It's been a couple of hours and I'm in a hospital gown on the bed in extreme pain from all the contractions. Gaston went out to get a snack from the vending machine but Dr. Kaiser is next to me asking, "Evie, are you ok?"
"Just make it all go away," I asked as another contraction hit. They've been getting close together now.
"Try to focus on your breathing. I'm gonna be right here."
"Wheel me in." We hear from the hallway. Then we see Old Naveen being wheeled in by a nurse.
Dr. Kaiser was confused and walked around the bed to the door and asked, "Do you belong here?"
"Yes, I'm kin."
"He sure is," I exclaimed, happy to see a familiar nice face, "You having your surgery today?"
"Later this afternoon. Mal told me you were here. I bought you this card from the gift shop downstairs. It's silly and flowery and almost gave me diabetes." He wheeled a little closer to me and handed me a pink envelope.
"Thank you, Naveen." I started to open it but he interrupted me and said, "Don't look at it now; look at it when all the fuss is over."
I nodded and put it next to me when Gaston came in with a couple bags of chips and his camera and started speaking, "Halftime in the lounge, Lions up ten. What's the ETA in here?" He nods toward Naveen and stickers out his hand to shake, "Naveen, father to be."
"How could I forget you? Don't say nothin' smart, you dumb ass. Wheel me out." He replied as the nurse wheeled him out.
There was a long awkward pause. Gaston was on one side and Dr. Kaiser on the other. I look at both of them before I realize that they never met. "Oh, Dr. Kaiser, this is my husband Gaston."
They nod at each other.
"Hey Doc, do you mind gettin' out of the way' so I can get a shot of me and my wife on the big day. Much appreciated. Give me a kiss baby." I got a contraction and he quickly opened the camera and started filming, "Wow, so dramatic." I tried to catch my breath and he said to me, "Baby you're gettin' spit on the lens."
Gaston moved to the chair in the corner to clean the lenses and I pulled Dr. Kaiser close to me.
"Doctor Kaiser?"
"Yes, Evie?"
"I just wanted to make sure we're clear about one thing."
"What's that Evie?"
"I want drugs. I want a massive amount of drugs. I want the maximum legal limit of drugs."
"Noted and understood."
Nurse Uma re-entered and motioned for the residents to come in. I got a contraction and all I heard was a voice saying, "Try to steady your breathing hon. Hi, I'm Francine Kaiser. Doug's told me so much about you."
Dr. Kaiser and I exchange a look as if saying "Is this really happening?"
"Did I tell you that my wife is a resident here?"
"Yea I think you mentioned that." I sad then a huge contraction hit.
Francine put a hand on my back, "Don't worry your in great hands with my husband."
I looked at her then at Dr. Kaiser, "Is she going to be here for the whole delivery? I mean, are the residents going to be here?"
"No." He said then rushed over to the residents, "They were just here to observe the first stage of labor. Everybody out."
As they left Mal and Jane came in, "Evie! We're here. Everything gonna be ok."
"Oh my lord. The pie's comin' out of the oven. Order fukin' up!" Mal said as she stood at my left and Jane on my right.
Thirty minutes later Dr. Kaiser said it was time to push. During the last contraction I scream, "I don't want your baby, Gaston!" Silence. Then crying, that was the best sound I ever heard.
"It's a girl." Dr. Kaiser said as he handed her off to Nurse Uma to clean her up.
Gaston sat down on the couch disappointed that we had a daughter.
Nurse Uma came over to give me my baby, "Would you like to hold your baby Mrs. LeGume?" I was so in shock I didn't respond, "Mrs. LeGume? Did you hear me? Are you ok? Mrs. LeGume?"
"Give her to me." She handed her to me and as I look at her everything fades away and it was just her and me. "Oh my God."
"Now remember what I said, don't go lovin' the baby more than me.
I don't even look up as I said, "I don't love you anymore Gaston. I haven't in a very long time." Now I look him in the eyes as I say, "I want a divorce."
"That's not funny Evie."
"No one's laughing."
"You're never gonna leave me."
"Watch me!"
"You ain't gonna do nothing. You better know your place." Dr. Kaiser interveases. "Don't touch me! Get your hands off me!" He turns to me and said, "Man you're gonna regret this when you get home."
"And your gonna regret ever saying that, because if you ever come within six yards of us, I will flatten your sorry ass and I will enjoy doing it. Now get out before I call someone to carry you out!"
Two male nurses show up to help escort Gaston out as he turned around with what's left of her dignity.
I look back at my baby and I think "Todays the day, I'm a mother in an instant. Who I was disappeared but it doesn't matter Because your here. I was lost but now I'm yours and you are mine."
"Oh look at her," I said out loud to Mal and Jane, "Two tiny hands, a pair of eyes."
"You done did it, girl."
"Baby girl meet your god mama's." Jane gasped and Mal was equally shocked. "I'm gonna call her Lulu. Little Lulu love of my life. We're going to be happy little girl. Not just happy enough. We're going to be really happy."
Carlos comes in covering his eyes, "Hello! Is everyone decent?"
Jane walks over to bring him closer to the bed, "Carlos, come here. Evie, Carlos, and I want you to know that you can stay with us for a while until you get back on your feet."
"You could stay with us, but I think Ben's convulsions might frighten the baby."
"Look Carlos isn't she beautiful."
"There are no words, but I'm double parked. I love you." He hugged Jane, then bent down to the baby, "I love you." As he was walking out he saw Dr. Kaiser. He hugged him too and said," I love you." Then he left.
Mal noticed Dr. Kaiser standing in the corner, "Jane don't we have business out in the hallway?"
"No." Jane said while talking to the baby."
"Jane." Mal pulled Jane away but Jane stopped and looked at Dr. Kaiser then me before Mal pulled her out of the room.
"How are you two doing?" He asked.
"Have you ever seen a baby this beautiful?"
"Out of the Seven hundred sixty-two I have delivered, between us, she is definitely the most beautiful." I laugh as he just admires the baby. "Nurse Uma, can you get Mrs. LeGume her complimentary burp cloths"
She leaves muttering just loud enough for me to hear, "Maybe in Charmington this shit flies. Lord have mercy."
"I know what your thinking," He said sitting on my bed facing me, "No I don't. That's a lie. What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking, I could never thank you enough for all you have done for me." He leaned in to kiss me but I pulled away, "And I'm thinking your wife's around. And you shouldn't kiss me. The way she looks at you, so much trust. We could have a big drama that gets drawn out for a couple of years and makes everybody miserable, or we could end it right here. No body count."
"So this is goodbye."
I nod, "I will never forget you."
"Another lifetime."
He stood up about the leave but I said, "You deserve homemade but try telling that to a vending machine." I reached inside my bag and took out a moon pie and tossed it to him and said, "Thanks for taking me to the moon, moon pie."
We look at each other one last time, taking each other in before he leaves and I look back down at my baby.
"I didn't know but now I see, sometimes what is meant to be, you saved me. I can heal and I can breathe because I can feel myself believe that everything changes. I swear that I'll remember to say that we were both born today."
I remember about Neveen's card I open and read it, "To my only friend, start fresh. I'm leaving you the pie shop. Name a pie for me when I'm gone." I look up stunned and I see Mal and Jane come back into the room looking sad, and I realize. I started crying about the loss of my friend.
The next day Mal and Jane took me home so I can start my new life.
Sorry everyone, I know it's been a long wait so thank you for being patient with me. I've had a lot of stuff going on this past couple of months.
I did get to see waitress on tour in March and it was amazing totally recommend to see if you are able.
We only have one chapter up which I'm hoping to get up soon.