Chapter 28: Anxiously Waiting
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight.
Bella tried to eat, but she was too nervous. Leah had told her that she had to keep hydrated though, so she drank all the juice. Jacob got her some more, along with a couple containers of bottled water.
While he was busy on the phone, letting all the grandparents know what was happening, Leah showed up. He said his goodbye quickly, so he could see what help was needed.
Leah was in the bathroom already flushing the toilet. She came out and put a hand on Bella's swollen belly, feeling the intensity of the contractions, and measuring the duration. Then she got out her fetoscope and listened for the baby's heartbeat.
"Well, Jacob, looks like you're going to be a daddy today, huh?" She looked over at the shorts he was wearing, and commented. "I hope those are your swim trunks you've got on, because Bella might want you in the tub with her."
He blinked, stupidly.
"Well, don't just stand there. Get a move on. I need a pot of boiling water to put my instruments in. Why are you looking at me like that? Don't worry she's in good hands. I've delivered over seventy babies. Believe me; she'll be fine for a few minutes without you hovering over her like a damn vulture.
"I'm gonna be doing an internal exam, too." She turned to Bella then. "Is it okay if Jacob stays in the room, while I do it? Or would you rather he leave and make some noise with the pots and pans?"
Bella looked at Jacob apologetically. "Jake, can we have a minute alone? Please?"
Leah handed him a container with the instruments and waved him away. "Go on, shoo!"
Man, that Leah was bossy. Sure she may have delivered seventy some babies, but this was different. This was his wife and his baby. He grumbled as he placed the instruments in the bottom of a pot and filled it with water.
His sensitive ears overheard his pack sister telling Bella to breathe normally and try to relax. There was a sharp intake of air, and a loud moan of pain as Leah examined her. It was all he could do to restrain himself from racing to her bedside, as her moaning continued.
As soon as he heard Leah tell his wife that she was progressing nicely, he turned on the burner, and replaced the lid. Then he high-tailed it back to the bedroom to be with the soon-to-be mother of his child.
"Well . . ." He looked at Leah, expectantly.
"She's halfway there. Things are gonna go a lot faster now. I want you two to walk around. That'll speed things up even more."
"Yeah, we were just getting to that part when you showed up." Offering his hand to Bella, he said, "C'mon, honey, let's get this show on the road. I'm anxious to meet the star of this production." He helped Bella out of bed and stood next to her with his arm about what was left of her waist.
"Good job, Jacob, you get a gold star for listening in class."
About a half an hour or so passed while the couple walked around aimlessly. Every few steps or so, Bella would stop, put her arms around Jacob's neck and cling to him as the contraction racked her body. Jacob never felt so helpless in his life, but there was nothing he could do about it. After the last contraction, Bella finally relented and remarked, "I think I need to get in the tub."
Leah replied, "I think you're right, but let me have a listen first."
She touched the scope to Bella's abdomen once more, and nodded her approval. Then she took her blood pressure. "You're doin' great, girl."
Jacob knelt down, outside the tub, facing his love. With each pain, she would grab his neck. As his arms held her, Bella leaned into him, hanging on for dear life. Her low moans were tearing him up. He would do anything to trade places with her.
At one point, Bella got out of the tub on her own to use the bathroom. She suddenly slipped on the wet tarp. Thank god Jacob was there to catch her in time. In the next few minutes, Jacob was placing towels along the outside of the tub to prevent any further mishaps.
In between each contraction, Bella would ask questions, like, "Did you remember to call my dad? Are the dishes all washed? I'm not getting too pruney, am I? Are you going to defrost the dinners I put in the freezer? You and Leah must be getting hungry." Then another wave would hit, and she'd turn all serious again.
Eight hours had passed, and on the last examination, things hadn't progressed much. Leah felt different areas on Bella's abdomen, and made her announcement.
"I'm a little worried. That baby's head should be seated down low in your pelvis, but I can feel it over here." She motioned to the spot with her hand. "That means the shoulders are where his head needs to be. Now, we can take you to the hospital, or we can try a few maneuvers, and see if we can get him to reposition himself."
Bella frowned. "No, I'm not going to any stinkin' hospital. Let's try what you've got in mind."
"Okay, Bella, I need you to get on your hands and knees, and then you're going to rock your hips—forwards, backwards, up and down, side to side, and in circles. I want great, big exaggerated movements."
"Will this work?" Jacob began to get worried too.
Leah pointed down at the bedroom carpeting. "Can't guarantee it, but it's worth a try. Let's go, Bella."
Jacob helped her get on the floor. "Just pretend you're at a yoga class," he commented, attempting to be helpful. He smiled despite the fact that his heart was trying to climb up into his throat. It seemed Bella's penchant for difficult challenges hadn't disappeared completely.
She turned her head to peer at Jacob. "Geesh, I guess after this I can take up pole dancing."
Her sweetheart was propped up on one elbow, lying beside her. He winked at her, and quipped, "Great idea. Can I be your pole?"
She raised one eyebrow as she continued moving her hips round and round. "I thought you already were."
Leah sat on the bed, watching the two. "That should do it. Off your knees, girl. Ineed to check you out again."
Placing her hands on Bella's swollen abdomen once more, Leah felt for the baby's head. "Stubborn little . . ." she muttered under her breath. "Well, he's a little closer to where he should be anyway."
Bella walked around some more and finally returned to the tub. Another couple of hours went by; the pains were longer and more intense, but still no progress was being made.
Leah dragged Jacob into the living room out of Bella's earshot. "I think she needs to go to the hospital, Jake. Can you talk some sense into her?"
"This is my Bella. Does she ever listen to anyone's advice?"
Leah glared at him.
"Okay, I'll try, but don't hold your breath. You know how stubborn she can be."
Jacob knelt by the tub. "Honey, Leah and I both think it would be safer if we took you to the hospital."
Her face turned to stone. "No, I can do this. I'm not going to have some stupid doctor cutting me open."
"Bells, this isn't some game we're playing here. I don't want to lose you. Please, listen to me."
He leaned over the tub and kissed her hair. "Please, Bells . . . please."
"No, I'm not going. It'll be okay, you'll see."
The ticking of the clock on their bedroom wall was nerve-wracking. Her pains were getting stronger and her moans were unsettling him. Leah gave him a look, and he couldn't take it anymore. He stood up, away from the birthing tub and began pacing, running his hands through his hair anxiously. "Bells, you can't do this to me," he shouted. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
He walked over to the dresser, and starting pulling out her clothes and throwing them on the bed.
Leah grabbed him by the arm and hauled him back into the other room. "Get a hold of yourself. This isn't helping. Now go outside and get some fresh air. When you've calmed down, you can come back, but not before. That's all I need is for you to go wolf in front of your laboring wife."
He went out the back door and sat on the step, his head in his hands. Why was she being so stubborn? Every other woman in the world would have gone for medical help hours ago, but not Bella. My god, what would he do if he lost her now? He bowed his head and prayed like he never had before. Let that baby come soon, and let his Bella be okay.
Jacob walked around the yard for a few minutes, reining in his emotions. Leah was right, he had to be strong for his sweetheart. Inhaling a big gulp of air, and with a new resolve, he reentered his home. Going into the bedroom, he knelt quietly, and took Bella's hands in his. Locking his glistening brown eyes with hers, he let his unspoken plea pierce her heart.
She could almost feel his concern. Moved by the tears in his eyes, she agreed somewhat to a compromise. "All right, if this baby doesn't start arriving in the next two hours, then I'll go."