By the time we got to the hospital, I was having contractions every ten minutes. Ellie went with Jeff to check us in while Gunner stayed with me. A nurse came up and had me sit in a wheelchair.
“Gunner, thank you for staying so calm. with freak number one and freak number two over there, I’m glad I could count on you to stay calm. ”
“Sure, Ari. You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for y’all. ”
Just then, Heather and Josh walked in. I knew the moment I saw Heather with the glow on her face, they had made love. Thank God. It’s about damn time. She smiled as she walked up to me, and I saw Josh look over at Gunner and smile. Damn boy looks like he’s walking on cloud nine.
She kissed me and asked if there was anything she could do. I shook my head and gave her a bigger smile.
She leaned down and got up next to my ear.
“It was amazing, Ari. ”
“I knew it would be with that boy. Was he big? I bet he was big,” I said as I winked at her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Gunner say something in Josh’s ear as he patted him on the back.
Heather laughed and shook her head at me. “You’re nuts!”
Jeff came walking up with a nurse, and of course, I would have to have a contraction right then. I tried to hide it. Oh my god, it hurt like hell.
Jeff dropped down to his knees. “Ari, just focus and go to y our happy place. ”
“Why the fuck do you keep saying that to me?”
Gunner and Josh started to laugh, and Jeff snapped his head up and gave them a dirty look.
“We learned about it in Lamaze class. Don’t you remember, babe? You were supposed to pick a happy place where you could escape to. ”
“The only happy place I’m going to is the place where this baby is out of my stomach, and I’m drinking a damn margarita. That is my happy place, Jeff. ”
“Good, babe…just go there. ”
I just stared at him.
“Baby, please don’t tell me that again, okay? Because if you do, I’m gonna grab you by the balls until you feel the kind of pain I’m about to feel. ”
Jeff started laughing. “God, I love you, Ari. ” He leaned forward and kissed me right on the lips…fast and hard.
***
I was finally in a room, and the contractions were coming faster and stronger. Everyone had left the room, except my mother and Jeff.
Dr. Wyatt walked in with that damn smile on his face. “How are you doing, Arianna?”
I wanted to tell him to fuck off. Instead, I smiled. “Good. ”
“So, I hear you want an epidural, Arianna?”
“Ah, yeah, that would be really awesome if that could happen…like before the next contraction. ”
Too late.
“Coming faster are they? Let’s take a look at how far along you are, Ari. ”
Dr. Wyatt looked up at me and smiled.
“I hate to be the one to deliver this news, Ari, but you’re at ten centimeters. The baby is crowning. You’re ready to push. ”