Chapter 27: Labor
764 Words
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*Wednesday. 2:13am. Cole Penthouse. Bedroom.*
I woke up wet.
Not Braxton Hicks wet.
Real wet.
“Adrian,” I said.
Voice shaking.
He was awake instantly.
“Yeah? Bad dream?”
“My water broke,” I whispered.
He froze.
Stared at me.
“Your water... broke?”
I nodded.
Tears already falling.
“IT’S TIME,” he yelled.
Then:
“s**t. s**t. OKAY. BREATHE.
BAG. KEYS. SHOES. DOCTOR—”
“Babe,” I said.
“Breathe.”
He was already in sweatpants.
And a dress shirt.
And my hoodie.
All at once.
“Are you okay? Is it bad?
Is Eleanor okay?
Do you need to push?”
“I’m fine,” I said.
“I think.”
He picked me up.
Carried me.
Again.
“I got you,” he said.
“I got you. I got you.”
---
*2:47am. Metropolitan Women’s Hospital.*
Adrian didn’t park.
He left the car running.
With the keys in it.
“Valet can deal with it,” he said.
And ran inside with me.
“MY WIFE IS IN LABOR!” he shouted.
“SHE’S HAVING A GIRL!
HER NAME IS ELEANOR!
SHE’S 38 WEEKS!
I NEED A DOCTOR NOW!”
The nurses moved fast.
Wheelchair.
Room.
Monitors.
Dr. Patel walked in.
Calm.
“Zara. Contractions?”
“Every 4 minutes,” I said.
Gripping Adrian’s hand.
Adrian was pacing.
And holding my hand.
And crying.
All at the same time.
“Mr. Cole,” Dr. Patel said.
“You need to sit down.”
“I can’t,” he said.
“If I sit down I’ll pass out.”
“Then stand,” she said.
“But hold her hand.”
He did.
Both of mine.
Like he was afraid to let go.
---
*4:00am. Active Labor.*
It hurt.
God it hurt.
Adrian wiped my forehead.
Whispered in my ear.
“Eleanor’s almost here.
You’re doing amazing.
I’m so proud of you.”
I squeezed his hand.
Hard.
“Don’t let go.”
“Never,” he said.
David texted: `On my way.`
Adrian ignored it.
Eleanor.
`kick`
`kick`
Like she was answering.
“Come on baby girl,” Adrian said to my stomach.
“Meet us.
We’re waiting for you.”
---
*5:38am. Delivery Room.*
“Okay Zara,” Dr. Patel said.
“It’s time to push.”
Adrian was behind me.
Holding me up.
Crying into my hair.
“On my count,” Dr. Patel said.
“One, two, three, PUSH.”
I screamed.
Adrian kissed my shoulder.
“Again. You can do it.”
“One, two, three, PUSH.”
I felt it.
The burn.
The pressure.
The world narrowing to this moment.
“ONE MORE PUSH!”
And then—
A cry.
Small.
Angry.
Perfect.
“IT’S A GIRL!” Dr. Patel said.
“IT’S ELEANOR!”
---
*5:39am.*
They put her on my chest.
Wet.
Pink.
Tiny.
10 fingers.
10 toes.
And my nose.
And Adrian’s eyes.
Adrian collapsed next to us.
Sobbing.
“Hi,” he whispered.
“Hi Eleanor.
Hi baby girl.
Hi.”
He touched her hand.
With one finger.
She grabbed it.
“Oh my god,” he said.
“She’s holding me.”
I was crying too.
Couldn’t talk.
Adrian looked at me.
Eyes red.
Face wet.
Smiling like the world just started.
“You did it,” he said.
“You did it.
Thank you.
Thank you.”
He kissed me.
Then kissed her head.
“Eleanor Zara Cole,” he whispered.
“Welcome to the world.”
---
*6:30am. First Hour.*
Skin to skin.
All of us.
Adrian cut the cord.
His hands shook.
But he did it.
“Weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces,” the nurse said.
“21 inches.”
Adrian memorized it.
David came in.
Crying.
Took a picture.
And left us alone.
Adrian was counting her fingers.
Over and over.
“Ten. Ten fingers. Ten toes.
Perfect. She’s perfect.”
Eleanor made a little noise.
And Adrian froze.
“Was that for me?” he whispered.
“She talked to me.”
I laughed.
Tired.
Happy.
Broken open.
---
*8:00am.*
Adrian was asleep.
In the chair.
Eleanor on his chest.
In a tiny pink hat.
I watched them.
My husband.
My daughter.
38 weeks.
2 years of chaos.
4 years of history.
And it led here.
To this room.
To this moment.
Adrian opened his eyes.
Saw me watching.
“She looks like you,” he whispered.
“She has your eyes,” I said.
He shook his head.
“She has your heart.”
---
- Writer
