The Boot (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

LUCY

Pain courses through my body like never before. Stars flood my vision. I squeeze Nolan's hand so far I'm afraid it might break. But he stays by my side.

"Okay, Lucy, you're eight centimeters dilated. Not quite ready to push yet," the doctor says.

"What? But- But I feel- I feel a pressure, down there. Like I need to poop."

"That's normal. That's what it feels like when you're getting close. But you can't push quite yet, okay?"

"I don't know how much longer I can handle it. It's not the most comfortable feeling in the wor-r-r-rl-aaaaaaaahhhhh!" a loud scream rips through me as I'm hit with what feels like the hundredth contraction in the past hour. "Why can't I just be ready to push now? I need to get these things out of m-m-m-aaaaaaaahhhhh!"

"You're almost there, Lucy, you just need to hold on a little longer."

Sebastian peaks his head in. "Hey, Angela's here."

Sebastian was willing to stay in the hall and take care of everything from a social standpoint. Making calls, directing family and friends, and delivering updates.

"I want her in here too," I state. She has been with me throughout this entire pregnancy. Hell, without her intervention, I likely would have been in denial about it until I actually gave birth. She was there when I found out that I was pregnant in the first place. It's only right that she be present for the birth.

Sebastian nods, leaving the room. Moments later, Angela walks in.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

"It feels like someone is slowly tearing me apart from the inside out."

She laughs. "Yep, that can happen."

"I sure as hell won't be willingly getting pregnant any time soon! I seriously have no idea how anybody knowingly sets themselves up for a world of pain."

"Trust me, I understand. Having gotten pregnant twice on accident already, it's definitely not an experience that I'd recommend."

"Okay, Lucy. You're fully dilated. It's time to push."

"No," I shake my head through tears. "I'm not ready."

"You are ready, Lu."

"But what if I'm a bad mom? What if all of the trauma from this job has altered me to the point where I can't give these kids a good childhood without screwing them up?"

"Lucy. You're going to be a great mom regardless of your trauma. Take me, for example. I was kidnapped from my own wedding and held captive as nothing more than a baby incubator. I barely escaped. And so far, my kids have turned out just fine."

"The first baby is crowning!" the doctor chimes.

I feel my breath quicken. Nolan holds onto one hand and Angela holds onto the other. They both hold on tightly, serving as my anchors in a time of need.

"Push!"

I scream out loudly as I start my very first push, which takes a lot more energy than I had been expecting it to.

Sebastian comes into the room once again.

"Um, we're a little busy, Seb!"

"I'm sorry, I just thought you'd want to know that Tim is out of surgery and he's starting to wake up."

My eyes go wide. "What?!"

I try to sit up when the three of them rush to keep me down. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Angela hisses.