Chapter 10

Hélène watched as Jacob comforted his wife. She did not interfere. They needed this time, a few moments together, as one, to renew themselves as a couple in the birth of their baby. Just then another contraction tore through Cathy's body. Jacob had a vague idea of the intensity of the contraction based on his experience with Holly but to know that it was his wife and his baby made him more acutely sensitive to the pressure she was feeling.

In order to assist her in some way, he placed his hand at the small of her back to try and infuse some positive energy and relieve the discomfort. This, he knew was effective as she immediately settled into her practiced breathing pattern.

Cathy had long abandoned any attempt to proceed through this labor rationally and calmly. As much as she wanted to hold herself steady and comfort herself, after they ended up at the accident site, any rationale thought had been impossible until Jacob arrived on the scene. She owed a great deal to her grandmother who tried her best but having Jacob made a lot of difference.

When the contraction passed, Jacob fought back the tears that threatened to overwhelm him. He brushed the damp hair tendrils of hair that stuck to her skin and wiped away the perspiration, which dotted her forehead, nose and chin. He asked gently 'what would you like to do?'

'I don't know Jacob. Give me choices and then help me to decide.'

Jacob didn't need any more prompting. 'Stay here, go to the nearest hospital, go home.'

Without hesitation Cathy replied. 'Go home!'

She gripped Jacob's shirt, looked directly at him and said, 'I have calculated, in my head that from the time I saw the midwife this morning until now, it is eight hours. I was one centimetre then. I read in the book about dilatation and what happens. The midwife confirmed that with me. She said that with a first baby, you dilate at one centimetre per hour to become fully. After that it takes perhaps one to two hours to get the baby out. That means that I should be nine centimetres if my body is behaving in the normal way. We should have maybe two hours to get home. Can we do it?'

Jacob didn't reply right away. Another contraction had to be dealt with. He helped her breathe through it before dealing with her question. He quickly processed what she had said. Jacob had read the same information, He understood that it didn't always apply. Regardless of the current unusual situation he prayed that everything about her labor was moving along in a normal pattern. More than anything he also wanted to take her home and have her give birth below.

Jacob nodded yes to her question and then looked to Mémé for guidance.

'Can you walk with me across the field to the helicopter. It won't be easy but if you want to come...?' He tilted his head giving her time to think. 'If not, you can wait here and Howard will send a car for you.'

Hélène knew that she wanted to be with her granddaughter and said yes, she would return with him. He also turned to Carl to ask his preference. Carl declined and said he would remain with the SUV but pleaded for an update about their safety and the birth of the baby as soon as it was possible. Jacob got out of the van and hugged his friend. His emotions were running high.

'Carl, I have seen the mess on this highway and what could have happened. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking care of my wife and her grandmother. I am deeply grateful that you are all safe. We will call as soon as we are settled.'

With a plan in place Jacob wasted no further time. He drew his wife from the vehicle and lifted her into his arms. 'Hold on as tight as you can. I want to make it without having to stop but let me know if you can't manage the next contraction.'

Cathy nodded her assent. No matter what, she was determined to reach her destination and get through the this last phase of her labor in a place of comfort and safety.

Over his shoulder he spoke to Hélène. 'If you run into problems Mémé, I'll return for you once Cathy is settled.'

Hélène made up her mind that she would make it past all the cars and climb the fence to get to the helicopter without holding up Jacob too much. She knew that every minute was precious.

Along the way, other people who were stuck, but not injured, offered to help with Cathy. Jacob declined. He was firm and sure in his steps and wanted to take no chances. Hélène accepted help to get over the fence leading into the nearby field where the copter waited.

'Follow directly behind me Mémé. The ground is uneven.'

The men in the helicopter were surprised to see Jacob return so soon. It was obvious that his wife was in an advanced stage of labor. They wasted no time in getting off the ground and heading back to New York.

Once settled, Jacob was able to assist his wife through the contractions during the flight. He continued to send waves of energy to her low back to counter the force of the pressure. The co-pilot was impressed with her control.

'You're good lady. I used to be a paramedic. That pain is brutal. I remember my own kid's birth. My wife nearly tore my arm out until she got her epidural.'

'Don't have much choice.' Cathy gasped.

There were no words or sights that were more comforting to the trio than the lights of Manhattan piercing up into the early evening sky. At their approach, Cathy seemed to settle into a strange twilight of her own. She looked out the window as they passed over the harbor and saw the Statue of Liberty.

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,' she managed to croak out. 'I am longing to breathe free.' With that she gave a strange grunt, a sound that was weird to everyone except Hélène.

'I wanna push. Oh God, is that what it …means?' she said grabbing Jacob's hand in a death grip.

'She is fully and ready to push. Baby is coming.' Hélène stated.

'Honey please, not now. We are almost home.' Jacob's plea was almost comical.

'I can't help it. I have to.' She gave another grunt before falling back against the seat. It feels like there is a football inside me. Oh God, the pain.'

The pilot heard the exchange. 'Look buddy we have to land somewhere now. We can't deliver a baby on board.'

'Head for Central park, north end if you can.'

'I can't land just anywhere. I need a target and I need to ensure that no one is in the way. I could lose my license for this. God, I hope you know what you are doing.'

'I do. Head for that direction. There will be lights for you. Don't worry, just land safely and leave everything else to me.' Jacob used that tone reserved for settling people who were fighting an internal battle of right and wrong. There were no two sides here: only a woman in labor who needed to be on the ground.

Jacob pulled out his cell phone and called his father. 'Dad we are close to home. Baby's not out yet but any time now. We need…..how much space?'

'50 x 50 but we could do 40 in a pinch'

'50 x50 in an open area of the park and lights to mark it out. Can you do it Dad? We only have a few minutes.'

…..

Vincent was so glad to get the call. Every moment of the wait had been torture for the family but they understood that Jacob needed to give all his attention to Cathy.

As soon as he hung up from his son, Vincent literally shouted for everyone to follow him. He ran out the front door, leaving it open for the others, past Rob who had been waiting to hear from Jacob and across the park at lightening speed. Many of the folks from below were at the entrance or close to it hoping to help if needed. They were a pretty discouraged bunch. As the time passed and Cathy didn't return, they became resigned to just waiting to hear the news. Many doubted that she would make it back. So much time had passed.

When Vincent was seen running across the park with his family close behind they perked up, expecting to hear news. Instead they were asked to quickly gather their lights and follow him. No one questioned the unusual request. Nor were they surprised to see Vincent pacing out loud and counting. They watched as he found an area and walked it out just as the helicopter was heard overhead. He directed two dozen folks with lights to form an uneven circle-square, which turned out to be more than adequate for the copter to land.

'Move back folks when it starts to come down and keep your head down' Kurt shouted out.

Everyone held their collective breaths as the copter came down with its precious cargo. A small cheer went up from the group when Jacob emerged. He turned and picked up his wife. Everyone fell silent as he made his way to the entrance followed by Hélène.

Kurt, who had never been below, first went to the pilot and offered profuse thanks.

'Listen guys, I know this is unorthodox but we all appreciate your willingness to step out of your comfort zone.'

'Hey man. This whole thing is weird but I hope she does ok.'

'We'll let you know.'

En mass, everyone hurried after Jacob who was ever more determined to get below. The way was slippery and he was so conscious of how much Cathy was suffering. From time to time he accepted his father's assistance, handing his wife over to get across, down or through the difficult passages. The family from below assisted the folks from the brownstone. Each one took someone's hand helping them all to find their way. The excitement and fear were palpable.

If Jacob was surprised by what Cathy had done in preparation for the birth of their baby he didn't let that deter him at all. She had the carpenter design an old fashioned birthing chair which was situated at the edge of the underground spring. The water was not cold but it wasn't terribly warm either. Fortunately, she didn't have to sit in the water. Just the sound was adequate.

Above the gushing water was a ledge where the family and friends gathered to observe the birth. Jacob couldn't have been more grateful to Cathy for allowing this to be shared with all the people who had been a part of their lives since her birth. Behind a screen he watched as Celeste put her in a birthing gown. When she sat down, a small part of the baby's head was already visible.

Mary was nearby, ready to assist and guide but Celeste would do the honors.

'You very close Cathy Wells. Baby Wells is good. Just breathe, push, breathe, push.'

Jacob was shocked at how close they had come to having this baby in the helicopter. Cathy pushed valiantly while everyone waited. In between these last few contractions, she rested her head with eyes closed. She seemed to be in a zone of her own.

Jacob took a minute to look up. He saw his parents, Philippe, Terry, Kurt, Holly, and Sue. All his childhood friends and folks who had been a part of his life stood and prayed with him for a safe delivery. Only Father was absent. He was too weak to be moved.

Each push widened the passage and allowed a little more of the baby's head to become visible. Soon, wet golden curls could be seen. The contractions seemed to slow a little but no one was concerned.

'Two or three more pushes Cathy Wells.' Celeste's words were gentle and encouraging.

The news wrought a change in Cathy. She reached out to her grandmother who stood at her other side.

'Mémé, I need a little more energy. Please sing for me.'

'What would you like ma petite fille?'

'I am married to the lion Prince of Egypt. When You Believe…..please.'

Hélène felt honoured to sing her first great grandchild into the world. Cathy listened to the words. When her next contraction came she was able to give into the one scream she needed to release herself from the long labor. She squeezed Jacob's hand and heard when the children joined in on the chorus. On her next contraction she pushed with the force needed to allow the baby's head to slip out. Celeste performed the simple maneuvers to facilitate the shoulders then the rest of the body. With the baby's piercing first cry, Catherine also cried out and held on to Vincent. No one could see the gender of the baby. They waited for Jacob to look up and announce

'She's here. Our daughter.'

Everyone applauded. The baby was placed on Cathy's chest while Jacob held his wife and kissed her forehead. The little one was beautiful. She possessed a huge head of golden curls and a body covered with soft golden hair. Indeed, she was the image of Vincent. She did not have the cleft in her upper lip but everything else was all about her grandfather.

'Cathy Wells put the baby to breast to stop the bleed.'

Cathy tried. She remembered her dream and knew that Niamh saved her mother's life by feeding immediately after the birth. No medicines was available. Nature had to be utilized. Mémé helped guide the baby to its food. Jacob placed a hand on what was left of the oversized womb and applied a little pressure.

'It's the placenta!'

But it wasn't. Another sac came out, not with an underdeveloped baby in it but filled with a strange golden liquid. The sac was intact. That's what had been seen on the ultrasound.

'Save it Celeste. It is something for the baby.'

She looked at Jacob but set aside the sac before attending to the after birth. When it was deemed safe, with Cathy's permission, Jacob took the baby from her. He wrapped his daughter in a soft blanket. The new father climbed the short walkway to where his parents were standing and offered their granddaughter for the blessing. Catherine sobbed and kissed the soft forehead. Vincent was strangely quiet.

Jacob knew that he was seeing into the future and imaging what life this child would have. His own had been so challenging. The soft down covering her skin, the unusual shaped eyes, the tiny nose all spoke strongly of the lion cult.

'Don't worry Dad. She'll be fine.'

Vincent wasn't so sure but he kissed his granddaughter as tears of joy ran down his cheeks. 'Whatever your life is to be, know that I am at your side always,' he whispered into her ear anticipating that the weeks and months ahead would not be easy.