by Claire Ashby
“You go,” the stranger said. “You know it.”
Theo was shaking his head. “Ignore these idiots. Are you okay? You look tired.”
“I’m working. And I don’t have anything to say to you, even if I had the time.” I walked away.
When I passed the elevator I realized why it had never come back down. The shut-off button had been activated by one of the B&B security guys. The beefy man stood with legs spread, arms crossed, and sunglasses on. I didn’t get the part about the sunglasses. Did he wear them to make himself more intimidating? The tattoo of a tiger biting his neck accomplished that. The man was scary. Scary enough I wasn’t about to tell him to get out of my elevator. With the line on the stairs and the swarm throughout the store, I was having trouble catching my breath. My world was closing in on me.
Moving throughout the second floor of the store, I expected the crowd to be calm up there. Soon they’d be rewarded with the presence of the reality stars. No such luck. As we neared one o’clock, the girls had yet to make an appearance.
I located Steve at the front of the line. “What’s the deal?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Girls. You know how they are.” He nodded down the hall where Brooke and Bella had been holed up since their arrival. “You check it out. See if you can coax them out before this mob takes over.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s get this show started.” I dashed toward the hall.
Just then, two girls who barely looked old enough to drive stormed the stairs. They could pass as Bella and Brooke back when their show first went on air, before the booze, pills and pregnancies. One girl was dressed as Brooke, in painted-on jeans and a minuscule white top. “Where are they? We’ve been here all night! Where are they?”
Beefcake with the tiger tat blocked them off at the top of the stairs. “No passage,” he barked.
The Bella wannabe’s lip quivered. She tugged on her bleach-fried pigtail. “But we have to meet them. We have to. Brooke!” she yelled around the wall of man. “Bella!”
Beefcake mumbled into his Bluetooth. “Ladies, we’re getting you an escort.”
“What’s an escort?” She swung her head around so fast her pigtail, and the scent of mousse, smacked me in the face.
“He’s getting us in to meet them.” The girls clapped and jumped in unison.
A guy who could have been Beefcake’s twin, only with ice-blue eyes, came up the stairs behind them. “Come on girls, let’s go.”
“Wait,” the one with the pigtails said, putting her hands up. “I know they came up here. They’re not down there.”
“I’m removing you two from the property, for disorderly conduct.”
“What?” Her friend’s mouth dropped open, and tears sprang to her eyes. “You can’t do that.”
“I can, and I will. Walk, or I’ll carry you out of here.” He placed his hand on her back to usher her along.
“That’s not necessary,” Theo said. “Let the girls have their day. Give them a break.” He took one exaggerated step out of line, with his arm out as though he was holding the space. “They can take our spots.”
“Shut up, man,” Cortez smacked Theo’s shoulder. “They gotta go through the line, same as everyone else.” He looked at the girls and sighed, shaking his head.
“We’ll move to the back,” Theo said.
The two girls slipped into Theo’s spot. “Thank you, thank you,” they squealed. Cortez rolled his eyes at Theo, but grinned at the girls. The guys trudged down the stairs, but I caught Theo turning to watch me.
“Thanks,” I mouthed. His smile was so faint that, if I didn’t know him, I might mistake it as hostile, but I knew what the look he gave me meant. As if to verify my thoughts, he winked. Right then, the wall of my grudge crumbled. But duty called. I marched down the hall to see what on earth those girls waited for. I could hear the giggling as I neared the room.
I tapped on the door, but no one answered. I turned the knob, pushing in a tad. “Hello? Brooke? Bella? We have a crowd waiting for you.”
The door swung open and Bella, wineglass in hand, waved me in. “Would you care for some Pinot? Come in. Come in. We’re settling our nerves before we head out.”
She danced over to the bottle on the table, picked up a drinking glass sitting next to a pitcher of water with lemon slices floating in it—courtesy of Nina—and filled the glass with wine. “Drink up. Your nerves could use a drink too.” She grinned and licked her lips.
“No thanks. I’d better not.” I patted my tummy.
She pushed the glass in my hand. “Oh, no, it’s good for the baby… in moderation.” She winked at Brooke, who sat on the sofa, holding a wine glass and nursing a chubby, pajama-clad baby.
“I thought you girls didn’t drink anymore.”
Brooke took a sip. “We don’t. Wine doesn’t count.”
Bella giggled. “Neither does prescription pills.” She hauled up a purse so big it wouldn’t pass as carry-on luggage. She rummaged through it and pulled out an orange bottle. “As long as you follow the directions on the label.” She held the bottle up to the light. “Take one as needed for anxiety.” She looked up to the sky and twisted her lips in thought. “Yep, it’s needed. Hold this a sec.” She pushed her drink into my hand, popped the lid off, and shook one, then another pill into her hand. “Oops!” She made a big O with her mouth, smacked her hand to her mouth and took the wine to chase it with. “Take that, anxiety!” She wiggled her shoulders with excitement.
“Come, sit over here,” Brooke called to me. I followed her orders, pleased to get off my feet for a moment. I put Bella’s wine on the table and settled in next to Brooke. “Are you planning on nursing?”
“Yes, yes I am,” I answered. Her baby made eager gulping sounds, his fingers held tight in a fist as he sucked away. His eyes, wide open, watched Brooke, enthralled with his momma.
“It’s the best,” Brooke said. “I want to give him the best.” She stroked his velvety head as she talked.
“Oh no, here she goes again.” Bella rolled her eyes. “Olivia only gets the best, too, and the nicest part about formula is anyone can give it to her.” She retrieved her phone from her purse and plopped onto the other white loveseat, humming to herself while she texted.
The girls needed to get out there to the waiting crowd. “How much longer do you expect it will be until you all are ready for the signing?” I asked.
Brooke looked at me over the rim of her wineglass and took a sip. “You should relax a little. Have a drink with us, and then we’ll all go out together. It’s fine at the end of pregnancy. Everyone in Europe does it, so you know it’s a good thing.” She winked, and that sealed the deal.
Why not? In all the books and magazines I’d perused over the last months, many said an occasional drink was fine.
I sipped the Pinot and moaned in delight.
“A toast,” Bella said. “To new friends and good wine!” She came over to us and clinked glasses. The wine was fabulous. It’d been close to a year since I enjoyed a drink. My body relaxed into the seat, and I listened to their happy chattering debate on the best way to mother a child. They clearly knew more about the subject than I did. As it turned out, wine was exactly what I needed to take the edge off, and surprisingly, for once I didn’t feel guilty indulging. After all, the Europeans do it, right?
Chapter Thirty
After being as uptight as I was, relaxation was a strange shift. Even when Hazel barged in, griping about getting the circus started, my body stayed languid, and I laughed along with my new buddies.
But Hazel was right.
“You heard the lady,” I said, pulling myself up. “It’s showtime!” No sooner did the words leave my lips, I heard a little pop, and I thought: No! But sure enough, as the nanny came from next door to get Brooke’s baby, I felt wetness seeping between
my legs.
The tight sensation surged again. “You guys head on out—I’ll catch up with you.” There was no need for me to panic; nobody could tell what was going on, and we had to get through the signing. But then the contraction peaked, and I braced the table for support, letting out a deep groan. I couldn’t stop myself.
“Meg?” Hazel’s hands flailed, as if seeking something to hold onto.
Both girls stared at me, and while Bella’s face pulled back in disgust, Brooke, looking excited, pointed at the floor. “Hey look, your water broke!”
“Oh… oh.” Hazel stood with her mouth wide open.
“Hazel,” I said and waited until her gaze wandered from the floor to my face. “Can you find Nina for me?” Nina could handle anything—that, I was sure of—as long as she didn’t get grossed out.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!” Bella had her hands over her mouth, eye fluttering like a moth on a porch light.
My mouth fell open. “I’m sorry.” I wanted to say more, but the pain surged, and I propped my arm on the table, curling inward as a tightening burned through me. The feeling was different from before. It was hard and fast, and I wanted to run from it. I lost myself in the contraction. It didn’t matter that I was at work. All I knew was tearing pain seared through me, and I wanted it to stop.
Stop! Stop! Stop!
Then the hurt began to ease, and Brooke was by my side. She put her hands on my shoulders. “Don’t be afraid. You’re doing great. I can’t believe you’re going to have your baby today.” She was grinning, all happy and excited, and all I could think was: No! Then another contraction came at me.
“I’m not ready,” I moaned, trying to fight it. I rocked against the table.
Brooke rubbed my back. “You can do this. Your body was made ready to do this.” When the pain eased, she led me to the sofa.
Bella paced. “We should get out there. Isn’t someone going to come help you? Our fans are waiting.” Her voice rose in pitch, and when the door swung open she cried out the same words I was thinking, “Thank God!”
Theo.
“How fast are the contractions coming?” he asked, but I was already losing it again, gripping the arm of the sofa as I perched, swaying, on the edge of the seat.
Brooke was next to me, holding my other hand. “They’re coming really fast,” she said. “She needs to get out of here. We can take her in our car. It’s parked at the back door.”
“Brooke!” Bella protested.
“Nah, that’s not possible,” Theo said. “All the cars in the lot are blocked in. It’s too crowded out there. I called an ambulance. They’re on their way.” He cupped my cheeks in his palms, looking me in the eyes. “How you doing, sweetheart?” When I looked in his eyes, I knew then that I didn’t want to make any more mistakes with my life. I loved Theo.
“I’m afraid,” I confessed.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m here with you.”
“We’re all here with you,” Bella muttered from the corner.
“Shush!” Brooke hissed at her, moving to stand by the door.
“Look at me,” Theo said. “I’m right here, by your side. I’m going to stay by your side.”
Another contraction was building, but I had to tell him. “I’m afraid to love you, because I’m worried I’ll never feel safe. Oh no!” I wrapped my arms around my belly, moaning as the pain took me again.
Theo held me against him murmuring, “It’s okay,” in my ear. As the pain moved back, he wiped the sweat off my brow. “I love you, Meg. I’ll love you forever. I promise you, you’re safe with me. I will never leave you again. You can trust me.”
I believed him. His words rang true. And I also understood at that moment why they called the final stage of labor the ring of fire.
“Theo…”
“Yes?”
“I want to push.” I clutched his arms, grinding my teeth. I fought the scream, but it fought me. I wasn’t making it to a hospital.
The door opened. Hazel rushed in, with Nina and Cortez following. Cortez kneeled at my side, and then I saw the black bag he had with him. “Hey girl,” he said as he opened the bag calmly, sifting through its contents. “I’m going to check you out.” He pulled out a blood pressure cuff and slipped it on me.
Nina looked pale. “Ladies,” she said to Brooke and Bella. “Hazel will take you out for the signing now. Sorry to keep you all waiting.” And then to me she said, “I’m going to let Mike and Steve know you’re okay. They’re outside waiting for the ambulance.” She turned her back to us and spoke into her walkie-talkie.
Bella headed to the door, but Brooke hung back. “Can I stay and help?” she asked.
“No, Brooke, come on. They’re here for us. We have to go out there.”
“Do the signing without me,” Brooke said. “Unless you want me to leave?” She looked at me, but I couldn’t speak. The pain returned, and I couldn’t stop myself from bearing down with it.
“Stay,” Theo said. “We could use an extra set of hands.”
Everything happened really fast then. They helped me to the floor, and Theo lifted my dress and ripped my underpants to remove them. Not that I cared at that point, but Nina and Brooke focused on my eyes, encouraging me. Theo and Cortez switched into work mode. My head was in Nina’s lap, and Brooke and Cortez were on each side of me.
“The baby’s head is right there,” Theo said.
An ambulance siren sounded off in the distance, but it wouldn’t get to me in time.
At some point, Brooke and Cortez helped pull my legs back while Theo told me to push. The pain exploded from within, but even as I was being torn apart, every part of me screamed: Push! Push! Push!
And there on the floor of my bookstore, surrounded by my stepmom, two veteran amputees, and a reality star, I pushed my baby into the world. Theo placed her, all wet and screaming-mad, on my chest.
“She’s perfect,” he whispered to me.
A single tear slid from the corner of my eye. “She is.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Time moved fast once the baby was out. One second I stared in awe at the tiny baby in my arms, and the next, paramedics erupted into the room, men in uniforms bustling around and taking charge. They took my baby away. I could see two men working on her, but she was out of my reach. I wasn’t going to panic, but I wanted her back in my arms. She was mine.
And she was wailing.
Theo stayed by my side. “They’re making sure she’s warm, that she’s getting enough oxygen,” he whispered while he stroked my hair back.
A man talked with Theo while inserting an IV into my arm. I ignored them, my eyes on the baby. “She’s crying,” I said. Her pink arms flailed, hands fisted, eyes clenched, mouth opened wide. The guys working on her offered no comfort. “She’s upset. I want to hold her.” Someone had placed a sheet over me, and a paramedic tended to my business down there. I didn’t want to think about what he was doing. Maybe I was in mild shock. My body hurt, but I didn’t care. I had a baby, and for once I could believe in those stories where a mother would lift a school bus with one hand to drag her child to safety. I wanted them to give my baby back.
I looked to Theo. “Why won’t they give her to me? She wants me.”
He was smiling at the baby, not worried at all. “It’s good for her to cry. She’s clearing her lungs.” He smiled and peered down at me, his eyes glazed over. “She’s got good lungs.”
Two men rolled me onto a stretcher. I wanted to stand, but they wouldn’t let me. They covered me with another sheet and strapped me down. My baby wailed.
“Give her to me,” I said. Someone blocked my view. All I could see was the back of everyone. I struggled to sit upright, but bound to the stretcher, my mobility was hampered. And then she went silent. Her crying stopped.
Theo touched my shoulder. “Hang on. You’ll have her in a minute.”
“I can’t see her,” I said. Tears blurred my vision. My breath came in uneven gasps. “What’s wrong?”
“Ma’am, I need you to try and calm down,” the paramedic who had placed my IV said.
Theo lowered to my ear. “Hey now, don’t cry. It’s okay,” he whispered. “Everything is okay. You want me to go see her?”
I nodded, afraid to speak.
He moved across the small room, around the paramedics that tended to my baby, and when he got to the other side of everyone I could see his face again. He looked down, and I could tell the minute he saw her. Like the sun rising, his face beamed. His joy gave me comfort. The men mumbled to each other. They shifted around, and for a moment, I lost sight of Theo. Then everyone parted, and he came to me. My baby was bundled in his arms. Swaddled in a blanket, she cooed. She peered at Theo with squinting eyes.
“Hello, beautiful,” Theo said to her. “There is someone who can’t wait to see you.”
I reached for her, and he helped settle her in my arms. Someone told me to make sure I held onto her good. As if I’d ever let her go.
Chaos moved through the bookstore. The book signing was in full swing as we came out. In the hallway, Nina rushed to us.
“Oh, she’s perfect, Meg,” Nina said as she walked along with the stretcher. “I’m proud of you. You’re amazing.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said. “Really.”
“Honey, it was an honor for me.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she fanned at them, blinking fast. “Everyone knows. There’s a news crew waiting outside.” At the elevator, scary tat guy looked at me as though I was the scary one. He moved aside. “They came for the Brooke and Bella crowd, but they caught on when the ambulance arrived, and now they want to interview the woman whose baby was delivered by a reality star.” The elevator was too small for Theo or Nina to fit. “Dad and Steve are outside trying to shoo them away. They’re going to follow you to the hospital. I’ll stay here and help out with the signing. Don’t worry about anything.” She took a step back, allowing the doors to roll shut.
