“My fiancé. My child. My mother’s memory. This team. Pre-season was a long six months ago, Kendra. A lot has changed.”
“Obviously,” she grinned. “Thanks for talking with me Ramsey, and again, congratulations! I’m sure your friends and family are waiting to celebrate with you.”
I gave Kendra a nod, then headed through the crush of people shouting, dancing, and whatever else. Anybody who tried to stop and talk to me got a hand toss or a nod – I wasn’t trying to be rude. I was trying to get to my lady.
There was no way she was going out to the field amongst all those people, especially after she’d been complaining about a backache since that morning. If I knew Wil, she and the rest of the crew were waiting in or near the locker rooms, so that was where I headed. Or was headed, until I heard my name and one of the physical therapists – and Naima’s girlfriend – Ashley came rushing up to me, out of breath.
“There you are!” she said, grabbing me by the arm to pull me in the opposite direction, but I planted my feet.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I asked, tugging her in front of me so I could see her face. “Where are you taking me.”
She glanced around first, plastering a smile on her face as a group of my teammates passed us, slapping me on the back. Then, she leaned in, to quietly tell me, “Naima was blowing up my phone, frantic. They had to take Wil to the hospital.”
“For what?” I growled, suddenly understanding her urgency. And from the look on her face – like she barely wanted to tell me – I knew it had to be serious.
“They think she’s in premature labor, but this was a few minutes ago, and they were pulling up to the hospital then. Maybe they know more now.”
My eyes bugged out. “A few minutes ago?! How long is a few minutes? Why didn’t somebody tell me as soon as it happened!?”
“I’m telling you now! Whatever happened, it was right after the game, and I’ve been trying to get to you, through all those people on the field, and then I get there, and you’re gone.”
“Right,” I nodded, then swiped a hand over my head. “Sorry for snapping at you—”
“You’re good, I get it,” she assured me, then grabbed my arm again. “Now, come on. Your security is waiting to get you to the hospital.”
My heart was racing as I rushed through the doors of Hennepin County Medical Center, not caring even a little about the stares I was getting in my muddy, grass-stained uniform. A call to Clayton from the car had confirmed a fear I didn’t even know I had – premature labor.
Wil was only 29 weeks pregnant.
But this hospital could handle it, I was assured, as soon I shoved open the doors to the birth center. I was stopped outside of Wil’s room by a nurse – a tiny woman I really wanted to shove out of the way for blocking my access to the only person I cared to see. At Clayton and Soriyah’s insistence, I chilled, comforting myself with the fact that at least Naima was in there with her while… whatever was happening, happened. At least she wasn’t alone.
After several restless minutes, I took myself into a corner for a quiet moment of prayer, supplementing the pleading I’d already done in the car. Dre brought up a bag for me, and I gave in to the pressure to use an empty room to shower and change into clean clothes.
The door to Wil’s room opened right as I was stepping back into the waiting room.
“Is Ramsey here?” the doctor asked, holding the door open. I practically sprinted up to her, and she smiled. “Come on in.”
Naima stepped out as I came in, and I tried to take heart in the fact that the situation didn’t seem to be an emergency anymore. But Wil… she looked so helpless laying there, with an oxygen mask clipped to her face and IVs connected to her arm.
“So we had a little scare, didn’t we?” Dr. Page according to the pin on her lapel, asked. “To update you, Ramsey, Ms. Cunningham went into spontaneous premature labor today, but because we need your little one to cook for at least a few more weeks, we intervened to stop it. The drug we’re using is actually an anti-hypertensive, but what it does for pregnant women is keep your uterus from contracting, which is what we have here. Your cervix has opened a little, but not enough that I’m worried about you. As soon as you get home though, I want you to go see your regular doctor.”
My shoulders sank in relief. “So she’s going home, still pregnant?”
“Yes,” Dr. Page smiled. “We’ll keep you here for today,” she said, touching Wil’s leg, “But I’m confident that we’ve gotten you on a strong enough pause to get home. And we ran tests that look for a specific protein in your vaginal secretions that would clue us in or whether or not this baby was coming, an FFN test. Your results were negative, so… you can breathe. And actually,” she glanced at monitors – one tracking Wil’s vital signs, the other tracking the baby’s – “you really can breathe. You and baby are stable enough that you can take that oxygen mask off now.”
Wil did so immediately, unceremoniously tossing the thing away from her. “Do you know why this happened? It’s because I’ve been doing too much this week, isn’t it? Flying out here, and shopping, and festivals, and the club, and… Ramsey, I’m so sorry,” she sobbed, seemingly out of nowhere, covering her face with her hands.
My first move was to grab her hand as I stepped closer, gently pulling her upper half toward me so I could wrap my arms around her. “Wil, come on. You know I’m not blaming you for this, right?”
“Good,” Dr. Page said, as she grabbed Wil’s other hand. “Because none of that sounds like any sort of abnormal activity. Contrary to popular belief, pregnant women don’t necessarily have to “take it easy” just because they’re pregnant. Some of my patients hike, and run marathons, all sorts of things. You did not go into premature labor because you were having fun.”
“Then why?” Wil sniffled, trying to calm herself down.
“You aren’t going to like this answer, but we may honestly never know. We’re still waiting on test results, but it could be something as simple as a urinary tract infection that wasn’t even causing symptoms, or it could be a cervical flaw, an irritable uterus. Or it could have just happened, because the human body is complex, and sometimes baffling. We’ll get you an answer to that if we can, but the important thing to know is that you, and your baby, are both healthy.”
I pushed out a sigh. “That’s what I needed to hear.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” Wil asked, squeezing my fingers. “The drugs, to stop the labor. What if ten minutes from now I’m having contractions again?”
“If that happens, we’ll try something else. If that doesn’t work… we’ll attempt to slow the labor long enough to administer corticosteroids to help your baby’s lungs develop as much as we can, and then we will do the safest possible delivery. This hospital has a level four NICU, and some amazing doctors and nurses. You and your baby will be in excellent hands.”
After a few more questions, the doctor left, and it was just me and Wil in the room. I started to speak, but then the door opened again, and the nurse that had kept me from coming in before eased in.
“I was just coming to see if you two needed anything? Pillows, blankets, anything to make you more comfortable?”
I looked to Wil, who shook her head, and then turned back to the nurse. “No, not right now, but thank you.”
“Hungry or anything?” the nurse persisted. “Mommy can only have ice chips for now, but we were all around the nurse’s station wondering if… the Super Bowl champion needed anything?”
I was smiling before I could help it, and Wil rolled her eyes as I laughed. “No, but thank you, seriously.”
“You sure? Not even just the hospital food, one of us can run up the street and grab you something. There are three of us who are huge Kings fans. That touchdown?” she stepped forward with her fist extended, and I returned the gesture, bumping it with mine. “You let us know if you all need anything,” she said, patting my shoulder as she bustled out, obviously giddy.
I was glad s
he hadn’t made that encounter a single second longer, because Wil’s expression was… displeased. I scooted the chair I’d dropped into even closer, and tried to engage her.
“Hey… you know JJ told me the nurses were like that with him last year, down in Texas. Remember, he went to the hospital after the Super Bowl too.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, but at least that was for his own injury, after they lost. He probably wanted to be lowkey. His team wasn’t off celebrating without him because his pregnant fiancé landed herself in the hospital. Hell – he wasn’t even saddled with a fiancé at all.”
“But he is now,” I told her, grinning. “You must not have been paying attention to the TV.”
The one in her room was on now, with the sound off, replaying the video footage of Jordan proposing to Cole on the field after the game, something I hadn’t even realized was happening at the time. Dre had told me about it in the car on the way, attempting to give me a distraction. I was doing the same thing with the information now, and was glad when the distress on Wil’s face gave way to a smile.
“No, I didn’t realize,” she murmured. “I was… a little busy.”
I nodded. “Yeah. But, just so we’re clear, there’s nowhere I’d rather be right now. I can party any time. The Kings are the official champions, until next year. There will be plenty of time for celebration.”
“Yeah, but you should’ve been able to have this time,” she said, laying back on her pillows. “You’ve worked hard for this.”
“I’ve worked hard for this,” I corrected her, laying a hand on her belly. “There is nothing in this world more important to me than the knowledge that two of you are okay.”
She sighed. “Yeah, and look at what I do, running around this city like I’m not six months pregnant.”
“Stop it. She just said this didn’t happen because you did something wrong.”
“And what the fuck do they know?!” she snapped. “They always spout that bullshit, we don’t know, sometimes things just happen. I lose two babies, they can’t give me a goddamn answer, can’t get pregnant, can’t get an answer for that either. Why the hell should I believe them now?”
“Because God doesn’t break promises, Wil,” I told her, simply. “You remember that day I felt the baby move, you told me that it was a manifestation of my mother’s dreams for me. Her and God, working in tandem. You remember that?”
She grudgingly nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay then. I know you don’t think that was only for me? Like there wasn’t a blessing for you in the equation. That your pain was invisible or something. He sees you. Maybe neither of us prays like we should, or attends service like we should, but I promise you that doesn’t mean we’re exempt from what he has for us. Those things you said to me that day… you believe that?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Then it’s not about believing them. It’s about believing him. If he said that you and this child are my destiny, nothing is taking that away. Okay?”
Wil sniffled again, and I reached up to wipe tears from her cheeks as she nodded. “Okay.”
“You good now?”
“No,” she shook her head, but managed to laugh. “I will be though. I want to talk about you. You made the play that won the SuperBowl. And put me into labor, according to Ri.”
“Ah, damn,” I laughed. “That’s what we’re doing?”
She nodded. “That’s what they are doing. Her and Clayton cracked jokes and flirted the whole ride to the hospital. Their antics were actually a nice distraction.”
“Do I need to get them back in here?”
“No,” she murmured. “I’m tired, but maybe later. I know you’re tired too, but can you just sit with me, a little longer?”
Her eyes were already closing, probably a combination of exhaustion from the day, and whatever was churning through those IVs. I leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“You didn’t even have to ask.”
I must’ve been as tired as she was, because I dozed off, waking up maybe an hour later to a lot of noise in the hall, a loud “shhhhh!!!” and then a disproportionately soft knock at the door. Frowning, I got up to open it, only to end up immediately yanked out. I balled my fists up as I snatched away, ready to throw hands.
But then I realized I was surrounded by my teammates.
“Get in here nigga!” somebody said, and somebody else put a hat on my head – probably the same one the rest of them were wearing, declaring us the latest NFL champions. Eli Richardson himself held out the heavy trophy to me, urging me to take it onto my hands as cell phones went up around me.
“The nurses are fans, but they told us to make it quick,” Eli laughed, as I clutched the trophy to my chest. “You did the right thing, coming to see about your family, but you earned this moment, son. We wanted to make sure you got it.”
I burst out laughing at some wise ass started blasting audio of the screaming crowd from his phone, and somebody tossed up a handful of confetti. In no time, the nurses were all over us – it was still a maternity ward – kicking people out.
I tucked the trophy under one arm, shifting so that I could shake Eli’s hand. What I’d told Wil was the truth – there was nothing more important than making sure she and the baby were okay, but I realized now… I’d needed this moment.
“Thank you for believing in me,” I told him, nodding.
“Thank you for not letting this team down.”
“This is the day. This is the day. This is day,” I sang in front of the mirror, doing a very, very gentle two-step to music that only existed in my head. Ramsey laughed as he slid his feet into his shoes, then stood to approach me.
“Damn, baby. You don’t seem excited at all,” he teased, kissing the side of my neck before he continued to the dresser, where his tie was.
I giggled. “How could I not be?! We’re gonna find out if we’re having a boy or girl today, which makes closing on the house next week that much more exciting!”
“Why?”
“Because! Then, I can spend these last 5 weeks before my due date decorating the nursery. I can’t wait to start picking things out.”
Ramsey frowned. “Wait… I thought you had everything all picked out? Yellow, gray, and turquoise, gender neutral. No pink princess clothes for a baby girl, no big trucks for a baby boy, fighting gender norms and all that?”
I waved him off. “Oh screw that. After all the stress I’ve been through with this little gummy bear, we’re wearing all the frills, all the dinosaurs, all until he or she is old enough to say, “pink is really not my color”, okay?”
He threw his head back and laughed as he finished with his tie, a gorgeous silk paisley one I’d bought him, and had been thrilled he actually liked. It was a blend of light neutrals, tan and gray and white, and I’d chosen a dress for today – baby shower day – that vaguely matched. We were a few days out from spring, but the gauzy watercolor print, in gray and white, was perfect for today. Once we found out which gender, I’d get a sash around my waist in the color that matched the décor Soriyah and Naima had come up with – either teal or coral.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” he told me, stopping to watch me put the last touches on my hair. “Not going to lie – I’ve been remembering how adorable Alexis was as a baby, when Chloe would put all those big ass flower headbands and stuff on her, and sweating a little bit.”
I stopped, and turned to look at him. “Sweating? For what?”
“Thinking about how ugly our fight was going to be when I came home with a bin full of hairbows if this baby is a girl. You were gonna let my baby be fashionable, goddamnit.”
A snort of laughter came out of me before I could help it, and the next thing I knew, I was laughing so hard I was crying – because Ramsey was serious as hell, even though he was laughing too.
Eventually, he took me in his arms, and I leaned on him for support, glad to take some of the pressure off my aching feet. I’d been dealing with low back pain f
or the last two days as well, and after standing for so long to get ready, it felt good to brace against him.
“Mmmm,” I groaned, as low pain started in my belly.
“You okay?” he asked, and I nodded.
“Yeah. Probably just Braxton-Hicks again,” I said, rolling my eyes as I referred to the false labor contractions that had sent us rushing to the hospital again just last week.
We’d been three times since getting back from Minneapolis. Once, I’d had to have my labor stopped again, but the other two times were true false alarms. Based on how I was feeling, this was another of those false alarms.
If it wasn’t, Soriyah was going to kill me. She’d put a ton of effort into this shower, and according to her words before she’d left this morning after having breakfast with us, it was going to be amazing.
“We can sit down for a minute,” Ramsey offered. “Nobody’s going to be mad if we’re a little late.”
I thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “Actually, yeah. Maybe just for a minute.”
We’d only take a couple of steps before I stopped, frozen in place.
“What’s wrong?” Ramsey asked, holding on to my arms. “Is it another cramp?”
I shook my head. “No,” I whined as my face grew hot with embarrassment. “I… I think I just… I peed on myself.”
“What?!” Ramsey took a half step back, looking me over. “I don’t see any—”
“Not like a lot,” I hissed. “But I definitely just soaked my panties, ugh. I didn’t even feel like I needed to pee.”
But, on the other hand, since the baby had decided its favorite place was resting low on my pelvis, head on my bladder, feet in my back, it wasn’t as if I had a great handle on what I was feeling down there anyway.
Determining Possession (Connecticut Kings Book 3) Page 33
