Chapter 17
"Jed, listen to me. You have to do this. I can't….Jed, please! This baby is coming and you have to do it." She lay back on the blanket, trying to breathe through the pressure.
She lay back, catching her breath, and at the same time praying that help would arrive soon.
"Jed, I need you. There's no one else. You can do it. I know it. You can…' Abbey stopped talking as another contraction grabbed her focus.
He looked at his wife trying to remain calm in the face of his hesitancy.
He knew she needed his help. More so than anytime else in their marriage. But fear was overwhelming him.
This was the time that Jed panicked. He could hold hands, he could give her verbal support, he could gather materials, but actually deliver a baby? Hyperventilating, he dropped Abbey's hand and moved slightly away from her.
Abbey looked over to her husband. His rapid breathing, the sweat on his forehead, all signs of a panic attack.
She had to get his attention. Had to somehow get past his fear.
But then another contraction hit and the pressure intensified.
"Jed!" she screamed. "Help me now!"
That finally brought his focus back to the situation. Jed finally realized that Abbey needed help. His help. There was truly no one else to step in. He had to concentrate on her right now.
Panic would just have to wait.
Taking a deep, calming breath he moved back to her side.
"Okay. What do I do?"
An audible sigh of relief came from Abbey. "Thank God!"
Abbey spread her legs, knowing quite well what Jed would see. "Okay, take your fingers and feel below for the baby's head. Look and see if you can see hair."
"I see hair. What's next?"