Sue frowned as she looked at her daughter. "When are you due for a checkup, honey? It looks to me like the baby's dropped."
"Dr. Cullen says I'm about eight months, Mom. He figures the baby is almost six pounds." Leah stood sideways and looked at her reflection in the hallway mirror. "I hope he holds on for a little longer, to make sure his lungs are fully developed. I have an appointment for tomorrow."
Sue looked at her cell phone before tucking it in her pocket. "Well, I've got a full charge. You call me if anything happens, okay?"
Leah smiled and kissed her mother's cheek. "Of course I will. You and Charlie have a nice time at Billy's party. Can I assume you won't be home tonight?"
Sue actually blushed. "I think that's a safe assumption," she admitted as she shrugged into her coat. "'Night, honey."
Leah had just settled onto the couch when the front door opened. "Just me, babe - don't get up," Embry called. He walked into the living room and looked around. "Just us?"
"Yep." Leah patted the seat beside her. Instead, he sat at the other end of the couch. "How about a foot rub? I'll bet that would feel good to your poor tootsies."
She laughed. "Oh yeah. Sounds heavenly." She lifted her feet and deposited them in his lap, then moaned softly as he rubbed them. "Hey - I've been doing some research on names. Do you have any ideas?"
Embry shook his head. "I don't want Embry, Junior - but that's about as far as I got with the thought process. I was thinking it might be nice to give him Clearwater for a middle name. What do you think?"
She smiled at him. "I love that idea. I've been thinking I'd like him to have a Native American name. Cheveyo means spirit warrior - I think that's pretty cool. Or Kohana - that means swift. That's my first choice. What do you think about Kohana Clearwater Call?"
"Well, I've lived with an unusual name all my life - and as long as we're here on the rez, everybody will get it. I'm not planning on going anywhere - you?"
"Nope. I'm happy here. I really am, Embry. I love my life here, and I love my husband." She smiled at him. "A lot. And I know you'll be a great dad."
He moved closer and pulled her onto his lap. "I hope so, Leah. It's the most important job I ever hope to have." He kissed her softly, and she moaned against his lips. "Honey," he said cautiously, "I don't think…"
"No, Embry, I…" she gasped. "Pain. Sharp."
"Oh. Shit. What can I do?" He held her protectively against his chest, and she relaxed.
"Let's just wait and see," she said, relieved. She looked at her watch.
He held her close and whispered, "I thought for a minute there you were trying to get into my pants, woman!" He kissed her hair.
"You wish!" Her laugh was cut short and she grimaced. "That was only three minutes, baby. I think you should call Dr. Cullen. Let's not bother my mom yet. There should be plenty of time.
Embry spoke briefly on the phone, then stuck it in his pocket. "He says we should meet him at the hospital. It may be a false alarm, but he doesn't want to take any chances. I tend to agree. Is your bag packed?"
"Yeah, it's in the bedroom closet." She stood, grabbing the back of the couch as another pain stopped her in her tracks. He ran into the bedroom and came back carrying a small suitcase. He slung it on his shoulder and scooped her up in his arms.
"I could probably walk, Embry," Leah complained. But she winced again as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Carlisle was waiting for them in the Emergency Room with a wheelchair, and he personally whisked Leah to a private room in Labor and Delivery, leaving Embry to complete the paperwork and call Sue and Tiffany. After a quick examination, a nurse helped Leah get into a hospital gown. "This is it, Leah," Carlisle told her quietly. "No false alarm. The baby's on his way." His smile was reassuring, and she tried to get comfortable in the narrow bed while she waited for her husband and practiced her breathing.
After three hours of hard labor, Leah's patience was waning. She grabbed Embry by the waistband and snapped, "If you EVER point that fucking thing in my direction again, I swear to God I'll rip it off!" He dropped the cool wash cloth he'd been carrying and gently pried her fingers from his jeans. As he stooped to retrieve the cloth, Carlisle walked in.
"Time to go," he announced cheerfully as he handed Embry a surgical gown and cap. A male nurse started wheeling Leah's gurney out the door toward the delivery room and Embry hurried to keep up. Fifteen minutes later, it was all over. Carlisle handed the squalling baby to Embry while he attended to Leah. Embry stared, speechless, at the tiny perfect face. He moved closer to Leah, and the baby quieted immediately. He had been weighed and measured, and Carlisle had pronounced him perfect in every way. Leah was exhausted, but she held out her arms.
"My sweet baby boy," she breathed as she held him close, kissing his face. "Oh, Embry, isn't he beautiful?"
Embry kissed Leah's forehead and smiled at the two of them. "Almost as beautiful as his mama," he whispered.
Sue was pacing in Leah's room when the door swung open and Embry walked in, the baby looking impossibly small in his arms. Embry smiled at Sue. "Hello, Grandma. I'd like you to meet Kohana Clearwater Call." Then he spoke softly to the baby. "This is your grandma, son. She's going to be one of the most important people in your life, so you be nice to her." He kissed him gently, then placed the precious bundle in Sue's waiting arms.