Chapter 7

What Next

At the Carlin residence, Arthur and Paula were excited about the progress of Spencer's pregnancy. They were very happy to see that the pregnancy did not affect her old spinal injury. "Spencer you are getting so big. Are you sure it's only one baby you're having?" Paula asked.

"Well mom, dad."

"Oh my God, you're having twins aren't you," Clay said.

Spencer and Ashley grinned, "yep we are," they both said.

"Well congratulations," they all said. "When did you find out?" Chelsea said.

"Umm… a month ago."

"What!" Paula exclaimed. "Spencer, Ashley why are you keeping these things to yourself. We need to know what's going on with you. What if you needed help or something. We wouldn't know what to tell anyone," Paula complained.

"I know mom I'm sorry Ash and I will do better with keeping you informed."

"Good so what did the doctor say?" Paula asked.

"Everything's fine, I'm progressing well."

"And how are your legs and back holding up?" Arthur asked.

"I get a little more tired now." Arthur looked over at Ashley.

"She's using her cane a little more Arthur and that's because she's carrying a heavier load and her leg with the limp drags a little. But everything is fine," she quickly added. "I'm keeping a close eye on her."

"Good," Arthur said. "Okay everyone now that the questions are asked and answered it's time to eat. Who's ready for my homemade spaghetti and meatballs?"

"Umm… I am," everybody said.

Arthur and Ashley helped Spencer up from her seat. "Thank you both," she said.

As Spencer walked to the dining room, Arthur continued to hold onto his daughter. "Dad I can walk by myself. I don't even need my cane to help me get to that delicious spaghetti you made."

He laughed, "okay sweetheart. Just trying to help."

///

Two weeks later…

"Jerome I have a book signing this afternoon downtown at Kroc's Bookstore at three-thirty."

"Okay Miss Spencer, I'll pick you up at three, that should give us enough time to get there. Will Miss Kyla or Dr. Davies be accompanying you on this book signing?"

"Only Miss Kyla Jerome, Dr. Davies has a full schedule of surgeries today."

"Do you think you should be going on this book signing so close to your delivery date?" Jerome asked.

"Jerome I'm not due for another seven weeks."

"Yes but some women have been known to deliver in their seventh or eighth month and with you being so active and constantly moving around you can go into labor that much sooner."

"Jerome how do you know all that?"

"I have five sisters Miss Spencer and they've all had babies except one," he said in a matter of fact tone.

"I'll be alright Jerome just stay close. I don't want you to leave this time, the book signing will only be an hour and a half and Miss Kyla will be meeting us there since the bookstore is not too far from her publishing company."

"Okay Miss Spencer, I'll let you out then park the car and wait inside the bookstore."

"Thanks Jerome," Spencer said rubbing her stomach.

///

At Kroc's Bookstore…

"Spencer look at the crowd that's still waiting for you to sign their books. We've already been here an hour and a half and they're still coming."

"Yes I know Kyla."

"Are you okay? Can you do another thirty minutes?"

"I am getting a little tired but I'll be okay. My hand is also starting to cramp up."

"Then we'll stop. I can make arrangements with the storeowner to come back another time. Perhaps before you have the babies."

"No, no Kyla I can finish this. It's only a few more people and I hate to disappoint them. They've been waiting so long." Kyla sighed.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm good Spencer, why?"

"You look tired. Is the baby keeping you up?"

"A little, Aiden is suppose to help with the two o'clock feedings but he sleeps through it. He sleeps like a rock which makes it difficult for me to wake him. He doesn't even hear the baby crying so I just get up and take care of him myself."

"It'll get better, I'm sure. You should still have a talk with him."

"Yeah I will. So okay I'm going to let the owner know we are only going to be here another thirty minutes, then we're gone. Where's Jerome?"

"He's waiting at the coffee spot reading a magazine."

"Heads up Spencer, here's comes another long line of your adoring fans," Kyla said alerting Spencer.

"Ms. Carlin I just love your books. Your first romance book was good but this second one is excellent. I just love it," the overzealous fan gushed.

"Well thank you…"

"Monica…"

"Shall I write this to Monica?"

"Yes, please… can you write to Monica, a fan for life?"

"Sure!" Spencer's head was down for a moment when another fan approached her. "Hi, can you sign my book? Just say to Cynthia my true love."

Spencer's head snapped up. "What? Dr. Taylor what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to buy your book Spencer. Remember I told you I read your books. So are you going to sign it for me now or when we go out to dinner?" She winked.

"Umm…" Spencer continued to stare at Cynthia. Kyla walked over to her.

"Spencer is anything wrong you look a little pale?" Kyla asked.

"Spencer do you need me to look at you?" Cynthia asked.

"And who are you?" Kyla asked.

"I'm a fan who happens to be a doctor Ms…."

"Woods," Kyla replied. "You're a doctor?"

"Yes I am."

"What are you doing here?" Kyla asked. Cynthia rolled her eyes.

"I'm her number one fan and I wanted a signed book from my most favorite author," she replied staring deeply into Spencer's eyes. "Just because I'm a doctor doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good romantic story."

"Kyla she's a psychiatrist," Spencer finally manages to get out.

"But I'm also a medical doctor Spencer and you do look a little pale."

"Yeah Spence, I don't like the way you look and the extra thirty minutes we were giving them are just about up."

"I'm fine Kyla," Spencer whispered, turning away from Cynthia's intense gaze. "There are still a lot of people waiting for their book to be signed and I don't want to disappoint…"

"Spencer!" Kyla and Cynthia shouted.

Kyla looked around the bookstore and spotted Jerome. "Jerome," she yelled, "help me."

Jerome rushed over. "I can help you with Spencer," Cynthia frantically said.

"No thank you we're okay. Jerome help me with Spencer."

"What happened Miss Kyla?" Jerome asked.

"I don't know she just fainted."

"Should I call the paramedics," the owner of the bookstore asked worried.

"No I'm going to carry her to the car and take her to the hospital," he said.

"Miss Kyla call Dr. Ashley and let her know we are on our way to the hospital."

"I'm a doctor I can go with you if you like," Cynthia said.

Jerome looked at Kyla, nodding affirmatively. "Alright…Miss Kyla you are coming with us aren't you?"

"Yes of course," Kyla said.

Ten minutes later, everyone was in the car and on their way to the hospital. "Are you an OB doctor?" Jerome asked.

"No I'm a psychiatrist but I'm still a medical doctor. I'm just not trained in obstetrics."

"Can you tell how she's doing? Is she awake yet?"

Cynthia looked down at Spencer her head laying in her lap. "So beautiful," Cynthia murmured.

"What did you say, I didn't get that," Kyla said.

"I umm… said she's still unconscious, but her heartbeat is steady."

"Mmm…" Spencer moaned as she started to rouse, her hand suddenly clutching her stomach.

"Ow! Ow!" Spencer cried.

"Spencer what's wrong," Kyla and Cynthia asked.

Spencer opened her eyes and looked directly into Cynthia's eyes. "What are you… Ow! Pain," Spencer screamed.

"Pain… what kind of pain Spencer," Cynthia asked holding Spencer's hand.

"It feels like cramps."

"Oh my God I think she's in labor," Cynthia tells Jerome and Kyla. "We need to get to the hospital quickly. Spencer listen to me how many weeks are you?"

"Uh, I'm thirty-three weeks today."

"Hmm, so that puts you in your eighth month. That's still too early to be going into labor. Hey what's your name again," Cynthia asked Jerome.

"It's Jerome ma'am."

"Okay Jerome, Spencer is in labor and we have to get her…"

"Ow, Ow," Spencer cried interrupting Cynthia. "It's too early for me to be in labor."

"Can't you do something to ease Spencer's pain," Kyla asked from the front seat.

"No, I don't have my medical bag and besides I can't give her anything she's pregnant."

"Ow!"

"Damn! We have to get to the hospital ASAP. Her last outcry of pain was two minutes ago. If she's in labor that means her contractions are only two minutes apart."

"Oh my God," Jerome and Kyla gasped.

Jerome pressed down on the accelerator and started blowing his horn. He realized that they were still at least fifteen minutes away from the hospital and traffic was extremely heavy. So he started weaving in and out of traffic, barely missing a patrol car that was now in pursuit.

"Jerome I said get us to the hospital, not get us killed."

"Yes ma'am."

Jerome noticed Kyla was on her phone probably notifying her husband of Spencer's situation so he asked Cynthia to call Ashley. "Here take my phone and call Dr. Davies, her number is programmed, press number one. Let her know how far we are. I have to stop for the police."

"Ow! Ow! Please don't let anything happen to my babies."

"It's okay Spencer you're doing fine, just breathe okay?"

"Mmhmm…. Okay."

"Okay mack step out of the vehicle," the patrol officer demanded. Let me see your driver's license and insurance card."

"Sir I have a pregnant woman in the back seat that's in labor. Her contractions are two minutes apart and we're trying to get to UCLA Hospital," Jerome explained.

"Wh…What?" He stammered out looking at the occupants in the back seat of the car.

"Ow! Ow!" Spencer screamed.

"Oh… Oh! Okay follow me." The patrol car took off with it's siren blaring with Jerome following. In the meantime Cynthia finally reached Ashley.

"Hello Jerome," Ashley yelled into the phone.

"No it's Cynthia, Ashley."

"Cynthia? What's going on with my wife?" Cynthia rolls her eyes.

"She's in labor I think, she's having contractions."

"How far apart are her contractions?"

"Two minutes."

"Oh my God," she mumbled, "and how far away are you from the hospital?"

"I don't know, hold on. Jerome how much longer?"

"Five to eight more minutes," he yelled.

"Eight minutes Ashley."

"Okay, okay don't panic," Ashley said frantically, "we'll be waiting at the emergency room entrance for you. How is Spencer?"

"In pain but I think she's okay."

"Let me talk to her Cynthia."

"Alright, Spencer Ashley wants to talk to you."

Spencer reached for the phone… "Ow! Ash."

"Spencer don't panic you're almost at the hospital. I'm here waiting for you. I love you."

"Ow! I love you too Ash." Cynthia takes the phone back.

"I'll call you back when we get near the hospital Ashley," then she closed the phone.

Kyla watched Spencer from the front seat. She also watched Cynthia. She didn't know who she was but she knew she didn't like her. As they continued on their way to the hospital Kyla thought back to her own situation when her baby was born three months ago.

Flashback…

Spencer and Kyla were sitting in Aiden and Kyla's backyard relaxing and talking while Ashley and Aiden were busy at the grill cooking steaks.

"Spencer I am so excited about the birth of this baby. I can hardly wait."

"Oh, so you're happily anticipating the joys of motherhood, diaper changing, two o'clock feedings…"

"Yes, I'm ready for all that," Kyla said interrupting Spencer, "but mostly I just want to see those itty bitty toes and itty bitty fingers and nose." Aiden smirked.

"What are you smirking about Aiden?" Ashley asked.

"It's nothing."

"Yes it is," Ashley said, "spill."

"Aiden don't you dare say a word," Kyla warned. "Well…"

"I know why Kyla is so excited," Spencer said sheepishly eyeing her book publisher and friend. "You can't wait to put those itty bitty outfits you brought on the baby and you have a lot of them. The baby's room is filled with so many outfits, toys and whatnot, I don't think there's room for the baby," she laughed.

"Yeah the baby will have to sleep with us if I don't get the dressers and toy boxes set up. There's just so much stuff," Aiden chimed in.

They all laughed.

"Aiden sweetheart you're so busy laughing at me, you and Ashley must have forgotten about the steaks you were grilling, they're burning," Kyla said getting up to look and see what the damage was.

"Burning! Oh hell no," Aiden exclaimed. "Ash the steaks, I thought you were watching them."

"Me! Aiden you're the man. Men cook steaks, women just watch." Kyla and Spencer walked over to the grill when a shape pain came over her. "Ohh!" She cried out.

Everyone turned in her direction. "I'm okay," she said. As she continued to survey the burning of their dinner another pain came.

"Ohh!"

"Babe what's wrong," Aiden asked.

Ashley looked down at Kyla and saw that her pants were wet. "Umm, Kyla did your water break?"

"Huh?"

"Look at your pants they're wet."

"Oh my God… Ow! Ow! Aiden I think it's time for your child to make an appearance. Ow!"

"What… oh God, sit down Kyla we'll get you to the hospital," Aiden said standing in front of his wife.

"Kyla is your bag packed," Spencer asked calmly.

"Yes, it's in our bedroom by the door." Ashley looked at Aiden who was still standing in front of his wife.

"Aiden," she nudged, "go get Kyla's bag."

"Okay, yeah. Can you get Kyla to the car Ash?"

"Yes, now hurry Aiden, get the bag and we will get Kyla in the car."

"Okay, okay," Aiden replied. But instead of Aiden going upstairs to get Kyla's bag he grabbed his car keys, ran outside, started up the car and left.

A few minutes later Spencer heard what sounded like a speeding car. "What was that screeching," Spencer asked her wife. Ashley shrugged her shoulders.

"I bet it was Aiden leaving to go to the hospital," she said, "without his pregnant wife."

"What?!" Kyla exclaimed, "but I'm not in the car yet."

Spencer giggled, "Ashley he couldn't have possibly left."

Sure enough, when they reached the driveway Aiden and the car were gone. "Oh my God," Kyla exclaimed. "Ow! That crazy idiot husband of mine."

"Don't panic Kyla," Spencer said.

"Kyla it's going to be okay," Ashley said, "let's get you in my car. Spencer and I will take you to the hospital."

"Don't forget my bag," Kyla said.

"I won't I'll get it once we get you in the car."

"Okay."

Once they got Kyla into the car Ashley ran back into the house to retrieve Kyla's bag that was still in the bedroom and to lock up the house, laughing her head off all the way back to her car.

"Ashley stop laughing," Spencer giggled.

"Oh man, I'm going to milk this until the cow runs dry," she continued to laugh.

"Ow! Don't laugh at my husband," Kyla said laughing in between contractions.

"How far apart are her contractions Spencer."

"Five minutes Ashley."

Good, that gives us plenty of time to get there since they only live three minutes away from the hospital, Ashley laughed again.

Once they arrived to the hospital, they found Aiden standing in the middle of the hospital parking lot the oven mitt and barbeque fork still in his hand. Ashley cracked up.

"Ashley stop laughing," Spencer said trying to suppress her own laugh.

Stopping the car at the emergency room entrance they got out then helped Kyla out.

"Dude," Ashley yelled get over here and help your wife.

"What?"

She shook her head at him. Seeing a transporter she knew Ashley called to him, "Tom."

"Hey Dr. Davies what can I do for you?"

"Can you get me a wheelchair for Mrs. Dennison she's about to have a baby."

"Oh yeah yeah sure right away. Where is Dr. Dennison," he asked excited.

"He's standing over there in the middle of the parking lot in a daze."

He looked in Aiden's direction and started laughing.

"And Tom ask the nurse to page Dr. Harris, tell her that Mrs. Dennison is here and in labor."

"Yes doctor," he said hurrying off.

"Ashley," Kyla cried, "go get my husband please."

"Okay, okay. Spencer you stay with Kyla."

"Okay."

"Aiden snap out of it," Ashley said slapping Aiden in the back of the head.

"Ow! Stop the abuse Ash."

"Well get out of that daze you're in and go change into you scrubs. Your wife is about to deliver your child, my godchild and I want no mistakes you understand?" She chided. "Now get."

Kyla mouthed a thank you and was wheeled into the hospital on her way to the obstetrics floor.

End of flashback

"Miss Kyla are you okay," Jerome asked.

"Yes, I'm fine Spencer's situation just brought back some memories for me. Are we almost there?"

"Yeah we should be there in another five minutes."

///

"Dr. Harris they're here," Ashley yelled. She ran to the car and immediately took note of Spencer's head lying in Cynthia's lap while a finger stroked her cheek.

"Get that gurney over here. Ashley please move," Dr. Harris ordered. "Spencer how far are the contractions now?"

"Hmm, I don't know, Cynthia?"

"They're one minute apart and she's been clutching her stomach the whole time and her heartbeat was steady but then it increased twice the normal speed with the last contraction."

"Okay thank you…"

"Dr. Taylor."

"Yes, Dr. Taylor."

"Ashley go and get scrubbed, your babies are coming. Turning to the nurse, take Mrs. Davies to OB2, she's about to deliver," Dr. Harris instructed.

"Ashley isn't it too early for Spencer to deliver the babies?" Kyla asked.

"Yes but babies can survive outside the womb at eight months. Aiden should be coming down soon talk to him Kyla. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay Ashley."

"Good I have to go now. I'll need to talk to you later."

"Jerome please call Spencer's parents. I called them earlier but there was no answer at their home and they didn't answer their cells."

"Yes, ma'am." Jerome looked at Cynthia," thank you for your help Ms…."

"It's Dr. Taylor and you are very welcome. I'm just going to hang around for a while. I'd like to know that Spencer and the babies are going to be okay."

///

"Okay Spencer just breathe like they taught you in Lamaze class."

Spencer didn't respond. "Spencer breathe," Ashley said.

"I can't Ashley something's wrong I don't feel right. Ahh… too much pressure," she panted.

"Dr. Harris what's going on," Ashley asked frantically. Dr. Harris began checking Spencer. A few minutes later, she was frowning.

"One of the babies has turned butt first."

"That means a breech birth Dr. Harris," Ashley said worried.

"Yes Ashley, Mary alert the OR we're going to have to do a Cesarean on Mrs. Davies. Ashley do you want to be in the OR while I perform the cesarean?"

Spencer looked at Ashley her eyes pleading. "Yes of course Dr. Harris," Ashley said squeezing her wife's hand. "Everything is going to be alright Spence. You and the babies are going to get through this."

Aiden rushed into the scrub room to see what was happening with Spencer. "What's happened Ash why are you wheeling Spencer into the operating room? I went to the birthing room and the nurse told me you were going to operate."

"There's a complication with the babies."

"Complication, what kind of complication? Is Spencer alright?"

"Spencer is fine. One of the babies is breeched and Dr. Harris feels the babies should be delivered by Cesarean section."

"What's trying to come out first the butt or the feet," Aiden asked.

"The butt," Dr. Harris replied.

"Why are you doing a cesarean, breech babies can be delivered vaginally?"

"We don't want to take a chance and damage the babies or tear the mother," Dr. Harris replied. She and the babies will be okay.

"I'm going in with you," Aiden said.

"I'm going in with Spencer," Ashley informed Aiden. "Do you know if Spencer's parents have arrived yet," she asked.

"Yes I saw them when I ran by them. They're in the waiting room."

"Aiden please it will help a lot if you stayed out here and report back to the Carlin's Spencer's condition."

"Ash I think I should be in there with you and Spencer," Aiden said almost demanding.

"Dr. Dennison please, Ashley will be more than enough company for Spencer," Dr. Harris said ending the debate.

"Doctors the patient is ready," the surgical nurse announced.

"Fine, I'll just go and deal with Spencer's parents."

"And your wife," Ashley emphasized. "She rode with Spencer."

"Yes I know she's the one who told me about Spencer being in labor."

"Well you need to check to make sure she's okay. She looked a little stressed out and please find out what happened at the bookstore."

"Why."

"Because Cynthia was also in the car with them and I want to know why."

"Cynthia?"