his arm around her waist and kissing her cheek. “Nothing,” he said. “Because I paid for it.” He looked at Mom and said, “Are you serious right now? You’re complaining about the cake? We just got a two-for-one wedding.”
Mom shook her head. “No, sir. I already paid for one for that one.” She pointed at Caroline. “You get one paid-for wedding. The second is on you.”
“I had no idea,” Caroline deadpanned. “Thank goodness I stole Emerson’s wedding. Think of the savings.”
Incongruously, I burst into tears. Mom ran to me first. “Honey. What’s the matter? Are you in that much pain?”
I shook my head. “No. I can’t feel a thing. I’m just so relieved because I thought I was going to have this baby all alone.”
“Hey!” Adam shouted from somewhere behind my mom and sisters, who were surrounding me now. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
“This isn’t about you, Adam,” Caroline said. Then she looked at me resolutely. “Look, you have like fifty-three minutes to get this baby here.”
“What?” I asked.
Emerson nodded. “Think of how cool it would be for your baby to have the same birthday as our anniversaries.”
Mom groaned. “Girls, the baby will come when he or she comes. Why do you always pressure her like that? It’s too much.”
I rolled my eyes at all of them. “I was so happy you were all here and then, just like that, you had to ruin it.”
We all laughed.
The doctor walked in the room and said, “Time to see how this baby is coming along.”
Jack said, “Well, that’s my cue!”
And all of a sudden, as I started to get some feeling back in my lower half, I had the distinct feeling that Caroline and Emerson might just get their wish.