A Little Twist

Sixteen

Laito comes inside and sees her leaning on the counter.

'Please, my back.' She turns her head a little.

'Sure.' He gives her a massage. 'How is this?'

She nods. 'Much better, just a little longer, please.'

He chuckles. 'No need to beg, Mama-chan. You carry something precious and heavy. Even without experience, I can imagine it's not easy.'

She blows out some air. 'Sometimes the pain in my back is enough that I think my legs will give out on me.'

'You exercise enough otherwise. Walking, stairs, swimming.' Laito knows that she's trying to stay healthy. 'How is that?'

'Feels great, your cold hands work as cooling off. I'm really warm.' She replies.

'I can feel that. Change your shirt then.' He hops to her wardrobe and comes back with a different shirt. 'Still wide and loose but thinner. Put it on, come on.' He puts it on the counter and turns around.

'You did get my favorite.' With her eyes on his back, she changes her shirt fast. 'Thanks for turning around. We can go back, now.'

***

This is unbelievable. I guess you are coming, and I think it's a matter of hours. Risa gets the two muffins and puts them on the tray with her cup of tea. Am I ready for this? How will I do as a mother? Could I figure out which cry is for feeding or a clean diaper? What if I drop him? No, I have to stop thinking like that. I can trust on getting help from Reiji. He must have read the most books. She picks up the tray and heads for the living room but not before looking at the clock. I just had a contraction about twenty minutes ago. Is it really twenty minutes? She enters the living room when she sees Reiji on a chair. 'Reiji? I wasn't counting on your company. I would have made you a cup of tea, otherwise.'

'I believe it's safer if someone stays close to you. You came so far and if something would happen, I could help you,' explains Reiji with his eyes on his book.

'I take it because you don't want to miss anything.' Or you don't believe me. 'Not everyone ate much during dinner.' She changes the topic.

Reiji changes his attention to her. 'Our family dinner is more of a social event. We don't see each other much. However, something else is currently on our menu for you.' I can't have any of us going after you if you are in labor.

'I see.' The pain comes back and faster than she thought. It's enough that the tray falls out of her hands. Not again. This hurts so much. I have to stay calm. I've been calm and collected most of the time. If I panic, they will panic. I can't have that.

Reiji ignores the mess and holds her up. 'Breathe, Risa.' He knows the others come in rapidly. 'Fake contractions? Or real ones? Do you know how much you're dilating?'

'Risa, breathe.' Shu is the one who kneels by her and chipped her head.

Oh, no! They are all here. She sees Laito letting go of Kanato. Did you teleport him downstairs...

'Don't look at them. I'm right here.' Shu forces her head down to himself. 'Breathe, and answer his first question.'

'She kept looking for the clock,' knows Laito.

'How much time is between the contractions?' repeats Reiji with a hand on her forehead. She's burning up. A slight fever is a sign of going into labor.

She breathes in huffs. 'I think... twenty minutes.'

'Do you remember the obstetrician's trick?' Shu takes her nod as an answer. 'How much are you dilated?'