It was a difficult decision, but I had agreed to have a C-section. It was scheduled to happen in another week and half… if I didn’t go into labor before that time.
When she explained the intracranial pressure from bearing down and possible complications from my recent concussion and ensuing brain swelling, Nicholas had pleaded with me to choose the surgery. I could actually feel the fear rolling off of him. The choice to go with the doctor’s advice made sense on all fronts and calmed him down significantly, even if I was still a little nervous.
“I’d rather stay here today.”
I kept brushing my teeth, my eyes meeting his in the mirror as I shook my head. I spit and rinsed, wincing a little from another cramp when I bent over.
“No, the prosecutor wouldn’t have asked to meet you unless there was news.” I dried off my hands and mouth. “Besides, today is supposed to be just us girls.”
It was the day of my baby shower, and Nicholas was whining about not being invited. I didn’t feel too guilty considering Clara had set up a day of home spa treatments, where all the girls would be treated to massages, wraps, manicures-the works-here at our house. It was difficult to imagine Nicholas enjoying being exfoliated and waxed.
“They could just talk to me over the fucking phone,” he grumbled.
I rubbed his arm and laughed. “Don’t be grumpy. We’ll be here when you get back. And hopefully the mess with Rosemary will be over.”
When the prosecutor had called Nicholas the day before and set up a meeting, we assumed some kind of deal had been reached. They had requested I also attend this meeting, but I didn’t want to go. Rosemary had already ruined enough of my days, and I wasn’t going to let her ruin my baby shower too. I was a little nervous they were going to be too lenient with her, and that Nicholas would explode, but Jefferson and our lawyer were going with him.
Between the two of them, I hoped they would be able to keep him under control. He finally stopped his whining after I threatened to make him eat finger sandwiches and get his toenails painted. With a final kiss goodbye, I eventually got him out the door and waited for my girls.
“This is the best baby shower ever,” Lory said, lying flat on a table and getting her back massaged.
I nod. Clara had really outdone herself. She had stations set up around the downstairs and employed at least five people for the day to take care of me, Lory, Courtney and herself. Even Laura was taking part, chattering away during her pedicure.
“Exactly,” Courtney chimed in. “We get cake and relaxation without the diaper towers and stupid games like baby bingo.”
Clara laughed from her seat. “I figured since the baby already had everything he needs, it was mommy pampering time.”
I couldn’t have agreed more. Nicholas had us so oversupplied on baby items, we barely had enough room in both our residences to hold it all. But it had been fun shopping with him, both in the stores and online.
He was already the best father ever.
“Have you and Nicholas decided on a name yet?” Lory asked.
My lips turned up in a smile. “I think we’re getting close.” Despite Nicholas’ tendency for the ridiculous.
Clara glanced over, her eyebrow raised. “As long as it’s not Almond.”
Everyone broke out into laughter, and I was helped to stand so I could rinse off my mask. A sharp pain pierced through me and I doubled over. “Owww.”
I had six sets of hands around me immediately, getting me back in a chair. All of them were talking at once, asking me if I was okay. I took a few deep breaths to calm down. This pain was definitely not familiar. It was scary.
“I’m alright. But I don’t think this is false labor. This is the real thing.”
I knew it. It had to be. My baby was coming.
“We need to call Nicholas,” Clara said.
I just nodded and attempted to stand again, trying to freak out. “Yes, can someone give me my phone? It’s over there on the counter.” Lory and Courtney each had one of my arms. “I need to get this gunk off my face. I can’t go to the hospital looking like this.”
I looked in one of the full mirrors set up and my face was painted a ridiculous green and my hair was wrapped up in foil.
“Oh my God. I can’t have my baby with foil in my hair!” I almost started crying when the others laughed.
My emotions were all over the place. I was anxious, afraid, excited, happy. It was a bit overwhelming.
“Sweetheart, you have plenty of time. Let’s get you rinsed off and then you can call Nicholas.” Clara was trying to make me feel better, but I was a ball of nerves.
What if I didn’t have enough time to get to the hospital? Was I going to end up having the baby on a massage table? I whimpered, wondering if Lory was going to be forced to follow directions on how to deliver a baby at home.
We moved as a group toward the bathroom, but just before we reached it, my water broke. Now I was really a mess.
“I’m sorry, Laura,” I cried between sobs, not even sure why I was so upset.
She rubbed my back. “It’s okay, honey. Just let the girls get you cleaned up. Everything is going to be fine.”
Lory and Courtney got me in the shower, helping me rinse everything off. Clara was there with towels and clothes as soon as the water was shut off.
I wrapped a towel around me, taking the phone Clara was holding out for me and hitting Nicholas’ number.