LOST INTO THE VINE (BWWM)

CHAPTER 56

"Call the midwife," Matteo's brother spoke through the phone. Matteo was going to ask what was going on, when his daughter ran into his office, screaming his name, "Papa!" Without any etiquette, he cut the call with his brother and squat down to his daughter, brushing away her forehead hair as she panted to catch her breath. "What's going on, mariposa?" he asked. "Mama says you come home quickly, right now," his daughter delivered the news. He caught on, to what his brother was trying to tell him. He hummed, lifting her up to his waist, locked up hurriedly, and hurried to his home.
He heard a whimper the moment he pushed the door open, he put his daughter down and told her to call her abuela on the landline. He walked quickly to the living room where Nala was seated with her sister, or rather her sister was sitted and Nala was on her hands and knees on the floor.
Adiah smiled at him, "ciao!" then shook her hand at him, with her phone in hand, "5-minute intervals!" Matteo rushed to her side, smoothening out her drawn eyebrows, "are you okay? Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Really, why didn't she say anything when the contractions started? Nala was asking herself the same thing in her head, but she shook her head instead. She grimaced, clutching tight to his hand when another contraction started. He let her hold onto him, supporting her as she bounced on the ball. Matteo felt helpless, he did not know what he would do, especially since her sister was sitting there comfortably doing nothing. "What do I do?" he asked. "There's nothing much you can do, Matteo. My husband is getting a few things ready in the other room," she smiled at him, seeing the anxiety in his eyes. 

Matteo pressed Nala's back to his front, "breath with me, princess!" He took an exaggerated deep breath and let it out, asking her to do the same. At that moment, the door opened once more and his whole family was walking in, the designated midwife right behind them. His mother looked at him, "we need to set up." He nodded, not sure if he should leave Nala or stay with her. Her sister made the decision for him, asking him to stay and she would help set up for the birth, pushing a glass his way, "it's coconut water, let her drink it." Nala was munching on a piece of empanadas on the plate, on the couch. He brought the glass to her lips and she took a sip without any comment. 

After she was done with both the food and water, Matteo helped her stand, he'd decided to carry her up the stairs to their room where they set up, but she refused, "I have to do this, if he's gonna come out." Matteo bit his tongue and helped her up the stairs, specifically walking behind her in case she lost her footing. Slowly they made their way up to the crowded room. His sister and hers were making the bed, the nurse smiled at her, "I was going to get you. Let's see how far you are before you get in the water." She motioned her to the paper towels placed on the bed and she grimly walked there. "You'll have to get this off now," the nurse pointed to her loose dress. Nala looked towards the man next to her, who didn't hesitate to pull her dress up to her waist and off. His brother and her brother-in-law hummed, "Ina, let's get mommy some other things." "Yeah, let's do that!" Nala snickered, together with her sister. Matteo hugging her to his side, even as she sat, as if not being in any physical contact with her, pained him, "what else do you need?" The nurse asked her to take her panties off so she can check the dilation of her cervix. 

Nala sat, Matteo right there, putting a pillow behind her back to keep her comfortable. "Around eight centimeters! That's good!" "Time to get pushing," her sister remarked. The nurse checked her vitals first before they changed rooms to the bathroom, where the pool was. "The water is ready, mama!" Irina hopped off the edge of the tub where she was seated. "Thank you, baby. Mama is grateful," Nala kissed her cheek and the little girl reciprocated, smashing her lips on Nala's cheek. Then she got in the tub, somewhat sighing in a moment's relief. "Teo?" Nala asked. He answered, taking his shirt ad shorts off in fluid motion, in his boxer shorts, he entered the water with her, sitting aligned with the wall, sitting Nala in front of him. He kissed her shoulder blades one and a time, then whispered to her, "I'll be here through it all, princess!" "Mama, can i-can I get in with you?"Irina asked, unsure of herself. Nala nodded without even thinking about it. The little girl immediately dressed down and got in the water. Matteo's mother ran her hand over Nala's wet curls, brushing them out of her face, "the rest is on you, la bella. You're doing great."Massaging her back, Matteo talked to her, "breath with me, princess!" Her sister looked at her, part sympathy, part happy for her, "push when you breathe out." Nala nodded, doing as instructed. Grunting, she dug her palms into Matteo's thighs as she screamed, pushing with all her might. 

"I can see the crown, just a little more mama!" the nurse told her. "Are you excited to know the gender? Which of the two do you think it is?" her sister grinned at her, handing her more of the coconut water she had been drinking for the past two hours. Nala just grunted. Matteo held onto her, "just a little more, amore!" Nala looked at her daughter, smiling at her, with scrunched eyebrows. "hi, baby," Nala smiled at her, through the fatigue. Irina's eyes met hers ad she smiled back, "are you okay, mama?" Nala nodded, taking a deep breath and pushing with all her might. A few more pushes and the baby was out. Nala sagged into the man behind her, the nurse swooped in and caught the baby together with Irina, handing it to Nala, who was now shaking with sobs, "oh my god!" She held the baby to her bosom, crying, with her hand running her hand over the tiny bundle, her lips pressing over the face of the newborn, "my baby!" 

"Wow!" Irina gasped, moving closer to them, Matteo grabbed one of her hands, "you're officially a big sister, mariposa!" "Why is mama crying?" Irina asked, sniffling. Matteo rubbed her hand in a way to reassure her, "mama is happy! These are happy tears!" Irina nodded, drying her wet eyes. Matteo ran his hand over Nala's hair, she purred into her newborn, as tears flowed from her eyes. Her sister was there, and kissed Nala on the head, "you did it, Nal!" Her mother-in-law was next, rubbing her arm and kissing her forehead. One of Nala's hands detached from the baby and extended to Irina, "come closer, baby. Don't be scared!" Irina grabbed her hand, and let her lead it to the baby, she knelt in front of Nala, putting both hands out to catch her sibling. Nala put her hand to support the baby, even as Irina held the baby, cleaning the baby in the water. Irina whisper shouted, "mama, it's a boy!"  Nala tapped Matteo's thigh with the little energy she had left, "I knew it!" "Of course you did, princess! I'm so proud of you!" Matteo whispered to her, dropping kisses with each word. Nala slightly moved and gave the baby boy to his father. At that moment, the baby's eyes immediately met his father's. And Matteo's breath visibly stilled. He looked up at Nala, his eyes shining, "thank you, princess! I love you so damn much!"