Page 24 of Big Catch
Vin grabs my hand. “Mama’s having her baby.”
Going straight into doctor mode, I turn to Tyler, “Get the vehicle started. I’ll grab my bag.”
A minute later we’re all piled in the van, and Bray speeds to the village a short distance away as I ask the boys questions, none of which they can really answer.
We make it to the village fast, and we all rush inside. I’m quickly introduced to Becca’s husband, Thomas senior, and he hurries me to the bedroom.
“Becca,” I say, and take in the sheen on her face. She looks calm—way calmer than I would have expected, probably because this is her fourth baby. Do I dare tell her it’s only my second delivery? “How far apart are the contractions?” I ask, struggling to present calm.
“Two minutes.”
I place my bag on her dresser. “Good thing your boys thought to come and get me. How is Cecil?” I ask as I open my bag and pull out my stethoscope.
“He’s feeling better.” She sucks in deep panting breaths as I look her over and take her vitals. When she lets out a moan, I step to the foot of the bed to assess her progress.
“Okay, let me have a look,” I say, praying there are no complications. I have no idea how far the hospital is, but with her contractions so close, I’m sure she’ll deliver before we even get there.
I pull the sheet up over her bent legs, and see the baby is already crowing. “We’re close.” I look to her husband, who has gone pale. “Can you bring me fresh towels and water in a bowl please?” I ask.
A hand touches my shoulder. “What do you need, Aly?” Bray says softly. I glance up into a pair of the kindest blue eyes, and my heart falters.
“I’m okay, Bray. Maybe someone can distract the boys.”
“Ty’s outside with them, playing soccer.”
My heart thuds harder, and I smile. “Of course he is.” Once again I wonder how it’s possible that these two guys are still single. They are incredible men, who care a great deal about the people in their community and always know just what to do. Becca bears down again, an
d my thoughts return to her. “I need to work now,” I say.
He drops a soft kiss onto my forehead. “I’ll check on Cecil, and then I’ll be hanging in the hall. Holler if you need anything.”
Thomas senior comes back with the supplies, and I place the fresh towels on the bed. “Just sit with her and talk to her,” I say. He takes Becca’s hand in his and uses the other to brush her hair from her forehead.
I pull on my sterile gloves, open a clean cloth and place my equipment on it. “Breath with me,” I say to Becca when another contraction hits.
She cries and bears down again. “Let’s get this baby out.” Thomas rubs her hands, and breathes with her.
“If you have another boy, you’ll soon be able to start your own soccer team,” I say.
Becca grins. “We’re hoping for a girl.” She cries out as a sharp pain hits.
“Push,” I say and count to ten. “Okay, stop.”
“You’re doing great,” Thomas says. Then he says something in Creole that I don’t understand. It brings a smile to her face, and that makes me happy.
I give her a moment of reprieve, then say, “I need you to push again.”
Tears pool in her eyes as she holds her bent legs and clenches down. “That’s it, Becca.” I count to ten again as the boys play in the street, their sounds reaching my ears.
The room grows warm, and I wipe my brow on my arm as the minutes tick by. We continue with the push and count to ten pattern for a long time, until Becca is nearing exhaustion. I fear if we don’t get this baby out soon, she’s going to give up on me. I check the time and exchange a look with her husband. He nods in understanding.
It’s time to really push Becca into getting this baby out.
“Becca,” Thomas says, then he finishes his sentence in their native tongue. She nods and clamps her teeth together.
“Okay, Becca, the hardest push you have. We’re almost here.”
She cries and pushes with everything she has in her. This time I don’t let up. “Push again,” I say. “Push, push, push.”
