Page 50 of Acceptance
He finds it odd how perky she is considering the situation, but he brushes it off. “Kent.”
“Okay, Kent, looks like you’re helping Gracie bring this little baby into the world. Gracie, sweetie, lean forward. Kent, climb behind her and support her as she pushes.”
Swinging his leg over the bed with ease, he pulls Gracie back against his front, letting her rest against him as another contraction hits. Dr. Samuelson pushes her skirt up and places Gracie’s legs into the stirrups. There’s a strange sense of responsibility to do everything he can for her, and when her head falls back against his shoulder, he tries to comfort her.
“You got this, kid,” he says. “I’m right here.”
“Okay, Gracie, I have a nurse calling your mom, but we’re not going to be able to wait for her. When I tell you to, I need you to push. This baby wants out.”
Nodding, she pants. “Can I push now?”
“Push!”
Gracie cries out, and on instinct, she lifts her legs back into an almost unnatural position. They shake as she pushes, and Kent reaches down to grip each thigh to help brace her.
“Take a second,” Dr. Samuelson says. “You’re doing great, sweetie.”
“I want this kid OUT OF ME!”
“Push,” the doctor says.
Her wide eyes at Gracie’s shout makes Kent smirk. She screams as she pushes, and this time, Kent leans forward withher, hoping it helps give her leverage. At this point, no one’s directing him, and he’s moving on instinct.
“Okay, take a breath,” the doctor says.
They lean back together, and Gracie looks exhausted. The nurse hands them a wet cloth, and he dabs her face and neck. “You’ve got this, kid. We’re almost there.”
“Ready for one last push?”
She nods, and Kent braces himself again. She cries out, screaming, “Oh God!” before he sees the little baby in the doctor’s arms.
They lean back, and the baby’s quickly cleaned off, a little suction device going into the nose and mouth before cries fill the air.
“Would you like to cut the umbilical cord?” Dr. Samuelson asks.
“Uh, I guess,” he says, which makes Gracie giggle.
It doesn’t require much movement on his part because she’s compact compared to his long limbs, and he cuts where they tell him to after handing him surgical scissors.
Wiping her face more with the cool cloth, he whispers, “I saw what you had,” into her ear.
“It’s a boy, isn’t it?”
“He is.”
She smiles as she’s handed the baby. “Congratulations, Gracie. You’re the proud mother to a beautiful and healthy baby boy.”
Slipping out from behind her, Kent helps guide Gracie to lie back with the baby on her chest. “Look at that. You did it, kid.”
“He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” she whispers.
“He sure is. Looks just like his mama.”
She smiles as the doctor continues working between her legs.What the hell else is going on down there? Isn’t this kind of the end of it?
“Do you want to hold him?” Gracie asks.
“Really?”
