“Hey, Meela!” Kennedy yelled into the phone when she picked up. She sounded drunk.
“I’m in labor, Kenni,” I cried into the phone.
“What?!”
The octave of her voice instantly changed. Then she got quiet and serious… like she did when she was in attorney mode.
“It’s too early, Jameela. Way too early.”
“I know. They stalled my labor, and gave me some injections to help the baby’s lungs.” I breathed deep into the phone, feeling like the weight of the world was on my chest. “Where are you? I was hoping you could come to the hospital.”
“I will book the first flight out. Andreas and I flew out to meet Kalia and Jeramiah for her parent’s anniversary party.”
I groaned, because I already knew when the pain started that I wouldn’t have my good friend and obstetrician, but I didn’t think I wouldn’t be able to rely on Kennedy to be here. Her and Kalia were all I had, and now I was about to have a premature baby, alone.
“Okay. See you when you get here. I’m going to try and rest my eyes now that they were able to stop my contractions.”
“Ohhh, Meela! I am so sorry I’m not there for you. You get some rest, and I will be there as soon as I can.”
“Okay.”
As soon as I hung up the phone and closed my eyes, the nurse and doctor, aka, my baby daddy entered the room.
“Ms. Moody. We were able to stall your contractions. If it stays that way, we will keep you here in the hospital as long as your body allows Little Man to stay put. If for some reason things work against us, hopefully we’ll have at least thirty-six to forty-eight hours for the injections to work their magic, before having to perform a c-section. My staff and I will be monitoring your vitals around the clock at the nurses’ station and come in periodically to check on you. Is there anything you need?”
Saeed was being so damn professional. I still didn’t believe his name was Saeed, but now wasn’t the time to be busting his balls.
“Thank you, Dr. James. I’m okay. I just want to close my eyes for a little while.”
“Okay, Ms. Moody. I will leave you to it.”
“Jameela… call me Jameela please.”
He smiled at me andoh my freaking goodness.His teeth were so straight and white, and the way his eyes turned into little slits… so damn sexy.
Um, not now Meela.
“Okay,Jameela.I’ll check on you in a bit.”
He left, and I flopped my head down on the damn pillow.
I just wanted to know what rotten ass seed I sowed because my life was an entire rotten, fucking mess.
Little Man – that’s what Dr. James kept referring to him as and I kinda liked it – gave me about thirty hours before he decided that he wasn’t with the shits any longer. My contractions started back up out of nowhere and them thangs were wreaking havoc on me. I felt like someone was inside of me wringing my insides out like they would a wet rag. The monitors started beeping off the damn hook and I was scared as hell.
And I was still the hell alone, because a dumb ass hurricane had Kennedy grounded in Florida.
The nurses rushed in, followed by Saeed… Dr. James… whoever the hell he was. I was too tired to even care.
“Jameela. I wanted more time, but Little Man is determined to meet his mommy. We’re going to get you prepped for a c-section. I promise the entire staff in the NICU is ready for your little guy. We got you, okay.”
He reached down and grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.
His comforting touch calmed me a little.
“Okay, doc. I trust you.”
Our little moment was over, and the room started buzzing. The prep started and before I knew it, I was on the operating table.
