10. Nova
Nova
My emotions were all over the place since Crew left two hours ago on another mission or kidnapping if I was being real.
This is what our lives had been reduced to, kidnapping and torturing our enemies in order for our family to remain safe.
His plane should have landed by now. I had to stop worrying about them being detected.
Every person with him was skilled in the art of stealth and evasion so the chances of something bad happening were low.
I had to force myself to remember that. He would be home soon.
My baby was also kicking my ass today. He was probably mad that I let his daddy leave us.
But I had to let him go. If Crew knew that I was in any type of pain, he would have had the doctor here and the plans for getting us out of this mess would be on the back burner.
We would be fine; Braxton Hicks was normal at this stage of pregnancy.
“What are you thinking about? You spaced out.” Tyra asked.
“Huh what?” I said looking up at Tyra’s concerned face.
Tyra was sitting next to me on the couch with her laptop on her crossed legs looking at me like I had grown two heads. We were supposed to be going over the travel nursing budget for one of the buildings, but my mind was elsewhere.
“You spaced out again. You been doing that a lot lately and I just chalked it up to pregnancy-brain, but something is off. Are you alright?” She asked, sitting her laptop down between us.
“Sorry, I’m just worried. Kyle really fucked our lives. He’s dead and his fucked up decisions are still coming back to haunt us.” I groan, grabbing my stomach.
“Hey, it's okay," Tyra said, placing her hand on mine. Take it easy. Matter of fact, when was the last time you stopped and hydrated, because your ass has been grunting and groaning all day.”
She got up from her spot and walked to the kitchen and poured a tall glass of ice water, before returning to my side with it.
“Here take this. I know this is stressful, but you have to relax and be mindful that my nephew is experiencing every tense moment that you are. Now tell me, are you okay?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s nothing, just Braxton Hicks.” I said, maybe stretching the truth a bit. I had been having small contractions that could be considered Braxton Hicks for the last 24 hours.
“Nova, do not lie to me. Your ass is a horrible liar, plus whenever you are uncomfortable you shake your legs and yo’ ass been in here shaking it like a salt-shaker for about an hour now.”
“Don’t get mad.” I said.
“Bitch, don't get mad. I’m about to go through the muthafuckin’ roof if you don’t tell me what’s wrong with you.” She said with her most angry face.
“My back has been killing me, I thought it was because of bad posture or my extra weight, but it won’t go away, and I’ve been having cramps since yesterday afternoon. Not bad ones.” I told her truthfully, almost in tears.
“If you weren't pregnant with my first nephew and I didn’t fear your husband would murder me, I would kick your ass right now. I should pluck you in the fucking forehead anyway for being so dumb. We are both nurses and you sit up here hiding the fact that you might be in labor because why?”
“I didn’t want to ruin Crew’s plans. They needed to handle this tonight and if I told him I was in pain he wouldn’t have left.”
“Damn right he wouldn’t have. You and the baby are his priority, not no damn mission.
It was plenty of other people who could have gone in his place.
Or they could have fuckin rescheduled. Get your ass up and let me take a look at my nephew.
If I have to use my old ass labor and delivery skills.
” She mumbled as she helped me from the sofa.
The medical suite Tyra assisted me to was out of this world.
I worked in some nice hospitals and facilities, but this was the nicest I had seen by far.
I hadn’t had time to get a good look at it when we got here but now that I was looking, Crew had spared no expense when it came to the equipment in the room.
The suite even had its own oxygen and suctioning system on the wall, and I could have sworn I just saw a state-of-the-art ventilator.
Tyra helped me get comfortable on the bed at the back of the suite before hooking me up to the monitors.
The baby's vitals were strong and steady on the screen, but when she turned on the second monitor to measure contractions we both saw what I had tried to hide all day.
I was actively contracting as we spoke and the contractions were strong.
They were starting to become unbearable.
“The last thing I want to do is be face-to-face with your vagina. I’m not yo’ nigga, so we’ll save that for last. Let me help you get undressed and get some fluids into you.” She said, still remaining calm in the midst of my bullshit.
She went to a cupboard on the wall and pulled out a soft cotton gray gown and robe.
I sat back up on the side of the bed and undressed and redressed with Tyra’s help.
When I was repositioned in the bed, she placed an IV in my right hand and hung some fluids to get me hydrated.
Once that was completed, she repositioned the transducers on my belly since the baby was doing everything he could to evade monitoring.
Uncooperative, just like his damn daddy.
When she finally had the in a good position five minutes later, she went about checking me to see if I was dilating.
“Okay so based on new resources you aren’t quiet in active labor just yet.
You at about two centimeters and your contractions are still more than five minutes apart.
I think we have time but just in case I think we should call Pops and get the doctor here just in case.
For all we know this is a false alarm and you stay two centimeters for days, but I would rather be safe than sorry. ”
“I agree but what if you’re right and it's a false alarm. I thank God Crew was able to secure Dr. Gibson for my delivery. I can only imagine how much he paid her to be on-call with her crazy schedule. She’s one of the best OBGYNs in the area, so I’m sure she is busy with people that actually need her right now. ” I said.
“Girl, you know she got a crush on Pops. Don’t act like granddad ain’t still knockin’ these hoes down.
But whether she’s busy or not it don’t matter.
Crew paid her to be here on-call whether it’s a false alarm or not.
So, stop trying to stall and get me in trouble with the real boss around here.
You know your husband don’t play about your or these kids. ”
“You so cra…ummm.” I groaned in discomfort.
Okay, I’ll call pops and let him know to get the doctor over here, while I monitor you and the baby. Until then we sit tight and don’t worry.”
Tyra pulled out her cell, dialed Pops number and placed the phone on speaker. The phone rang for a few seconds before Pop’s big, booming voice came through loud and clear.
“Tyra, what's up granddaughter? Everybody good over there? Y'all need anything?” He said.
“Well, we’re all good but it seems your other granddaughter, the hardheaded one is having some early contractions, and we wanted to get the doctor over here to check her out.” Tyra told him.
“Am I on speaker?” He asked.
“Yeah, she can hear you.”
“Nova, how are you feeling sweetheart?” He asked, sounding a little worried.
“I’m good Pops. I promise. We just want to be sure I’m not in early labor or anything. Enough about me. Have you heard anything from Crew yet?” I asked, changing the subject and taking the focus off me.
“Don’t try no damn change the subject. I asked about you and my great grandbaby, never mind, ya’ll sit tight.
We’ll be there in about 2 hours; the girls and I will pick up Clara and be right over.
Tyra, you call me if anything changes. Because I can see now that this child is gonna make this difficult. I’m on my way.” He argued, hanging up.
“Girl you in trouble. You know as soon as Crew is done with that business in Vegas, he’s snitchin’ right?” Tyra laughed like that shit was funny.
She put her phone away, handed me my kindle and then went to check on the kids.
They had been playing hide and seek with their main guard.
He said that they had gotten really good at going undetected for longer and longer periods of time.
I wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing.
I laid back on my pillows and tried my best to not worry.
But that was a little easier said than done.