Chapter 24
LEO
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
“This is bullshit,” Ella snaps.
“I know,” I reply.
“Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!” Oliver shouts. Neither of us bother to correct him, because frankly, it is bullshit.
Ella is forty-one weeks pregnant, and our child is happy to stay holed up in her uterus. Ella isn’t dilated, effaced, thinned out — whatever the hell that means — or anything. And as I’m tying her snow boots onto her feet, because we just got a foot of snow, I agree with everyone. It’s bullshit.
“Bah-sit. Bah-sit.” Violet toddles over to us, beaming to show off her six teeth. “Dada! Bah-sit!”
“I’m not even mad. Let her say it,” Ella says nonchalantly. “It’s all bah-sit.”
“Bah-sit!” Violet yells jubilantly, holding her sippy cup in one hand as she throws her other fist into the air.
“God I love this family,” I murmur, laughing.
“Easy for you to say,” she snaps. “Your child keeps using my bladder as a punching bag, I can no longer sleep unless I’m sitting upright, and my acid reflux is ruining everything. Why do women have more than one child? And why didn’t my sister warn me about this shit?”
Still at her feet, I rub her calves slowly.
I’ve learned there is a fine line between what I’m allowed to say, and what I want to say.
Hormones have wreaked havoc on Ella, especially in the third trimester, and I’ve found it’s best to remain silent in a lot of situations.
I’d rather her get mad at me for silence than begin crying because I’ve said something stupid.
Ella reaches up, dragging her hand through my hair, then exhales loudly.
“I want to meet this baby. I’m sick of them turning away during the ultrasound.
You were so excited about the surprise, and I thought I could enjoy it too.
But now I’m pissed off, and I want to know.
Pink or blue? There’s only so much yellow and green clothing we can buy, Leo. I’m done.”
“I know, baby,” I say quietly, leaning into her hand. It centers both of us to be touching in one way or another. It’s grounding, like a gentle reminder that we can accomplish anything because we’re a team. A core unit. “Let’s drop the kids off, then hopefully we’ll get some good news from the OB.”
Ella nods, but her breathing catches as a borderline sob tries to break through. “Do you think we can just tell them they need to induce me today? I don’t think I can go much longer.”
I nod. “I have every intention of pushing for some good news. At the very least, I’ll be bringing in my mom, because no one wants to deal with her when she goes full momma bear.”
Ella smiles faintly. ”I do love it when she gets a little feral.”
I push up to brush a soft kiss across her lips. “I think that way about you as well.”
“Really?” she asks, her eyes getting a little glimmer back in them, and I nod.
A few months ago, a visiting pediatrician saw Violet, and aggressively told Ella that Violet’s speech was delayed because we were the problem, since we hadn’t switched her from a bottle to a sippy cup fast enough.
I’ve never seen Ella turn so fast on someone before, and she had the man cowering and apologizing profusely in remarkable speed.
Needless to say, we were thrilled when the guy left Eternity Springs.
I’ve never been prouder, or more in awe of Ella.
“Are we going to Nani’s?” Oliver asks excitedly.
“We are,” I answer, rising to stand so I can help Ella up. She’s perfectly capable of getting up from a chair, but I’m honestly loving taking care of her. “I think Carson may be coming to hang out after school as well.”
Carson and Oliver have become best buds.
While there are a couple of years between them, they bonded over their love of Bluey, and they both really enjoy helping my mom in the kitchen.
Both Oliver and Violet have sets of their clothes at my parents’ house now, and are all too thrilled to be welcomed into the Santo family.
Meanwhile, Violet has become my dad’s shadow.
I don’t think he’ll ever admit it, but Violet is his favorite grandchild.
There’s something about her sassy personality that won him over immediately.
I’m sure he’s going to get a kick out of how she tries to pronounce bullshit, because she will undoubtedly perform for him as soon as we get there.
An hour later, after dropping the kids off, we’re on our way to the birthing center. Ella shifts awkwardly in the passenger seat, pressing on her protruding belly. “Are you okay? Contraction?”
“No, I don’t think so,” she murmurs. “Some weird pressure. I’m just uncomfortable.”
“What if the OB says you’re in labor?” I joke. “You know, you probably are. We didn’t put the bag in the car.”
“Don’t tease me,” she mutters. “All I need is you, my phone, and a charging cord. I bet whatever your sisters told me I needed to have I won’t ever use.”
“Well, a lot of that came from Arianna. She’s always been a massive over packer.”
“Whitley didn’t help much either. I shouldn’t have trusted her, since she’s an emotional basket case as well.
” Whitley recently found out she’s also pregnant, from a fuck buddy situation, and the guy immediately said he wanted nothing to do with the baby.
Not surprisingly, my parents basically adopted her, telling her they’ll be the family she needs.
Whitley’s parents are both gone, and as an only child, she gratefully accepted the welcoming gesture from my family.
Thankful for the expectant parents parking right in front of the birthing center, I jog around the new SUV to help Ella out of the car.
While neither of our cars were in dire need of an upgrade, we chose to get a larger SUV for Ella, as she’ll be most likely to have all three children at once for the time being.
Since all will be in full car seats for the foreseeable future, Ella’s new car will be the family car.
I sold my car, and took over driving her older SUV.
It made the most sense for both of us to have SUVs for our larger family.
We’re whisked into an exam room as we wait for the OB.
Doctor Morales has delivered quite a few of my nieces and nephews, and it’s surreal she’s now delivering a child of mine.
But once the heart rate monitor is strapped onto Ella’s stomach, I see the immediate concern on the nurse’s face. “What is it?”
Ella’s hand blindly reaches out to grab mine as we wait for the nurse to respond. “I need to get Doctor Morales. I think it’s safe to say you’ll be delivering this baby sooner rather than later.”
A moment later, the doctor strides in, grabbing the ultrasound machine.
After squirting a glob on Ella’s stomach, she applies the wand, gazing intently at the screen.
She nods once, removes the wand, then wipes off the gel.
Turning to us, she says, “The baby’s heart rate is decelerating.
Usually that means there is a decrease in oxygen due to the umbilical cord being compressed, or there may be an issue with the placenta.
Whatever the case, I’m not taking any chances.
As long as you agree, I’d like to do an emergency c-section right now. It’s time to meet your baby.”
In shock, Ella nods numbly, then turns to me, bursting into tears. “I wanted the baby out, but not this way!”
“I know, sweetheart,” I whisper, slowly stroking her spine. “Doctor Morales wouldn’t do a c-section unless it was absolutely necessary. I’ll be with you every step of the way, alright? It’s going to be okay.”
We’re ushered into a birthing room, where Ella is handed a gown.
Once she’s undressed, nurses arrive to quickly get her ready.
The monitors are again attached to her belly, an IV is inserted, and she’s given a catheter.
She’s administered medicine meant to relax her, and I step out to call my parents to let them know that they can start the Santo phone chain.
We decided a month ago that my mom would also come to the hospital, as we felt having a mother here would be moving for both of us.
I know if Ella’s own mother could be here, she would be, and I’m thankful my mom can step in.
Gianna will be taking Oliver back to her house, while Violet stays with my dad.
When I’m given scrubs, booties, and a hair net, I find myself chuckling. When I catch Ella’s eyes, I shrug. “Guess I was right about not putting your hospital bag in the car.”
“Gia already texted me to say she’d grab it on her way to get Oliver, and she’ll give it to your mom.”
“I was only gone for a couple of minutes. You discussed that with Gia already?” I ask.
Ella cocks an eyebrow at me. “I texted her as soon as you said it wasn’t in the car, Leo. Did you really think we wouldn’t have a plan for everything? The Santo women could undoubtedly rule the world one day.”
I grin, leaning down to kiss her softly. “Kinda love that, baby.”
I’m suited up when a team of nurses come in, ready to wheel Ella into the operating room. “Dad, you wait here.”
“What? No!” I blurt out. “I have to be with her. Is this normal? Why keep the dad out of the room? This is bullshit.”
Ella snorts. “Bullshit. Bah-sit. Bah-sit! Oh, fuck. I think the relax-y drugs they gave me have kicked in a little.”
One nurse laughs. “We’re not keeping you out of the room, Dad. Just until we get Mom situated, and the spinal administered. Once we begin the procedure, you’ll be brought in. I promise you won’t miss the birth of your baby.”
“Alright, I guess,” I mutter. I look down at Ella, smiling happily up at me, and I’m momentarily struck speechless.
She’s about to give birth to our baby. While this might be the first baby born of our blood, it’s our third child.
But, regardless of the number, this is still a brand new experience for both of us.
I bend down to kiss her, letting my lips linger on hers for a few moments. “I love you, baby.”