Chapter 20 #3
“Cool, yeah. I mean, do you think somebody can bring me something that’s not a hospital gown? This is so gross.” Hil stared at Sam, wide-eyed. “Also, what am I going to do about nursing bras and stuff?”
“I’ve got you covered. Well, I don’t have you covered exactly, but Annette does, and you’re good. She’s got it down.” Evan went and sat on the edge of the bed, held Hillary’s hand. “Hil, I still owe you an apology.”
She shook her hand, then held up one finger, squeezing Evan’s hand as she panted.
Sam took her hand on the other side. “You got this, Breathe. You’re kickass. You’re doing a great job. I’m really proud of you.”
Evan looked at him wide-eyed, and he nodded encouragingly. “You’re like a stud and shit.”
The contraction passed, and Hillary stared at Evan. “A stud? I’ll take it. I do owe you an apology.”
Evan shook his head. “For what? Your family is my family. I’ve got your back, Hil. I love your dad—like I’m in love with your dad. I want to move in. I want to be here for this baby. I want to be her Vovo.”
“You already are. I’m glad you love Papa.” Her eyes filled with tears. “So, I’m really scared.”
Evan panicked, but only for a second. “Don’t worry about it, honey. Your dad and me, we got this. You’re amazing, and you’re going to be able to get through this, and Annette is going to get you a nightgown and stuff, whatever you need. I’ve got her on it.”
“But everything is closed…”
Evan winked. “When you have a name like Biyalik behind you, magic can happen. At least in Boston.”
She snorted. “I bet that’s probably true but—”
“But nothing. If she has to wait until tomorrow to do the shopping, she will. Tomorrow is a good day to shop after all. Still, I know she can bring you things like a nightgown and toiletries and stuff without having to go too far afield.” Evan beamed at Hillary. “I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you. Are they gonna come? Do you want them to? I don’t know, I mean, Papa…”
“No, you’re a grown-up. You have to make this decision. I’ve got your back, no question, but really this is on you.” Sam shook his head. It was probably mean—she was in labor, but his job wasn’t to make these decisions for Hil.
His job was to enforce them.
“Annette can come before the baby is born, and after, everyone can come and see the baby before I take her home.”
He was going to have to figure that out. He googled it real quick and winced. Seemed like a minimum of fourteen days, but usually three months.
That would be…March. Nope.
He glanced at Evan, who was still talking to Annette, then he texted over.
It says two to three months before they can fly. What are we going to do?
Evan answered and kept talking like it was nothing.
We’ll drive her home. We’ll take my car. We need it there anyway. We can pack the back up with stuff. Maybe we can get a little trailer. That way I can get a load of the things that I need down there too. We’ll go to my house for a couple of days, pack up a trailer, and head home.
Man, Evan texted as fast as a twenty-year-old cowboy. Those damn thumbs were a blur. He was impressed.
That was what happened when you got together with a man who did media for a living he guessed. Sam was a lot slower because he had arthritis already. They called it grandpa hands or something. He called it bashing a bull in the nose too many times.
He texted back.
I think that’s a fine idea. You & I, we’re good at driving together.
Yep we’ll do great. Hillary can sleep along with the baby, and we’ll just make a road trip out of it
God, it was good that Evan was there, that he was on their side as far as this whole getting them back to New Mexico thing.
If they weren’t home at Christmas, Mama might just die.
“Shall I find something good for us to watch on TV while we’re having this baby?” he teased.
Hillary laughed. “You have a mouse in your pocket, Papa?”
“Oh, I guess you are doing most of the work, so you get to choose the show.”
She winked at him. “I don’t suppose they have the cowboy channel here.”
“Highly unlikely, mi’ja. Looks like you have the option of Shark Tank, Food Network, and there’s DIY, and then there’s a monster movie marathon. Oh, oh look. Seems like here are Christmas cartoons.”
“Okay, that sounds great. I think I’m gonna go with Christmas.” She rubbed her belly and grinned at Evan. “Natasha means born on Christmas Day. Did you know?”
Evan shook his head. “I didn’t.”
“No? Well, you know, she was supposed to be born way later, next month, so I thought Natasha was perfect. It’s still okay though?”
“It’s perfect. It is a perfect name.” Evan winked at her. “Let me call Annette.”
They sat together, Sam holding her hand through a couple of contractions. He sent Mama and Kacey each a picture, answered Valerie’s texts, then put together a text chain with his folks, his sibs, Valerie and Tanya, Kacey, Evan, and—after a minute’s thought—Annette and Bobby.
Happy Thanksgiving. She’s doing great
Evan finally hung up with Annette and grinned at them, pulling a chair up from the desk to sit next to Hillary while Sam sat in the recliner thing. “What are we watching?”
“Christmas cartoons.” Hillary took the Sprite Sam handed her and popped it open. “I’m here for it. I mean what else do I have to do?”