Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Her water broke.
Hazel
“Shit!” Chance shouted. “We need to get you to a hospital.”
“Yes.” I pointed at the minister. “But first, you need to finish and marry us.”
“Sugar, we—”
“I am not having this baby until he says the rest of his spiel. Do you understand me?”
Ledger nodded to the minister. “You heard the lady.”
The minister nervously chuckled, stating, “By the power vested in me by the state of Wyoming, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ledger, you may kiss your bride.”
Ledger gripped the sides of her face, bringing me over to him. I went effortlessly, and he devoured me for the first time as husband and wife.
“Now,” I exclaimed. “We can go.”
Everything happened so fast, yet it played out in slow motion. One minute, we’re getting married, and the next, I’m lying in a hospital bed feeling like I’m being ripped open.
“Ahh…” I panted as Ledger ran a cool, wet wash rag over my forehead.
“Your cervix is one hundred percent effaced, and you are dilated to ten,” the nurse announced.
“Get her out!” I shouted, squeezing Ledger’s hand.
My morning had started off like every other morning, waking up to my fiancé burying himself inside me. He claimed that our baby was two weeks away, and he needed to fuck her out of me. The man was insatiable. It seemed like he was only getting worse with time.
Figures our baby girl would pick today, out of all days, to grace us with her presence. I was thirty-eight weeks pregnant, so I was full term, and we were safe to have her come into our world.
I went about my morning until I had to leave to meet with a designer downtown and was there for several hours. I never thought I’d be coming home to Ledger surprising me with a ceremony.
I swear the man knew no bounds. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for me. Everything about it was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding than he had made for me.
I was a little sad my parents weren’t there, but it was what it was. It was their loss, not mine. The most important man other than Ledger was there, my twin brother, and that was more than good enough for me.
“Okay, this baby girl is strong-willed,” the nurse stated. “I’m going to get the doctor. It’s time.”
“Oh, thank fuck. Why did I decide to do this natural again?”
Ledger laughed, kissing my forehead.
“I need drugs. Can you get me drugs?”
“It’s too late for that.”
“How do you know so much about babies? I kept my end of the bargain, now tell me. I need the distraction before your daughter—” I grabbed my stomach, bearing down. “Ahhh…”
“Breathe. You’re doing amazing, sugar. Just breathe.”
“Stop ordering me around and just tell me.”
“You’re bossy when you’re in labor.”
“I’m allowed to be. I’m about to deliver our baby, and you haven’t done a damn thing.”
“I did my part, or we wouldn’t be here.”
After the contraction had passed, I demanded, “Tell me. You said you couldn’t until I was ready. I’m ready. What is it?”
“I’ve always wanted to be a father, so I started learning about pregnancy probably a year before us.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I think my mom was preparing me for you.”
I winced, loving his reply. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
“You weren’t ready to hear it then, and I didn’t want to scare you away.”
“Babe, if you’re stubborn, controlling ass ever did, trust me, it wouldn’t have been that.”
Ledger nodded, kissing my forehead one last time as Dr. Malone walked in.
“Are you ready to be parents?” she asked, examining me.
“Yes! Please… take her out. I can’t do this anymore… she needs to come out… now!”
Just when I was about to tell them I couldn’t do it anymore, another surge of pain shot all the way through me. Unbearable sensations I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to handle.
My hand squeezed Ledger’s again. “Ahhhh, ahhhhh, ahhh!” I screeched, huffing and puffing out through the agony. “Aaarrrggghhh…” The torture consumed me.
“Push!” Dr. Malone ordered. “You’re doing great. Keep pushing, pushing, pushing. And relax,” she praised. “The baby is crowning. A few more pushes and you can meet your daughter. Whenever you are ready, Hazel.”
Ledger brushed my hair away from my damp forehead and kissed my lips. “You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you, sugar. You look so beautiful.”
“Shut up…” I demanded, feeling pain in a way I didn’t think was possible. “I need drugs! Please…”
“We’re long past that. Come on, Hazel. You’ve got this. Now push,” Dr. Malone urged.
I shot her a death stare as I tried to govern my breathing while pushing.
“Just need to get past the shoulders, and it will be smooth sailing,” Dr. Malone soothed, looking up at me.
I spent the next few seconds doing nothing but pushing and breathing, breathing and pushing. I’d never been so nervous in all my life. Never had an adrenaline rush quite like this before, pumping wildly through my veins and straight to my heart. I felt as though it could beat right out of my chest.