In Love With Ms. Manoban

Part 54

The first contraction came just after 2:00 a.m.

It wasn't sharp at first. It was more like a deep pressure, rolling low in Lisa's belly. But it was enough to pull her from sleep. She laid still, hands on the soft curve of her abdomen, waiting. Her breath moved slow and steady, her body humming with a quiet awareness.

Then the second one hit. Sharper. More real.

"Jeremiah," she whispered, nudging his shoulder. "Jerry."

He stirred instantly, the way he always had since they hit the third trimester, half asleep but half-alert, like some part of him had trained itself to wake the second she made a sound.

"What is it?" he asked, voice rough with sleep.

"I think... I think the girls are coming."

That got him fully awake.

He sat up quickly, reaching for the small notepad they'd been keeping by the bed, the one where he'd carefully written down time stamps for every Braxton Hicks contraction Lisa had experienced over the past week.

"How far apart?"

"Ten minutes," Lisa said. Then paused. "Well, eight now."  Jeremiah's brow furrowed. 

"Okay. Okay, we're in it. I've got you."

He kissed her forehead and stood, already pulling on a hoodie over his t-shirt. Within minutes, he was helping her into her most comfortable maternity dress that she'd picked out specifically for the hospital before gently lacing her shoes. The bag had been packed for weeks, checked three times over by Jeremiah himself. He slung it over his shoulder with one hand, supporting Lisa with the other as they made their way to the car.

Outside, the world was quiet. A few scattered stars peeked through the clouds, and the streetlamps cast soft golden halos on the pavement. The air smelled faintly of summer rain, though the ground was dry.

"You okay?" Jeremiah asked as he helped her into the passenger seat.

She nodded. "Yeah. Nervous. Excited. Terrified."

He smiled and cupped her cheek. "You've got this. And I've got you."

The ride to the hospital was a strange blur filled with quiet roads, gentle music from the radio and the GPS softly directing them to a place they both knew by heart now.

Between contractions, they talked about anything but the labour.

"Remember when you spilled that whole bowl of cereal because you were obsessing over cleaning under the fridge?" Jeremiah said, glancing over at her with a grin.

"I was nesting, Jerry," Lisa groaned playfully. It was justified chaos."

"You were glowing and furious at the same time. I'd never seen anything like it." He chuckled.

She leaned her head back against the seat, eyes fluttering closed as another contraction rolled in. Her knuckles whitened against the door handle. Jeremiah reached over and laced his fingers with hers. 

"Breathe. Just like we practiced."

"I know," she whispered. "I'm trying."

"You're doing amazing."

By the time they arrived at the hospital, the contractions were less than five minutes apart. The nurses moved quickly, checking her vitals, monitoring the twins, and confirming what Lisa already knew: Active labour had begun.

They were admitted to a softly lit room with pale blue walls and a rocking chair in the corner. Jeremiah helped her change into the hospital gown, staying at her side the whole time. The nurses kept saying how calm he was, how attentive. Lisa noticed it too. He never once flinched or panicked. His calm was like a tether, anchoring her.