Not so Far and Long Ago

Chapter 75

"So how's it going?" The doctor asked, putting the gel on my stomach, "Any changes since your last appointment with Dr. Wilson in LA? Or anything I may need to know?"

I shrugged, "I don't think so."

"The papers say you don't know the gender. Is that correct?"

I nodded, "I have my guess, but want the real thing to be surprise."

"I understand. My wife was the same way with our first. Course after the second child turned out to include the third and forth, she decided it would be good to know in advance." I laughed lightly.

"You're thirty-two week's along?"

"Yeah," I said nervously, "is there a problem?"

"I'm concerned you may be going into early labor."

"Like the baby may be born today?" I asked, my stomach cramping up.

"It's unlikely, but we want to monitor you for a day or so, and make sure it's not something serious."

"If they were born today, or tomorrow?" I started to swallow tears, "I can't loose another child."

"It's a 95% chance of survival. We're going to put you on medication that may stop contractions until you're to term. These tend to work, and will likely push you back a few days or even until it's officially time."

I nodded, only partially paying attention to the doctors words.

"Do you have a way of contacting the father?"

My ears perked up.

"Yeah, but we're not really on speaking terms right now," I said, thinking about Finn, and how he'd react to this call.

"I recommend contacting him. If something were to go wrong with you, and we needed to get something signed, the father would be our only option."

I pulled out my cellphone as the doctor left, likely to tell me something else unexpected when he returned. I went back and forth between texting and calling, knowing a call would be better, but with a text, I wouldn't have to talk to him. Plus I knew Finn would freak out, and I didn't want to spend five minutes on the phone listening to a panicked Finn.

"I need you on the next flight to Pittsburgh, unless driving will take less time," I typed, imaging Finn's current situation. He was likely sitting on a chair, watching Family Feud, or some other game show. He could also have been studying with Harper. Finn had been homeschooling her for the past few months. He didn't want to settle down with her until they knew where they were staying for a while.

I thought about how he'd react to seeing this text. I knew it would be a surprise, but would he panic? Finn didn't like to show it off, but behind all the sarcastic comments he was a worrier. As much as I didn't want to see Finn, I knew he would be on the next flight, bringing nothing but the clothes off his back with him.

Even if this was just a false alarm, I knew Finn well enough that he would do anything for his child, or even for me.

~~~

"How is it?" I asked, waking up a few hours after giving birth.

"He's-" the doctor started.

"It's a boy?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah. He's doing really well. He's above average for his age, which is good. 20 inches long and 3.9 lbs. He should be out of incubation soon, since he only has to get to 4lbs. We have him placed on oxygen and have to do some test. These text will determine if he needs a feeding tube. At 32 weeks, the ability to suck hasn't developed, so he will most likely need one. We don't know how permanent it will be," the doctor continued to ramble on, and I stopped paying attention, until a few  short words came out, "your son is going to be ok." I let out a sigh of relief.

"Can I go see him?" I asked, needing to see for myself my nameless son was ok.

"Of course. Just give us a moment." The Doctor brought in a wheelchair, causing me a mental sigh. At the same time though, I knew I couldn't stand long enough to walk long distances for a day or so.

I looked down at the small child, lying quietly in the incubator.

"Would you like to hold him?" I look up in slight disbelief. I didn't expect them to let me hold him until he was bigger.

"Yeah," I nodded, a slight smile developing.

I held my son close to my chest, gently rubbing his warm brown skin.

"We sure made beautiful son."

"Finn?" I said, "you made it!"

"Does he have a name yet?" Finn looked down at the young boy on my chest.

"Ollie," I started, "Oliver Luke Skywalker-Brewer, after my dad."

"Remember in high school, when we first met, and-" I cut him off.

"I said I'd only have kids if it was a mistake."

"Yeah. What happened to that?"

"Nothing happened, but this is the best mistake I've ever made."

"Welcome to the world Ollie," I whispered, still lightly rubbing his back.

"We need to do some test on him. Do you guys mind leaving?" I didn't want to, but knew that the question wasn't really a question.

Finn and I went back to my room, me getting back into bed.

"How's Harper doing?" I asked, "I know I kicked you guys out kinda abruptly."

"I think she's doing ok. She's been spending a lot of time with her aunts and grandma."

"Is she still there?"

"Yeah. Honestly I flew out once she already went to bed. I left her a note."

"Do you have a Hotel or anything?" Before Finn spoke I already began again, "because if you'd like to stay at my place, feel free. Maybe it will go better this time."

"Yeah, maybe," Finn took my hand, "hopefully."