The birthing room had bright green walls and pictures of carousels and airplanes. Cheerful things that contrasted against Jessica’s pain.
Eunice held Jessica’s hand, a worried look on her face. Her purplish hair had long-since flattened from Eunice tugging nervously on the ends. “Yes, I called him. He may not be your rock, but he’s mine. I need him.”
“Oh, Eunice.” Another contraction was building. Jess could feel it at the base of her spine. She glanced at the monitor, but it hadn’t even begun to climb.
“Please let him in.”
The muscles about Jessica’s abdomen began to tighten. “He doesn’t love me. I’m just a responsibility to him.” She clenched her teeth.
The nurse came back in. “He said to give you this note.”
The contraction was reaching its peak. Jess clung to Eunice’s hand as if it was the only thing keeping her on the bed.
Eunice cringed. “Ow. I think you just broke a bone.”
The nurse loosened Jessica’s grip. “Breathe.”
Oh, yeah. Jess often got lost in the pain and forgot her hee-hoo. “How much longer?” she asked when the contraction subsided and the nurse finished checking the history of her contractions and how far she’d dilated.
“You should read the note,” the nurse said. “For her sake.” She pointed toward Eunice, who was sagged in the chair next to the bed looking as if she’d just given birth. She fanned herself with Duffy’s note.
Jess couldn’t read it. Her brain function had fallen so far below pregnant brain, she doubted she could read. “Eunice, can you read it?”
The old woman wiped her forehead and unfolded the note. “He’s making you an offer to be part of the baby’s life. How sweet.”
“How much?” Jess ground out. “How much is my baby worth to him?”
“Priceless,” came a deep voice outside her door. “That baby is priceless.”
You bet. “How much, Eunice?”
Eunice held the paper up for Jess to see. “He says, ‘I give you and Baby my heart. No obligation. No charge.’”
A solitary tear spilled onto Jessica’s cheek. “Come in, Duff. Please come in.”
He came into view. Her same, solid Duffy, hesitating by the door. “I love you, Jess. You don’t have to marry me. Just let me love you and Baby. That’s all I ask.”
Brimming with love, Jess held a hand out to him. “It’s enough.” Enough to get her through birthing this baby, enough to last for years to come.
“Thank heavens.” Eunice scurried out of her seat and claimed one farther back against the wall. “The cavalry has arrived.”
Duffy closed the distance between them and cradled Jessica’s hand in his as another contraction gathered steam inside her. “I’m so glad I’m here to make this memory with you, love.”
Jess nodded, losing the ability to answer as the contraction sent its shuddering tentacles up her body.
The nurse returned with the doctor. Things got hectic after that.
But Jess held on to the memory of Duff holding her hand, of Duff coaching her to breathe, of Duff’s wide and wondrous smile when Baby came into the world.
Duff called it a miracle.
Thomas called it a do-over.
Jess called him Gregory.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460389478
A Memory Away
Copyright © 2015 by Melinda Wooten
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