Months had passed as they always did. The sun rose and set. People came and went from the shop. Everything was normal until one morning as the all sat in the kitchen talkingn Inez felt a sharp pain, and something wet pool in her chair.
"Ah!" Inez yelped a little scared.
"What's the matter baby girl?" Maybelle ask placing her fork down.
"My water broke." Inez said sitting in horror. The table began to rattle as everyone got up and did their jobs just like they had practiced. Maybelle helped Inez to the car, while Seaweed got the Carseat and bag and Corny got the keys and Inez's bag.
They got Inez to the hospital and into the delivery room. The contractions were far enough apart for her to rest a little in between them, but when they hit her, they hit her hard.
"May you stay here with Inez, Seaweed and I will go get Jamal." Corny said grabbing his keys once more. Him and Seaweed flew over to Jamal's place and pounded on the door.
"Hey guys I was just comming to pick up Inez for school." Jamal said grabbing his backpack, as he opened the door.
"She's not going to school today and neither are you." Seaweed said grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the house.
"What? Why not?" Jamal ask very confused as he was shoved into the back of the car.
"Inez is in labor and there is no way in hell you're missing the birth of your baby." Corny explained speeding back down to the hospital. Jamal's eyes got big and round in horror. In just hours he was going to be a father.
They pulled up to the hospital and Seaweed and Corny jumped out immeditly but Jamal sat frozen.
"Yo comon!" Seaweed yelled through the door. Jamal still sat frozen. Seaweed opened the door and drug him out the car, practically dragging him into the hospital.
"Hey you have to get it together before you get in here." Seaweed said as they stood outside of the delivery room.
"If you are scared she'll be 100x more scared and that kind of stress ain't good for the baby, expecially during labor." Corny explained. Jamal nodded, calming a bit. He opened the door and caught Inez in between contractions.
"Jamal!" Inez said holding out her hand so he could take it. He took her hand and kissed the back of it.
"Hey Jamal." Maybelle said greeting him.
"Hello Mrs.Collins." Jamal said being very formal for some reason.
"Boy please, call me mom." Maybelle said, waving his formalness off. Jamal smiled and nodded. Him and Maybelle sat there and talked until they both got a very tight squeeze on their hands.
"They are 5 minutes apart now." Maybelle said re-setting her watch.
"Jamal will you leave for a second honey?" Maybelle ask, "Go get the doctor while you're out there."
"Yes ma'am." Jamal said, leaving the room.
"Look baby, 17 years ago I was just were you are. Three years later I was were you where again, and in about 8 months I'll be where you are again." Maybelle said.
"Momma you're pregnant?" Inez ask.
"Yes, but that's not the point. The point is I've been here. I know what this is like. You are not alone. Okay?" Maybelle told her. Inez nodded as another contraction hit her.
"3 minutes." Maybelle said. Inez curled up in pain, clutching Maybelle's hand.
"Look baby girl," Maybelle said as Inez's contraction subsided," nobody knows i'm pregnant except for you. That means you can't tell anybody. Not even your brother. Not even Jamal. Okay?" Inez nodded in understanding.
Another conraction hit a minute later and Maybelle knew it was time. She knew all the boys were listening in so she called for Jamal. He came in with the doctor and went next to Inez and grabbed her hand.
"Congratualations Mrs.C." Jamal said letting her know that he heard their conersation.
"Did Corny hear?" Maybelle ask as the doctor prepared Inez.
"Nope. Only Seaweed and I." Jamal said kissing the back of Inez's hand.
"Well I should give him some practice." Maybelle said kissing Inez's forehead.
"I'm going to go get daddy and he'll take my place for a minute. Okay?" Maybelle told Inez. Inez nodded and closed her eyes.
Maybelle stepped out of the room and got bombarded by Corny. He scooped her up in his arms and gave her a kiss, startleing her. After a moment she relaxed into the kiss and let his arms hold her up. He pulled away and just looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Corny said.
"Seaweed..." Maybelle said warningly.
"No I heard him and Jamal talking about it." Corny admittited.
"Yes i'm pregnant. No i'm not kidding. I'm 6 weeks along. I'm fine." Maybelle said before Corny could open his mouth. Corny just smiled and kissed her again.
"Get in there with your daughter. She needs you, and you need practice." Maybelle said breaking their kiss. He nodded, let her go and went into the room with Inez. Maybelle plopped in the chair next to Seaweed and took a long sip of ther coffee. Seaweed reached over while Maybelle's eyes where closed and placed a hand on her stomach.
"Hi little dude or dudette! It's your big brother, Seaweed." Seaweed said rubbing small circles on Maybelle's belly.
"Would you stop it boy?" Maybelle said laughing and swatting his hand away. They both sat there laughing until Jamal came bursting out the room all the color drained from his face.
"She grabbed me by the collar and yelled 'What did you do to me' and told me to come get you." Jamal said to Maybelle. Maybelle got up from the chair and made her way to the room.
"Momma!" Inez screamed in pain.
Maybelle went to the other side of her and held onto her hand.
"Momma's right here baby girl." Maybelle said wipeing her head of sweat.
"Alright Inez, it's time to push. Okay?" Dr.Harris said. Inez nodded and prepared herself.
"Push one good time for me okay?" Maybelle said once Dr.Harris gave her the nod. Inez pushed her hardest clutching Maybelle's and Corny's hands. She couldn't push anymore and collapsed.
"Good job princess." Corny said in encouregment.
"Do it again baby girl." Maybelle said. Inez pushed her hardest again.
"Mommy it hurts!" Inez wimpered.
"I know baby. Mommy knows, but you're doing so good. Okay?" Maybelle said wipeing her forhead again. After an hour of pushing and tears Inez felt pressure release and a loud wail.
"You did it baby girl." Maybelle said placing her forehead on Inez's. Inez decided that she wanted Maybelle to cut the cord, and she did. They got the baby cleaned off, swaddled, and handed to Inez.
"He kinda looks like you momma." Inez said.
"It runs in the family. You and Seaweed look almost identical to your G-mommy." Maybelle said.
"Ma'am, do you know what you are going to name him?" the nurse ask.
"Yes. Jamison Alexander Stubbs." Inez responded. The nurse wrote it down and left the room. Corny and Maybelle spent the day at the hospital while Jamal went to school and Seaweed finished the nursery.
"Alright baby, Jamal's back and his mom's here too. We're gonna go home. Okay?" Maybelle said, later on that night. Inez nodded and gave them kisses goodbye, drifting to sleep.