by Sharon Coady
As soon as her heart slowed, she searched again and behind a box of Pop’s old tools, she found the opening in the screen. Mommy cat must have come in, had her kitten—and for some reason—left it there. She would have Kyle seal it off so nothing else could get onto the porch. She wouldn’t be able to do it physically; emotionally, she didn’t have the strength to do it.
Anne gathered herself before going back into the house, knowing as soon as Pop saw her face; he would know she hadn’t found any others. He would be as relieved as she was, but neither of them would understand why the mother cat had just left the baby and not returned for it. It would break his heart; he had such a soft spot for little ones and animals.
Pop glanced up as she walked in the door and relief washed over his features. He nodded his head and pulled Melanie a little closer to him. While Anne was outside, she had climbed up into his lap and fallen asleep with her little hand on the kitten.
“I found where the mother came onto the porch. I’ll have Kyle take care of everything when he gets home.”
“Where did she get in?” he whispered.
“Behind your old toolbox. I don’t understand why she left her baby like that.” She hated this as much as he did. She took his warm, wrinkled hand into hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I don’t know how this little guy made it. Something must have scared her off. I hope he makes it.”
“Me too, girl. I hope Kyle thinks so, too. I’ll feel better once he checks him out.”
“Do you want me to move her?” She shrugged off her coat and hung it back on its hook.
“No, she’s fine. Anyway, you shouldn’t be picking her up. She’s too heavy for you in your condition.” He gave a grin as his eyes twinkled.
“You’re right.” Anne put her hand on her tummy. “I don’t know how much larger I can get. I feel like I’m getting bigger every day. I’m going to take a shower, if you’re okay with them.” Anne felt the sudden desire to get her phone and snap a picture. She hurried into her room, grabbed it, and took a couple of shots without him noticing. He was too busy looking at Melanie with such an expression of love.
She quietly made her way back to her room and gathered her clothes so she could take a quick shower. Glancing at the clock, she wished it were closer to four. Her darn back was giving her such fits this morning. She couldn’t remember it ever aching like this before. She stepped into the shower and let the warm water hit her lower back, hoping it would ease up some.
When she opened the bathroom door, Melanie was wide-awake and rambling on to Pop about the kittens and Mavy. Anne wished she had half the little girl’s energy. She rubbed her back, wondering why the ache seemed to be getting worse. I must have pulled something when I moved that stuff on the porch.
She sat down on the loveseat. “Melanie, do you want to name the new kitten?”
“Can I?” She jumped up and down when Anne nodded her head. “Poppy, what do you think we should name him?” She scrunched her eyes and looked at him. “Hmm. I just don’t know what he looks like.” She tapped her lips with her finger.
Anne couldn’t help but smile as she watched how deep in thought her daughter was. Glancing at Pop, she noticed the grin on his face as he too watched her intently.
“Well, a name is very important you know. This little guy is special because he survived on his own until your mommy found him. So, I think we should find a very special name for him. Take your time.” Pop glanced up at Anne and winked.
“Okay Poppy. You hear that boy? We have to think about your name because you’re special.” The kitten yawned and stretched, causing Melanie to giggle. “Poppy, will you help me think?”
“I sure will. Maybe Mommy can help us think as well.”
“I don’t want her to help think of a name.” Melanie put her head down and stuck out her bottom lip.
Anne’s heart lurched. How long was it going to take before they had a relationship again? Maybe Kyle and she had rushed into having a baby. Maybe they should have waited until Melanie was sure of the family dynamic. She had seemed to be and Anne never dreamed something like this would have happened.
Kyle had been short tempered with her lately as well. What a mess I have made. She excused herself and went into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Picking up her phone, she dialed Kyle’s mom.
“Hello dear, is everything all right?” Nancy asked as soon as she answered the phone.
“No.” The tears streamed down her face as she pushed her hair behind her ear. “I don’t think Melanie is ever going to let me in.” She sobbed as she sat down on the bed. “What am I going to do? I made a mistake wanting a baby so soon, didn’t I?”
“No honey, trust me, that isn’t the reason behind all this. She’s a stubborn little thing, I’ll give her that, but she’ll come around. You need to calm down and take a deep breath.”
“I can’t do anything right with her. Nancy, what if I can’t be a good mom to these two?” Sobs wrenched her body.
“Anne, listen to me. You’re already a good mother. You love that little girl as if you had given birth to her yourself. Anyone can see that just watching how you look at her. It’s going to be fine. Look, I’m coming over right now. I won’t take no for an answer. I’ll see shortly.”
Chapter Fourteen
Nancy arrived quickly and took Melanie to the room to have a talk with her. Anne paced the kitchen, nerves on end, worrying that it would only make matters worse. She jumped when the phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts. “Hello.”
“Anne, I’m on my way. What’s going on?” Kyle sounded out of breath.
“What do you mean you’re on your way? Is something wrong?” Anne’s breath caught in her chest as her hand fluttered to her chest.
“Mom called and said you were crying hard and she was on her way to the house. Did something happen?”
She burst into tears again as Pop shuffled into the kitchen. “Girl, what’s wrong?” He pulled her into his arms. Falling against him as sobs wracked her body, Pop took the phone from her. “Hello? Who is this?”
“It’s Kyle. What’s wrong?” He was talking so loud, Anne could hear the fear his voice.
“I don’t know, Nancy showed up and took Melanie into her bedroom, Anne is standing here crying, and I can’t get anyone to tell me what’s going on.” He rubbed his hand over her back in slow circles.
“I’m on my way. Can you sit her down and make her a cup of tea? I should be there in about ten minutes.” His voice was booming at this point. Anne pushed away from Pop and sat down in her chair, shaking her head.
“Sure thing, Kyle. Be careful.” He hung up the receiver, moved to her, and took her face in his hands. “Can you please tell me what’s going on?”
“I think I’ve ruined everything.” She sobbed harder.
He pulled out a chair and made her sit, walked to the stove, and turned the tea kettle on. Then made his way to the cabinet and took down a mug, placing a tea bag in it.
“Pop, what are you doing?” She blew her nose and wiped the tears off her face.
“Kyle said make you some tea, so I’m making you some tea.”
Anne couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “You don’t have to make tea for me. I’m all right.” She started to stand and felt a cramp spread over her stomach. The cramp increased and caused her to double over.
“What’s wrong?” Pop hurried over to her, touching her shoulder. The tea kettle started whistling; he shuffled back to the stove and turned the burner off. “Let me get Nancy for you.”
What the heck was that? She sat up and let out the breath she was holding. The ache in her back seemed to have let up. She stood and moved around, trying to get more comfortable. Everyone was worried about her and she felt foolish. Kyle shouldn’t have closed his practice, and Nancy shouldn’t have called him just because she was crying. Goodness, if the man ran home every time she started crying, he would never work.
She’d always been an independent woman,
working to support herself before moving back home to take care of Pop. She relied on herself until they had married, and then she’d shared everything with Kyle.
Now, she had everyone so jumpy and concerned about her. I’m pregnant not an invalid. Crap! She grabbed her tummy as another cramp doubled her over and the pain in her back increased. Her eyes flew open. I’m in labor? She glanced at the clock by the fridge, waited for the cramping to ease up, and wrote the time on the top of Pop’s grocery list.
Taking some deep breaths to calm herself, she waited to see if anything else happened. Hearing the door to Melanie’s room open, she pushed her hair back and looked up at the concerned faces watching her.
Nancy stooped down and studied her face. “Are you all right, honey? You look a little pale.”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced at Pop and Melanie before motioning for Nancy to step closer. “I think I’m having contractions,” she whispered.
“Are you sure?” Nancy said softly.
“No, because I’ve never done this before but my stomach has cramped, and when it does, the ache in my back gets worse.”
“How long have you had the ache in your back?”
“For a few hours now. Why?” Anne’s eyes widened. “Is something wrong?” Suddenly, another cramp hit her harder than the first two. Glancing at the clock, she wrote down the time and held her breath.
“Anne, you need to breathe.” Nancy took her hand. “Look at me. Breathe in and out, slowly. That’s right. Keep watching me. Good. Is it starting to ease up now?”
Anne nodded and glanced at the clock. “Whew, that one was three minutes from the last one. Is this labor?” She bit her bottom lip.
“It looks like it might be. Come on, honey, let’s get you to a more comfortable chair and I’ll time them for you. Walter, would you mind giving Melanie her lunch? I brought something for her, it’s in my bag just there.” She pointed to a large bag she’d set down on the coffee table when she’d come in earlier.
“No problem, Nancy. Come on, Grandma brought you something special for lunch.” He took her hand and led her to the kitchen.
“Those were pretty intense, will it get worse?”
“I won’t lie to you and tell you labor doesn’t hurt because it does. But, I can promise you this: once it’s over and they put that little baby in your arms, you’ll forget all about what you just went through to get him here.” She helped Anne sit down on the loveseat, pulled the footstool over, and lifted Anne’s feet to place them on it. “Kyle will be here shortly, and we’ll get you to the hospital.”
Another contraction hit. Anne grabbed Nancy’s hand. “Another one just started.”
“Okay, look at me and breathe. In and out, follow me.” Nancy kept eye contact with her as they took in a breath and let it out. “Good. It should be starting to ease up now.”
Anne nodded and let out a long breath. “This is hard. I don’t know if I can do it. They showed us this breathing method in the Lamaze class we went to. It seems to help a little. Did you learn it from a class?”
Smiling, Nancy nodded before she tucked a strand of Anne’s hair behind her ear. “Yes I did, and you can do this. Look at how many women have done it before you. Think of your gram. You are just as strong as her.”
“Where’s Kyle?” She glanced at the door as if willing him to walk through. “Shouldn’t her be here by now?”
The front door flew open as if on cue. “Anne, is everything okay? Mom, what’s going on?” He rushed to Anne’s side, gazing from one to the other.
“Anne is in labor. She’s having contractions about three minutes apart.”
“What? When did they start? Why didn’t you call me sooner?” His eyes were wide as he looked his wife over.
“Kyle, she’s had an aching back since earlier today, it got worse and she started having cramping in her stomach after I got here. She wouldn’t know that the back pain was actually labor.”
His jaw tensed as he turned to her. “Anne, how long were you having the back pains?”
Anne looked from one worried face to the other. “It started not long after I called you about the kitten I found. Is something wrong?” Another cramp hit her, her eyes went round as she looked around Kyle to Nancy. “Another one,” she heard herself groan.
Nancy moved Kyle to the side and did the breathing with Anne. “Good, that’s right. Breathe through it. Kyle can you please watch the second hand on the clock?” She placed her hand on Anne’s abdomen. “I’ll let you know when the tightness of the contraction starts letting up.” She nodded at Anne. “It’s almost over, you’re doing well. Deep breath and let it out slowly. You did it.”
“That one was closer, wasn’t it?” Her lip quivered. “It’s forty-five minutes to the hospital. We need to go.” Anne started to get up and another pain hit. “Kyle?” Her forehead creased as her vision blurred from the tears forming in her eyes.
Kyle turned to his mom. “Mom, stay here with her. I’ve got to get some things gathered quickly.”
Anne watched as he ran into the bathroom and soon came out, his arms loaded down with their towels as he ran for their bedroom. “What’s he doing? Why isn’t he taking me to the hospital now?” Anne grabbed her tummy just as he hurried back into the room. “I’m having another one.”
Kyle waited until the contraction was over. “Anne, we’re going to help you to the bedroom. Mom can you help get her up?”
“Why are we going to the bedroom? Oh…” She doubled over as they stood her up. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. My grandson has just decided he’s ready to come meet us right now.” Nancy was grinning from ear to ear.
Pop stood in the kitchen doorway, holding Melanie’s hand. Melanie’s eyes were as big as saucers as she watched the unfolding scene.
Anne straightened up as Kyle took her hand. “Come on. We need to get you into the room. Trust me, baby.”
She waddled between Nancy and her husband as they helped her. She glanced at their bed where he had placed the new shower liner and a heavy towel neatly over part of it. “Mom, can you slip her slacks, undies, and shoes off while I hold her steady.”
Nancy nodded before turning to Anne, “All right, sweetie, lift your foot, there you go. Now, the other one.” Nancy slid Anne’s clothes off her quickly. “Now, let’s get you on the bed. Kyle unless you need me, I’ll step out.”
Anne grabbed her hand. “Please, stay with me.” Tears spilled down her face. “I’m scared. Oh something is wrong, I feel something.”
“Don’t be afraid. This is the most natural thing in the world.” Nancy gave her hand a squeeze and smiled. “I’ll stay if you want me too.”
“I thought I would be in the hospital with doctors and nurses. Here comes another one.” She looked into Nancy’s eyes and kept her gaze there as she breathed through the contraction.
“Kyle will do a wonderful job. Don’t you worry.” She kept her eyes locked on Anne’s. “Do you want me to call 911?”
“Yes.” Kyle placed another towel under her bottom as he glanced to see if there was any sign of his son yet. “I’ll be right back.” He tore out of the room.
“Where’d he go?” Anne could hear the panic in her voice.
“I’m sure he went to wash his hands, dear. We’re going to deliver the baby and he wants his hands nice and clean.”
“Has he ever done this before?” Her hands curled into fists as tremors shook her body from another contraction.
“He’s never delivered a human baby, but he’s delivered a ton of babies before. They all come into the world in the same way.”
Anne looked into Nancy’s eyes and saw nothing but the truth in what she said. Nancy believed everything would be fine. As Anne realized she was going to meet her son today, so many emotions ran through. Her husband came back into the room, a big, goofy, lopsided grin covering his face and she felt her love grow even stronger. How can I love him even more at this moment?
Chapter Fifteen
“He’s fine. He’s perfect.” Kyle leaned down to give her another kiss. “Melanie, do you want to see your little brother before he and Mommy have to go to the hospital?” He reached for her hand.
“No.” She ducked behind Pop. “I can wait.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to see him, girl? He’s cute as can be.” Pop chuckled. “Look at that wrinkled little forehead. Wonder what he’s thinking about?”
“Sorry to interrupt folks, but I think we should get Mom and son to the hospital so they can be checked out. Sir, if you want to come on down in your car once you’ve cleaned things up here that would be fine. We’re not going emergent as everything seems to be just fine with these two. What was the time of birth?”
Kyle stepped away to give them the time of birth, the story about what happened, and why they couldn’t make it to the hospital before the baby’s birth.
“Kyle?” Anne reached for him. “Did you remember to bring the milk home for the kitten?” Everyone laughed as she looked from one to the other, her brow raised. “What’s so funny?”
“You. You’ve just given birth, and yet you are thinking about that little kitten’s dinner. And yes, it’s in the car.” He winked at her before turning to Nancy. “Mom, can you remind me to get that before I head for the hospital?”
“Yes, either Pop or I will remind you. Anne, I don’t want you to worry about anything here. Pop and I will take good care of Melanie while you’re gone.”
