Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
I ran into the living room to grab the house phone.
“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”
“It’s Eva... she’s uh... she’s having a baby,” I stuttered, trying to keep my cool.
“Okay, sir, stay calm. Where is she now?”
“In her bathroom.”
“Is her bag of water intact?”
I nervously paced back and forth. “Her what?”
“Has her water broke, sir?”
“I don’t know, yes, she peed...”
Everly enthusiastically nodded, skipping around. “Yes, Momma peed in her pants! She gets no M&M’s, der all mine cuz I pooped in da potty!”
“What’s your name?”
“Aiden.”
“Okay Aiden, I need you to time her contractions. Can you do that for me?”
“Yeah, I can do that. Give me a minute.” I grabbed the bag of M&M’s off the counter and Everly’s eyes lit up. “I’m going to turn on your movie and you’re going to sit on the couch and eat your chocolate like a good girl, okay?”
“Beauty and da Beast!” she beamed, already going to town on the bag of candy. Everly loved that Disney movie, always claiming it was Bailey on the screen, and I couldn’t agree more. She looked just like the make-believe character. It was why I started calling her Beauty, named after the heroine, Belle.
After I helped Everly get dressed, I made my way back toward Eva’s bedroom, announcing, “Eva! I need to come in and help!”
“Come in! I wrapped a towel around her!” Bailey responded for her from what sounded like the shower. Her voice echoed in the air.
“Why are you in the shower?” I asked when I saw where they were.
I hit the speaker button on the phone to free up my hands and reassure Eva help was on the way.
“Eva was trying to clean herself up after her water broke.”
“So, it was her water?” the operator questioned.
Eva nodded, breathing in and out. Focusing on Bailey sitting in front of her.
“Yes,” I told the operator.
“Okay, the EMS is en route. How far are her contractions?”
Eva blurted in a heavy tone, “Contractions are a minute apart,” breathing through the agony. “Baby is coming. She’s coming right now!”
“Okay, I need everyone to stay calm. The EMS might not make it in time with how close those contractions are happening, Ma’am.”
“What?!” They screamed in unison, while I stayed calm for everyone including myself.
“You may need to deliver this baby, but don’t worry I will walk you through it.”
“I need to push!” Eva stated, bearing down.
“She needs to push, Aiden!”
“I have ears, Bay!”
“I need someone to look and see if the baby’s head is crowning.”
Bailey and I locked eyes, and I nodded over to Eva.
“Oh man.” Her eyes widened. “I don’t know if I can do this, Aiden. I don’t like blood. I get queasy when I get a papercut.”
“I know, but you have to.”
“Aiden, I can’t. I just can’t do it!”
“Someone has to do it,” the operator spoke up. “Or the baby could go into distress.”
Before I gave it any thought, I asked, “Eva, is it alright if I look?” Wanting to be respectful.
It wasn’t like I had much of a choice in the situation. Either I did this, or I’d be risking two lives, Eva’s and the baby. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to them. Being the one to deliver their baby girl was the ultimate way to show my appreciation for all they did.
A way to show my gratitude for everything they’d done for me.
For us.
“Yes! Please! Get this baby out of me NOW!”
Bailey scooted out of the way to sit up by Eva’s head, supporting it in her lap, while I sat in between her legs. Mentally preparing myself for I don’t know what.
“Ahh! I can’t hold her in any longer! I’m pushing! I’m pushing!” she panted, squeezing onto Bailey’s hand as excruciating pain ripped through her body.
“Holy shit,” I breathed out, looking at baby girl’s head coming out. “Yeah, she’s crowning!”
“Okay, just a few more pushes, Eva. I need you to bear down as soon as the next wave of contractions hit. Hold it for a count of ten then breathe. Deep breathes in and out after. Just remember to breathe, your baby will be here before you know it,” the woman on the phone instructed. “Aiden, once you see the baby’s shoulders, it will get a lot easier,” she informed. “I need you to grab a towel and get ready to catch the baby.”
I nodded as if she could see me, amazed at what was happening in front of my eyes. I reached behind me to pull the towel off the rack.
“Aiden, can you hear me?”
“Yes, but I’ve… I’ve never held a baby.”
“It’s not hard. Just make sure you support the head, alright?”
“Okay.”
I’d never been so nervous, watching a new life come into this world. My hands shook as I reached for the baby girl, supporting her neck and head, careful not to hurt her.