Christmas With The Houstons (Acceptance #4) (23 page)

Jake

December Fifteenth

Since Thanksgiving, our lives have been crazy but in a good way. April is becoming progressively more exhausted with each passing day, but she also seems to be growing more each day. Jaxson is getting ready to make his way into the world.

Eventually.

April is now five days overdue. She isn’t worried one bit because she’s sure her original due date was correct and Jaxson will come on Christmas. Her doctor told her if he isn’t here by Christmas Eve, which is two weeks after the adjusted due date, she’s going to induce her. April said no way in hell, he’s coming all on his own.

I’ve been unemployed for three weeks, and in that period of time I’ve never been happier. Eventually, I do need to figure out what I’m going to do with my life, but right now I’m enjoying my wife and kids way too much to give it up. Being able to experience Mia and Hannah’s excitement whenever we do something new is the greatest feeling in the world.

They started school the week after Thanksgiving and realized their fears were unfounded. They absolutely adore their new teacher and their school. The house is fully decked out for Christmas and every day April makes a new cookie, bread, or pie with the girls and they take half of whatever it is they’ve made and deliver a goodie package to a neighbor. Needless to say, our new neighbors now love us.

What’s really funny is all the early Christmas shopping April and I did in October—the day she met Mia and our lives changed forever—only dented the amount of actual shopping we really have to do. Every day, while the girls are in school, we take a short shopping trip. We’re finally almost finished.

Yesterday, while April napped, I took the girls shopping for Luvbug’s Christmas presents as well as presents for April from the girls. They were cuteness overload and overjoyed to be buying gifts for their mom. When they get out of school today, the plan is to take them to the mall to see Santa.

“What in the world are you doing?”

“Laundry,” she replies like it’s no big deal.

“For Jaxson?”

“Of course for Jaxson, silly. You have to wash baby clothes with special baby detergent before they can wear them.”

The sparkle in her eyes is back and she’s practically skipping to the washer. I guess she must be feeling better today; taking it easy must really be paying off.

“I’m so excited to take the girls to see Santa, Jake. I’ve got their outfits laid out on their beds so as soon as they get home they can change. Oh, and have you talked to Connor again about him and Jess taking the girls when I go into labor?”

“Yes, I talked to both of them and they are on call twenty-four-seven until you deliver. They’re extremely excited to help out, especially since you’ve banned any and all family from the hospital for the first twenty-four hours.”

Like Misty wanted a private wedding, April wants a private birth. I don’t blame her one bit; it will be nice to bond with Jaxson without being bombarded at the hospital immediately. Since Jess is working at the hospital, she is the only one allowed to come and it’s only because she’ll be bringing Mia and Hannah to meet their brother.

“It’s the best thing, Jake.”

“I know, babe, I already agreed with you.”

“Good. Want to be my lunch date?”

“Want to be my lunch instead?” Her cheeks flush with my words. We’re getting closer and I want to pleasure her as much as I can before I have to wait a minimum of six weeks before I can do it again.

April turns away from the washer and walks toward our room, removing an article of clothing every few feet.

I fucking love my wife likes to fuck just as much as I do.

“Daddy, we’re next! We’re next!” Hannah jumps up and down with excitement. She and Mia are in matching red velvet dresses and black, patent leather shoes with white stockings. I’ve heard April describe her vision for the Santa picture for so long I was beginning to wonder if she’d buy the same outfit and take the photo with them. Thankfully, she refrained.

April groans and holds her side. I scoot up against her so she can lean on me but she shifts and groans again.

“What’s the matter, babe?”

“Oh, nothing. My side has just been bugging me for the last few hours but it’s getting worse. Maybe Jaxson is lodged in my ribs again.”

The woman behind us taps April on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” she says politely.

“Just one second,” April tells her as Mia and Hannah skip up to Santa’s lap. “Remember to tell him what you want for Christmas!” she calls after them.

“I’m sorry,” she says, turning to the woman, “it’s their first time seeing Santa with us.”

The woman laughs and waves her arm over her three kids. “No problem, I’ve been there myself a few times. I’m sorry to butt my nose in, but I overheard you saying your side hurt and you look about to deliver.”

“I should have delivered days ago but babies come in their own time, I suppose.”

“Yes, they do, and I think yours is coming today. You look to me like you’re in back and side labor. I know the pain and the faces I made with my first one and you’re making them now. Nobody ever warns you of what it’s like, but it’s not normal labor. By the time I got to the hospital, I was crowing in the car.”

April and I exchange freaked out glances. It would explain her burst of energy today, for starters. They did briefly talk about side labor in Lamaze but I didn’t even think of it.

“You know what?” April tells her with a grimace, “I think you just might be right. Thank you so much.”

“Oh, happy to help. Maybe you ought to go straight to the hospital, just to be on the safe side.”

I’m already collecting the girls and their photos as April thanks her again. We walk as quickly as we can to the door.

“You guys stay here. I’ll pull up the car and call Connor.”

“Okay, Daddy” the girls say as April nods, clutching her side.

On the way to the car, I call Connor and thankfully, Jess is at the hospital now so she’s going to meet us in registration and take the girls. Then I call April’s doctor, who says she’ll meet us there. I put April’s bag in the car on December first just in case he came early and we’re pre-registered, so we’re good to go.

When I pull up, I hop out to help April in and hurry the girls along but they’re already rushing. “Daddy! Jaxson is coming today!”

“Well, it could still be a while,” April tells them under her breath, but even though I know she’s being cautious, I also know he’s coming sooner rather than later.

“Auntie Jess is going to meet us as the hospital and you’re going to go home with her and spend the night. Tomorrow, if Jaxson is here, you’ll come see him and Mommy at the hospital just like we talked about, okay?”

“Okay,” they answer together. I give April my hand and she clutches it immediately. We’re only about ten minutes away from the hospital, which is a good thing. When we’re about three minutes away, she’s practically crushing my hand and breathing through her teeth.

As soon as I pull up, Jess is standing on the curb with another nurse and a wheelchair. God bless my sister in law. She hands me her keys and gives me a quick hug.

“Take my car and I’ll take yours. It’s easier to swap since you have booster seats and I have car seats.”

“Good thinking.”

The girls give us both big hugs and take off with Jess, telling her all about Santa. We didn’t even get to hear what they wished for. I can’t forget to ask them tomorrow.

The nurse pushes April to registration and they already have all her paperwork ready. I don’t know if it was the doctor or Jess and I really don’t care. Once she has her bracelet on, they take us up to labor and delivery for our big moment.

I send one final text to the group I created for when this moment arrived, letting everyone know Jaxson is coming, and then I turn off my phone. My attention is on April from here on out.

“Here we are, Mrs. Houston. I’m going to step out for a minute and go get some supplies. In the meantime, put on the gown on the bed and get comfortable. Dr. Harrison will be here shortly.”

April sits on the side of the bed and I take off her shoes and socks for her. When she stands, I remove her pants and underwear as she removes her bra and sweater. I help her get into the gown and comfortable on the bed. Just in time, too, because someone knocks softly at the door.

“Come in,” I call out calmly, even though I’m anything but.

“April, Jake, is today going to be the big day?” Dr. Harrison asks as she enters with the nurse right behind her.

“I think so,” April tells her.

“Do you know how far apart your contractions are?”

Shit, we were supposed to time those, weren’t we?

“No, I didn’t even realize it might be labor until some sweet woman at the mall saw me grimacing and holding my side. She kindly told me she thought I was in labor.”

Dr. Harrison laughs as she puts on her gloves.

“Well, that was very kind of her indeed. Let me just feel and see what’s going on.”

I’m sitting in the chair at the top of the bed next to April. Dr. Harrison nods at the nurse as she feels around and the nurse begins to set up an I.V.

This is really it.

“Okay, April, how long have you been having the pain?”

“I don’t know… maybe since I woke up? Or even maybe in the middle of the night. I’ve been uncomfortable, but it wasn’t really hurting until the mall.”

Dr. Harrison nods in understanding. “Side and back labor can sneak up on you like that. You’re definitely in labor. As a matter of fact, you’re eight centimeters dilated and seventy percent effaced.”

Holy shit.

I don’t know what that effaced shit means, but I know you only dilate to ten.

“You’re right at the cut-off. If you want medication you need to ask now.
Right
now.”

She looks to me for guidance.

“Babe, I’ll be here every step of the way, but it’s your body, your pain, and your choice.”

She nods with tears in her eyes and grips my hand as another contraction comes.

“No medicine. I want to do this naturally.”

Dr. Harrison smiles. “I thought that would be your answer. I’m going to go ahead and break your water. After this, your labor should move even faster. He’s coming fast for a first baby, he must be anxious to get out.”

After she breaks April’s bag of water, April squeals. “That feels so weird! It’s hot, like I peed myself.”

Oh my god, this is really happening
.

“How long do you think?”

“Babies can take their sweet time, Jake, but I’ve been doing this a long time. I’d say you’ll probably see your son within the next three hours.”

“Well, guess I don’t have to worry about a day-long labor, I guess,” April tries to joke but it falls flat.

“Technically, you’ve been in labor since the pain started, April. You just didn’t realize it. I’ll leave you in Nurse Sadie’s capable hands now. She’ll check in on you every thirty minutes or so and keep me updated on your progress. Relax, everything will be fine.”

“Don’t worry, Dr. Harrison is the absolute best. Now I’ve just hooked you up to the monitor so you’ll be able to see when you are having a contraction on the screen.”

April clutches my hand hard and Sadie smiles. “That right there,” she says pointing to the monitor, “is what it looks like. The closer you get, the closer they will be together. If you need anything before I come back, just press this button.”

“Thank you,” I tell her as she leaves the room.

“It’s really happening, Jake. After all this time we’re
finally
having our baby.”

“We are, babe, and I couldn’t be any happier. I’m so in love with you. I fall deeper in love with you every single day and I’m so proud of you right now for being so brave.”

Tears fall from her eyes, and she doesn’t even try and wipe them away. It’s an emotional day for sure.

“One more push, April. You can do this, just give me one more big push,” Dr. Harrison encourages her. It’s only been an hour since she broke April’s water, but April spent most of that hour in excruciating pain.

She’s crying right now; she’s so exhausted. The past few pushes have been done with ear-piercing screams.