"He'll be here soon," Blair said softly as Jo continued to ask for Rick.
Jo looked at her. She was exhausted and in severe pain. She thought this labor had been much more difficult than it had been with any of her daughters, and all she wanted was for Rick to be there to help her. "He can't miss this." She cried. "He didn't want to be a part of this in the beginning, but now these babies mean the world to him. It's not fair for him to miss it." As the next contraction hit, Jo quit talking and began her Lamaze breathing. When it was over she continued, "I want Rick," she cried.
Natalie walked over to Jo's bed. "He's going to make it in time," she said convincingly enough that Jo began to calm down a little.
"Yeah," Tootie added, 'I promised him that we wouldn't let you have those babies without him. So I know he'll make it." Tootie picked up a wet cloth and wiped Jo's forehead with it.
"I made him go to the stupid lake," Jo added. "I should have let him stay." Her next contraction began and everyone did their best to help her through it.
Mrs. Garrett smiled. "You made him go to the lake because you wanted him to calm down a little. There is nothing wrong with that. The phone was turned off by accident," She reached out and took Jo's hand. "If Rick misses the birth of his sons, it will be a shame. But if that happens, it is not your fault or his." Jo began to squeeze her hand tightly as the next contraction began.
When the contraction ended she let go realizing how hard she had squeezed. "I'm sorry Mrs. G. I didn't mean to hurt you or anything," Jo said almost in a whisper.
Mrs. Garrett smiled. "You didn't hurt me honey. I may be becoming an old woman, but I'm not a frail. You squeeze as hard as you need to."
The doctor came in to check on Jo. He smiled gently. "Well, it looks like these little boys are ready to make their first appearance in the world."
Jo spoke quickly. "No! Not yet. My husband isn't here yet. I need him."
The doctor looked sadly at her. "I'm sorry," he said sympathetically. "But the babies are ready, your body is ready, and we just can't wait. I want you to push with the next contraction."Which of you will be staying?" the doctor asked as he looked at Natalie, Tootie, Blair and Mrs. Garrett.
"What do you mean?" Blair asked.
The doctor looked at them knowing they were obviously the closest of friends. "I mean only one person can stay for the birth."
Jo shook her head. "No, if Rick can't be here, I want all of them. They have all helped me through the labor. I want them for the delivery."
The doctor felt bad for her. This poor woman was giving birth to twins, her husband was nowhere to be found. He smiled. "I guess we could break the rules this once."
Rick rushed through the door of the hospital. He ran up to the desk. "I'm looking for my wife…well my ex-wife. She's having a baby…two babies…twins. Where is she?"
The nurse smiled at him. "What is her name sir?"
Rick caught his breath, "Joanna Bonner, or Polniaczek. I guess probably Polniaczek, she went back to her maiden name after the divorce. Why am I going into this? Where is she?" The nurse told him to follow her and led him to Jo's room.
Rick opened the door. Blair was on the left side of Jo's bed and Natalie was on the right. Jo was squeezing their hands as she pushed. Tootie and Mrs. Garrett were there too. As Jo stopped pushing, she lay back on the bed and Mrs. Garrett cooled her face with a cool cloth. "You're doing good honey," she said encouragingly.
Rick rushed over to the bed. "I'm here," he said out of breath. "I am so sorry Jo."
Jo grabbed his arm and looked at him. "What took you so long?" she shouted. "And how did the damn phone get turned off?"
Rick didn't have time to explain because another contraction came and Jo needed to push again. He held her hand and stroked her damp hair. "Come on sweetheart, you're doing great." He said as he kissed her forehead.
Jo stopped pushing and took a deep breath. "I'm glad you made it," she said through her tears.
"Me too,' Rick answered nearly crying himself.
