Failings of the Fathers: 21

"Grandma, is she okay?  You look upset?"  Jack said, as Bitsy stumbled into his room.  It was very dark, and he shined his cell phone toward her so she could see to write.  Taking out her miniature pad, she scribbled urgently.  Ambulance.  Your father said, now, hurry.

Sam cried, "No," and hurled himself onto Jack with enough force to almost knock the teen over.  "No, Jack, the baby can't die!  No!" he sobbed.

Jack attempted to comfort his brother as well as he could, and Bitsy stepped forward.  Tears had been constant on her face, but her expression was never one of despair.  She gently removed Sam from Jack, and transferred him to herself.  He clung to her like moss, and Jack noticed that she was extremely strong, even though she was diminutive in size.  His hands free, he called an ambulance, and also thought about alerting Shaun.  But, he thought better of it, and watched as Bitsy held Sam and shushed him, mildly, and rubbed his back in small circles.  Sam was crying so hard he was having trouble catching his breath.

Bitsy signaled to Jack to come and take his brother.  She took her pad and wrote fiercely, her face showing determination.  The baby does not die.  Remember, the dream and the drawing?  The baby lives.  She will be okay.

Jack read it aloud over Sam's shoulder.  Sam gathered his breath long enough to answer.  "No, dreams are not real.  Dad told me.  Dreams are just in our heads.  They can't hurt us and they can't be real, either."

Jack said, "Sam, stop crying, now.  The baby is not even born yet."

From the distance, they could hear Blair crying and yelling in pain.  Sam jumped, and said, "Why does Mommy cry like that?"

"Because it hurts.  It's just the way the human body is.  It hurts to have a baby."  Jack said.

"Why, that doesn't make sense?  It should be the best thing ever."

"It is the best thing.  Mom said that.  It just . . . hurts.  It's a lot of work."  Jack tried his best and could see his grandmother again jotting down things rapidly.  She held up the pad, and he read it.

Mommies don't even remember the pain after, because they are so happy with their babies, but it's very painful to have a child.  It's every mom though, not just your mommy.

"I don't want Mommy to cry that way.  And I don't want her to lose her baby.  Then she won't have it to help her forget."

Jack realized that there was only one thing to do.  Throwing a blanket over Sam, he went to the stairs with the intent of carrying him out of the house and to Shaun.  He knew his urge to call Shaun had meaning, and now he knew what it was.  

Bitsy watched them go to the stairs, Jack's cell as a light source, and hurried back to her son and his wife.

Todd could see that Blair was under a great deal of strain.  Not only was she experiencing labor, which is stressful for anyone, but her fear about the baby was overtaking her ability to remain calm and breathe correctly.  He finally stopped her by taking her face in his hands, and saying, "You have to stop crying, now, Babe, it's getting serious.  Jewel wants to make an entrance, and she needs you."

He couldn't believe he had said it, but Bitsy, who had just come in the room from her mission with Jack, and Sam, walked to the bed, and stroked Blair's hair in response.  She had solitary tears on each cheek, and she kissed Blair's forehead.  She handed Todd a note.

It's too much for Sam.  Jack took him somewhere.

Todd took a split second to realize how his son had grown.  He's amazing.  He's Blair, all over again.

Blair, looked into Bitsy's face, and the woman smiled at her.  She smiled weakly back, and then said, "Todd, I can't.  I'm so tired."

"You can, and you will.  You won't have a choice.  I remember, Babe.  She's ready.  It won't be that long."

"She's too tiny.  No, God, please don't send her now."

"God's not hearing you, or else He already made a different decision.  She's about to be here.  I can tell she's ready, and . . . well you look ready.  Everything is going to be all right."

"What, you're the expert now?"

"Who else is in this house?  Can you say you have ever delivered a kid?"

She yelled out in pain, and put her hands on her knees.  He went back to the foot of the bed, and slid her toward him, so that her feet were almost on the edge.  His expression changed, and he said, "Don't push.  Not yet."

She became alarmed, "Todd, what's wrong?  Please?"

"God," he softly said, and grabbed his phone.  "Don't push, Babe.  Not yet.  Dorian.  Todd.  She's in labor.  Never mind that.  Help me turn this baby."  Todd said.

"Todd, what's wrong?  Please!"  her cries were becoming frantic, and near hysteria.  Bitsy continued to pet her, and try and soothe her fears with her caring touch.  Blair looked at her, and said, "She can't die, Momma.  She just can't die."

Bitsy shook her head gently "no" and smiled again.  She pulled the miniature pad out of the pocked in her pajama pants and wrote.  She held it up for Blair.  Trust Todd.  He brought Jack into the world.  He loves you.  She will be all right.  Remember the dream? 

Under her words was a very quick sketch of the hand holding the newborn.

Blair felt a strange sense of calm come over her until she felt the next contraction.  "Todd!"

"I'll try," he said, into the phone, and for a moment, she saw self-doubt wash over him.  

Instead of crying, she suddenly said, "I trust you, Todd.  I know you can do it.  She's in good hands with you," she assured.

Bitsy clapped softly, and then caught herself.

"Don't push, Blair.  Not now," she heard him say.  Then, it was strangely silent as he listened to Dorian's instructions, and pushed gently on Blair's abdomen, using both hands to feel the position of the baby.  

Blair said, softly, "She's breech.  He's . . . trying to save her.  Oh God," and she broke into tears again.

Bitsy said, "Shhh," the only sound she could make, and took a cold cloth and applied it to Blair's brow.

She said, "That feels good, Momma."

Bitsy nodded, and kept on.

Todd was propping the cell phone in between his head and shoulder and using his strong hands to move Jewel gently.  Then, Blair's breath caught in her throat, and she said, "She tumbled."

"Good," he said, and then went back to the foot of the bed.  "Yep, I think so.  All right," he said.  "Blair, push the next time, just a little and then wait."

The next contraction came rapidly, and as he directed her, she pushed, and he said, "Dorian, gotta go, thanks," and dropped the phone to the floor.  He said, "I see her head.  You can push, whenever you want.  I've got her, and she will be all right, Babe."

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