We’ve already hired the best teachers and coaches available, however, most of the staff will come from the gang areas – providing much-needed jobs to unfortunate people.
But since we’ve started, we’ve decided to expand it by incorporating group homes for kids with unsafe or no homes, a clinic where anyone can get free treatment, and a safe haven for pregnant girls who have nowhere to go. As well as a small psychiatric ward with an occupational and physical therapy center.
And I’m sure this place is going to grow even bigger with time. We’ve already started buying more ground around the area to expand whenever we want to.
What’s more … Dad and Doc Barney decided to ‘retire’ and run the clinic with the help of Ava and Nurse Betty, while Dr. Burden will head the gynecology department.
“I REALLY need to pee,” Mel says suddenly, clenching her knees together. I smile at the desperate look on her face and point toward the temporary outhouses on the outskirts of the woodland.
She starts a speedy walk at full tilt, resembling a hybrid of an ostrich and a duck … needless to say, I can’t help but snort in laughter. She stops, and gasps before turning around – shock written all over her face. Did I go too far? Maybe if I promptly apologize it might be better received.
“I’m sorry … you just walk funny … ” Her face contorts, and it’s not hosting a pleasant look. Okay … I should not have said that last part. I curse myself.
“DAMION … ” she starts and I take a deep breath, waiting silently for the scolding to come.
“My water broke.” I open my mouth to explain and apologize again, but before I can utter a sound, the meaning of her words hit me right between the eyes. I blink a few times spotting the wet jeans and a puddle at her feet.
“Holy fuck!” I holler, “Shit … are you in fucking labor?” I’m shocked, rooted to the spot.
She frowns and points a finger at me. “Stop swearing! He is coming and you can’t talk like that!” Even in this stage, she’s chastising me. But my mind is blank. I feel like fainting and start trotting around in a circle like some kind of crazy rooster dancing the jig.
“The baby is coming … NOW … it’s too early … it has to stay in … keep your legs together.”
“Calm down! You’re making me nervous!” she yells, but at least it gets me going in the right direction … towards her. I grab her shoulders and look into her eyes.
“The baby is coming,” I tell her with a huge grin. She pulls her mouth tight.
“I fucking know that moron!” She’s sarcastic. And why does she get to swear? But I’m not going to ask that out loud right now. I pout, pushing my lower lip out.
“I think this is where you get me to the hospital.” Still sneering. The word hospital drills into my disorientated head and I run to where we’ve parked.
“DAMION!” I stop and turn to look at her … she’s still standing in the same spot. Why is she not coming?
“Are you not forgetting something?” I tilt my head.
The keys. I jab my hand into my pocket and retrieve them. My phone is in my hand. Nope. I think I got everything.
I look blankly back at her and she points to herself. Fuck. Her. I forgot her.
I fly back and pick her up to carry her to my Ford. I need to get her to the hospital. We’re going. To the hospital.
Just as I reach the pick-up, she pats my shoulder.
“DAMION!” I freeze, immediately knowing something bad must be happening.
“I dropped the present there … ”
I’m thinking fuck the present, but I make a U-turn to go fetch it.
Why do I feel like a fool? I’m gonna be a dad!
Mel wiggles in my arms.
“Put me down first … ” I stop mid-track. It makes sense. I think my brain is not working. Clearly. Not at all. I swing back and lower her to the ground. I open the back flap of the truck and gently lift her onto the bed.
“Just sit up here … don’t jump off … or make any sudden movements … okay …” She nods, her face in a frown. I haste to go get her stuff.
On the way, the full force of exactly what’s happening eventually reaches my brain. Mel is in labor. Our son is coming. I miss the box a few times in my hurry but manage to grab it on the third try.
“I’ve got the blue angel thingy!” I shout, falling over my own feet, to land roughly next to the truck. Mel peeps over the side, her eyes huge.
“I’m in love with a frickin moron,” she mumbles. Right now I’m not going to argue with that – I feel like a frickin moron.
“Shucks, it’s not as if I’m having a baby every day.” She rolls her eyes as I get up and dust off my pants.
“I am having the baby … me,” she hisses as if short of breath.
Then her scream splits the air and she grabs her tummy.
“GRIMM … he’s coming … I swear he’s coming!”
I jump to my feet and stare at her tummy as if it’s going to pop open any moment now.
“It’s coming?” I pant. “It’s coming!”
“That’s what I said!” she screams at me, “Check … can you see it?” Her eyes are expectantly on me. She opens her legs more. I take a look.
“Shit!” I bawl.
“You see it? It’s coming isn’t it … I knew it!” she cries, clawing her stomach nervously.
“It can’t come … ” I lisp and point.
“What?” She sounds like a cow, her voice deep and low. “Damion!”
“You still got your pants on,” I flap, wiping some cold sweat from my forehead. She lifts her tear-stained face and our eyes lock. I watch my emotions duplicated in her baby-blues. She’s also scared.
“Get it off … shit, must I do everything here!”