“Thanks. Bye.”
He hung up and ran back to Casey.
Another contraction struck as he helped her into the passenger seat. She clutched
the door frame, breathing through it. William tossed the bag into the back seat,
then slipped on the driveway as he ran to the driver’s side.
“Ow,” he muttered, feeling the sting in his back.
He climbed in, started the car, and they sped toward the hospital.
Mrs. Harlow arrived fifteen minutes after William and Casey. By then, they were
already in the delivery room and the baby was ready to come. She weaved around the
nurses and joined Casey’s left side. William was on the right.
They arrived too late for an epidural. Casey was already dilated to nine
centimeters. There wasn’t enough time for it to take effect. It would be a natural
birth.
“Thanks for coming, Mom,” Casey said between contractions.
Mrs. Harlow gently rubbed her head. Casey gripped both their hands, squeezing
tightly. William could feel her nails digging into his palm. He regretted not
standing on her left. Her right hand, dominant and stronger, was inflicting most of
the pain.
He glanced at Mrs. Harlow. Her expression didn’t change. William couldn’t tell if
Casey was clawing at her hand too, but if she was, her mother didn’t flinch.
Unsure what else to do, William simply echoed whatever Mrs. Harlow said.
“You’re doing good, Casey,” her mother said calmly.
“You’re doing great, honey,” William repeated.
The doctor, a male and definitely not William’s former babysitter, was stationed at