Chapter 15

They had been in bed for several hours. Jed's soft snoring let Abbey know he was asleep. She wanted to let him sleep as long as he could because a trip to the hospital would come soon. Abbey lay in bed, trying to breathe through contractions. They had started about an hour earlier and were slowly getting more intense. But they were still irregular so Abbey knew that it wasn't time yet.

She rolled out of bed, trying not to disturb Jed. As she made her way to the bathroom, an intense contraction hit.

"Damn!" as she bent over, holding her abdomen.

Jed's eyes flew open and he jumped out of bed. "Abbey! Are you okay?" as he ran to support her.

"No, I'm not. I hurt like hell. I think I'm in labor."

"Contractions? It's too early."

"No Jed, its not. The baby's due in two weeks so it's okay. I knew this could happen."

"YOU KNEW! And you didn't tell me? You let me bring you out here and you KNEW this would happen?"

"Could, Jed, COULD. Calm down. I meant I knew the baby could come at any time. I didn't know it would happen tonight."

Jed stayed frozen in his tracks. But he was soon back to reality. "We need to get out of here. How far apart are they? Has your water broke?"

In spite of the pain, Abbey had to smile at her confused husband. "I'm okay. They're still irregular so I have plenty of time. My water hasn't…well, maybe it has…" as fluid pooled on the floor.

"I'll call the doctor and then we'll leave."

Abbey sat down on the bed, trying to catch her breath between contractions. "Jed, calm down. We have plenty of ….Damn! That one hurt like hell too."

She looked at her abdomen. "Baby, why are you in such a hurry?"

Jed threw on some jeans and a sweatshirt. "Where the hell are my shoes?"

He finally found them and tied the laces. "Let me go warm up the car and I'll meet you downstairs, okay?" Jed didn't wait for an answer as he grabbed his car keys.

Abbey struggled to get down the stairs. She had to pause twice because of the intense contractions. She didn't remember them being so intense so early in labor with Liz. But then this pregnancy had been different from the beginning.

Just as she was making it to the front door, Jed returned.

"Abbey, we can't go anywhere. The snow is coming down heavy and without a four-wheel drive we can't get out of here."

"But Jed, I have to get to the hospi…Damn!" Abbey bent over as another contraction hit.

"Abbey, we're not going anywhere. I would rather deliver this baby here then out in the middle of a snow drift somewhere."

"You might have to. Call Millie. She's got a jeep and I know that will get us out of here. We should have some time at least."

Abbey had just finished her statement when another contraction hit. "Damn! They're getting closer." Catching her breath, she placed her hand on her tight abdomen. "Okay little one, just slow down."

Now the physician in her kicked in. She knew that this baby might not wait for Millie to get here and she would have to talk Jed through the delivery. 'Hell, he passes out in the exam room. I'm in real trouble here.'

Jed came back from making the phone call and asked, "What's next?"

Just then the power went out.

"Oh, shit!"

"Quit cussing, Jed."

"But you…never mind. What do I need to do?"

"Until Millie gets here, the best place for me is the living room. Get a blanket and some pillows. With no power, I need to be on the floor in front of the fireplace. And make the fire bigger. It has to provide light and heat."

The confidence in Abbey's voice was not truly felt. This baby was eager to make an appearance.

So apparently they had no choice. Abbey would have to talk Jed through a home delivery.