Highway Don't Care (Freebirds) (33 page)

Ember

  A quick peck on the lips and he was gone.  I looked
over at Cora who was playing with her bed remote, and she smiled at me when she
caught my eyes on her.

  A nurse entered the room, the one that knew Cheyenne so
well, and checked Cora’s fluids, as well as her temperature.  I learned
over the past two days that her name was Jacie, and she was retiring later on
this year after thirty-five years as a nurse.

  “She’s looking great.  It’s amazing how well kids
bounce back from these kinds of things.”  Jacie announced.

 I grabbed her hand to stop her advance to the bathroom to
pour out the pitcher of water.  “Jacie?  Do you think it’ll be okay
to take Cora down a flight to see Cheyenne?  She’s in labor, and I want to
go see her, but I don’t want to leave Cora alone.”

  “Well, let me see what I can do.  I’ll speak with
her doctor, and we will figure something out.  If anything else, I’ll stay
in here with her.”  She said as she bustled out of the room, taking the
water pitcher with her.

  I started the round of phone calls, and was finally able
to get a hold of Sam.

  “Yeah?”  Sam answered.

  “Sam!  Where are you, why aren’t you answering your
phone?”  I demanded.

  “I was underneath a car, we were trying to get the timing
right.  Why?”  Sam asked.

  “Cheyenne’s water broke during her test.  Gabe’s
already getting her and bringing her to the hospital.  You need to hurry
up and get here.”

  Cursing was heard, and a bunch of commotion as he said,
“Okay.  I’ll be there.”

  “Cheyenne’s in labor?”  Blaine said from behind me.

  I whirled around to find her standing with Justin propped
up on her shoulder sleeping.

  I laughed out and told her exactly what Cheyenne had just
told me.  “Yeah.  Can you believe that?”

  Blaine was laughing, and we both sat to wait for some
news.

  Jacie hurried in with a bright smile on her face. 
“It’s a go.  You can take Cora; just have to leave the IV in just in
case.  I’ll come down to her and check on her during my next rounds. 

  It was going on an hour later when Gabe called me to tell
me he was on the Maternity floor.  Therefore, we gathered up Cora, Justin,
and the IV pole, and made our way down one floor.  When we stepped off the
elevator, I was rewarded with the sight of Gabe, except he had crazy eyes going
on.

 
I speed walked up to him.  “What’s going on, Gabe?  Is Cheyenne
okay?”

 
“She’s fine.  I swear to God, if you make me deliver our baby, I will
never forgive you.  I can’t handle that stress.  First Blaine and now
Cheyenne.  Why the hell is everyone always making me deliver babies? 
Sam knows some medical too!  He should have been the one to deliver his
own kid.  Not me!”  Gabe gestured wildly.

 
From what I could tell, Gabe had to deliver Cheyenne’s baby.  I
snickered.  His eyes blazed when he caught the smile on my face.

 
“You saw Cheyenne’s vagina?”  I snickered.

 
His eyes narrowed, and I decided to shut up while I still could.

 
“This is not even the least bit funny, little girl.  You’re lucky you have
Cora or I’d tickle the shit out of you right now.”  Gabe threatened.

 
I rolled my eyes at that comment.  He was all bark and no bite.  He
wouldn’t even have rough sex with me anymore.  Just because I was eighteen
months pregnant didn’t mean I was fragile.

 
I couldn’t help it.  I’m a glutton for punishment.  “Did she poop?”

 
“This is not even remotely funny.  Would you knock it off?”  He
growled.

 
“I didn’t poop, Ember.  You probably will though.  Everyone and their
brother will probably witness it, too.”  Blaine piped in.

 
I gave her the stink eye, and returned my attention to my husband.  “Did
Sam make it?”

 
He smiled wide.  “Yeah.  He made it just as the head came out. 
He almost passed out, too.  He saw all the blood, and would have taken a
nosedive if he hadn’t of sat down.  It was great; I’ll be able to remind
him of it for years.” 

 
“Suck my dick, Maldonado.”  Sam said from behind us.

 
We all burst out laughing at Sam’s pale complexion, and jittering hands. 
He really was a big ol’ softie.  I walked up to him, and gave him a huge
hug.  Well as good of a hug, one could give with a toddler asleep in her
arms.

 
“Let’s go see her, I’m dying here.”  I said.

 
We walked to Cheyenne’s room where the party had started.  Everyone was
there.  Even an uncomfortable Jack sitting in the very corner. 
Cheyenne was sitting up crossed legged in bed, laughing at the girls as they
sat with James; he had the baby in his arms, and was showing Pru and Piper
their new baby sister.

 
“You just had to have my husband see your vag, didn’t you?”  I announced
loudly.

 
Cheyenne’s laughter filled the room.  “It was an accident, I swear.”

 
After transferring a sleeping Cora to Gabe’s arms, I stole the baby from James,
smiling widely when she scrunched her nose at the jostling.  “What’s her
name, oh holy name hider?” 

 
“Phoebe Elise Mackenzie.  She was seven pounds twelve ounces.”  Sam
said proudly.

 
Looking down at Phoebe, I couldn’t help but long for my own baby in my
arms.  This would do for now though.

Why do people say, "Grow some
balls"?  Balls are weak and sensitive.  If you wanna be tough,
grow a vagina.  Those things can take a pounding.

-Betty White

Ember

 
“Thank you, thank you.”  Cheyenne chanted over and over.

 
“Take a chill pill already.  Go do your last clinical.  It’ll all be
okay.  We’ll call you if we need anything.  Now go.” 

 
We’d all banded together this last two weeks, and today was Cheyenne’s last
ever clinical.  She’d passed her nursing boards with excellence, and I was
dropping her off at the hospital now so she could finish her last clinical so
she’d graduate on time. 

 
Blaine had baby Phoebe.  Gabe had Cora, and I had the twins.  I was
going to make a grocery run if Cheyenne would get the fuck out of my car.

 
“Love you, Em.”  She said before making her way into the hospital. 

 
Pulling out, I merged with traffic, and saw a motorcycle pull out behind
me.  The motorcycle caught my eye because it was so mean looking it had
these crazy wheels on it that looked like they’d cut someone in half if they
got too close.  A shiver went through me, but I pushed it down and
concentrated on driving. 

 
Pulling into the Sam’s parking lot, I parked next to a buggie return, and got
both babies seated in the buggy.  This was going to be my last shopping
experience before the baby came, so I was ready to do some serious
overhauling.  Coupons didn’t work at Sam’s, but their prices were so good
that I didn’t need the coupons to feel that I got a good deal.

 
I passed two cars before the motorcycle registered.  It was following
behind me, and at first, I didn’t pay it any mind.  That is until it
stopped in front of me at an angle, cutting off my advancement.  The same
bike pulled out behind me at the hospital.

 
The man was older.  He had a long beard that had six rubber bands holding
it in place at a point.  His hair was long and slicked back tied in a
leather thong at the base of his neck. 

 
He was wearing a black leather vest with the word Bold in thick white letters
above his heart.  There wasn’t a shirt on underneath the vest, so you
could see a lot of dark tanned skin.  He was actually quite attractive,
especially someone older like he was.

 
Pru and Piper startled at the sudden sound of a motorcycle, but quickly got
over it since they were so used to being around them.  Pulling them both
out of their seats, I hugged them close to my chest and regarded the man.

 
“Can I help you?”  I asked with as much authority as I could muster, given
the situation.

 
“Those are my grandbabies.  I just wanted to get a good look at
them.”  The man growled.

 
I backed up until my back hit the car behind me.  From what I was told,
this man wasn’t a good man.  He’d been a horrible father to Sam his entire
life, and here I was with his grandkids and no way to protect them.

 
“I don’t know if you are who you say you are.  I also have no right to let
you see them.  If you’re interested in having a relationship with them,
you need to go through Sam.”  I said with a quivery voice.

 
He smiled a tight smile, and then started his bike back up.  “I know,
darlin’, I just wanted to get a message to him.  He’ll know what it is;
you don’t have to tell it to him or anything.  You can tell him I’m going
to be calling in my marker soon, though.”

 
Then he was gone the same way as he came.

 
My arms were trembling, and I could barely move.  I turned around
abruptly, leaving the buggy where it was, and hoofed it back to the car as fast
as I could.  I left them both in the front seat, and locked the doors
before I called Sam and Gabe.

 
Deciding the landline at Free was the best option; I dialed the number and
waited.  It rang twice before Sam answered.

 
“Free.” 

 
“Sam.  I, um, well; I think I just met your dad.”

 
Silence greeted me at the end of the line.

 
“Where are you?”  He rumbled.

 
“Sam’s parking lot.  I’m in my car with the doors locked.  Do you
want me to drive home?”  I asked.

 
“No, stay where you are.  I’ll come on my bike and escort you home.” 
He said and then hung up.

  It
wasn’t ten minutes later when Sam’s bike pulled up behind me.  I’d already
strapped the girl’s in, and waited to see if he wanted to talk.  He
didn’t.  He let me know this by gesturing with his hand in a shooing
motion.

 
The trip back to Free was uneventful.  No strange motorcycles.  No
traffic.  I didn’t even catch a light.  I pulled into Free, and drove
around to the back to park, since I noticed the girls were asleep, and it was
time for their nap anyway.

 
Sam got one girl, and I got the other so we could put them to bed.  He
gave both a kiss before shutting their door, and grabbing my hand to drag me
back outside.

 
“How do you know it was my dad?”  He asked finally.

 
“He said he was here to see his granddaughters.  Said he wanted to give
you a message, but wouldn’t tell me what it was.  Also said he’d be
calling in his marker soon.”

 
His face got stony and cold, but once he registered how uncomfortable I was, he
cursed and grabbed me into a tight hug.

 
“I don’t like that he was able to find me so easily.  I owe him one, and
he wants me to know he hasn’t forgotten.” 

 
“Okay.  Well, if you don’t mind.  Could you go get Gabe for me? 
I need him.  Like now.”  I said just before my water gushed down my
legs full force, drenching my legs and Sam’s in the same instant.

 
He looked from my eyes, to his feet, and then let me go slowly.  Once he
made sure I was steady on my feet, he took off at a run towards the back door
into the garage.  It was obvious he was uncomfortable, and I’m sure it
didn’t help matters that I practically had my body fluids drench his bottom
half.

 
Thank God I wasn’t at the supermarket.  How embarrassing would that have
been?  Imagine being in the Freezer isle and that happening.  Clean
up on aisle ten!

 
I walked into our house, and exchanged my wet pants for a loose pair of knit
shorts.  Then I started to gather my crap that I’ve been procrastinating
on packing.  Being only thirty-five and a half weeks, I didn’t think I’d
need to pack this early.  Luckily, the baby’s bag was packed ever since
the baby shower I had two weeks ago.

 
I threw my toothbrush and toothpaste into my bag just as Gabe came barreling
through the door.  His hair looked somewhat wild, and Cora was attached to
his hip.  She was giggling profusely, and I couldn’t help but smile with
her.

 
I studied him for a moment longer.  “Relax, Gabe.  I’m not even
feeling contractions yet.  I’m not going to have this baby on you. 
Have you called Max to come get Cora yet?” 

 
He took a deep breath, and then let Cora down to her feet to play.  “Not
yet.  I just got your message.  Sam had to take a detour to puke
before coming to tell me that my wife’s water broke.  What a pussy.”

 
“I did break my water on his legs.”  I said nonchalantly.

 
At that, he burst out laughing.  Tears leaked out of his eyes, and I
couldn’t help but join in.  This was excessively funny.  Sam was so
unflappable.  There were times that he remained calm when no one else was
able to.  It took a lot of work to get him to smile at a joke.

 
“Do I have time to go take a picture really quick?”  He quipped.

 
“He has to come back anyway.  The girls are asleep at his house, and it’s
not possible for me to watch them anymore.  If you hurry you can get him
coming back.”

 
He took off to get the best blackmail photo of the century, and I dropped down
on my haunches and blew a raspberry on the side of Cora’s neck.  She
giggled and threw her head back laughing.  It was hard to believe that she
would be a big sister in a few hours.

 
Gabe came back in the room grinning from ear to ear, so I knew he got the
goods.  “We’re totally hanging this up on the wall.” 

 
I gritted my teeth at the wave of pain that radiated from my tummy around my
back.  “Sounds good.  I think we need to go now.  My
contractions have started, and they hurt like a mofo.  Where’s Max?”

 
“Right here, baby girl.  I’ll follow y’all up there as soon as I get her
some stuff gathered up.”  Max said from the doorway.

 
I smiled and walked toward him, hugging him around the waist.  “Thank you,
Maximilian.  I’ll see you in a little while.  Don’t even think you’re
going to get out of being in the delivery room with us either.  Don’t
dally.”

 
Some people may think it’s weird to have your brother in the delivery room with
you when you’re delivering.  I didn’t want him to look at my va-jay-jay
even a little bit.  I only wanted him to be there in case I needed
him.  He was the only family I had left. 

 
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.  Go.”  He said with the three pat on
the back (the universal sign that men use as to say: okay I’m done with this
gooey stuff.  Get off me.)

 
By the time we arrived at the hospital, my contractions were one on top of the
other.  I’d called my doctor, and then Cheyenne on the way to inform them
that my water broke.  Lucky for me Cheyenne’s clinical was on the
postpartum floor, so she would be able to help with the delivery when the time
came.

 
Thirty minutes, four missed veins, and two blood draws later, I was hooked up
to the monitor, and panting through the pain.  I’d asked for an epidural
as soon as I’d walked through the door.  I wasn’t the type of woman who
got off on pain, so when I was presented with the option to have that pain
taken away, I jumped on it.

  I
was hunched over a pillow leaning into Cheyenne, while the anesthesiologist
stuck a needle in my back the size of a Buick when I asked, “What does it look
like?” 

 
“Like a really long needle is being driven through your body.”  Cheyenne
supplied.

 
We were weird like that.  We found the most morbid things fascinating.

 
“What did you do with Gabe?” 

 
“I made him wait outside; daddies-to-be don’t respond well to this part. 
So they make us kick them out until the Epidural is in place.”  Cheyenne
murmured.

 
“Alright, young lady.  You’re ready to rock and roll.  There will be
no moving until this baby is delivered.  Page me if you have any
problems.”  The doctor said right before he breezed out of the room.

 
I hope that he went to the screaming chick who was speaking in tongues down the
hall.  I don’t know why she was torturing herself.  This epidural was
a-fucking-mazing. 

 
Cheyenne helped me ease back into bed, and covered me up with the blanket when
Gabe walked in.  Followed by Max, Cora, Blaine, Justin, Payton, and
Daina. 

 
“I swear to God, if I hear even one of you make a comment about my vagina, I’m
going to bust a cap in your ass.”  I said grumpily. 

 
“Oh, relax.  There ain’t nothing you got that I haven’t seen.  If you
poop on the table, they’ll just wipe it up real quick and no one will be the
wiser.  Except for those that are looking anyway.”  Payton supplied
helpfully.

 
That was our Payton.  Over the last few months, she’d grown closer to the
group.  She was wary of Max, but her eyes always drifted to his if he was
in the same room as her.  Max openly stared, but never made a move. 
They were playing a game, and it was funny to watch.

 
For the next few hours, we played Apples to Apples to bide the time.  A
nurse checked my progress regularly, but I was moving slow.  Which the
nurses explained was normal with your first pregnancy.

 
It was four a.m., eighteen hours into labor when I finally felt the urge to
push.  Max came up above my head, because there were just some things he
didn’t need the knowledge of, and your sister’s vagina was one of them.

 
Gabe was at my side, holding up a leg, while Daina was on the other doing the
same.  Payton, Cheyenne, and Blaine were all at the back of the room,
watching avidly.  I didn’t mind in the slightest.  My mind was
wrapped around the fact that my epidural had worn off to where only my right
side was numb instead of my entire lower half.