PJ didn't say anything as he helped me back to the birthing center. I didn't know what to say or do; so I held on and kept my mouth shut. Finally, I stopped causing PJ to lunge forward then turn back to look at me.
"What's the hold up?" He asked heatedly.
"Oh good, we're still on speaking terms." I shot back, glaring into his furious, all be it, beautiful sea glass green eyes.
"I don't know, are we? Or are you going to hang up on me again when I tell you I love you?" He spat at me. I flush white at realizing why he was so mad: he thought I hung up on him when the taxi went into the tunnel.
"PJ, I-" I began but he blurted in.
"Save it." He turned away and stared ahead but at nothing in particular. "Let's just get you back and-" I placed my hand on his shoulder and pull. He instantly turns even though I know I wasn't strong enough to do it on my own.
We are now facing each other. I, shorter than normal because I'm bent over in pain and he, taller than normal because his pride has fixed his slouch.
"You listen to me, Mr. Lugori; and you listen good. The reason the phone hung up was cause the taxi went into a tunnel and I was too scared to call you back because if I had, I don't know if I could have made it to the airport. Even if the taxi dropped me off, I would have walked back to be with you. But I needed to step away from it all. I was going to give these children to a parent that loved them but also another father who wasn't going to be there for them. I couldn't let that happen; not while there was still money in my pocket and air in my lungs. I love these two little sea monkeys too much to send them into that situation. And I couldn't go back because I love you too much, PJ; so don't you think for a moment that I don't. If I went back, I would end up hurting you all over again and-" My ranting and crying were interrupted by PJ's shocked, soft words.
"You love me?" He was aghast as I went red realizing I had just said what had been in the back of my mind but which my brain hadn't full processed until I stated it in anger and hurt.
"I love you?" I asked, seeing how it felt in my mouth and on my tongue. "I love you? I love you?... I love you. I love you. I love you!" I began chanting, getting more and more excited and happy at my realization just as PJ was. I stretched to hug him as he bent to hug me back. Our embrace was short lived as another contraction hit. I tried to breathe evenly but my heart was beating too fast and excited to even notice there were little babies in my belly.
"I love you too, now let's get you back." PJ decided for us as we continued down the hall, his hand on my arm while I had a death grip on his other hand.
"Let's get these two out of me." I muttered as I laid back into my bed with PJ's every present helping hand. "Nurse?" I called to the same nurse who had helped me before. "How dilated am I now?" I asked propping my legs up. I smiled at PJ as he told me how he and Phil saw Dan and I fleeing the airport while Nurse Cold-Hands checked again.
"Oh my, you've dilated another three centimeters in the last twenty minutes! That's really fast for a first timer." She remarks on her way to the sink again.
"So I'm at six centimeters." I reasoned out before I scrunched my face up again and grabbed for PJ's hand. "How much longer?" I moaned when the wave had past.
"It usually takes three hours minimum for a first time mother. But you're going so fast; it may only be two!" Nurse Cold-Hands informs me happily. I am about to panic when PJ asks
"Do you want to hear a story?" I turn to him confused. "It might help you relax and speed the process along." He suggested as a different nurse with a long needle came and pulled up along side my bed.
"Well, since I'm not going anywhere for awhile." I heaved myself up and over for her to stick the needle in between my vertebra and into the main nerve that runs the length of my spine. "Lay it on me." I told PJ and the nurse.