Chapter 10
A/N—I know I accidentally misspelled Tracy's name as "Traci" a few times. I'm not going to go back and correct it. Will try to keep the spelling consistent ("Tracy") from here on out. With that, happy reading!
Shirley arrives at the hospital's maternity ward. The receptionist directs her to Laurie's room. She sees her daughter in the throws of a contraction.
Shirley: (Walks in) Breathe, sweetheart.
The contraction lets up.
Laurie: (Sighs) That was huge. (Another one hits) This hurts!
Shirley: (Comforts her daughter) I know.
Laurie: (Cries) Why is this happening?
Shirley: (Strokes her daughter's hair) The contractions?
Laurie: (Another one hits) N... not just... not just this, but everything.
Shirley: You mean Lester, Keith and Danny?
Laurie: (Cries) Yes.
Shirley: I wish I knew.
Laurie: I... I want to wake up and... and this be all a dream.
Shirley: Me too.
Laurie: (The biggest contraction as of yet, hits, then subsides) I'm not ready to be a mother! I can't keep it!
Shirley: We can discuss it later. Let's just concentrate on getting the baby here healthy.
Laurie: I can't! I can't keep it! Please don't make me!
Shirley: All right.
At Juvenile Hall
Danny gets processed and is assigned a bunk. Bruce requests a final conference with his client before he's taken into his unit. The officer agrees and escorts them into a room.
Bruce: I want you to listen and hear me well.
Danny: (Eyes downcast) 'Kay.
Bruce: Look at me, Danny.
Danny's eyes are still downcast.
Bruce: Danny, I said look at me.
Danny: (Slowly raises his eyes) Yes?
Bruce: Your case is going to be pretty high profile. So, the other inmates may try to get you to talk about it. I'm advising you not to talk about it.
Danny: So, what am I supposed to say?
Bruce: Say that you don't want to talk about it.
Danny: 'Kay.
Bruce: All right. I'll be in touch. Do what the guards say and stay out of trouble.
Danny: I will.
Bruce shakes Danny's hand and leaves the room. The officer escorts Danny into the unit.
Officer: Danny, you're assigned to Bed One, top bunk. Your locker is the one closest to the bed, so you can put your stuff there. (Hands him a small package) Here's some toiletries: a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shampoo, razor, and toilet paper. (Introduces the other boys) This is John, Matt, and Greg. Dinner's at 4:30. Make sure you're here for Count. Lights out is at 8:30. Breakfast is at 6:00. (Hands him a book) Here's a book. Read it and bring it to Orientation tomorrow morning. It's at 8:00.
The officer leaves and Danny sits on his bunk. The three other boys crowd by his bunk.
John: What you in for?
Danny turns his head.
Matt: Hey, didn't you hear him? You don't ignore John if you know what's good for you.
Danny: (Mumbles) I don't wanna talk about it.
Greg: (Mock frowns) Aww! The poor itty bitty baby doesn't wanna talk about it!
Danny hides his face, sniffs and tries to blink back tears.
Matt: Aww, John, you made the itty bitty baby cry.
John: (Hops up on Danny's bunk) C'mon, you can tell us. I broke into houses and fenced a bunch of stuff. One house, the owner was home and I shot him. Didn't kill 'em though.
Matt: I got busted for selling dope.
Greg: Me too. You can tell us.
John: (Laughs) I bet he tried to steal a Snickers bar from a candy store.
Matt: Nah. He got caught smoking in school.
Greg: (Also hops onto Danny's bunk) Tell us.
Danny: (Mumbles) I shot the guy who raped my sister.
Greg: What? We didn't hear you.
Matt: (Gets on the bunk too) What was that?
Danny: (Yells) I shot the guy who raped my sister! He's dead!
The three boys are wide-eyed.
John: Whoa! That's heavy!
Matt: Wow! We can call you "Killer!" Hey, Killer!
Greg: Yeah, Killer!
Guard: (Walks by their unit) Off the bed!
The four boys jump off the bed, Danny, in a panic. The guard moves on.
John: (Smirks) He was talking about us, Killer.
Danny: Oh.
Greg: We'll show you the ropes. You'll want to take a shower in the middle of the day if you can, or else you'll have cold water.
Matt: Be sure to do whatever the guard tells you... especially Officer Graham. You don't want on his bad side.
John: And watch out for the guy we call "Spook." Don't make him mad.
Danny: Spook?
Matt: Yeah. He's in here for armed robbery and homicide.
Greg: (Grins) I bet ole Killer here can go toe-to-toe with Spook.
John: Probably could.
At the County Jail
Bruce arrives to pick Keith up when he's released. He checks in with the receptionist.
Receptionist: (Looks at the paperwork) Yes. Here he is. Keith Partridge. He's dressed and in a holding area. I'll let them know you're here.
The receptionist calls the holding area and calls for Keith's release. About ten minutes later, Keith enters the waiting room.
Bruce: (Stands) You ready?
Keith: Yeah. I wanna get out of here.
They exit the jail and get in Bruce's car. Keith looks out the window as they drive to the Partridge home. Reuben is staying with Chris and Tracy, who are watching TV. The door opens and Keith steps through.
Tracy: (Runs and embraces her oldest brother) Keith! You're home! I've missed you so much!
Keith: (Hugs her back) I missed you too.
Chris: Hey, Keith!
Keith: (Hugs his brother) Hey, kid!
Chris: What was it like?
Keith: What it?
Chris: Jail. Did you meet any crazy people? Any bank robbers?
Keith: (Annoyed) Chris, I really don't want to talk about it.
Chris: Did you see a guy named Boss?
Keith: Chris? What has gotten into you?
Chris: I'm just curious.
Keith: Well, you'll just have to stay curious, because I don't want to talk about it. (Sighs) The only thing I'll say is that you don't want to go there. I wish I'd never been there and I wish Danny wasn't there. It's not like a camping trip. It's dirty, it's awful, people are mean, the food is bad. You don't want to be there. So, I don't want to hear any more questions about it.
Chris: Okay.
Tracy: I'm glad you're back.
Keith: Me too. (Pauses) Where's mom and Laurie?
Reuben: They're still at the hospital. Guess Laurie's having the baby.
Keith: (Nods) I'm gonna go take a shower.
Reuben: (Looks at his watch) The two of you need to get ready for bed too. If either of you need to take a shower, you can use your mom's.
Tracy: Okay.
The pair go upstairs. The phone rings.
Reuben: Hello?
Shirley: Reuben, is Keith back home?
Reuben: He is. He got back a few minutes ago.
Shirley: (Sighs, relieved) Good.
Reuben: How's Laurie?
Shirley: She's resting right now, but I have a feeling she'll have the baby soon.
Laurie: (From the background) Mom! I... I have to push!
Shirley: I gotta go.
Reuben: I'll stay here tonight.
Shirley: Thanks.
At the hospital
Laurie awakens, as a strong contraction overtakes her.
Laurie: Mom! I... I have to push!
Shirley quickly concludes her phone conversation with Reuben and directs her attention to her daughter.
Shirley: Laurie?
Laurie: I have to push!
Shirley: I'll call the nurse. (Pushes the call button and the nurse answers) Laurie says she needs to push.
The nurse quickly enters the room. She sees that the young mother is clearly in distress.
Nurse: You're saying you need to push.
Laurie: YES!
Nurse: (Sticks her head out of the room and calls to her coworkers) Is Delivery Room 2 open? Room 31 is going. Call Dr. Lucas.
Nurse2: All the delivery rooms are full!
Nurse: Please tell me Dr. Lucas is available.
Nurse2: Got him on the phone. He'll be over in five.
Nurse: Thanks! (Returns to the room) We're going to deliver this baby here.
Laurie: (Panics) Wait! I need to go to a delivery room! Where's Dr. Lucas?
Nurse: He's on his way. Let me get you prepped for delivery.
As she gets the young mother prepped, Dr. Lucas arrives.
Dr. Lucas: You haven't started the show without me? Let's see how far along this baby is. (He examines Laurie) The baby's right there. I can feel it. I want you to breathe with each contraction and push when you feel like it. Don't hold your breath; gotta breathe.
Shirley stays by her daughter's head, offering support as Laurie pushes. After four big pushes, they hear a baby cry.
Dr. Lucas: (Cradles the child) Baby's out! It's a girl!
Laurie: (Cries, holding her arms out) Oh, my baby!
Shirley: (Smiles) Laurie, she's beautiful!
Dr. Lucas: (Cleans the baby off and places her on her mother's chest) Here she is! Grandma, would you like to cut the cord?
Shirley grins, receives the scissors, and cuts the cord.
Laurie: Hi, baby girl, I'm your mommy!
Shirley: Laurie, she's beautiful.
Dr. Lucas: What's this beautiful little girl's name?
Laurie: Amy Elizabeth Partridge.
Shirley smiles and looks at her daughter and granddaughter.
Laurie: She's staying right here in my arms. I'm never letting her go.
-End of Chapter 10-