Black Kisses

Black Kisses *28: Part 1*

~5 MONTHS LATER~

Fern’s room was transformed. It had gone from a 90% black, Gothic museum with clothes scattered all over the floor to a perfect nursery.

Sam, Ethan and Fern’s parents had completely fixed up Fern’s room (Jane had faked being on her period). Ava had vacuumed and cleaned the place up till it was completely germ-free (“I can’t have my granddaughter living in a pig sty,” she’d complained.) and arranged a few stuffed toys here and there. Ethan had moved Fern’s bed over so that it was against the wall. Dan had torn off Fern’s old Midnight Ninja & Elvis Presley posters off the wall, thrown them away, and painted the walls cream. Sam had helped paint and set up a crib.

The crib was right next to Fern’s bed and was a soft white color. Sam had put a tiny memory foam mattress, thick baby blanket, and a pomegranate-sized teddy bear that Fern had had since she was born. It’d been her favorite possession. He’d lined tiny pillows along the sides so Sara wouldn’t bump her head. The crib was pretty big – about 3 feet wide.

One day, on September 19th, Fern and Sam were in the bedroom/nursery. Sam had read somewhere online that babies could recognize voices they heard in the womb even when they come out. Sam was talking to Sara.

“You better not go Goth, Sara. I’ve had bad experiences from them.” Sam laughed when Fern smacked his head. “I can’t believe we’re really going to be parents,” he said in a softer voice, gazing at Fern adoringly. She smiled.

“Fern, I…I have something to tell you.” Sam knew he couldn’t keep the secret about the almost-sex with Maya from Fern forever. The sooner the better.

“Yeah?”

Sam opened his mouth to talk, when suddenly, Fern screamed. Not just any scream, but the kind of scream that you’d usually hear in movies with red-eyed, bloodsucking werewolves.

“OH, S***! OW!”

“Fern? Is it…is she coming?” Sam asked worriedly. Fern couldn’t breathe. The pain had locked her bones in place. Oh, yeah, she was coming.

Sam alerted Ava and Dan, and in 5 minutes flat they’d rushed her to the hospital, where Ethan received them. Fern was in horrible, unbearable pain. She was screaming the whole time.

“Oh, f*** f*** f*** f*** f*** !” Fern screeched as Ethan wheeled her to an operating room.

“Don’t worry, Fern! Sara’s coming!” Sam soothed her. Fern felt happy as she heard this, and Sam relaxed at the tiny smile on her face in between all the screaming.

Sam wasn’t allowed to go into the room, and he waited outside. Anxiety for Fern was vibrating through his chest and he was drenched in sweat.

Sara. His little Sara Claire. He smiled brokenly. Sam, Fern, and Sara. A happy family in which everyone was under the age of 16.

He thought absently about what Sara’s teachers would say when reading her name for attendance. They’d probably see “Sara” and pronounce it SAY-ruh. And then Sara would say, “No, it’s SAH-ruh.” All businesslike and legit, like her mother.

His phone buzzed. He stared at it curiously.

Maya: Hey, sam  what’s up?

Why the f*** was she texting him now, of all times? He angrily banged out a text and shot it at her.

Sam: hospital. My daughter’s being born.

Maya didn’t text back. Ha. In her face.

Sam waited another ten minutes when he finally was allowed to see Fern. He rushed inside the room and almost collapsed at the sight of Fern.

She looked worse than when she’d had a heart attack almost a year ago. Her face was flushed red, her hair was sweaty and knotted, and she was shaking. Silent tears dripped down her face.

Sam pulled up a chair and sat next to her, holding her frail hand in his. “I’m here.”

“It…hurts…” she whispered so faintly Sam could barely hear.

“It’s all over now. The pain’s going to go away super quick. Where’s…where’s Sara?”

“Nurse…took…her…to…get…cleaned…up…” Fern choked.

“Did you see her?”

“No…It hurt…too…much.”

Sam stayed by her side for the next half-hour, until the door opened and a nurse walked in with Sara Claire Grant.