Molly-Jane Walter

Chapter Twenty-Two

The time finally came. 

I was laying on my side asleep with Gilbert snuggled against me from behind. That's when I felt it. Sharp pain. I take a deep breath, rubbing my hand over my stomach. The pain comes again, even more sharply this time. I sit up in bed, trying to wake Gilbert. "Gilbert," I mutter, rubbing my stomach. "Gilbert," I say, a little louder this time. Still, he doesn't wake. I grab a pillow and bash him with it. "GILBERT!" I yell. "Yes?" He asked, as he wrapped his arms around me. "I think its time," I take another deep breath and try not to cry from the pain. "I'm scared," I whimper. "You are strong, my darling, we'll get through this," Gilbert whispered fearfully in my ear as I cry out. The sharp pain is beginning to take over. "ALEXANDER!" Gilbert roared. A minute later, a sleepy Alexander came racing up the staircase to our room. "Get the doctor! Now!" Gilbert shouted and Alexander jumped into action. "Wake the servents!" Gilbert called after him and I hear a muffled, "Yes sir!" From Alexander. "Take deep breaths my darling, deep breaths," Gilbert told me, as he stroked my hair. I cry out in pain again. It is as if I am being stabbed with a knife over and over again. (Not that I know what that feels like, but I can only guess!) Four maids came up to our room with candles and face cloths soaked with cool water. Gilbert informed me that the doctor would be here shortly, and that I must keep taking deep breaths. "Laura! Get Laura!" I cry, clutching my stomach. "James!" Gilbert called urgently to the butler coming into our room. "Fetch Laura, at once!" "Right away, sir!" James ran off as fast as he could. The maids were doing everything they could to help me. Mary was instructing them what to do. "Abigail, pat Mrs. Harding's face with that wet cloth! Lily, rub her feet, and Ella, I want you giving Mrs. Harding hand massages right now!" Mary ordered the other maids. They jumped into action. "Mary, tell me this gets easier, please tell me!" I beg her, tears streaming down my face. "I'm so sorry, ma'am, I wish it did, truly I do, but only the doctor can help now," I scream out in pain, and Mary wrapped her arms around me. "Molly, the doctor is here!" Gilbert told me. He had been stroking my hair and I hadn't noticed Alexander come back with the doctor. The doctor was smiling. Candles had been lit all around the room and the rest of the house. "Laura! Where's Laura? I need her!" I scream. "She's coming as quickly as she can, my love," Gilbert whispered, as he rubbed his hands on my arms. The doctor placed a white sheet over my legs. "Everyone except for the master and those who are needed, out, NOW!" The doctor yelled. The servants who were not needed curtsied or bowed to the doctor. The doctor took my hand in his. "Molly, my dear, you must be brave, yes very brave indeed. We know you can do this, and you must push; push with everything you have, do you understand?" The doctor asked me gently but urgently. "Yes," I manage to gasp. "Alright, on my count, you must push. Sir, you must make sure Molly pushes each time she feels the pain," The doctor explained to Gilbert. I scream as another wave of sharp pain hits me. "My angel, I'm here, I'm here," Gilbert pressed his lips to the side of my head. The next wave of pain comes and I cry out. "Push, Molly, push!" Gilbert whispered urgently in my ear. I push with everything I have, over and over and over, but the baby doesn't come. Laura finally arrived and rushed to my bedside. "Molly!" She gasped. "Laura!" I could cry with relief right now, but another wave of pain comes and I cry out. Laura took my hand in hers. "Molly, you listen to me, you will get through this. But you must listen to everything I say," Laura told me and I nod. Gilbert told Laura he was going out to get his family from Woodland Manor, even though I need him here, but at least I have Laura and the doctor. Each time a new wave of pain hits me, I push. And each time the baby doesn't come. I don't know how long Gilbert is gone for, but I swear the pain is getting worse. He eventually returned with his family, and he and his father keep Charlotte and Lillian out of our room. Mrs. Harding rushed in. "Molly, oh, my darling, darling, girl!" Mrs. Harding smiled excitedly. I look from Mrs. Harding to Laura. Both had pure happiness on their faces. The sun had risen at this point and I was guessing it was around eight o'clock or nine o'clock in the morning. I have been in labour for almost nine hours straight. The doctor has been by my side the entire time. He rushed to the doors and opened them, and told Gilbert, his father, Charlotte and Lillian, and all the servants that the baby was almost here and that there wasn't much longer to go. "GILBERT!" I scream. I have been crying in pain for hours and I am exhausted. Laura went out to fetch him from the hallway, and he rushed in. "My darling, I'm here, it's alright, I'm here," I gasp in pain. "What are all the servants doing here? I don't want them here! Tell them to leave!" I mutter angrily as more pain hits me and I cry out. I hear Gilbert walk over to the doors and the tell the servants to leave. "LAURA!" I cry. "LAURA! I scream. LAURA!" Laura came in at once. She rushed to my bedside and began stroking my hair. I take shuddering deep breaths and look from Laura to Mrs. Harding. Both of them smiled at me. I feel so exhausted; I can't do this anymore! Why wouldn't this baby just come already? More pain hits me. I push and push, feeling more and more exhausted. "Gilbert!" I yell, and Mrs. Harding moved out of the way so that Gilbert could hold me. He pressed his lips to my forehead. "Breathe, Molly, just breathe," He whispered. "Molly, dear, this is it, you must push very hard now, the biggest push you've got!" The doctor encouraged me, and lifted the sheet to help pull the baby out. "Deep breaths, Molly, you can do this, I know you can," Laura said. "I love you, my angel. Laura is right. You can do this. You are so very strong!" Gilbert encouraged me. I take a deep breath and push. It hurts so bad that I absolutely scream in pain. And then it happens. I hear the cry of a baby. I lay back exhausted, panting. Our baby. "It's a boy!" The doctor announced. Mrs. Harding and Laura began clapping and cheering, and looked at me proudly. "My love, oh my darling, you are amazing! It's a boy! It's our Albert!" Gilbert kissed me, and brushed my hair away from my sweaty forehead. "It's a boy," I say, reality not hitting me yet. "Albert, is it Albert?" I ask tiredly. I am unable to think clearly due to how exhausted I am. Gilbert nodded, the biggest grin on his face. The doctor handed him little Albert. "Molly, meet Albert," Gilbert handed Albert to me. He moved and wrapped an arm around my back, the other tickled our baby. "I'm so proud of you, my darling," Gilbert whispered. I look up at him, my eyes fill with happy tears as well as tears of exhaustion. "Did you really think I would leave you to raise a child on your own? You can't even keep yourself out of trouble!" I laugh tiredly as Gilbert chuckled. "Albert is absolutely perfect," I whisper. "Just like his mother," Gilbert replied, and pressed his lips to mine.