Epilogue
DORI
Melanie knocks on my office door as she steps in. “Sorry to intrude, but the lady sitting behind her desk is officially on maternity leave as of five minutes ago, and we have a girls’ night out planned.”
“Hey, Mel. We were just finishing up.” I glance at Danny. “I think my handoff should provide the temp with everything she needs.”
He stands, taking my files with him. “I’ve got you covered if she needs anything. You just enjoy your new little bundle whenever he or she arrives.”
“Thanks, Danny. You can call if you need anything, and I’m sure I’ll stop by from time to time during my time off.” I walk him out, rubbing my aching lower back.
“Jamison said you wouldn’t be able to stay home, but my advice is to soak it up. Time flies when you have a little one.” Danny retreats into the hallway near my door.
“I’m sure it does. Thanks for your help.” I face Mel. “Give me five minutes to make sure I have everything, and we can be off. I can’t wait for the massage you scheduled for me.”
She plops down on a chair in front of my desk. “Auntie Mel could use one too. ”
Jami peeks his head in. “How are you doing? Can I get you anything?”
“I’m still doing well from the last ten minutes when you came in to check on me. And I still don’t need anything.” I scan my checklist to make sure I’m not forgetting anything. “Thank you for asking, though.”
“I’m just making sure. Your due date is three days away. It could happen at any moment.” Jami steps into the room, noticing Mel. “Oh, hi. I didn’t see you.”
“That’s because Dori’s protruding belly was blocking me.” She stands and gives Jami a hug. “How are you hanging in there, big guy?”
“Nervous as fuck. I’m not sure this night out is a good idea. Dori’s been having back pains. What if something happens?” His concerned gaze flits between Melanie and me.
I’m about to protest, but another Braxton Hick contraction hits. This one is a little worse than the last one I had. I brace myself and breathe through it, rubbing my stomach to help relax.
“Oh no, mister. You aren’t taking away our girls’ night. It’s mandatory for Dori and me to go out.” Melanie doesn’t see my contraction happen, but Jami does.
He treks over to me and places his hand on my very pregnant belly. “Dori, that’s at least the fourth time today I’ve been in your office where you’ve had a contraction. I’m not sure getting a massage is the best thing right now.”
“Jami, I could really use it. The doctor said it’s safe to get one. Please, trust me on this. My back has been killing me since last night. I promise I’ll be extremely careful.” I give him the best pleading face I can give.
His brow creases together. His jaw sets tight. He’s been protective of me during my pregnancy, but the last month he’s been downright overprotective.
And today he’s been extreme. I understand where his worry is coming from, but I need this self-care time .
I give him a moment before I tilt my head. “Please don’t worry. Women have babies every day. I’ll be fine.”
“They don’t have my baby, and I’m only concerned about you .” His gaze sweeps over me.
Mel interjects. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll check in with you every ten minutes. Well, at least until my massage time.”
He runs his palm over his stubbly chin with anxiety shooting off him like firecrackers. “You promise to watch out for her? She’s in a delicate state. I’m convinced she’s getting close.”
“Yes, Pops. I promise.” Mel pulls out her phone. “I’ll send you text updates as soon as we leave.”
“Jami, is that necessary?”
He stares at me with a take-it-or-leave-it glint in his eyes. “Since you’re not telling me every time these contractions of yours happen, I’d feel a lot better if she did.”
“I don’t tell you about them every time, because if I did, I’d be saying it so often it would feel like I’m an annoying child pestering you. I’m trying to keep you sane.”
As soon as I say it, another contraction starts, but this time it takes my breath away. I bend forward and squeeze my eyes shut. I couldn’t hide my discomfort if I tried.
Maybe Jami’s right.
“That is not a Braxton Hicks contraction, and your last one was not even two minutes ago.” He checks the time on his watch. “I’d stake my life on it that you’re in labor.”
Mel rushes to my side. “Dori, I think Jami’s right.”
I take a moment, trying to relax as the contraction lets up. “That was intense, and they seem to be getting stronger.”
Jami’s face pales. “Really? Do you think you are? Fuck, I wasn’t sure, but now I am.”
I place my hands on the back of my hips and stretch my stomach. “Why don’t Mel and I hang out here for another five minutes. If another one like the last one hits, I’ll hand the reins over to you?”
“Good plan. Do you have your hospital bag here?” He glances around my office.
“It’s in the car, but let’s wait—” My water breaks, and not just a trickle down my leg.
A geyser gushes from between my thighs.
It splashes all over Jami’s and Melanie’s shoes. Melanie jumps back with a gasp, and Jami’s head snaps from his toes up to my now freaking-out expression.
The muscles over my ribs tighten but then a smile breaks free. “Well, I guess we have our answer.”
“Holy shit! I’ll get your bag out of the car.” Jami grabs my keys off my desk and runs out of the room.
Mel laughs and hugs me. “You owe me a pair of shoes and a night out, but that can wait for a while. Right now, I’m so excited to find out if it's a boy or girl. You guys deciding to not find out the sex has been torture.”
She releases me, and my stomach squeezes me like it’s in a vise grip. I bend over and grunt out the surprising pain.
“Oh my god, Mel.” I grab her arm, digging my fingers into her skin. “I’m scared. I don’t think they’re supposed to hurt this much so early on in labor.”
“You’re doing fine, Mama. Just breathe.”
I ride out another contraction, sucking in a deep breath. “That came on too fast. Something is wrong.”
Jami’s knuckles are white as he turns the wheel into the hospital parking lot.
His wild glance hooks with mine. “Can you walk, or should I take you right to the emergency room so someone can help us?”
“The contractions are coming too fast and too strong. I think we need help.” Adrenaline courses through my body.
My pregnancy has been a breeze other than our fear of losing it, but Dr. Maddox has been fantastic. If I have questions, she’s always ready to answer. And if she’s been unavailable for some reason, she has her physician’s assistant call.
I got pregnant the first month we were married. Jami’s convinced it happened on our honeymoon, saying he just knew the second he came inside me. I swear I’m the most fertile woman alive.
Jami’s been a doting husband, giving me rubdowns and making sure I’m comfortable. It’s brought us closer than I could’ve imagined.
He talks to my stomach all the time, asking the baby how it’s doing. He even plays music, like Mozart, in the background while we cook dinner and talk, saying he read somewhere it’s good for infants.
But now I’m terrified. It’s only been a half hour since my water broke, and I feel like I’m going to die from the pain.
Jami pulls up to the emergency room doors and jumps out of the car.
He peeks his head in. “Stay here, and I’ll get someone to come get you.”
“Please hurry. I don’t want to be alone.”
He nods and runs off. It’s not twenty seconds before another death grip squeezes me like it’s trying to break me in half. Tears form from the agony bearing down on me.
I try to remember how to breathe, but everything I’ve learned from my birthing classes has left my brain. I shift, trying to escape the misery, but that makes it worse.
I scream out, “Jami! ”
It feels like forever before he and two men in scrubs run toward the car with a wheelchair in tow.
Jami gets to me first. “Let me help you out of the car.”
“I can’t do this. It’s too much.” I take his hand as he guides me out of the car. “Is Dr. Maddox ready for us?”
“I’m sure she is, and we’re going to take care of you, so try to focus on that.” He wraps his arm around my waist and assists me out of the car.
The two guys who tell me they’re nurses get me into the wheelchair, trying to calm me down with words of encouragement. I can’t concentrate because my contractions seem to be folding over each other relentlessly. I swear I’m going to pass out from the pain.
One of the nurses pushes me into the hospital, speaking to me in a soft tone. “Dori, you’re in good hands now, and your husband is here.”
The other one says something to Jami in a low voice. “My guess is she’s in full-blown labor. Sometimes it can happen fast like this. Good thing you got her here in time.”
That sends panic screeching through my veins.
Jami nods. “You guys will take her straight to labor and delivery, right?”
“Yes, sir.” The nurse gives me a once-over. “You said she’s only been in labor for about thirty minutes?”
“I think she’s been in labor since last night, but she thought the contractions were Braxton Hicks.” Jami takes long strides beside me, continually glancing down at me with worry filling his eyes.
I’m in so much discomfort that I shift around and moan as I cry through every excruciating squeeze.
“Jami, I don’t think I can do this.”
“Yes, you can. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
He continues to encourage me as we find our way to the labor and delivery floor. Once we finally get to it, my room is already set up .
Jami organizes the area with comforting things that were supposed to be part of my birthing plan, but I doubt spa music is going to help me now.
The team of nurses has me in a gown and is hooking me up to monitors as Dr. Maddox comes in.
“Hi, Dori. From what I’ve been told, you might be in the transition phase. Let me do an exam to verify.” She gets situated at the bottom of the bed and directs me to a position for her to check me out.
Jami paces near the side of the bed with one arm around his mid region. The other one is bent with his hand running over his chin.