Nancy leads us into a hospital room and opens the bathroom door to the side. “Just go into the bathroom, dear, and remove your clothes and underwear, then put this gown on.” She retrieves a gown from the cupboard and passes it to me. I nod nervously and do as she instructed. I put it on and take my place on the bed. She wheels a trolley in and attaches pads that are hooked up to monitor, to my stomach. The baby’s heartbeat starts to bleep a little noise. “Ah, there it is. A beautiful strong little heartbeat.” Nancy smiles.
My relieved eyes turn to focus on Joshua, and he smiles his first smile in two hours, squeezing my hand.
“The doctor is on his way and he will inspect you when he gets here.”
“Ok,” I murmur.
“Here is the buzzer.” She hands me a control thingy from above the bed. “If you need anything, just call me.”
We both smile. “Thank you.” She leaves the room.
Joshua and I sit for what seems like forever. Joshua is silent and pensive as he sits in the chair next to the bed.
I look around the room nervously. “This isn’t like the rooms we inspected, is it?”
“Hmm.” Joshua groans deep in thought.
“We don’t have a spa bath. I thought we were supposed to have a spa bath?”
“Hmm.” Joshua repeats, as he stands and starts to pace at the end of the bed.
“Do you think we will get in the spa?”
He doesn’t answer me, instead running his hands through his hair nervously.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Hmm.”
We hear a commotion down the hall and someone crying.
Joshua’s face falls and he goes pale.
“Wonder what’s going on down there?” I whisper. “Go and see.”
Joshua frowns. “What?”
“Open the door and see who is crying. I want to know if it’s a mother giving birth.”
“Oh, for fucks sake, I’m not doing that. Mind your own business!” he snaps in frustration.
We hear Nancy’s calm voice. “Come back into the room, dear, its ok.”
We hear more tears and a door slam.
I tap my foot on the bed impatiently as Joshua sits back in his chair. He rubs his index finger back and forth across his lips in his classic thinking pose. He is silently freaking out.
The room is quiet and still. “This is boring, isn’t it?” I mutter.
Joshua blows out a breath and rolls his eyes.
“Do you think I’m in labour?” I ask.
“Natasha” He sighs.
I smile cheekily. “Yes, my Lamborghini?”
“Why don’t you have a sleep? This is going to be a very long day if you don’t relax.”‘
I screw up my face. “As if I could sleep.” I continue to tap my foot in excitement as I sit in my bed and look around.
He scratches the back of his head in frustration. I know he wants to snap at me and say ‘shut up, I’m thinking’ but he’s holding his tongue.
“Have you eaten?” he asks.
“No, I’m good.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Nope.”
“You will need your strength later.”
“I know,” I reply casually.
“Close your eyes and rest, Presh.” He rubs his hand on my thigh.