“Okay, fuck it. I want an epidural,” she breathlessly groaned to Vera, who had been there for hours along with Isla and Melanie.
“Are you sure?”
“Did I stutter?”
Vera held up her hands. “Okay. Okay. Calm down.”
“I can’t calm down; I have a basketball coming out of my vagina.”
“Well,” Melanie sheepishly shrugged, “technically, he’s not in your vagina yet.”
Cameron shot her a look that told her she wasn’t being helpful, which for some reason made Melanie laugh.
“I’m just saying.”
With Melanie and Vera helping her to Isla’s Jeep, the four of them headed for the hospital. At the time, Cameron lived about twenty minutes away from the hospital. They all thought she had plenty of time to get there.
They had all been wrong.
Jonah was ready to come out by mile four into the drive. Cameron squirmed and screamed in pain and she frantically tried to find a position that didn’t hurt like hell. Melanie had been in the backseat with her and helped her unbuckle her seatbelt and get her pants off.
“I’m going to check you.”
“Be careful. I have to poop.” She felt Melanie examine her and watched as her face went white.
“Vera,” was the only word that came out of her mouth, but it seemed to convey everything Vera needed to know and everything Cameron didn’t understand.
“Pull over up there,” Vera nervously instructed as Isla hurried down the road to a nearby gas station.
“I’m not going in there to poop.”
“No, you’re not.” Vera jumped out of the front seat, quickly opening the back door as she locked eyes with Cameron. “But you are having a baby in this parking lot.”
“What?” Cameron cried out in part pain, part shock.
Everything felt like a blur as Vera and Melanie helped her get into a position for the birth. Cameron leaned hard against Melanie, who was supporting her while she pushed and whispered the sweetest words into her ear.
“You got this, Cam. You are so strong. You’re doing amazing. The baby is right there. You can do this. I love you.”
Cameron had a tight grip on Melanie’s hand with the other gripping the headrest on the front seat. Her legs were sprawled open, one on the back of the front seat and the other on the door, as Vera stood between them. She tried not to think about the fact that anyone walking into the gas station could see her in a spread-eagle pose.
“He’s right there, Cam. One more push.”
And he was. Cameron watched in awe as Vera lifted her son up to her. She took hold of him with shaking hands, grateful that Melanie was still behind her.
“Hi, sweet boy.” Cameron kissed his head before turning slightly to look at Melanie. She had tears streaming down her face and the happiest smile Cameron had ever seen. “I had a baby in the car.”
“You did,” Melanie laughed, leaning down and kissing Cameron on the forehead.
“My Jeep will never recover from this,” Isla sighed in the front seat, bringing a sense of humor to the moment.
That night, Melanie stayed with Cameron and Jonah in the hospital. She didn’t have to; Cameron had told her that several times. But Melanie insisted.
“You’re not spending your first night as a new mom alone in a hospital with a baby. I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. You and Jonah both are. I promise.”
Ever since then, Melanie had kept that promise. She’d been there for Cameron, Jonah, and Dylan anytime they needed her. Melanie never questioned why; she was just there at the perfect time. Cameron knew how lucky she was to have such an amazing best friend like Melanie. Not only was she so good to Cameron, she was equally as great to her kids.
And Cameron knew that love would continue after they started officially dating. There was such a peace that Cameron had when it came to the idea of dating Melanie that she knew it was meant to be. It had been in the cards for years for them and finally, their stars had aligned.
