195 - Early Delivery

195 - Early Delivery
There were always so many cousins around, either through the family or the club. And yes, many of them had the last name of Lowery. But that’s what I want for our kids. To point at someone in the hall at school and say that’s my cousin and know that they’ve got each other’s back. - Camille

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, Engineers started the 2023 season in early September with a win against the Bridgewater State Bears. They ended the season with a three-game winning streak in mid-November against the Worcester Polytechnic Goats. The five games that they lost in between kept them out of the NEWMAC playoffs.

Vin and Colton both came home for Thanksgiving and brought a few friends with them. Zydeco and Gator came up from Louisiana along with some of Evie’s family who flew up from Texas. Even Rosie’s sister came up to see her in her new home.

As was her usual, Camille stayed out of the kitchen and was with the brothers watching football in the big room of the Shack. Being seven and a half months pregnant, she was miserable, uncomfortable and tired. She sat on the couch with her feet in Darkness’ lap as he gently rubbed the tender arch and heel.

“Let me sit behind you,” Aramis said as he tapped Camille on the shoulder. She started to pull her feet away from her husband as she turned slightly to face the TV. “No, no, let me get behind you.”

Sliding a leg around her, he slid in behind her. He settled in on the couch and slipped a pillow between them. Strong fingers began to ease the stress and frustration out of her shoulders.

“Meagan was about this far along when she was miserable like this. I have spent many nights rubbing shoulders and feet.”

Camille gave a small moan as her head fell forward. Her husband and friend both gave a little chuckle. Neither stopped in their massaging.

“He’s got magic fingers,” Meagan said as she sat down on a nearby couch and relaxed with her feet up on the shared coffee table. After taking a sip of white wine, she informed her husband, “We may have lost at least one kid.”

“We can always make another,” Aramis winked at his wife. “I’m going to guess it was Pagan?”

“Not this time,” she admitted as Priscilla sat down next to her with her own glass of dark red wine. “Are you supposed to be drinking that?”

“Are you?” Priscilla countered as she offered her glass to the other woman.

Meagan took a small sip before gagging and quickly handing it back. “What the fuck is that?”

“Cranberry juice,” Priscilla said holding her hand out for the other glass. Her friend handed it over and Priscilla sniffed it before taking a drink. “White grape juice?”

“Yeah,” Meagan said taking the glass back. “Why are you drinking cranberry juice in a wine glass?”

“Why are you drinking white grape juice in a wine glass?”

The two women smiled at each other as if they were sharing a secret that neither was ready to share with anyone else. Camille moved to look at them and winced as a pain shot across her belly and lower back. Her two friends looked at her and squinted their eyes at her.

“When are you due?” Meagan demanded.

This time Camille hissed and grabbed her belly.

“January,” Darkness answered as he slowly tipped her face up to his. “Do these also feel like those Braxton Hicks things?”

“No, but Tammy said that some will be pretty intense.”

“Any chance that you’re actually in labor?” Aramis asked.

“No,” Camille bit out.

Priscilla scoffed as she stood up, “I’m pretty sure that you’re in labor.” With that declaration, she handed her wine glass filled with cranberry juice to Denver as she passed.

“Uhhh….” The man only a few inches taller than herself looked confused as he looked between his sleepy daughter in his arms and the new wine glass. “How about I hold this for you?”

“And I’ll hold this for you,” Pagan said as he passed by and took the toddler. “Angel! Mel! Look how good I look being an abuela!”

“He wants to be a grandmother?” Camille asked.

“I’m not sure if his Spanish lessons are not going all that well,” Aramis chuckled. “Or if his girls are teaching him incorrectly.”

Priscilla returned with her mother Tammy who sat down on the coffee table and took Camille’s hand in her own. With her fingers over the pulse point of the younger woman’s wrist, she discreetly took her pulse and tried to put Camille at ease. “Tell me how you feel.”

“Like my stomach is being ripped in half and I need to shit something awful.”

“Yeah,” Tammy said as Camille folded in on herself. “Breathe through it, in through your nose and out through your mouth. And do not bear down.”

“Shouldn’t she bear down?” Denver asked.

“No.” Tammy’s answer was strong and left no doubt. “Unless that little mister did some serious acrobatics since yesterday afternoon, he’s breach.”

“Yeah, don’t bear down,” Aramis agreed as he rubbed his friends back. “I saw Dust Off in his uniform.”

“Perfect,” Tammy said as she stood up and walked away. She returned a moment later with two paramedics. “So, we’re going to take you to the hospital in the county taxi.”

Camille shook her head, “It’s too early.”

“Go ahead and tell the baby that,” one of the paramedics advised. “They have a tendency to have their own schedule.”

“Darkness, right?” the second paramedic asked and Darkness nodded. “I’m Dust Off, can you carry our no longer little Camille out to the ambulance. And I’m not calling you fat, I’m calling you all grown up.”

As her husband stood up, Camille folded in on herself again and cried out in pain. Aramis rubbed her back and coached her through the breathing exercises just as he had done for his own wife. A tear slipped down Camille’s cheek as Darkness stood up.

“What’s going on?” Sid demanded as she appeared.

Camille screamed again as she leaned back into Aramis’ chest. Looking down at her stomach, her eyes went wide as another pain ripped through her stomach. This pain was different as she seemed to be ripped open from the inside. A strangled cry came out of her as an octopus like alien crawled out of her stomach.

Strong arms wrapped around her and a kiss was pressed to her temple. Blinking her eyes, she opened them and found herself in her room at the new house sitting on the cul-de-sac out on the Lowery Farm. Realizing that it was her dream, she relaxed into Darkness’ embrace as she started to calm down.

“What was it this time?” he asked quietly.

“An octopus,” she admitted.

He chuckled, “You have done just about every animal.”

“The beaver was interesting.” She admitted with a smile.

“The alligator is still my favorite.”

“I’m going to go into labor and have a damn panic attack afraid I’m going to give birth to Noah’s Ark.”

“Does that mean the name Noah is out?”