Chapter 157

“My…” Lynn opened her mouth to speak, closing it just as quickly. This was it. This was really it. “My water broke!” Lynn squealed when she looked back down at the floor, sidestepping the wetness with her bare feet. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Alexis grasped the trashcan, holding it up so that Lynn did not have to kneel in front of the toilet. “Easy, sweetheart, easy,” she repeated. Loving fingers brushed away Lynn’s tresses, preventing the strands from falling into the trashcan.

Lynn struggled to catch her breathe once she stopped vomiting. She smiled a little when Alexis wiped the remnants from her lips. “I’m really in labor?”

“You’re really in labor.” Alexis grinned, brushing her palm over Lynn’s cheek.

“I still have to pee,” Lynn said when tears sprung into her eyes. She eased onto the toilet, closing her eyes when she released another breath.

“How long have you been having these contractions?” Alexis placed the trashcan back onto the floor before retrieving some towels to clean up the fluids.

“I’ve been having pains since earlier. I thought they were just Braxton Hicks. They seemed a bit stronger but not too bad until just now when I woke up.” She rubbed her stomach, trying to wrap her mind around the fact she was in labor. A wave of terror washed over her. What if something went wrong? What if the pain of natural labor proved to be too much? What if the babies had changed positions? “I’m scared, Lex.” Sobs racked her body when she looked at Alexis for guidance.

Alexis tossed the dirty towels beside the trashcan, quickly returning to Lynn’s side. “It’s natural to be a little worried, sweetheart. But you’re going to be okay.” She squeezed Lynn’s fingertips. “How far apart have the contractions been?”

“Twenty or thirty minutes maybe.” Lynn rapidly blinked when her head felt a little woozy.

“Let me help you back to the bed. You need to rest before the hard contractions start to hit.” Alexis grasped Lynn’s hands, struggling to help her wife stand. “Or would you rather sit down on your ball?”

“Ball,” Lynn answered with wide eyes. “I haven’t been able to sleep much at all and laying down makes me nauseous.”

Alexis assisted Lynn in easing her bottom onto the ball, supporting her shoulders when she leaned forward, taking deep breaths. “Do you want me to call Katie?”

“No. Not yet.” Lynn groaned, bringing her palm against her abdomen when another contraction hit. “Then again…” she blinked back the tears when she looked up at Alexis.

“I’m going to call Katie and Charlene. I want you to do is take some deep breaths and try not to worry. Can you do that for me?” Alexis leaned down, softly kissing Lynn’s parched lips.

“I think so,” Lynn whispered.

“Drink this.” Alexis opened a bottle of water, encouraging Lynn to drink. “You need to keep hydrated. Do you want me to wake your dad?”

“No.” Lynn chugged down a drink of water and shook her head. “Let him and the girls sleep. I’m okay. Just call Katie and Charlene.” Lynn rocked backwards, leaning against the wall as she balanced her body on the ball. “What the hell was I thinking,” she mumbled when she looked up at the ceiling.

* * * *

Katie hurried over to Lynn when she entered the bedroom. After strapping Shania in the car seat, it had only taken her and Aimee twenty minutes to arrive. Shania briefly woke, but fell back asleep on the drive over. “I think we made it here in record time.” Katie knelt in front of Lynn.

“Good for you,” Lynn answered sarcastically. She rolled her eyes as she glared at Katie.

“Come on now. Surely you’re not getting pissy this early in your labor?” Katie lightly smacked Lynn on the knee. “How far are your contractions apart?”

Lynn screamed. “Why does everyone keep asking me that? I don’t have a watch to time it. I can’t see the clock it’s halfway across the room.” She frantically waved her arms. “And I need to pee, again!”

Katie couldn’t help but giggle when she resumed her standing position. “Well then let’s get you to the bathroom before you pee in the floor.”

“I can’t get up,” Lynn whined.

Katie sighed. “Yes you can.” Katie grasped Lynn’s hands, tugging her forward. “See. It’s not so hard now is it?”

“Asshole,” Lynn grumbled.

“I know, I love you too.” Katie grasped Lynn’s waist, walking her to the bathroom. “Don’t push a baby out in the toilet,” she joked. Katie giggled when Lynn looked up at her with another glare. It was fun teasing her sister, especially when she looked like she could really use a laugh. “I can see it now. Poor baby.”

“You are so weird,” Lynn laughed.