Best of Women

Lin

           

The months seem to fly by in our full house.  Carmen had moved in and was quickly growing.  Pippa threw her a baby shower and she got all sorts of stuff we couldn't fit in our apartment.  We considered possibly getting a bigger place, but right now there was too much going on.

Eva was completely healed and able to go at her training full-force, which she did zealously.  We were nearing the end of the school year, so their days would become a little less insane.  They'd train five days a week in the summer and have some down time without school.  Both girls were training for the Junior National Championships for their age group.  I hoped both would either make it or not make it.  If one did and the other didn't, it would be a recipe for disaster.

One Saturday morning I woke up to find Carmen in the kitchen, coffee brewing and pancakes brewing.  She was pretty much nine months along at this point, so I knew she was uncomfortable.  She didn't need to be on her feet when she didn't have to.

"Gmorning," I told her as I found a mug.

"Morning, Lin," she smiled at me.

"Go sit down, kiddo, I've got this," I told her.

"That's okay.  I've got it," she insisted.

"No," I said, gently steering her towards the couch.  "You need to relax.  Sit and have some coffee."

She laughed and didn't protest anymore.  Rio was on the couch watching TV.  He had finally settled on taking karate and he was really enjoying it, though he wouldn't admit it.  He had a lesson later this morning, which I'd probably take him to.  I said good morning to him as well and then got myself some coffee.

The pancakes started coming, and I piled them on a big platter tray.  Slowly, the house began to get up and come out, invited by the smell.  Sebastian was the last up, which wasn't unusual.  He'd have to savor that now, because soon he'd be up with a newborn.  I was getting more worried as the due date got closer.  They weren't ready for this, but it was going to happen.  I worried about them continuing with school.  I'd given them both an ultimatum – they could stay here as long as they stayed in school.  If they dropped out, the deal was off.  I'm not sure what that meant, since I don't think I'd have the heart to kick either one of them out.

Carmen had quickly become part of the family.  Mia and Eva adored her, and she was like a big sister. More than once she'd thwarted disasters; mediating fights and such.  She was a great addition to the house.

Carmen insisted on helping with dishes, but Pippa was insisting she sit down.  I think Carmen was getting a little tired of being treated like a china doll.  As Pippa was walking her back to the couch, all of a sudden Carmen let out a loud gasp and grasped at her stomach.  Liquid dripped to the floor.

Instead of realizing what was happening, she felt awful she was messing up our floor.  "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" she reached for the paper towels.  "I'll clean this up right away."

Pippa's hands stopped her.  "No, Carmen.  Your water just broke.  You're in labor."

"What?" she looked at Pippa, confused.  Carmen obviously knew how this all worked, but in the confusion of the moment she didn't realize what was going on.

"Yes," Pippa smiled at her and nodded.  "We need to get to the hospital."

I flew down the hall to Sebastian's room and burst through the door.  "Seb!  Carmen's water just broke!  We've gotta go!"

Sebastian froze, with a look of pure terror on his face.  This was happening.  Shit was about to get real.

"Come on!" I prompted him again.  "Get Carmen's bag and purse."