by T Gephart
Of course the tour wasn’t going to be over for another two weeks and Baby Stone—although we had tried to find out the gender, he/she had been uncooperative all three times, so we decided to give up and just find out at the birth—had decided it was now the time to make his or her grand entrance. What had started off as a twinge and me being slightly uncomfortable ended up ten hours later as full-blown contractions. And while I had stupidly asked in anti-natal classes how I would know when I was actually in labour, it was exactly as it had been described. When you were in active labour, there was no fucking doubt.
“Fuck!” My body shook as another contraction rocked me. “FUCKING, FUCKETY, FUCK, FUCK.” The air pushed out of my lungs as my hands balled at the sheets by my side. Worst pain imaginable, I repeated in my head. Worst. Pain. Imaginable.
“Lexi, your blood pressure is raising honey. I’m going to need you to try and calm down.” The midwife, June, looked over my monitor printout. Funnily enough, June had been the same midwife that assisted in birthing Noah when Hannah delivered, although the previously built rapport did not make the process easier.
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to be calming down?” I puffed as I felt the sweat trickle down my back. “I know other women go through this all the time, but I am in fucking agony here. So if you want me to calm down you are going to need to pump up the volume on the pain meds, June.” While I had persevered through the first few hours with only the aid of mild analgesics, I was ready for the big guns. Fill my IV full of something that was going to take the edge off or knock me out ‘til it was time to push, ’cause I was beyond the limits of exhaustion.
“Lexi!” Alex burst the doorway of the delivery suite, barely breaking his stride on his way to the bedside. “Baby, I got here as soon as I could.” He pulled off his leather jacket and tossed it on the unoccupied chair beside the bed. “Lexi, I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”
“DRUGS,” I screamed. “Alex I love you and I forgive you so please stop telling me you are sorry and get me some fucking drugs!” I gripped his hand in a bone-crushing hold and prayed medical science had evolved enough that it could take this pain away. Although I seriously doubted there was anything that was going to dull it.
“Lexi, calm down.” June unhelpfully instructed. “Your blood pressure is climbing too high. If it keeps going you are going to need a c-section. I’m paging the anesthesiologist and your obstetrician, sweetie. You just need to hold on a little longer.” She grabbed my chart and made for the door.
“Lex, unless you need me here, I’m going to leave you with Rock Star.” Taylah handed Alex the styrofoam cup she had been feeding me ice chips from and squeezed my hand. “You’ve got this. Now focus on your breathing like we practiced in class. Do not hold onto your breath or you are going to burst the capillaries in your cheeks and that will require one hell of a touch up on the post-birthing photos.”
“Thanks Tay,” I whimpered as Alex rubbed my back. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Yes Taylah, thank you. I owe you.” Alex gently applied a little extra pressure to my lower spine. God that felt good. How did he know to do that?
“Yeah, wait until you see the bill on the redo of the penthouse. You won’t be so charitable.” Taylah winked as she angled toward the door. “Take care of our girl.”
“I’m all over it,” Alex waved before returning his attention back to my lumbar region. His strong, agile fingers worked in small circular movements across my back.
“Oh that feels good.” I leaned forward, my swollen pregnant belly cushioned by the pillows in front on me. “Not that I’m complaining, but how do you know how to do this?”
“YouTube.” His gifted fingers moved outward in different directions, concentrating his attention on each of my hips. “I had to do something to prepare for the birth. There was no way I was coming in here without something to offer.”
I was so touched that Alex, despite being absent during the past couple of weeks, had tried to do everything he could to be ready for this. I realised that the distance had been harder on him than it had been on me. I shuddered as another contraction started to reverberate through my body. It was like a freight train that wouldn’t stop. “Agh,” I wailed, no longer having the energy to swear. You know I had to be at the end of my rope when I could no longer swear.
“Baby,” Alex shifted from behind me and moved in front of me so that I was now cradled in his arms. “I wish there was something more I could do.”
“Hello Lexi,” the ever-cheerful Dr. Dana Brookes entered the room and strolled over to my bedside. “And this must be your charming husband. Hi I’m Dana.” She held out her small delicate hand in greeting.
“Alex Stone, husband.” He returned her cordial handshake before returning his attention back to me. “She’s in a lot of pain.”
“I know. Lexi, I need you to listen to me.” I tried to focus on Dr. Dana as my head lay on Alex’s shoulder. I felt so utterly spent. “Brian is on his way to administer the epidural. I think given the elevation of your blood pressure we have to be ready for other options. Now I’m going to allow you to keep going a little while longer, but if we don’t get your pressure down, we’re going to have to get the baby out. Do you understand Lexi?”
“Baby,” Alex whispered in my ear as another contraction gripped me.
“Agh,” I moaned. God, make it stop. Please just make it stop. I breathed through it as best I could, feeling dizzy from the exaggerated inward and outward expulsions. My whole body clenched and contorted in pain.
“So who here needs some pain relief?” A tall, annoyingly jovial man who I assumed was Brian, waltzed through the door carrying a metal tray.
“Me,” I moaned hoping the arsehole was going to knock off the chatter and get to blissing me out with whatever he had in his bag of tricks.
“OK, now before I can give you the good stuff, I’m going to need you to sign the release form. It explains the procedure and the risks involved.” The scrub wearing, walking, talking, Happy Happy Joy Joy, placed a clipboard in my hands.
“I’ll sign anything, just please give me drugs.” I was glad there were no sharp implements around and was seriously considering using the pen to stab him in the eye if he didn’t hook me up soon.
“Lexi, it’s important you read it and understand it before you sign. It’s a legal requirement.” Dr. Dana went through finer points of the release form before I scrawled my name across the bottom of the page.
“Ok, now here’s what I need to have happen,” Happy Arsehole Brian instructed. “Lexi, you are going to need to lean over your husband over here and you are going to have to keep very still while I enter the catheter.”
“OK, OK.” Alex held me while I bent forward wondering if Happy Arsehole Brian moonlighted as a sadist.
“Very still,” he repeated tapping me on the shoulder. “And if you feel the slightest inclination of a contraction you need to tell me so we can stop.”
Something inside me snapped. I wasn’t sure if it was the fatigue or the pain or some other variable I couldn’t comprehend, but I was done being polite. I reached out my free arm and grabbed a handful of Happy Arsehole Brian’s scrubs, while my other arms stayed locked on Alex.
“Listen to me arsehole. I will keep the fuck still. Do not worry about me. I will not move a fucking muscle so stop talking and jab that needle in my spine, NOW.”
“Wow, she’s a ray of sunshine, isn’t she?” Brian grimaced as he moved to my back.
Alex gently kissed me. “She’s perfect, and I wouldn’t argue with her if I were you.”
Wisely Brian kept his mouth closed and administered the epidural he had seemed intent on prolonging. I fought against another contraction while I pressed against Alex, holding still and absorbing the pain, knowing it would soon be over.
The warm flush of sensation overtook my body and like magic, the pain vanished with a slow moving wave. It was heavenly. The agony evaporated and left only a dull pres
sure. This was the best drug ever. I drowsily relaxed onto my back and closed my eyes and allowed sleep to come. Alex settled into the chair beside me as I floated away. I couldn’t stay awake for a second longer.
BLACK
“OK Sweetie. It’s time to start pushing,” June gently shook me awake. Dr. Dana was already wearing her gloves and mask and ready for action.
“Hey baby,” Alex looked exhausted, his bloodshot eyes strained against the overhead lights. “It’s time.”
With the help of June and Alex, I shuffled up the bed in preparation to push. Alex stood beside me, his hand clasped tightly around mine and with each passing contraction I pushed. It was slower than I had anticipated. Every time I’d seen a movie or TV show and there was a birth scene it was over before the next ad break. There were a few undignified grunts, a slight sheen of sweat and wham—a bright pink baby. But, in reality I was pushing for almost a full hour before Baby Stone finally made it into the world.
“Last one Lexi, just give me one more.” Dr. Dana nodded as I gave it everything I had and with that it was over. A huge cry echoed through the room.
“It’s a girl Lexi, a beautiful, perfect little girl.” Alex kissed me as I wept uncontrollably. Our very vocal baby daughter settled as she was placed in my arms.
“I’m so proud of you baby.” He pressed his lips to my temple as he gently placed his hand protectively on our daughter, who immediately latched onto one of his fingers. “She is so fucking perfect.”
As I looked at her tiny scrunched up face, I wondered how I could ever have doubted my ability to love. I could never have described this feeling to my former self, but it was as if my heart grew in capacity, which was irrational because a heart can’t change size, but it’s what it felt like nonetheless. I could never fathom treating my child how my parents had treated me, with such indifference, and despite my defective DNA I knew that I would do everything in my power to be an extraordinary mother. She was perfect. She was everything that was right about the world and in her I saw love and I saw hope.
“Congratulations Lexi and Alex.” Dr. Dana looked on as I cradled our bundle of joy. “Have you picked out a name?”
“Grace,” I smiled. She was our Grace.
~~~
A replacement guitarist filled in for Alex for the remainder of the scheduled shows. While some fans had been disappointed, most of them understood his unwillingness to leave the side of his wife and new baby daughter.
Matt handled the rest of the tour solo while Sydney dealt with the birth announcement and the impending madness that surrounded a celebrity baby.
Back in Australia, Lexi’s attacker pleaded guilty and was charged with aggregated assault and attempted manslaughter. Sadly as he had entered a plea his sentence was negotiated to eight years, less the time he had already served in remand. Lexi was not present for the sentencing and would not comment further on the case or perpetrator. Anna’s assistance in the investigation gave the prosecution additional ammunition to indicate premeditation. She has had no further communication with Lexi and/or Matt.
Marcy Bryant pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of conspiracy to commit a crime. Defense argued that as she had no explicit knowledge of the intentions of the perpetrator and because she had aided in the investigation once details of the crime came to light she was not charged as an accessory. She received a fully suspended sentence, a two-year good behaviour bond and one hundred and thirty hours of community service. She lost her endorsements, was dumped by her agent and her character in the soap opera in which she starred was killed off. She is currently struggling to find work and has considered posing nude for a B grade men’s magazine.
Power Station’s highly successful tour ended, surpassing all predictions. Under the steam of their triple platinum album, they had sold out arenas and stadiums across every city and country they had travelled to. The band members returned home to their loved ones and to welcome their newest family member, Grace, into the fold. James and Alex are expected to start writing a highly anticipated new album within the next few months.
THE END
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Acknowledgements
The personal and emotional journey that I have under gone while writing this book has been one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my life. Through my own twist of fate, my personal circumstances changed and challenged whether this book would even be written. There were times I doubt it myself. Some days I honestly just sat at my laptop and cried, needing to tell this final chapter of the story but too exhausted because of “real life” to give it the attention it deserved. Things seemed so much easier in fiction. Yet when I was at my lowest, when I was tired, emotional and teased to the edges of my sanity there were people who believed in me, supported me and encouraged me to keep going. Their support and love for me was not about publishing this book, it was purely altruistic kindness in its truest form.
So, to these amazing all-star cheerleaders who listened to more emotionally charged conversations (both positive and negative) filled with more expletives than any human should have to endure, I thank you. Thank you for helping me dig deep, roll up my sleeves and give the darkness the middle finger. I would not go down, not without one hell of a fight, not with you by my side.
Gep, Jenna, Liam and Woodley- my long suffering family. Thank you for loving me unconditionally, for understanding my reason even when it was lacking and for your patience despite mine being absent. You are MY one in a million, my lottery win and I love you with every fibre of my being.
Mini, Sam, Cayte, Juzzie, Shell, Nat, Jo and Grace, each one of you is unique and irreplaceable. There is not one of you that I could substitute, not one of you I’d be content to let go. I would walk through fire for you, knowing you’d do the same for me. No questions, you are my sisters and I am eternally grateful for whatever force brought you into my insane mixed up world.
Dr. Gian, I have pushed the boundaries of “family” obligation with you more than once and though you may have not always been pleased, you never let me down. Your pre-press on the covers is stunning. You took my vision and executed it with class. I’m proud of us, we rock! I think I still have more hits on Google than you but hey, you are going to get that ;-)
Sam - what can I say that hasn’t already been said? The respect and admiration I have for you surpasses anything I could write on this page. Quite simply, you’re awesome and I adore you.
Angelique Ehlers, last year you answered a frantic call which would see you photograph the beautiful images that would become my covers. I know glass is a pain in the ass to photograph and I was very specific about what I wanted but you were so incredibly gracious and patient. Thank you, they were perfection.
Thank you to the bloggers and reviewers who take time out of their day to read, review and spread the word. Each and every post, promotion and spotlight is greatly appreciated and treasured. I never tire of reading your often comical (Helen please avoid coffee shops while reading my books) and sometimes emotional (I’m looking at you Francessca) reflections and thoughts. Most of you have stumbled across me accidently and yet you welcomed me with open arms into the blogesphere. I’ll do my best to be a model houseguest and try not to rearrange the furniture too much. Thank you so much for your support.
To the thousands (this number STILL boggles my mind) of readers who have welcomed Lexi, Alex and crew into your hearts and minds, I have no words. I read every email, message, inbox and tweet I receive and every time I am humbled and awed by your love for my characters and the story. The fact I am able to make you feel, laugh and cry along with me makes my world go around. I am truly touched (and not in a Dan kind of way) by your amazing support and devotion.
Lastly to Lexi and Alex, although your story ends here you will always exist in my heart. I will never forget you or the things I learned about myself throughout this journey. If it all ends tomorrow, i
t will have been enough. However, I’m not done yet, and I was never someone who went quietly
About the Author
T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.
T’s approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.
With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.
While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have traveled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley, the wonder dog.
An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident and who didn’t lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. T set herself the challenge to write something that was interesting, compelling and yet easy enough to read that was still enjoyable. Pulling from her own past “colorful” experiences and the amazing personalities she has surrounded herself with, she had no shortage of inspiration. With a strong slant on erotic fiction, her core characters are empowered women who don’t have to sacrifice their femininity. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn’t let it go.
