Haley’s eyes bulge. “Sure. Let me go grab it from my medical bag,” she says, deadpan. “The OBGYN is on his way. This is a legal, natural at home birth. I can’t provide a drug that Sean will illegally obtain and admins ter it to her in front of a doctor who has no clue we’re in an organized crime business.”
“We pay him enough, he looks the other way,” Sean says.
“No,” Callum snaps. “She’s going to feel every ounce of pain that this birth brings her.”
“And if she needs a section?” Haley asks.
Callum exhales an obnoxious breath, returning to his pacing. “She better fucking not. I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to the OB. You’re fine enough to deliver. You cut people open for Christ’s sake. You can deliver a baby.”
Haley wipes her forehead with her elbow. “This is your nephew. His life is on the line. Which is why all of us agreed to allowing an OB to deliver.” She looks at each of us pointedly. “If she needs surgery, she will go to the hospital.”
“Handcuffed to the stretcher,” Callum and Griffin say together.
Camille straightens, another groan escaping her. It’s loud and cat-like, and her whole body tightens, face screwed with pain. Haley digs her fingers into her lower back again, kneading the tissue while Camille continues to make unnatural sounds.
When she’s finished, Haley says, “One minute apart, one minute long. It’s close. You’re too late for drugs anyway, Camille.” She turns to Sean. “Can you get her some water?”
Haley stands and adjusts her shirt before she walks over to me. Grabbing my elbow, she pulls me aside and out of earshot from everyone else. “Callum is stressing her out. He’s being a dick, and I don’t blame him. But if you could maybe calm him so I can focus on her?”
“Of course,” I say, my voice low. “Is she progressing okay?”
“I’m not experienced in giving birth.” She scratches her nose, a nervous tick, before looking me in the eye. “I’ve only delivered a baby a few times as an intern and maybe once in the ER before we could get an on call to us quickly. If things go south, I want Dr. Ryan here.”
She glances behind her shoulder toward Camille, who’s lying on her back on the oversized sofa. Sean hands her a glass of water. Haley turns back to me. “I’m going to see if I can’t get her in a bath to help ease these contractions.”
“Where is this bloody doctor?” Callum cries out, staring at his phone. He punches out a message aggressively.
“He’ll be here,” I say, heading back toward Camille. I kneel in front of the couch. “Why don’t you go get in the bath? Haley can take you. Light some candles, and try to relax these tight muscles.”
Nodding her head, she reaches out to brace weight on my arm. She grips me tightly, sitting up. Michael grabs her other elbow and together, we get her on her feet. Haley is behind us and we all help Camille waddle toward the room she’s been staying in.
Halfway through the hall, she doubles over, clutching her back as another wave of pain hits her. “Oh God. I need to poop.” She cries out, hand bracing the wall.
“It’s not poop, Camille. It’s the baby,” Haley says. She glances between me and Michael. “Get her on a bed. Now.”
“I’m not ready,” Camille says, whimpering while Michael and I practically drag her down the hall to get her into a bed.
“I know, sweetie. But here we are, about to have a baby,” Haley says. She somehow manages to get around us and is flinging the first door open that we come to.
The three of us get her settled on the bed, towels already lining it. Camille is settled, sitting upright on the side of the mattress, her feet dangling off.
“Listen,” Haley says, placing her hands on Camille’s knees. “Hospitals make you push on your back. I’m not an expert at this by any means, but I’ve been doing a lot of medical research and watching deliveries. When you’re ready to push, you do it however you feel is most comfortable. On your knees, squatting, laying down. Whatever you need to get him out.”
Camille sucks in a breath, tears falling down her face. “I can’t, Haley. I can’t, it hurts.”
“I know,” Haley says, wiping hair from her face. She rips the hair tie off her wrist and pulls Camille’s hair back for her. “Boys, we’re taking off the bottoms. If you don’t want to see vagina, best to get out now.”
“I’m staying,” Michael says at the same time I do.
“Perfect.” Haley helps Camille lift up and slides off the underwear just in time for the next contraction to hit.
Camille opts for pushing on her hands and knees, howling as she does. Haley peers between her legs, eyes wide as she feels around. Camille moves to a kneeling position for the next contraction. I stand beside her, on the edge of the bed, holding her upright as she leans against me.
It’s over, and she collapses into me, moaning. “I’m too tired.”
Haley climbs on the bed behind Camille. “Get his head out, Camille. Get his head out and I can guide him. Come on. Give me some good pushes.”
“I can’t.” Camille moans again, bearing down. The moans turn to blood shrieking screams that have my face paling with worry. They sound worse than the ones she’s been giving.
