The Boot (Book 1)

Chapter Thirty

LUCY

The pain is only getting worse. And since I'm fully dilated, an epidural isn't an option anymore. "Ugh! This hurts so f*cking bad!" I scream.

"I know. You're doing great," Angela says, soothingly petting my hair.

"I just want to get these things out of me already!"

A loud scream rips through my throat as the delivery room doors are thrown open. Tim barrels into the room, out of breath. He looks disheveled, a piece of fabric tied to his arm, the other in a sling, and a splint on his leg. He is clearly exhausted and in a lot of pain.

But he's here. He made it. But most of all, he's okay. He's alive.

"You- You came," I breathe.

Tim crosses the room and cups my head with his hand. "Of course I did. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I look at Nolan. "Thank you for being here. Tim's here now, so I'll be okay. Bailey needs you."

John wishes me good luck before leaving. "I should let you guys have your moment," Angela excuses herself and it is now just me, Tim, and the medical team. Tim takes his spot by my side, his eyes shining with pride.

He takes my hand in his. "You've got this, baby."

Another contraction hits me, and I hiss through my teeth before screaming loudly, squeezing Tim's hand loudly enough that I can hear his knuckles cracking. He winces. "I'm so sorry baby."

"Shh, don't be. I'll gladly take on the pain if it can make this whole process even a little easier for you."

"Lucy, your first baby is crowning. I need you to push. Dad, make sure to help encourage her and guide her breathing."

"We can do this, Lu."

"On three. One. Two. Three. Push!" the doctor shouts.

"AAAAAAAAA!" I scream as I push with all of my might. My head falls back on the pillow with utter exhaustion filling my body.

"Good! The baby is a little further out."

"Why can't I just push once and get it out?"

"Unfortunately, it's incredibly rare for that to be the case. Almost all babies require more than one push to get out."

"Come on, baby," Tim coos gently.

"Push!"

I push again as Tim guides me through my breathing. Again and again. I don't know how much more of this I can take. Each second, the pain and the pressure grow greater. I don't know if or when I'm going to hit my breaking point where I simply cannot take on anymore.

"Why won't it come out already?" I cry in exasperation.

"Yeah, doc, this is starting to seem a bit excessive," Tim agrees with a firm nod.

"I'm afraid that your baby is stuck in the birth canal. We need to act fast to ensure the baby gets oxygen."

"Wait, is my baby suffocating?"

"Not yet, but they will if we don't get the baby out soon."

"Do whatever you need to do," Tim says.

"The baby's shoulder is stuck in the birth canal. I'd like to avoid having to do a cesarean birth, so I'm going to try to use my tools to help guide the baby out."

"O-Okay,"

The doctor gets to work and I feel a painful pressure down there. "Alright, I need you to give me another big push."