“Do you think she’s right?” Marie asked when Susan left the room and Brody came and sat next to her on the bed. He helped her lie on her side and began kneading her lower back gently. She moaned in delight as the pressure of his hand made her back feel instantly better.
“My mom knows a bunch of stuff about babies. She was actually one of the midwives for my father’s church. They didn’t believe in mainstream doctors and hospital births and so my mom has delivered a lot of babies,” Brody explained. “If it wasn’t for her, a lot of parents would have lost their children because of my dad’s crazy cult. We’ll just wait and see, darling. Don’t worry.”
She ended up drinking all her tea and was actually able to eat some soup later in the evening before falling asleep. It was after midnight when she awoke suddenly. It felt as if something inside her had popped and wetness pooled between her thighs. She shifted and more flowed out and Marie knew this was it. She was in labor and there was no mistaking that, not after your water broke.
Marie tapped Brody’s shoulder. “Brody, wake up, my water broke.” He was up and out of bed instantly, like the bed had suddenly caught fire. “You’re kidding. Shit, please say you’re kidding?” Marie shook her head. “Your mom seemed to have called it. I’m in labor.”
He looked wildly around the room and ran his hand through his hair and Marie watched him. While she was surprisingly calm, he seemed to have become panic-crazed.
“Okay, where’s your bag? Um, I know, we packed it… Shit, okay, I—”
“Brody,” she said calmly.
He turned to face her. “Yes, baby, I’m sorry. I should be worrying about you, not the bag. What do you need? Anything, anything at all I will get it for you. I can go make you a hotdog sandwich if you need one. I may need to go get the hotdogs you like but it’s okay, I can do this.”
“No, thank you, honey. Can you please help me get into the shower and then go wake your mom, tell her what’s going on,” Marie explained.
“Call Jenny, then Rafe and Ivy and we’ll go to the hospital.” He nodded. “I can do that.”
She held out her arms to him. “I know you can, that’s why I love you.” He was kneeling next to her in an instant, kissing her over and over again. “I love you too, Marie. God, I love you so much.” He cupped her face and stared into her eyes. “We’re doing this, we’re going to be parents.”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes we are. Now help me into the shower because I think I’m having a contraction which means we need to hurry.” That propelled him to move and soon she was in the bathroom getting out of her wet things. He closed the door and she heard him yell, “Mom, this is it!” Marie laughed softly to herself as she got under the hot spray.
She was dressed in loose sweatpants and sitting in the back seat of the suburban no more than a half an hour later. Brody kept glancing back at her every few minutes as she rubbed her tightening belly when each contraction hit. They were getting closer already and that worried her.
Baby Grayson didn’t seem to intend to make a slow entrance into the world. In no time, they were at the hospital and Jenny met them to head up to the maternity ward. Soon, she was in a wheelchair, being wheeled down the hall, with everyone she loved around her. Brody held her hand all the way while Ivy with her own burgeoning belly held the other. Rafe carried the bags and Brody’s mother rounded out the group. Marie was checked in and settled in a birth suite in no time, and soon Jenny came in dressed in scrubs ready to check her dilation.
“What a big crowd to welcome Grayson into the world,” Jenny commented with a smile. “I’ve met Rafe and Ivy, and who is this fine lady? Let me guess, I see some of Brody in your features. I’m thinking you are Mom.”
Brody’s mother laughed. “Yes, that would be me.”
“Well, welcome, Grandma. Now, let’s see how far along you are,” Jenny said, coming over to Marie.
Marie felt her gently check her and a contraction hit at the same time making her moan in pain. “Well, damn, this really hurts.”
“Breathe through it, sweetheart, just like in Lamaze,” Brody encouraged.
“You breathe through it. It’s your fault I’m in this predicament,” Marie muttered.
Jenny chuckled. “Well, Marie, you’re already at five centimeters dilated and fully effaced. You can either try the doula and labor for a little while or you can get your epidural.”
“Epidural. Two if I can order a second,” Marie said firmly.
“No, only one.” Jenny patted her leg and got up off the corner of her bed.
“Is he going to be okay being that it is early?” Marie asked worriedly.
“It’s only the middle of May.”
“You’re thirty-six weeks and healthy babies can be born between thirty-six and forty-two weeks,” Jenny said gently. “I would have liked to see this bun bake a little longer, but he’s ready to be born. We’ll look for breathing problems and monitor him in neonatal but his heartbeat is very strong and honestly I think he’ll be fine.” That lessened some of her worry and she looked over to the monitor where the little heart icon blinked in tune to his heartbeat. Brody leaned over and kissed her forehead gently. “He’ll be fine, honey. I think you’re having another contraction. The little squiggly line thing is jumping like crazy.”
“Gee, thanks for pointing that out, I couldn’t tell from the pain,” she muttered and began to breathe through it.
“How bad is it?” Ivy asked worriedly. She was sitting in a chair close by.
“It’s okay. Really more uncomfortable than painful,” Marie said, not wanting to scare Ivy who would be going through the same thing soon. Ivy gave her one of those
yeah, right
looks she was famous for and Marie laughed. “Okay, okay, it hurts like a mother…I mean bitch.”
“I thought so. Rafe wants me to have a nurse with an epidural waiting at the door when the time comes,” Ivy said.
“I don’t think they will do that, honey.” Rafe took her hand and kissed it, but Marie saw worry in his eyes.
“You guys will rock labor,” Marie said through gritted teeth. “Oh, boy, these are getting fierce.”
“Where’s the damn anesthesiologist with the pain medication?” Brody asked irritably.
Marie gripped his hand as another contraction hit her and she spoke between breaths. “Can…someone go find…Jenny and tell…her I need to be…beaten over the head…until I’m unconscious?” Rafe moved toward the door. “I’ll go, Brody. You stay here. Your glowering is liable to scare the nurses.” Rafe left and returned with the message that she was making her way to them. Apparently, more than a few women were in labor and it was a busy night. The time ticked by with her laboring without medication.
After one really rough contraction, Marie looked up at Brody. “Let’s get married.”
“Okay, the license is still valid.” Brody wiped her face with a cool washcloth.
“No, I mean now,” she said firmly. “Before he’s born.” Brody looked alarmed. “Honey, I don’t think there is any possible way to do it now.”
“Go find the chaplain. One is always in the hospital.” She began to pant as another contraction began to surface. “Get him, pay him, and make a donation, I don’t care. I want to get married before Grayson comes.”
“Oh, Lord, woman, you are trying to kill me.” Brody kissed her hard.
“Okay, I’ll find him and drag him here if I have to. Mom, take over.”
“The marriage license, where is it? He needs t sign it!” She panted.
“Oh god can you get home to get it before this baby makes an entrance?” Brody smiled and patted his back pocket. “It’s been with me since the day we got it, its my luck good luck charm.”
“Ok go find the minister,” His mother hurried him along. “Mister Grayson is very impatient to meet us.”
Brody’s mother took her hand and wiped her face. “Okay, sweetie, you keep breathing.”
Rafe pulled out his cell. “I’ll take floors one to six, you hit four to twelve. Whoever finds him first calls the other.”
She watched them tear out of the room like fire was lapping at their heels. She watched the clock as twenty minutes passed with them not back yet. Her contractions were now five minutes apart and she knew his birth was closer with each round of pain. Finally, they rushed in with a frazzled-looking Brody and a smiling older man. He wore jeans and a black shirt with a collar.
“I hear we’re getting married,” he said.
“This is Father Griffith. He’s going to marry us, sweetheart,” Brody said.
“Okay.” She gritted her teeth and began to pant. “We may need to hurry this, father, not that I don’t want all the words, but this boy is also in a hurry to make an entrance.”
“I’m on board. Take her hand,” Father Griffith said to Brody. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God—and the face of this company—to take part in the most time-honored celebration of the human family, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.” The father spoke and they answered at the appropriate times while her body went through the process of having a baby.
“Can we have the rings?” the chaplain said.
Brody smiled awkwardly. “Skip that part. We’ll get those later.”
“Okay. Do you, Marie Watson, take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?” Father Griffith asked.
“Yes, I do,” she said and leaned her head back as another contraction hit. “Where in the hell is that medication? I need numbing!”
“Do you, Lieutenant Brody Gillis, take this woman to be your wife?” Father Griffith posed the question to him.
“Yes, sir, with all my heart,” Brody said.
“By the power vested in me by God and the State of Maryland, I now pronounce you man and wife.” Father Griffith smiled widely. “You may kiss the bride.”
Brody leaned over and kissed her before she pushed him away. “Oh, God, here comes another one.”
Finally, the anesthesiologist came in. The woman doctor was too perky for Marie’s taste and she shuffled everyone except Brody out of the room.
After about ten minutes she was blissfully numb from the belly down and decided the doctor wasn’t that bad after all. Each contraction came and she felt nothing except the tightening of her stomach. Three more hours of contractions came and went before it was time for her to begin pushing.
Ivy helped hold one leg while Brody held the other so she could have some support while she bore down to push Grayson from her body. Even with the medication could feel her body stretching as he moved downward.
“Come on, honey, you’re doing it. I can see his hair,” Brody said excitedly.
“One more will do it, Marie. You’re doing great,” Jenny said.
“One more, baby, push,” Brody encouraged.
She gripped his hand and brought her head to her chest, bearing down with all her might.
“Reach down and pull your baby out,” Jenny encouraged.
Marie reached between her legs and Jenny put her hands around the baby’s small body and she gently tugged. With a cry, she felt her baby slip from her body and then blessed emptiness as he lay on her chest.
“We have a boy,” Jenny said happily. She suctioned his mouth and nose before tapping his little feet lightly.
Marie laughed between her tears when the baby gave a small cry and then a louder one and then a belting sound that filled the room.
“Nothing is wrong with those lungs,” Jenny said. “Dad, cut the cord, and let’s get him in the warmer.”
After Brody cut the cord, the nurse took the baby while Jenny helped her expel the afterbirth. Brody’s mother was openly crying and so was Ivy.
Rafe’s grin was wide and he held Ivy’s hand tightly. The nursed handed the baby to Brody who cradled the tiny child in his hands.
“Hey, Grayson, welcome to the world. I’m your dad.” His voice was husky. “And you have the most awesome mommy in the world.”
“Let your mom hold him,” Marie said.
Marie heard the little cooing noise Susan made when she took baby Grayson in her arms. She cuddled him and then met Marie’s gaze with her tear-filled eyes. “Thank you for letting me be here for this. I have needed this kind of joy in my life for a long time.” Susan handed the baby to Marie gently and she kissed those soft baby cheeks. “Hi, my darling boy, you are early but you are so very loved.” Everyone was escorted out of the room so she could be moved to a private room. There, Rafe and Ivy held their godson and when Marie started to doze off everyone quietly crept from the room. It was around : a.m. when she opened her eyes and Brody was sitting in the comfy daddy’s chair across the room with Grayson held against his chest and a small bottle on the coffee table next to the chair.
“Hey, Daddy, what’s going on? Bonding without me?” she asked sleepily.
Brody chuckled softly. “The nurse brought him in for a feeding and you were asleep, so she said he could have a bottle and you could breastfeed next time around.”
“God, I’m hungry,” she said with a smile. She could feel the ache of her body from giving birth but the emptiness as well and kind of missed the full, round feeling of Grayson being inside.
“Breakfast is at : a.m. and they promised me a tray as well.” Brody grinned.
Marie rolled her eyes. “Charming the nurses, huh? You are a married man, Brody Gillis.”
He held the baby close to his chest and came over to sit on the bed next to her. “I know that, Mrs. Gillis, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He placed Grayson in her arms and gave her a kiss before leaning his head against hers as they looked down at their newborn son. Marie ran a finger down his open palm and even in sleep he wrapped his tiny fingers around hers and she laughed softly.
“Look at what we made,” she whispered in wonder. “He’s so perfect, six pounds and two ounces of precious little boy.”
“He is, and strong too. Even though he was a few weeks early there is not a thing wrong with him.” Brody fixed the little cap on his head. “My son. Thank you so much for this gift.”
“He’s our gift, one that brought us together and showed me what true love really is and what it feels like.” Marie looked up at Brody. “I do love you, Brody, so much, you don’t even know. No matter how much I fought it or said we were just having a good time, you were always in my heart and now that’s where you’re going to stay. You got me, Marine?” Brody nodded. “Ma’am, yes, ma’am. I love you more than one man should be able to and no matter what, I’ll make sure you know that you are treasured, every single day.”