The Story of Tonight

Chapter Thirty Eight

Out in the living room, Lia had managed to make things go well enough that they were now kissing softly. Their tongues had just connected when her parents' bedroom door flew open. Shit.

They pulled away reluctantly. Moments later her dad appeared, looking flustered.

"Dad?" She asked. "Everything okay?"

"Your mom's going into labor," he reported. "I need to get her to the hospital."

Lia sat up straighter in excitement. "Really?!"
She stood as her mother began hobbling down the hall. She'd changed into new sweatpants and looked pained but calm.

"Mom!" She ran to her, giving her a hug. "It's really happening?!"

Vanessa nodded. It was definitely happening. Her cervix was making that very clear.

"Do you want to come?" Lin asked as he grabbed a couple more things they needed.

Lia looked at Ayden, then back at her mom.

"You should go," Ayden told her. "We can do this some other time."

"And by this you mean..." said Lin.

"Lin!" Vanessa warned him sharply. He got out his phone and called for a cab. Ayden said a quick goodbye to Lia and congratulated the family.

After Lin had hung up, he turned to his daughter. "He didn't touch you did he?"

"What?" Lia asked. "No!"

"Lin, I'm gonna need some help," Vanessa was trying to stay patient, but Lin's mind seemed to be everywhere. He was instantly by her side, helping her walk.

"Lia, will you carry her overnight bag please?" Lin asked. She grabbed it and soon they were in the lobby after taking the elevator. Lin looked out for the cab as Lia oddly tried to make small talk with her own mother.

Vanessa didn't want to freak her daughter out so she just breathed and closed her eyes. A few minutes later, Lin excitedly informed them that the taxi had arrived. They all hopped in the back seat and Lin told him to head to the hospital.

Once they'd arrived a nurse got Vanessa a wheelchair while Lin checked them in. He looked at his daughter and could tell she was nervous. They had debated whether she should be here or not. Childbirth was no joke. Vanessa decided to leave it up to Lia. If it got too intense she could leave.

Soon, they were being taken up to a room. Vanessa knew it would be a while but Lin and Lia both seemed on edge, like it was going to happen at any moment. She was feeling the need to comfort them instead of the other way around.

"You guys can chill out, you know," she finally told them as Lin paced the small room. "This will take a few hours at the very least."

"How long were you in labor with me?" Lia asked. She had been glued to her phone since arriving.

"Fourteen hours," Vanessa told her. Lia gaped.

"Isn't that illegal or something?" She asked.

"Should be," Vanessa told her, rubbing her belly. "Hopefully these guys come a little faster."

One of the nurses walked back in with a clipboard to take Vanessa's vitals again. The babies were already being monitored and doing just fine. It was just a waiting game.

"You're at three centimeters dilated," she reported after checking.

"Will an epidural be coming soon?" She asked.

The nurse nodded. "The anesthesiologist will be in shortly. Are you comfortable for now?"

Not really, she thought. As comfortable as she could be as two babies decided to come out of her.