“Rory better be in labor, Ian, because you’re interrupting sex time,” Adalynn answered.
“She is. We’re at the hospital now.”
“OH MY GOD! I’m on my way. Tell her that I’m on my way!” Click.
I looked over at Rory just as another contraction started. “Look at me, Rory. Focus on me, sweetheart,” I said as I held her hands.
She squeezed them as hard as she could while she breathed in and out. Finally, it was over and she let go of my hands. Damn, her grip was hard and it hurt.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked.
“Yes. Have these babies for me, please.” She smiled.
“You know I would,” I said as I kissed her nose. “Adalynn is on her way. I’m going to call the rest of the family.”
I made a few phone calls to let everyone know that Rory was in labor. As I had my back turned to the door, I heard Adalynn breeze in.
“Ugh, Rory, you poor thing,” she said as she held her hand. “Is he taking good care of you?”
I sighed as I shook my head. “Yes, I am, Adalynn, and hello to you too.”
“No offense, Ian, and hello.”
Nurse Cora walked back into the room and asked us to leave while she checked to see how many centimeters Rory was dilated.
“I’m sorry, Cora, but I’m not leaving my wife’s side.”
“And neither am I,” Adalynn snapped.
Rory told Nurse Cora that it was okay for us to stay. She examined her and then looked at Rory. “I’m sorry, but you’re already dilated to eight centimeters. It’s too late for you to have an epidural.”
“Eight centimeters?” I asked. “How did she dilate so quickly?”
“It happens, Mr. Braxton. Just a couple more centimeters and she’ll be pushing those babies out.”
Rory began to cry. “Another contraction is coming and I want pain meds! Ian, do something. Buy me some pain meds, baby, please.”
I put my arm around her as she screamed through another painful contraction. “Sweetheart, I would if I could, but I can’t. You know I can’t. We can do this together.”
“TOGETHER! Are you experiencing this much pain? Are you lying in this bed, ready to explode? No, I didn’t think so, buddy.”
“Right, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
“OH MY GOD, Ian, another one already!” she yelled.
Nurse Cora looked over and smiled at Rory. “It’s almost time. The contractions will start coming closer together.”
I went into the bathroom and ran a washcloth under cool water to place on Rory’s forehead. “Here, maybe this will help you.”
“Thank you. I love you so much, Ian.”
“I love you too and I’m here for you.”
Rory’s doctor walked into the room and examined her. “Well, it’s time. You’re at ten centimeters, Rory. Let’s have these babies.” He smiled.
Excitement poured throughout my entire body. Finally, my babies were going to be here. I took Rory’s hand and softly kissed it.
“Me and you are a team, sweetheart. We’re going to do this together. I’m going to be here to help you with every push and every contraction. I love you so much and you can do this.”
“Wow, you’re one hell of a husband,” Nurse Cora said.
Adalynn knew that Rory and I didn’t want anyone else in the room during the delivery, so she kissed Rory on her head and wished her luck before going out to the waiting room to wait with Daniel and the rest of the family.
Rory took in a deep breath as the doctor put her feet in the stirrups and the pushing began.
Chapter 43
Rory & Ian
It felt like I was being ripped apart. Ian was so supportive and so loving and tender that he made it so easy to focus on him. The contractions were seconds apart and the pushing was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I yelled with each push and Ian was right there, helping me through it.
“That’s it, sweetheart. You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you. Stephen would be so proud.”
“Who’s first?” I asked as I gave another push.
“What do you mean, sweetheart?”
“Ashley or Ariel? Who’s first?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t think about it. You pick.”
“Doesn’t matter, honey.”
“We’ll decide when we see her,” Ian said.
The last push was the hardest. “Rory, I see the baby’s head. One more push. Come on,” the doctor spoke.
“Rory, our first baby girl is right there. You can do it, sweetheart.”
I closed my eyes and pushed as hard as I could. Suddenly, I heard the cries of my baby girl.
“You did it, sweetheart. She’s beautiful. Look at how beautiful she is,” Ian said with tears in his eyes.
I looked at my baby as the doctor held her up. “Ashley. She’s Ashley,” I whispered and then let out a scream.
Another f**king contraction. “We have one more baby to deliver, Rory. I need you to push again,” the doctor said.
I was so tired and it felt like my body had been hit by a truck. I felt paralyzed and I just couldn’t do it.
“Ian, I can’t. I’m so tired. I just can’t do this anymore.”
He looked at me as he wiped my forehead with a cloth. “Rory, you are to push right now. It’s not a request; it’s a command. Do you understand me?”
I nodded my head and pushed with every last ounce of strength I had left. “Rory, you did it!” Ian exclaimed.
I threw my head back on the pillow and tried to catch my breath. I heard the cries of Ariel and smiled. The nurse had just handed Ashley to Ian, and the doctor handed me Ariel. My girls were finally here and they were perfect. I looked at Ian, who had a tear streaming down his face.
Ian
“Our little girls are beautiful, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you,” I said as I kissed her head.
It was hard to believe my little girls were finally here. Rory did such an incredible job bringing them into the world and I’d never been more proud of her. As I held Ashley, I reached over and softly rubbed Ariel’s little hand. These two little girls that I stared at had instantly changed my life. The love that poured out of me for them was astounding. I had three beautiful girls in my life and I couldn’t have been happier.
“I think they look like you.” Rory smiled.
“You think? Because when I look at them, all I see is their beautiful mother. I’m going to go to the waiting room and tell everyone the girls have arrived. I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” I said as I kissed her head and carefully handed her Ashley.