inside she leaned against the door and held the lower part of her abdomen as another contraction begin to form.
A frown marred Nick’s handsome features. Since when did she lock doors around here? The small voice taunted, since you started acting like a maniac. Nick groaned as he wondered how long she would continue to avoid him.
Looking at his watch he noted it was six-fifteen; he had to leave if he didn’t want to get stuck in rush hour traffic. Today he was headed to Harrisburg on business and couldn’t afford to be late. Joan wasn’t due to arrive until seven-thirty, which meant Summer would be alone for a little over an hour.
Knock, Knock
“Yes?”
“Can you open this door?” Nick hated talking through doors.
Summer’s heart began to beat rapidly as she gripped the doorknob.
“Yes?”
Nick’s stomach tightened as he looked down into her face. Her eyes still held the hurt and pain from several nights ago. Hurt and pain he had caused.
“I have to leave out earlier than usual this morning. Will you be okay until Joan comes in?”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?” His gut was telling him something wasn’t quite right.
“Yes.”
Nick was hesitant as his gut continued to gnaw and nag at him. “All…right… then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Okay.”
Summer’s thumping heart returned to normal when she heard Nick leave. After emptying her bladder, she brushed her teeth then turned on the water for her morning shower. Adjusting the temperature of the water just right she stepped under the spray. The hot water streaming down her body was soothing, helping to relax the tightening in her lower abdomen. Grabbing shower gel from the caddy, Summer lathered her body from head to toe with a bath sponge. As she stood under the spray rinsing the suds away, she wished she could rinse Nick away from her life just as easily. Impossible. She was forever connected to the man for life. As long as the tiny life in her womb existed, was healthy and thriving, she would have an unbreakable link to him. Oh great. Just what I need.
♥♥♥
Joan arrived on time as expected, her usual chipper self.
“Hi sweetness,” she greeted Summer who sat at the kitchen table with her laptop.
“Hi Joan, how’s it going?”
“I’m good. How ‘bout you?”
Summer dare not tell her about the contractions, she’d be on the phone calling Nick with the quickness.
“I’m doing well.” Summer lied.
“That’s my girl. Have you had breakfast yet?” Joan asked as she moved around the kitchen going from the refrigerator to the cupboards.
“No, I was just sitting here ordering the little bambino some things. You know I hardly have anything for this baby. I don’t even have a crib.”
Joan chuckled softly. “I’m not surprised, you’ve had your plate full lately.” Joan witnessed the strained atmosphere every day she came to work.
“Yeah, tell me ‘bout it.” Summer halfway joked as she put items in the shopping chart. “Hey you want to see want I’m ordering?”
Joan pulled out a chair and sat next to Summer. “Sure let’s see what you got here.”
Summer showed Joan all of the adorable baby apparel in the shopping cart. Joan “oohed and aahed” over everything. “Summer these things are so cute. Chile your baby is going to be the best dressed baby in town.”
Summer giggled. “I know that’s right, Joan.”
Standing Joan said, “Let me get breakfast started. Want anything in particular?”
“Whatever you make will be fine.”
“Pancakes, bacon and eggs sound good?”
“Yep, sounds good.”
By ten that morning, Summer had several more contractions lasting forty-five seconds to one full minute. She hadn’t said anything to Joan even when the older woman mentioned Nick called asking her to stay later than usual because he would be tied up longer than expected. Throughout the rest of the day, the contractions had begun to come every seven to ten minutes apart.
Calling her parents Summer was disappointed when they informed her all flights from North Carolina were delayed due to the snowstorm sweeping through the Carolinas. Her folks would be grounded until the storm passed over the region. Summer did feel a measure of comfort when her father promised, “Sweetheart we’ll be there as soon as we can.” Her next call was to her labor coach. Summer’s disappointment slightly dissipated upon hearing Starr’s voice on the other end of the phone.
“Starr it’s me. It’s time.”
“Ooh. . .okay girl. What you want me to do? You need me to come get you?”
Summer couldn’t help but to giggle at Starr’s excitement. “No, I think it’ll be faster if we meet at the hospital.”
“Hey, should I call Ava?”
Summer quickly contemplated calling her. Ava hadn’t been on vacation in almost two years. She didn’t want Starr to call Ava because she would drop everything and come back home. Her friend was living it up in Arizona being pampered at a five star spa. A vacation well deserved. No, she would not call disrupting her vacation. Ava would be mad, but Summer didn’t care. She’ll get over it. Besides, she was due back home in two days.
“No, Starr. I don’t want to bother her while she’s having the time of her life.”
“You’re sure? You know she’s going to be mad at you?”
“Yes I am. I’ll call her after the baby’s born, then that way if she wants to come home she’ll only miss one day of her vacation.”
“Okay, but I warned you.”
“Starr, get off the phone and get your butt to the hospital before I have this baby at home fooling with you and Ava, and whether she’s going to be mad at me or not!”
“Ooh, my bad. I’m on my way.”
Summer called down the hall, “Joan… Joan… come here for a minute please.”
Joan hustled into the room in a hurry. She heard the urgency in Summer’s voice. “What’s wrong sweetie?”
Summer weakly smiled. “I think I’m in labor for real this time.”
“Oh, I better call Nick,” Joan said as she hurried to the nearest phone.
“Joan, no, please don’t bother him. What if I’m not really in labor and they send me home?”
“Summer, sweetie, I think we should call him anyway.” “Please, Joan, can’t we wait until I get situated at the hospital? That way we’ll know if this is the real thing or not,” she reasoned with the older woman.
Summer winced as another contraction hit her petite body. Joan rushed to her side.
“All right, come on sweetie let’s get you dressed and out of here.”
The cab ride to the hospital was disastrous. An accident three blocks from the hospital had traffic moving at a snail’s pace.
Summer groaned, “Only me. Only something like this would happen to me. I must have a black cloud over my head.”
Joan affectionately patted Summer’s arm. “Everything’s gonna be okay sweetie. You just hold on.” Leaning forward, Joan banged on the plexus-glass partition. “Hurry up unless you want a baby born back here!” Damn cabdrivers always trying to run the meter. If he’d gone the way I told him we’d be there by now. I bet he’s gonna have a nerve to expect a tip!
♥♥♥
Checked into the birthing suite on the maternity floor, Summer waited for Starr to show up. Just as promised, she blew in like a whirlwind.
“Girl, are you ready for this?” Starr asked with excitement.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
As promised, Joan waited until Summer was checked in and settled before calling Nick. He wasn’t pleased to say the least Joan waited to call him.
“What do you mean she’s been having contractions all day? Why didn’t you say something when I talked to you earlier?”
Joan bristled from the curtness Nick’s voice held. “Calm down boy and watch your tone with me. I ain’t one of your little
gal friends. Summer wanted to be sure the contractions were the real thing before I called you.”
Nick rolled his eyes as he listened to Joan rant. Sometimes she thought she was his boss and not the other way around. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Summer’s and Starr’s gaze went to the door when Joan came back into the room. Neither missed the aggravated expression on her face.
“Joan, what’s wrong?” Summer asked.
“Nick isn’t pleased at all. Said we should’ve called him sooner. He’s on his way.”
“Joan, don’t worry. I’ll let Nick know it was my fault.
Flagging one hand while the other rested on a robust hip, Joan let it be known, “Chile I ain’t stetting’ Nicholas Stiles with his ‘ole grumpy tail. And don’t you get yourself all worked up worrying ‘bout him either. You trying’ to have a baby…his baby. Can you believe he was talking all rough to me like he done lost his mind? Humph! He don’t know me! Get me wrong and I’ll put my foot in his behind!”
Summer and Starr both looked at each other wide eyed then back at Joan before they cracked up laughing. Joan was a mess! She didn’t take anything off anybody. Not even the benevolent Nick Stiles.
Summer whipped the tears from her eyes. “Oh where are my manners. Joan this is my friend Starr. Starr this is Joan.”
The younger woman offered her hand to the older one.
“It is so nice to meet you, Miss Joan. I’ve heard so many nice things about you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Starr. Summer talks ‘bout you and Ava all the time. And chile please don’t call me no Miss Joan, makes me feel old. I still got a few miles left in me,” Joan teased.
“Okay, Joan it is.” Starr agreed, offering the older woman a dimpled smile.
♥♥♥
Time dragged by with each minute seeming like an hour and each hour like a day. Summer walked the halls in an attempt to pass the time and speed up the labor process. Starr and Joan took turns walking back and forth, up and down the hall with her. As she and Starr walked again for what seemed like the hundredth time, a strong shearing force ripped through her uterine wall. Holding onto the wall, she began taking a couple of deep breaths as Starr coached her through the pain.
“That’s it Summer, take a deep cleansing breath through your nose and out your mouth.” Starr gently instructed as the contraction came in a wave, starting low, rising to a high peak, and then descending down again leveling out.
“Wow that was a rough one. I think I better head back to the room. If I get another one like that you’ll be picking my big butt up off the floor.”
“Girl, you know I can’t lift your big tail. I’ll have to drag you by that long ponytail of yours like a caveman or something.”
Summer’s laugh turned into a soft groan. “Oh no, this is so embarrassing.”
“What girl?”
Summer spread her legs and looked at the floor. “Either I just peed on myself or my water just broke.”
Starr held Summer’s hand as she helped her to step around the clear puddle.
“Come on, let’s get you back to bed then I’ll go tell the nurse to have someone come clean up your pee-pee.”
“Shut up Starr. I didn’t pee on myself,” Summer said as she playfully nudged her friend.
“You did too. Wait until I tell my godchild how his or her momma peed in the middle of the floor,” Starr teased.
“Starr don’t make me kick you in the lip.”
“As if your fat behind can lift your leg up that high.”
“Shut up Starr.”
♥♥♥
Nine forty-five rolled around and Nick hadn’t showed up. Joan left forty-five minutes earlier to baby-sit her neighbors, the Kennedy’s two younger children. Joan hated to leave Summer, but she’d committed herself to keep the adorable toddlers last week. Joan gave Starr her home phone number and the Kennedy’s number. “Please call me the minute that little precious baby is born.”
“Of course I will and thanks for everything,” Starr promised the older woman.
Joan wasn’t at all surprised when Summer held her arms out to hug her before she left. She gladly returned the hug wishing more than ever she could remain for the birth of the baby.
Every time Summer had a contraction, Starr cringed as she helped her breathe through it.
“Summer are you sure you want to go through with this natural childbirth stuff?” Starr questioned her friend; she appeared to be in such agony with every contraction.
“Yeah, girl, I told you I don’t want my baby all dopey from those drugs.”
Starr sucked her teeth. “Shoot, girl, when my time comes, I’m gonna want the whole dang pharmacy. Demerol, morphine, deluded, Percocet…give me evvvverything!”
Summer couldn’t help from laughing at her friend. “Starr, you are nuts.”
Moaning replaced Summer’s short-lived laughter. “Ooh, ouch, ouch…Starr here comes another one.”
For some reason it hadn’t taken the few seconds it had earlier for the pain to build and intensify. This particular contraction was intense as soon as it started.
“Come on girlfriend, squeeze my hand and breathe. That’s right, breathe. Let the pain go.”
Just as the contraction was subsiding, Nick entered the room along with Dr. Neil. The doctor was the first to speak.
“How’s my favorite patient?”
“Dr. Neil that last contraction was really bad,” Summer moaned.
“Sure you don’t want anything for the pain? I can have anesthesiology down here right away. Just give me the word.”
Summer shook her head. “No, Dr. Neil, I want to do this without drugs.”
“All right then, let me check you. See how far along you are.”
After thoroughly washing and drying his hands, grabbing a pair of latex gloves, he asked,
“Do you want your visitors to leave before I exam you?”
“They can stay.”
Both Nick and Starr focused their attention elsewhere as the doctor prepared to perform the examination.
Properly draping his patient the doctor began his examination. “You’re almost ready; your cervix is at nine centimeters. Since this is your first baby it may take another hour or longer.” Removing the gloves the doctor asked again, “Are you certain you don’t want anything for the pain?” In this day and age he didn’t think it was necessary for a woman to suffer needlessly during childbirth.
“I’m sure. If I change my mind, I’ll let you know.” Another hour, I’m going to die. I just might take the drugs if I have to go on like this for more than an hour.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a little while to check on you.”
“Thanks, Dr. Neil.”
Feeling awkward like she was in the way and needing to give Summer and Nick some privacy, Starr announced, “Summer I’m stepping out to get a bite to eat.” It was ten thirty and the last time she had anything to eat was sometime around nine that morning.
“Nick, do you want me to bring you anything back?”
“Nah, Starr, I’m cool. Thanks though.”
Summer wanted to beg her to stay and not leave her alone with Nick. But she wouldn’t be selfish; Starr had been there with her every step of the way. “Take your time Starr, I know you’re just as hungry and tired as I am.”
“I’ll be back in a few, I promise.” Grabbing her coat and purse, Starr blew Summer a kiss as she left out the door.
No sooner than she closed the door, Nick started in on Summer with his inquisition.
“Why didn’t you tell me this morning you were having contractions, Summer?”
Summer stared at Nick in disbelief. Why is he starting with me now? “I didn’t want to….oh no… here comes another one,” Summer moaned as she prepared herself for the pain.
Nick hadn’t a clue as to what to do as Summer’s body stiffened and she moaned and groaned in pain as she held onto the side rail of the hospital bed. When her uterus finally relax
ed so did her stiff body. She waited for her breathing to return to normal before answering him.
“I didn’t want to bother you.”
Now, Nick was the one with a look of disbelief. It had been hours since she’d been laboring. From what Joan told him the laboring started with mild contractions yesterday evening at dinnertime. More than twenty-four hours ago and she hadn’t said one word to him. Nick was asking himself why? again. Why wouldn’t she tell him she was in labor? She had an opportunity earlier that morning. Did she really think he’d rather be conducting business than with her while they await the birth of their baby? No, it couldn’t be. Nick was growing weary of Summer keeping him in the dark. Before anger could creep into his bones her words rang clear in his ears. “Please, Nick don’t. . .” That’s why she didn’t call me. Summer had reacted to his threat. The fact she hadn’t called him had nothing to do with her bothering him as much as it had to do with her fear of having her baby taken away.
Nick didn’t know which was worse, the tight knot in his gut or the fact that he wanted to kick himself. Yes, he’d been angry with her but he didn’t want her to have to go through labor without him being at her side. He’d already missed most of her pregnancy; he’d wanted to be with her from the moment her true labor began.
Nick’s shoulders slumped as he removed his coat and draped it over the back of a chair. Pulling up a chair to the side of the bed, he sat and watched her saying nothing.
Summer felt his eyes on her, but refused to look at him.
“Hey, look at me for a minute.”
As she lifted her eyes to meet his, she noted the gentleness his voice held as he spoke to her.
“I’m not upset. I just wanted to be here with you when the baby is born. I thought I was going to miss it.”
“I’m sorry. I know I should have called you.” Summer’s voice quivered as a tear slid down her cheek. Damn hormones!
Nick wiped the tear away. “Don’t cry. You don’t have anything to be sorry about. Okay?”
“Okay.” Summer softly whispered.
Neither knew what to say. This was the longest the two had been in each other’s company for days. They sat in silence until Summer needed him.
A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) Page 15
