She smiled, but I could tell by the tension in her shoulders that she was worried.
“You get straight to the hospital,” Mum said. “I’ll call your parents, and we’ll make our way there whenever you want us to.”
I knew she’d want to come with us, but she was giving us time alone.
Holly gulped and replied in a small voice, “Okay, thanks. You can all come soon if you’d like.”
That wasn’t what we’d said we’d do, but it was understandable that she’d want her mum there too.
“We’ll wait to hear from Jasper, give you a chance to get checked out and wrap your heads around it happening now, and then we’ll be there,” Mum said.
“Come on, Holly, let’s go.” I offered her my hand and she took it, gripping hard. “Are you okay? In any pain?”
“No, not yet,” she replied as we walked out towards the car. “Lucky you’re such a control freak over this and packed the hospital bags two weeks ago, huh?”
I flashed her a smile, hoping she couldn’t see through mine too. Inside I was terrified. “See, it is paying off.”
If something happened to either one of them, I don’t know what I’d do.
“Yeah, only nothing is going to fit the baby.”
I opened her door and helped her in.
“I’ll pick up some early baby nappies and get Oakley to buy and wash some clothes,” Mum said.
I hadn’t realised she was following us out, but of course she was. Miles was right behind her, looking lost and concerned.
“Thank you, Sarah,” Holly said.
Mum leant down and kissed her cheek, whispering something.
“Let us know if you need anything else,” Miles said.
“Thanks,” I replied and hopped in the driver’s seat.
As soon as Mum had closed Holly’s door, we were gone. The drive to the hospital would only take twenty minutes, but I kept having visions of Holly giving birth in a lay-by. Since we’d watched the birth video, she said she wanted all the drugs available to her. I hated the thought of her in pain so wanted to make sure she was near as many options for pain relief as possible.
She bit her lip, tensing.
“Contraction?” I asked, pressing down on the accelerator.
Her body relaxed.
“Yeah, but it wasn’t bad.” She laughed. “I expected it to be awful, but it was no more than period pain. I know I’m jinxing the hell out of this right now, and it’ll be unbearable soon though!”
“You’ll be fine. We’ll soon be where they have epidurals.”
“I want four,” she said, making me laugh.
I grabbed her hand. “You can have anything you want.”
When we reached the delivery ward we were whisked straight into a room and two midwives followed us in. By the time we’d arrived she was in so much pain she could barely walk. I hated seeing her like that.
“Okay, if you’d like to lie down on the bed, Holly, we’ll assess how far along you are,” the older midwife, Annette said.
I helped Holly on the bed, and her face reddened as she pushed her leggings down.
“Okay?” I asked her, keeping my eyes on her face as the midwives did their thing. I think the shyness was because I was in the room. She nodded, gritting her teeth and reached for my hand.
“Don’t leave me,” she said, sounding so vulnerable I was instantly scared.
“Not going anywhere. I promise.”
“Wow, looks like you’re eight centimetres already,” Annette said looking up and smiling.
Holly pushed herself up on her elbows, releasing my hand.
“What? How is that possible? I thought I had about twelve hours!”
Shit!
“That’s the average. You’re thirty-seven weeks and four days?”
“Yeah,” she replied. “The baby’s small.”
The midwife who was flicking through Holly’s pregnancy notes, Jen, looked up.
“You’re full term and although the baby is on the small side there’s nothing to suggest he or she isn’t perfectly healthy.”
“Aghhh!” Holly cried suddenly.
“I can see the head,” Annette said. “Not long now, and I’ll need you to start pushing.”
“Oh my God, this isn’t happening,” she sobbed. “It’s too early, too quick, Jasper!”
I stroked her hair. “Shh, sweetheart, it’s going to be fine. Hey, you’d rather it was over quickly than be in pain for half a day, right?”
“I guess. I just thought we’d have more time but-” She stopped abruptly, hissing through her teeth. “I want to push. Should I push? Am I fully dilated?”
That quick?
“Absolutely, chicken,” Jen said. “That’s your body’s way of saying you’re ready. On the next contraction give us a good push.”
“Oh God I’m scared,” Holly muttered. She flopped back on the bed and reached for my hand.
“Should it happen this quickly?” I asked, kissing the back oh Holly’s hand to try and calm her down. I was terrified for the next contraction.
Jen smiled. “I can do. That’s why you hear stories of people giving birth in cars or lifts.”