A Chance to Choose

Chapter 1-2

Shattered memories rushed to the forefront of his thoughts. Why can’t I picture her? Was it because he’d met the most spectacular woman ever just seconds earlier? As he tussled to remember Tori’s beautiful face, Chloe walked up. “Are you ready to go?”

“Nearly. I need to empty the trash cans.”

“Did you decide?” She pulled on his arm.

“Yes, I’ve decided I’m going.” Did that convince her?

“Why the sad face?”

Was she scrutinizing him? It pained him to look in her direction. He nodded perfunctorily and turned in dismay. “I confess, I’m nervous.”

Chloe’s face turned white, and she lost her balance.

“You don’t look so good.” Ben grabbed ahold of her arms to help balance her footing.

“I don’t feel so good.” She grabbed her stomach.

The floor under her feet puddled with liquid. “Oh, my gosh! My water just broke! Help me, God!”

“You need to go to the emergency room.” Ben followed the trickle of fluid to Chloe’s office.

“We need to call Mitchell!” Chloe shouted.

What’s a guy expected to do? This situation was almost unbearable. “I know nothing about delivering babies!” A sudden woozy feeling rushed to his head. “The room is spinning.” His footing wobbled.

Chloe gripped his arm, “Don’t you pass out on me!”

The dizziness in his head, passed to queasiness in his gut. “I’ll be fine,” he blurted.

Inside Chloe’s office Ben gathered his wits. “Sit here.” He reached for the phone receiver and dialed Mitchell’s office. “Hello, may I speak to Mitchell Terrison.”

“I’m sorry, he’s away on a business trip.” He put the phone back on its holder.

He frowned and grabbed her hand. “He’s not there, Chloe, where is he?”

“That’s right, I forgot. He went to Southwest Harbor today.”

Chloe screamed sounds he’d never heard from a person. “This is making me uneasy.”

“This pain is killing me!” Chloe seized his arm.

She’s scaring me. He squatted beside her and picked up her free hand. “We need to get you to a hospital.”

“We don’t have time for that. The baby is coming out!” She screamed in his ear.

“What do you need me to do? I can google it.” He got his phone from his back pocket and started a search.

She slapped his hand. “Stop that! Go get towels, and hurry. Get a pair of gloves and some hot water!”

He dropped his phone on the chair and ran through the shop. “I’m hurrying,” he shouted and gathered clean towels from the dryer. The largest pot in the shop sat under the first bin by the stove. He snatched it and collected several pairs of gloves from beneath the sink. He flung the hot water knob. “Should I boil the water?”

“Shut up, Ben!” She hollered.

When he returned, Chloe was lying on the floor. “Now you’re scaring me!”

Tears streamed down her face. “I need to get this baby out! Put the towels under me.”

Lord, God, help me. “Can you lift your back?” Goose bumps the size of watermelons tingled his arms as he stuffed and laid four of them as neatly as possible under her. “Whatever you do, don’t push.” He glanced at her face. “I heard that in a movie once,” he smirked as his eyes grew wider.

A wailing sound erupted. “Stop the staring. I will slap you.” Her face twisted with strained sneers. “I’ve got to push!”

In a stupor, his mouth fell open. “I’m at a loss here. What am I supposed to do?” Sweat beads popped on his forehead.

“You’ve got to deliver this baby.”

He inched towards her door. “I’ll do whatever you say.” Her body quivered. “We need an ambulance!”

“Help me get my pants off. I can’t do it by myself. She’s coming, you hear me!” She wrestled with the waistband of her leggings.

“Did you have labor pains all day or something? I didn’t think babies came this quick.”

“My back has been hurting for two days. Help me, please.”

He crushed his eyes shut. Together they removed her pants and underwear. You can do this! “Okay, what’s next?” He voiced in the calmest tone possible.

“Can you see her head?” Wailed Chloe.

Did he dare look? “I’m too scared to look.”

“Do it NOW!” Her roar was so loud it could have been heard all the way to Seattle, Washington.

“Okay, okay.” Help me, Jesus. In slow motion, with one eye open, he lifted her long t-shirt and squinted and stuck his head further under her shirt to get a better view. Before him was the crown of the baby’s head. “I see her!”

“Ben, I remember from my birthing class… I’m supposed to push when I have a strong contraction.”

“Are you having one now?” He leaned forward and gawked.

“Ouch…” A big splash of tears fell upon her face and intense sweat formed at the top of her brow. Perspiration rolled down her face.

Ben picked up a nearby towel, leaned over her and sponged her face. “Are you all right?”

Nothing but a frown etched her face. “Shut your mouth.”

He remained beside her and stayed put. “I’m sorry. What do you want me to do?”

“Call 9-1-1!”

He stretched and grabbed his phone off the chair and dialed.

“9-1-1 Emergency, how can we help you?”

“I need an ambulance at Camden Bakery. The owner, Chloe Terrison, is having her baby. Please hurry!” He slammed the phone to the floor.

“Here comes a contraction!” She screamed.

“Chloe, push!”

Her mouth opened as earsplitting sounds bellowed from her. “This is awful.”

“Push!” Ben yelled.

Deep breaths expelled from her. “I can’t anymore, I’m too tired.”

Knowing that response wasn’t good, he leaned over her and inched towards her face, “You’ve got to push, her head is halfway out. I’ll catch her, I promise. Try one more time.”

“Push down against my knees,” she sobbed through her wailing.

With as much force as he could muster, he balanced her legs as she grunted, hollered, and cried, “Ooh, she’s coming now.”

He collapsed to the tile. “I got her! I got her!” Soft cries from the little soul filled the bakery. “She’s perfect.”

I delivered a baby. His own tears fell. “She’s beautiful, Chloe.” With tender cuddling, he kissed the baby’s head, wet a towel with warm water, wiped her face and wrapped her in a clean towel. He picked up a new, smaller cloth, wet it and stuck it in Chloe’s hand. “Here you go.”

She squinted. “You’ve got to cut the umbilical cord.”

“What?” He wobbled as his head started to spin. Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Go get the scissors and some string.”

He placed the baby against her chest and flew out of her room. He opened the drawer under his workstation and on top of all the junk was a pair of scissors, exactly what he was looking for. Rushing to her side, he collapsed to his knees. “Is this going to hurt either of you?”

“No. Tie the cord off first, then snip it.”

“Where do I cut it?”

“I don’t know, just cut it.”

“All right, here goes.” He sucked in a deep breath, tied the string around the cord, placed the scissors on either side of it, squeezed his eyes shut and cut. “Chloe, are you okay?” He peeked out of one eye.

“Yes, I’m fine. You’re doing great, Ben.”

He dropped the scissors onto a chair. “Now, I’ll finish wrapping the baby in the towel.”

“Good idea.” She handed the baby girl back to him.

With a gentle touch, he cuddled his arms around her tiny body, wiped her down then draped her in a clean towel.

Tears flooded Chloe’s eyes. “I love her so much.”

“She is so beautiful.” He kissed her forehead and gently placed her on Chloe’s chest.

Like a fountain, tears streamed down all three of their faces. Joy exploded within him. He raised his head to see Chloe kissing her sweet baby’s face.

“Ben, I’m so proud of you.” Chloe touched his hand.

“It scared me to death.”

“It terrified me!” She twisted and stared at her baby.

He touched the baby’s cheek. “Look at her, she’s gorgeous.”

He saw Chloe’s face wince. “Stay still until EMS workers get here. I want nothing else to happen to you.”

“I feel I need to push again. Hurry! It’s worse than before. Oh, Jesus!”

With firm hands, Ben took the baby from Chloe and placed her in the middle of some unused wadded towels close by. Cries from the baby and the mother rang out. He slid in front of her to get a better look. “There’s another baby coming.”

“What?” Wet tears surfaced upon Chloe’s face.

Ben put pressure against her knees. “When you feel another contraction, push.”

They took deep breaths.

“That’s easy for you to say. Here comes one. Ooooh!” She pushed, screamed, and pushed more.

“It’s a boy, Chloe, it’s a boy!” Ben, with quickness, reached for a clean rag, dampened it with water and wiped the baby’s face. The squealing boy with jet-black hair and deep blue eyes sent chills up his arms. “I didn’t realize you were having twins.”

“I didn’t either.” Her sobs were uncontrollable.

“Take a deep breath.” Ben inhaled a deep breath along with her.

“I’m happy.” Chloe closed her eyes.

Loud sirens sounded in the distance and grew louder by the second. “It sounds like the paramedics are almost here.” Ben grabbed another clean towel and laid the baby boy against Chloe’s chest “Stay still. I need to go unlock the building.”

Hard pounding noises and loud voices rang out. Ben raced to the to appropriate door and led the med guys to Chloe’s office. “She’s in here.”

“Hello, ma’am. We’re here to help.” The med guy assessed the area. “I see you delivered your baby. Wait, there’s two. Wow! Congratulations.”

A female paramedic drew close to Chloe. “How are you feeling?”

“I think okay.” She allowed the medic to take the baby from her chest.

“I see it’s a boy.”

“Yes.” Chloe smiled not taking her eyes off the newborn.

“We will cut his umbilical cord and clean him up,” the EMT announced.

“Ben cut the cord for my baby girl.” Chloe watched with loving eyes. She touched Ben’s arm.

A different paramedic took charge of the girl. He wiped her with a clean cloth, laid her in Chloe’s arms while he unwrapped a sterilized blanket. “I’ll take her from you again. Ma’am, she is one beautiful infant.” Carefully, he bundled the baby tightly inside the heavy surgical cloth. “I bet you’re exhausted.”

“I am.”

“Are you in any pain?”

“Uh… a little, I guess.”

“We can administer some medication to ease it a bit.”

“That’s not necessary. I can wait until we get to the hospital.”

The EMT cuddled the baby. “I’m going to take her to the ambulance. This sounds crazy, but we need a little paperwork completed with your names, etc. on the way to the hospital.”

Chloe gripped a wet cloth and smoothed it against her brow, “That’s fine.”

A muscular paramedic stepped up to Chloe, “We will put you on this stretcher and then go to the ambulance. Your babies are already secured and waiting. You ready, ma’am?”

“Yes, Sir.” Dreamy eyed Chloe, so in love, did as the EMTs told her.

The taller guy gave Ben a thumb’s up. “You did a good job, man.”

“Ben, please call Mitchell,” Chloe yelled as she was being rolled outside.

Ben dialed Mitchell’s number. “Hey, it’s Ben.”

“What’s up?”

He released a pent-up breath. “Chloe had the babies.”

The phone went silent. “The babies?”

“Yes. You have twins. A girl and a boy.”

“Are you joking? Wait…”

“Yeah, Mitchell, you heard correctly.”

“This is unbelievable.”

“It happened so fast. One-minute Chloe and I were talking and the next thing, we were delivering your babies.”

“You, Ben Matney, delivered my babies at the bakery by yourself?” Mitchell questioned.

“Yes, I know it’s hard to fathom, but I did. They are in the ambulance as we speak heading to the hospital.”

“Tell Chloe I’m on the way. This is surreal. She wasn’t due for three weeks.”

“I can hardly believe it myself. But, Mitchell, Chloe was the brave one. She told me what to do, and I did exactly what she said.”

Mitchell laughed. “Was the bakery open?”

“No, thank God. I had locked up only a minute or two when it all started.”

“Thanks for everything.”

“You bet.” Ben pressed the end call button. The proud father would soon be with Chloe and the newborns.

After snatching a large garbage bag from under the counter beside his workstation, Ben grabbed a mop bucket, some cleaner and hightailed it to Chloe’s office. Gloves. He scampered and found a pair. Without a second thought, he rushed to the scene, slid on the gloves and cleaned. Why did scrubbing come natural to him? In the wonder of it all, did he inherit that trait? Was it because his mother was a super clean freak, or did he get his tidiness from his dad? He scrubbed the birthing place until it sparkled like new. After a quick tie of the trash bag, he opened the back exit and hauled it to the shop’s dumpster. Satisfied Chloe’s office was better than new, he turned off the lights. On his way out, he remembered the cookies for the kids. I almost forgot. He hustled to the front, stuffed the box under his arm and skedaddled to the car park.

A slight detour, a mile to the east, he zoomed inside the children’s home and dropped off the desserts.

As Ben neared the hospital, a red light stopped him. He let his head fall against the headrest as he reflected the invigorating births of new life. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to help Chloe’s babies come into this world. God bestowed blessings upon his life after all.