The Way We Were

The Way We Give Birth

Marcy wiped her face with her red face towel before stuffing it in her overalls pocket and awkwardly bending to pick green beans. It was a hot day in Sweden and the sun was beating down for a normal early July. She threw the beans into the basket she was carrying before moving on.

She cleared her row quickly and went to walk back up to the main house when she looked down. She'd wet her pants. She'd never done that before (and the pregnancy had almost made it a possibility a number of times!). She waddled to the main house and climbed the stairs.

A sudden pang hit her and she gripped the railing for control. As soon as it passed, she continued her journey inside and went to the kitchen. She saw Laura at the sink washing produce. "Laura?"

Laura turned around slightly before turning the radio down. "What's up?"

"I need your help changing. I peed myself."

Laura frowned and turned around fully. "Really?!"

Marcy nodded. "It happened out of nowhere. I didn't even feel it."

Laura nodded before her eyes widened. "You didn't pee yourself! Your water broke!"

Marcy, who'd been prepping for this for the past month, was in shock. "The babies are coming?!"

"The babies are coming!" Laura jumped up and down. "Go get your bag while I tell everyone and get the car. Hurry but be careful!"

Marcy nodded before exiting the room.

Laura picked up the walkie talkie on the table and radioed for her grandmother. "Grandmama! The babies are coming! Marcy's water broke!"

Static crackled before her grandmother's no-nonsense voice rang out. "I will gather the others. Make sure she has her bag and get the car. Richard is at the house. Make him help."

Laura knew the conversation was over so she went in search of her grandfather. "Grandpapa?! Where are you?!"

"Laura? I am here!" Richard's voice boomed from the trophy room.

Laura walked inside. "Marcy's water broke. Grandmama said to get the car."

Richard turned a few colors, dropping the rag he was using to polish his trophies. "The kindlela are coming?!"

"Yes!" Laura waved him on.

Only one thing scared Richard Allen and that was birth. He'd fainted each time his wife gave birth. Consecutively. "The car- where is she? The- your- I mean- I-"

"Grandpapa!" Laura gripped his arms. "Take deep breaths! Calm down!"

He breathed deeply. "I am calm."

"Tell Paolo to get the car." She said quietly but with force.

"Yes!" He raised a fist before striding out.

Laura went to the large staircase to wait for Marcy. She didn't have long to wait. The mother-to-be stepped down the steps gingerly.

"These labor pains hurt!" Marcy complained when she hit the floor.

"Pray you have a speedy labor." Was all the advice Laura had.

Richard came back in. "Paolo has the car ready. Where are the others?"

"Here." Marc said as he, his siblings and grandmother ran over.

"This is it?!" Mal grabbed Marcy's hands.

Right as a contraction hit... She squeezed his hands. "Ow! Ow! Ow!"

He mirrored her pain. "Ow!"