Chapter 50
Soon they had finished sorting out all the furniture; Carlitos and Zara had woken up from their naps. Carlos asked a million questions in both English and Spanish. He wanted to know everything about the house. He mostly spoke to Rosa and Rafael. He seemed to like Amanda best. He smiled at her and tried to speak English with her. The detective seemed impressed with his advances.
Zara played with her daddy for a little while and then moved to other people. She went to Olivia who obliged her immediately. Mike and Fin came down from the guest room.
"It's all done Lil. You don't have to worry about anything." Mike said quickly.
"It's getting late. Mijito, call your father. Tell him I'm ready." Rosa said standing up.
"Ma, I can drive you back." Michael offered since him and Allie should probably get back too.
Rosa shook her head, "He wanted to see the house. He didn't want to help, your father wants to see the final product." She rolled her eyes and went back to the living room where Lilly and Olivia were comfortably talking about the new baby.
"Found it." Scotty took out a poker set. Mike looked at Allie and then at his brother. Allie, "My sister wants to have them overnight. You can play with your brother." Amanda laughed out loud.
"Come on Fin, Rollins let's play. Olivia you want in?" Scotty asked; his partner shook her hands. "No thanks. Rosa is telling me all about your middle school years." Scotty frowned. Fin and Amanda accepted immediately. Fin looked at Amanda. The woman then politely declined. Scotty knew about the gambling problem. It would be best if she stayed away from it since they were going to bet money. He looked at Rafael and Mike. they would cream Fin tonight.
They set out to the dining room. "Why are you making your husband drive all the way from Philly?"
Amanda asked before anyone could ask why she had backed down from playing poker. "He doesn't like me driving at night by myself and I didn't want Mike to drive me. Ramiro can be controlling, and stubborn. A trait I'm sure both of my kids inherited. If he wants me in Philly, he'll have to come and get me." Rosa said quickly.
Olivia and Amanda laughed, "I don't think Scotty's controlling." The blond NYPD detective said.
Lilly laughed, Carlos sat on her lap while Zara played with her blocks. "Scotty Valens is controlling, possessive and jealous. When we started living together, mind you we weren't lovers yet. We would go out and do groceries and he would put his arms around me or glare at any man who would come near me."
Amanda frowned, "that's not right."
Olivia didn't know how to answer, "That was my first reaction. I always knew Scotty was overprotective. It scared me but I felt so flattered, I loved every second of it. It felt nice to have that attention from him."
"I like it when he acts all caveman around me. He doesn't know that. Scotty thinks I hate the possessiveness but I like it, with moderation of course."
"He's not bad. Scotty has his jealous moments. I always stop him but it's nice to not be taken for granted." Lilly said. Olivia could relate to that. It had been too long since she felt desired.
Lilly served as a semi gracious hostess that night. Ramiro came and filled Fin's place in the poker table. The detective and Amanda had gone fifteen minutes ago. Apparently Amanda's little sister was missing. The blond detective had freaked out and Fin had offered to drive her back.
Lilly winced when she felt the baby move. Olivia noticed, "Are you ok Lil?"
"Yeah. This baby just loves to use me as a punching bag."
"When are you due?" Olivia asked politely.
"End of September." Lilly replied. Zara was sleeping peacefully on her playpen and Carlitos was enthralled with his crayons and his pieces of paper.
Lilly felt the baby moving more and more. "I want to go lie down. Liv, could you help me take Zara ups…" Lilly couldn't finish because she felt contractions. She doubled up in pain.
She was scared; Olivia went to her side as Carlos ran to the dining room. "Scotty." Lilly yelled.
Scotty for his part was enjoying the evening. Fin had gone home without two hundred dollars. He had a winning hand. Rafael and Mike already folded, he just needed Pops to do the same when in came Carlitos.
"Mami, is hurting and crying." Carlitos yelled. Scotty didn't understand at first. Carlitos' mother was dead. He didn't have time to keep thinking because he heard Lil yell.
Scotty and the rest men immediately got up. He ran to the living room and found his wife sitting on one of the new armchairs and clutching her belly. Olivia was behind her trying to sooth her. Allie and his mother were coming from the kitchen.
He didn't think twice, he approached "Cielo, what happened?"
"I don't know. It hurts, the baby is coming Scotty." Lilly sounded frightened. Scotty paled too. It was too soon; she was only seven months and a week along. "We have to get her to the hospital Scotty." Olivia broke the scared spell he was in.
"Ma, please take care of Zara and Carlitos. I'm taking Lil to Bellevue"
Rafael shook his head, "That'll take you at least an hour. We have to take her to one around here."
Scotty nodded, "Come on Cielo, it's going to be fine." She tried to smile but couldn't.
"I'll drive us there Cielo."
Lilly shook her head, "No. Scotty please I need you."
"Come on, I'll drive you." Rafael said quickly. Carlitos broke from Rosa's hold.
"Mami, where you going?" He tried to get close to Lilly. Lilly smiled brightly. Carlitos had never called her mami before. "I'm going to have your little brother." She said to the little boy.
Another sharp pain hit her, they were the same type of pains she got when she was in labor with Zara. "We have to go."
Olivia and Scotty helped Lilly into the car. Lilly's water broke while they were driving to the hospital. The gynecologist saw them as soon as they got in.
Rafael and Olivia waited outside of the room while the doctor examined Lilly. "Mrs. Valens. The scan looks good. Your baby is fine, heart rate, measurements and weight; it wants to come out."
Scotty frowned and kissed Lilly's hand. "What do we do?"
"Trying to stop labor is not an option anymore. It comforts me that your baby is on the large side and that everything is perfectly normal with it."
"It's too soon. I don't want my baby to be in an incubator." Lilly said afraid. She had seen those preterm babies who didn't thrive and spent weeks in the hospital.
The doctor tried to comfort her. "We don't know but Mrs. Valens, your baby is very well developed and your labor is going as expected."
Lilly felt another contraction, Scotty was there to help her breathe and be prepared. The doctor left the room.
"This is happening too fast. We just moved to our new home and Carlitos called me mommy. I'm scared Scotty, I really am." Lilly said in one breath after the contraction's pain receded.
Scotty climbed to the bed and eased himself next to her. "It's going to fine Cielo," He succeeded and Lilly calmed down. Inside, he was terrified, she was right. It was too soon. They didn't know how it would all play out.
Three hours later, Lilly was in active labor. "Mrs. Valens, don't hold back, push." The doctor finally gave her the green light to push.
Scotty was there holding her hand as she huffed and puffed. "I can do this. I've done this before and it was fine. I will have my healthy baby." Lilly chanted as she prepared herself for a big push.
Lilly looked at Scotty who looked as pale as he had looked when Zara was born. Her husband glanced at her and suppressed the scared look he had. She loved him, she knew he was probably more scared than her but he always tried to be strong and protect her no matter what.
Scotty heard a cry, Lilly looked up to him. He kissed her softly. "Strong little boy." The doctor cut the cord quickly and examined him.
Scotty didn't even complained; their baby was preterm "Is he ok? Will he need the incubator?" Lilly anxiously said while getting ready to deliver the after birth.
"We'll do the baby check up but baby Valens is breathing on his own." The doctor said happily. Scotty allowed himself to relax and kiss Lilly again. He could breath easier.
