Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Cruz
“I’m just saying, her last appointment shows she’s more than fifty percent effaced and dilated to four centimeters, Mom,” I say. “So, if y’all want to be here to welcome your granddaughter, you might want to make those plans.”
“We’ll be there. I’m sure Sadie will as well, but I don’t know about Serena,” Mom replies. “I can’t wait, Cruz! Our first grandchild!”
I grin even though she can’t see me through the phone. “Yeah, I’m getting ready for the sleepless nights now.”
“It won’t be too bad, plus we’ll be there for backup,” she says. “Because didn’t you say Jolie is due around the same time?”
“Yes, she is. The girls are still walking, so now, one of Dex’s younger siblings goes with them in case one of them goes into labor,” I tell her.
“How did the nursery come out?” Mom asks.
I chuckle because Brock spent a good portion of the day mean mugging me because ‘I got his sister pregnant so soon’, and Dex finally told him to shut the hell up and get to work or go home.
The rest of the day was somewhat quiet, but we managed to paint both of the nurseries in both of our houses while all the girls were out for a spa day.
“Really good, plus Nonna and Abuela sewed a quilt for her room that used the colors Mindy picked out. I think we’re as ready as we’re gonna get, Mom. Just need her to decide she’s ready to come.”
Her tone turns serious when she states, “Babies come when they’re good and ready, son.”
With a smile on my face, I tell her, “Trust me, I know.”
This time, I can hear a wobble in her voice when she says, “Then we’ll see you in a few days.”
“Drive safe, Mom.”
“Psssh, if I get pulled over, I’ll pull the grandma card,” she says, laughing.
I withhold the chuckle this time so she doesn’t think I’m making fun of her when I reply, “Good luck with that, Mom.”
After I hang up, I think about everything we’ve tried to encourage labor.
While the sex marathon was a lot of fun, it had no results.
Mindy draws the line at some of the concoctions she’s seen online that promise to speed up labor, so we’re now on Violet’s time, which I think will be a recurring theme once she gets tired of living in such close quarters and arrives.
“Okay, you know the drill, right?” I ask Mindy as I get ready to walk out the door and go to work. “If you feel any twinges or something doesn’t feel right, call me, then call Jolie and Dex. Hell, call your brother if they’re not available. Just get to the hospital and I’ll meet you there.”
“Cruz, it’s going to be fine, I promise,” she says, biting her bottom lip with amusement at my plight. “Don’t you know most babies seem to want to come in the middle of the night?” she teases. “You’ll be home by then since you get here by midnight most nights.”
“But something could come up and cause me to work late,” I press, that thought making me want to call in and use one of my sick days.
Right now, I want to pull my hair out because she’s being so blasé about everything and she’s almost forty-one weeks pregnant at this point.
Hell, her mucus plug fell out yesterday so as far as I’m concerned, we’re living on borrowed time.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes at me. “They usually let you know ahead of time if there’s a larger shipment that might need you to work a little bit of overtime, and you haven’t gotten a message that I’m aware of.”
“No, no I haven’t but it could still happen. Please, kitten, for my own self-preservation, tell me you’ll behave.”
“Fine, I won’t do any jumping jacks or even run up and down the stairs,” she sasses, grinning at me. “I’ll call for help if anything doesn’t feel right, but I suspect Violet’s gonna hang around for a few more days.”
Shaking my head, I wrap my arms around her and grin when I feel our daughter kicking. “She’s telling me I’m right,” I say. “She says that her momma takes unnecessary chances all the time when I’m not around.”
“I see she’s already her daddy’s princess,” Mindy replies, smiling up at me. “If I haven’t said it before, thank you for the beautiful life we’re building together. I never thought this could be my life after that night.”
“You’re welcome, but it’s a two-way street since you took on an ex-con and felon,” I say.
“Not for long if Ms. Butler is correct,” she retorts. “Sounds like she unearthed some things that were kept out of the first trial, which is good for you, I would think.”
I shrug because until it happens, nothing’s changed in my life.
Ms. Butler did find out that should my conviction be overturned, I will be able to get my license reinstated, which would be fantastic for the family I now have.
My wife would be able to be a stay-at-home mom if she wishes, or she can work, whatever she wants to do because the sky will be the limit as far as I’m concerned.
“I just wish they’d stop pushing off your trial. I know you want it done and over with,” I tell her.
“I do, but at the same time, I’d rather it happen after the baby’s born because then it won’t put that seed of doubt in his head, you know?” she asks. “I know with us being married, it’s a moot point, but I don’t want him knowing anything about me, period.”
“Agreed. Now, kiss me, wife, so I can go to work,” I instruct. She leans up and I kiss her so thoroughly, she shivers, causing me to add, “we don’t have time for that right now.”
“Too bad because it could trigger labor,” she muses, grinning at me.
“We can try that later if we need to,” I reply. “Lock up behind me, kitten.”
“Aye, aye, captain,” she replies while rolling her eyes.
Thankfully, my shift goes off without a hitch and I head home, the back of my truck laden down with gifts from the office staff who heard we were having a little girl.
Hell, they even brought in a cake which is on the seat beside me so I can share it with Mindy.
It was a nice surprise for sure, and I know my kitten will be thrilled to have more things for our girl.
As I pull down our road, I see all the lights on in Jolie and Dex’s house, but what has my brows raising is seeing my wife waddling across the road.
Stopping the truck and putting it in park, I hop out and run over to her. “What are you doing? What’s going on?”
“Jolie’s in labor,” she squeals. “I was going to ride to the hospital with them, Cruz! We promised we would be there for the other one.”
“Okay, okay, but I’ll take you, since I’m sure Dex has his hands full,” I reply, watching as Dex comes out their front door with his wife in his arms, trailed by Nonna, Abuela, and the three kids. “Come on, kitten, let me help you into the truck and we’ll follow behind.”
“What’s this?” she asks as I move the box of cake to the back seat before I lift her up and into the passenger seat.
“The ladies who work in the office found out we were having a baby girl so they had a little shower for me at work today,” I admit as I make my way to the driver’s side and climb inside. “That box has cake in it, and the gift bags have all sorts of things for Violet.”
“That was so sweet of them!” she exclaims before she bursts into tears.
“Are those happy tears?” I question.
“Yes, of course they are, but that’s honestly one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard of, Cruz, don’t you think?” she replies while she continues to sob. “Gah, I’ll be glad when these hormones stop, I feel like I cry at the drop of a hat anymore!”
I don’t agree or disagree with her, because sometimes, that sets her off as well.
Then, she feels bad and apologizes profusely.
Right now, it’s about all of us getting to the hospital safely so that Jolie can deliver hers and Dex’s little girl.
Part of me wishes it was us, but at the same time, if it’s another few days or even a week, that’ll be okay too.
Reaching over, I lace her fingers with mine and give them a gentle squeeze.
“If memory serves, and keep in mind that I’m not an obstetrician, but I think the hormones are still a little crazy after delivery, kitten.
But it’s okay if you cry or laugh or even rage because you’re growing another human being in your body and that probably deserves those feelings. ”
She giggles and soon ends up doubled over around the seatbelt as best as she can over her belly while she continues to wipe her tears away. “Just don’t let me turn into one of those psycho moms who wants to hurt their baby, Cruz. That would kill me if I did that!”
“I’ll make sure to keep an eye on you, sweetheart.
I honestly hate that there are women who have developed postpartum psychosis.
I suspect that once they return to themselves, they’re full of guilt,” I reply.
I know men can have hormonal issues; hell, there are a shit ton of commercials on every night talking about ‘low T’ or testosterone, but it’s nothing like what a woman deals with, that’s for sure.
We’re in the waiting room on the labor and delivery floor and I’ve been watching my wife with an eagle eye.
Every seven minutes, I see her stomach clench as she winces, but she hasn’t said a single word.
I’m about to say something to her when she says, “Oh, no!” and I watch the front of her pants change color as if she wet herself.
Leaning over, I ask, “Kitten, did your water just break?”
“I think so,” she replies, her eyes wide. “Because it wasn’t like when I have to pee if that makes sense. It was just ‘whoosh’ there it is!”
Grinning, I kiss her and say, “Let me go get a nurse, looks like we might be having a baby tonight too.”
“I’ll text everyone,” she replies, pulling out her phone as I stand and practically run to the nurse’s station, just as Dex comes out of the birthing room.
Seeing me, he says, “She’s asking for Mindy.”
“Not sure what to say, man, because her water just broke,” I reply as I reach the counter. The nurse, hearing me, asks for Mindy’s information and before I know it, the two of us are being taken into our own birthing room.
“Well, this sucks,” Mindy grouses as I help her change into a hospital gown from her wet clothes. “We had a plan. I was going to be with Jolie, then she was going to be with me.”
I chuckle and reply, “Babies have their own agenda, kitten. Now, let me help you into the bed so the nurse can get your IV started.”
Her eyes get huge again and she whispers, “Do you think there’s still time for an epidural?”
“I don’t know, Mindy, it’s going to depend on where you’re at dilation wise,” I reply. “The doctor should be in shortly and she’ll check, okay?”
Mindy nods and I watch closely as the nurse gets her IV inserted and fluids started.
I may be out of the game, but one of the things I was good at was sticking patients with ease.
I send a text to Dex to let him know we’ve now been admitted as well, then hear my phone chime with an incoming message from my parents.
Mom: Got to the house, no one there. Are you at the hospital?
Me: Yes. Jolie went into labor, then when we got here, Mindy’s water broke.
Mom: I’M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA!
Me: It might be a little bit longer, Mom.
Mom: Whatever. We’re on our way. I’ll call Sadie.
Me: Good. Focusing on Mindy.
Mom: As you should.
Shaking my head, I look over at my wife to see her staring at me. “What’s so funny?”
“My mom,” I reply. “They’re on the way here, how about your folks?”
“All of them are on the way. I mean, they do know that first babies sometimes take longer, right?” she asks.
“Sweetheart, they’re all excited.”
“I am too, but mostly because once she’s born, I won’t have her tap dancing on my kidneys anymore,” she teases, giggling. “I’ve had more wardrobe malfunctions over the past few weeks than I have my entire life, I think.”
Shrugging, I say, “They run out of room, kitten. Plus, I’m sure that with everything being so compressed, it doesn’t help either.”
“I know, I know, but it’s kind of mortifying to me that the slightest wrong move has me peeing myself like I’m a little kid again,” she retorts.
I’m not sure what to say right now but I feel like anything I do say will be taken wrong, so instead, I reach out and take her hand in mine. “We’re going to meet Violet soon, kitten,” I say, changing the subject.
“I see what you did there,” she mutters. “And yes, she’s coming whether I’m ready or not.”
“It’ll be fine.”