“Baby, are you okay?” He gripped my arm.
“I think so.”
Suddenly, I felt something warm trickle down my legs.
“Oh, my God, Mom. You’re peeing.” Zoey laughed. “So gross. I’m never having kids.”
I looked down at the puddle on the floor and then looked at Wes, who stood there with his eyes widened.
“That isn’t pee. I think my water just broke.”
“Oh, my God. Dad, do something,” Zoey said as he stood there staring at me with a blank face. “Earth to Dad.” She snapped her fingers in his face. He shook his head.
“Are you sure?” he asked me. “Maybe it is just pee.”
“Have you forgotten that I already birthed a child?” I cocked my head. “She’s standing right there. I know when my water breaks.”
“Right. We should go.”
“I think we should.” I doubled over as another contraction hit. “Ouch!” I belted out a scream.
“Zoey, help your mother downstairs. I’m texting Ben to turn around and come back. I’ll grab the hospital bag, diaper bag, and car seat.”
“Don’t forget a phone charger. I’m going to need it while we’re there.”
“Phone charger. Got it.”
By the time we got downstairs, Ben had already pulled up. Zoey helped me into the backseat and slid in on the other side. Wes came running out with the bags and the car seat.
“Did you get a phone charger?” Zoey asked him.
“Shit. I forgot.” He was completely out of breath.
“Breathe, future father of the year. I’ll go get it.” Zoey ran into the house.
“I hate both of you,”I screamed, gripping the bed rail with both hands.
“Wow. That contraction must’ve been a nine.” She popped a pretzel into her mouth.
“You have no clue what it’s like to expel another human from your body!”
“At this point, I don’t think I ever want to find out.” She popped another pretzel in her mouth.
The nurse walked in and looked at the monitor. “You’re doing great, Samantha.”
“I’ve been doing great for eight hours, and I’ve had enough.”
“Time to get out that PowerPoint presentation on breathing techniques, Dad,” Zoey snickered.
“What?” My head whipped to Wes. “You made a labor slideshow?” My brows furrowed before screaming as another contraction hit.
“Wow,” the nurse said. “I’ve never heard that one before.” She laughed, and Zoey laughed with her.
“Can I legally break up with him while in labor?” I asked the nurse.
“Sorry, honey. That one is way above my pay grade.”
After another grueling contraction hit, and Wes helped me breathe properly, I leaned back against the pillows.