And frankly, my artwork consists of stick figures and flowers.
“I love it,” Maggie says, beaming as she takes in the room. “It’s adorable!”
While she spent four months in Chicago helping with Evalina, we renovated her old wing of the house. By the time she returned to New York, it was move-in ready.
She lives with us now, and life has never been better.
But this room, I’ve kept it a surprise from her until now.
I’m just about to ask if she wants to go shopping when something warm and wet drops down my leg.
I freeze, feeling like I just peed myself.
“Oh my God,” I say, taking a shaky breath before looking down.
Maggie, always one on her toes, is already on the phone. “Her water just broke,” she says into the speaker before snapping her fingers at me. “Bag. Car. Hospital. You know the drill!”
I blink at her, my head feeling like mush as nervousness overwhelms me. “What was that plan again?”
Maggie grabs my arm, helping me down the stairs, and has me sit. I hunch forward as a series of strong cramps hits me. Maggie hitches my hospital bag over her shoulder, and I hear tires screech outside.
Maggie opens the door at the same time Emilio jumps out of the car and runs inside. He’d left only ten minutes ago to grab my favorite dinner. Since I’m so close to my due date, he hasn’t been leaving my side much.
“Do you have the bag?” he asks.
Maggie holds it up. “Check! The car seat is installed?”
“Check,” Emilio says as I double over when another cramp hits me.
“And baby is still in Mama,” Maggie says, cracking a smile.
“Hopefully not in here for long,” I cry out, doubling over at another contraction.
“All right, let’s move,” Emilio says, suddenly sounding like a drill sergeant.
He helps me into the car’s back seat. Maggie slides in behind me. Emilio drives off, calling my OB as soon as he turns onto the road.
I ball my fists together, groaning as Maggie talks me through the pain. She tells me everything will be okay and we’ll meet our little one soon.
The hospital isn’t close.
I’m sweating, yelling, and ready to deliver this baby in the damn back seat.
When we arrive at the hospital, Maggie helps me out of the car. Emilio drives off to find a spot. He must’ve found something front row because he sprints inside just as Maggie and I reach the front desk.
Emilio holds my hand, and the pain and cramps intensify as the nurse wheels me into the hospital room.
He doesn’t leave my side as the doctor comes in and tells me it’s time to have my baby.
When I’m in labor and scream that I don’t think I can push any more, Emilio tells me I’m the strongest woman he knows and that I can do it.
My body feels weak as I cry out.
Emilio’s hand doesn’t leave mine as he encourages me to push and not give up.
He does this for eight hours, not even stepping away for a bathroom or drink break, and then it happens.
One final push, and I hear the cries.
