Chapter 40

Vic couldn't seem to grasp the concept of what his wife had just said. He just sat there, staring at her like she had two heads. Reba was trying to get his attention. She waved her hand in front of his face, she poked him, nothing. "Vic…"

Vic finally snapped out of it. "Please tell me you're joking? Isn't it too early?"

Reba shook her head. "The doctor said after eight months I could go into labor anytime and it would be safe." Reba gripped her stomach again. "There goes another one!" she said wincing.

Vic shot up and started to panic. "I knew coming here was a bad idea! The hospital is an hour away!" Vic began pacing around and running his hands through his hair. "We're not ready yet! We haven't painted the baby's room. We haven't even gotten the crib yet! How could we put that off? The baby can't come because we're not ready yet!" he yelled.

Reba had to smile at his insanity. "Well ready or not here it comes."

Vic stopped for a moment and calmed himself down because he knew he had to get Reba out of there. "Okay, I'll get the bags and we will go."

"Vic…" Reba said trying to stop him but it was too late. He ran into the room to get their bags.

He came back into the room in a panic. "We don't have enough time to repack anything. Let's go!" Vic said rushing out the door. Reba frowned and was very confused. He just left her sitting there. She winced as what felt like another contraction coming on. Vic came rushing back in the door at that moment. "I'm sorry honey." He said helping her up. He turned off the fireplace and led Reba to the door. "Okay, how are you doing?"

Reba practiced any Lamaze she remembered from Jake but it didn't help. "I would feel a lot better if you would stop touching me." Reba breathed heavily and smacked his hands away.

Vic backed away and locked the door as they walked out. "I'm sorry honey. I only want you to be comfortable."

"Just get me there on time. There is no way I am having this baby in the car or having some truck driver/mid-wife deliver this baby!" she said trying to concentrate on her breathing.

Vic opened the door and helped her into the car. "Everything will be fine." He said assuring her as he shut the door. He paused outside his door and sighed. "At least I hope."

Reba glared at him as he got into the car. "I heard that."

"Just relax." Vic said starting the car. "We will make it there on time."

He pulled a little too quickly out of the driveway and Reba punched him in the arm as she jerked to the right. "We won't get there if you drive like a mad man!"

"Right." He said slowing down. "Sorry." He glanced at her and she seemed to be calming down a bit. "Are you feeling any better?"

Reba nodded and rubbed her stomach. "Their slowing down but not too much, I think we should call the family and tell them to meet us at the hospital."

Vic nodded and dug around for his cell phone. He flipped it open once he found it and groaned. "We have no signal out here!" He yelled throwing it in the back seat.

Reba glared. "We would have once we get into the city limits! Now don't break it." She yelled.

"I'm sorry. I'm in a little panic here. We are an hour away and no matter how much of a beautiful experience I am sure it will be to SEE it, I don't want to be the one to actually deliver my child."

Reba rolled her eyes and breathed. "Just shut up and drive Vic. Your voice is cutting into my head like nails."

Vic looked at her as she relaxed against the seat with her eyes closed and he just let it go. He knew she was in pain and he should just be helpful when she asked for it. Right now at the moment, all he was worried about was getting to the hospital on time. He drove as fast as Reba would let him and it still didn't seem enough. He was so excited that the baby was already on the way but he was so nervous that they wouldn't get to the hospital on time.

Vic glanced over at Reba once they reached Houston. She was able to sleep most of the way and it comforted him that she wasn't in any pain at the moment. Vic pulled over to the side of the road and reached in the back for his cell phone. He luckily now had a signal. He really needed to get a new phone service. He quickly dialed Barbara Jean and Brock's number.

"Hello?" A voice answered after the fourth ring.

"Brock, hey, we're back in Houston." Vic began.

Brock was confused. "Why? Did something happen?"

Vic chuckled. "Yeah, Reba's in labor. We are going to the hospital now, so we should be there in about ten minutes."

Brock's eyes widened. "Okay, I will call Cheyenne and Van. We will all get there soon. How is Reba?"

Vic glanced over and smiled, she was still zonked out. "She's sleeping right now and I am hoping to get here in time."

"So she's doing okay?"

Vic nodded, not even realizing Brock couldn't see him. "Yeah, she is doing great. Just let everyone know."

Brock smiled. "Will do and we will see you at the hospital."

Vic hung up and reached for his keys when he heard Reba stirring. "What are we doing?" she asked sleepily.

Vic smiled and turned on the car. "I just stopped to call the family. I talked to Brock and let him know what was happening. He is going to bring them all to the hospital." Reba groaned. Vic took her hand. "What's wrong honey? You okay?"

Reba nodded and pulled her hand away. "Why did you call them?" she asked, sounding quite annoyed.

Vic frowned. "I thought you would want your family there?"

Reba shook her head. "They don't need to take time to come to the hospital. It's too late. Now let's just go. I can't believe you." She said rubbing her stomach and wincing as another one came on.

Vic sighed and turned on the car. He pulled away from the curb and sped toward the hospital. Of course Reba complained he needed to slow down and he did but he was so worried she would have the baby in the car. Luckily they made it there on time and Vic helped her out of the car, throwing the keys to the valet.

Reba groaned when she saw most of her family at the door. "Mom!" Cheyenne yelled when she saw her mother approaching the doors. "How are you?"

Reba rolled her eyes. "I would feel a lot better if people would leave me alone and stop touching me!" Reba yelled as Vic and Brock both tried to help her. "Where is your sister?" she asked looking around.

"Kyra volunteered to stay with Elizabeth and Danny for us. Now are you sure you're okay?"

Reba glared at her daughter and Cheyenne immediately back away. "For the last time…" Reba said through gritted teeth. "Stop touching me!" She screamed at Vic. "Having you touch me caused this!" She pushed him away and waddled herself into the hospital, her family jogging behind her to catch up.

In the wee hours of the morning Vic and Reba walked lazily into their house. Kyra was informed of the situation and was back at home with the family when they all arrived. Reba frowned as she flopped sadly onto the couch. "It will be all right sweetheart." Vic said, giving her shoulder a slight rub.

Reba brushed him off and sighed as she rubbed her still huge stomach. "You would think after three kids I would be able to notice the difference between labor pains and indigestion."

Vic chuckled and rubbed her stomach, he felt the baby kick beneath his hand. "It will be all right. He or she will be making their appearance soon. Until then we can finally have more time to get the room ready. We have put it off long enough."

"I feel bad that we cut our trip short just because I didn't know the difference."

Vic chuckled. "It will be okay. We can go to the cabin another time. We will go when it's warmer and when we will be able to swim and use the sail boat. We have an even better time." He said grinning, trying to make her feel better.

Reba nodded and sighed. "I guess so. I just wish it would come out already!" she said frustrated. She sighed and looked toward the kitchen. "I need chocolate."

It's been a month since the faithful night that Reba had mistook indigestion for labor pains. She was now over her due date. She and Barbara Jean both were. It was a weird coincidence that everyone found funny but Reba. All Reba could think about was giving birth already. She was tired of being tired all the time and she was always cranky. She hated not being able to do much around the house. The kids were happy to help their mother with the household chores but Reba was tired of not being able to do anything. She wasn't allowed to lift anything anymore. She basically couldn't do anything but lay on the couch and it drove her nuts.

Vic tried to get her mind off of having the baby by taking her shopping. They were finally doing the shopping for the baby's room. They kept the crib and matching changing table they bought in the garage until they painted the room but they couldn't decide on the color. Anything Vic suggested Reba didn't like and every time Reba liked a color he would question it. Reba was getting frustrated. Vic was getting frustrated. They both wanted to just have the baby already but Reba was a lot worse. Vic expected her to break down and panic any day now.

Reba lay sideways on the couch one late afternoon, slightly depressed because she hadn't moved since Vic left that morning. She just lay there, watching the blank television. She talked to her baby that wouldn't come out but she didn't dare do that again. She had been in the middle of a stern lecture to her unborn child when her eighteen year old daughter walked in. She was completely embarrassed but Kyra felt bad for her mom. She was uncomfortable and ready for her child to make its appearance in the world.

"Mom…" Kyra said walking into the living room. "You need to get up." She said glancing at her mother who still hadn't moved.

Reba scoffed. "I don't know what good it will do. I am still pregnant. I have tried everything to go into labor. I tried walking, light exercise, Dr. Parks won't induce labor. She says she would rather wait. I thought about having a c-section but that would leave a horrible ugly scar and I would be in the hospital longer. I even tried sex! That doesn't work either!"

Kyra cringed. "Okay, don't ever say that word again."

Reba rolled her eyes and shifted herself to sit up. Kyra helped her and sat down next to her. "I swear you all think I'm a prude or something. If I was such a prude than how did I end up like this." She said pointing to her stomach.

Kyra still cringed. She didn't like hearing her mother talk about this kind of stuff. She missed her mom that gave her carrot sticks and juice boxes when she went on tour with her band. "Look Mom, sitting around here all depressed is not going to be good. I am sure your blood pressure is high by just sitting here and stressing about it."

"I am not stressing!" she screamed.

Kyra was taken aback. Her mother never screamed at her like that. She voiced her opinions firmly to her yes but she never screamed. Kyra decided it was time to give up and she was relieved when Vic walked in through the door. "Vic, mom is going nuts." Kyra said as she bolted from the room.

Vic smiled as he set down his things and walked over to her, holding something behind his back. "Hey." He said cheerfully. "How was your day?"

Reba scoffed at him and cross her arms across her chest. "How do you think?" she said coldly.

Vic frowned and sat next to her. He brought the dozen of red roses he was holding behind his back and held them in front of her face. "I bought these for you."

Reba took them from his hand, looked at them for a moment, and then tossed them to the side. "Big deal."

"Honey…" Vic said placing a loving hand on her. Reba pulled away and tried to get away but her stomach prevented her. "Sweetie, please, I know it's frustrating. I know it's hard but you can't just sit here all day."

"Why not?" she asked frustrated, "There is nothing else I can do. I can't lift anything. I can't do any housework. I can't do anything!"

Vic frowned and pulled her close to him and she gladly accepted his comfort. "What do you say we get out of here? We can go pick out paint. That is the one thing that is keeping us from finishing the baby's room. Maybe it will make you feel better." He said smiling.

Reba sighed. "It might but we never agree on any color for the room."

"Well…" Vic said pausing. "I will be more reasonable and after we get the paint we can go out to dinner, just the two of us."

Reba smiled and nodded. "Okay, let's go."

Vic helped up his wife and then helped her upstairs to change because she said the outfit she was wearing wasn't looking right. Vic just agreed with everything she wanted to do, well almost everything, anything that didn't harm her or the baby because if he didn't she would be cranky for the rest of the day and since she was pregnant she was meaner.

Once she was dressed he left money for Kyra and Jake for dinner and helped his wife into the car. Reba did complain about the way he was driving. That was a new thing she liked to talk about, his driving. She said it bounced the baby and it wasn't good. Vic had to think if this had anything to do with the fact she was scared of losing the baby. Vic drove as slowly as he could for Reba and they arrived at Sears about an hour later…not really but it seemed to Vic like an hour the way he was driving.

"Why do you feel the need to touch me all the time?" Reba asked as Vic tried leading her into the store.

Vic frowned. "I am only concerned for you and having me touch you never bothered you before."

"Yeah well it does now." She said a little annoyed.

She walked through the door and went straight to the left that led to the Home Improvement section. She went straight to the wall that had the paint samples. Vic walked up beside her and just stared at the wall until she made a suggestion. He didn't dare want to ask himself because he was afraid she would just start yelling at him at how stupid of a color it would be to paint the room.

"Its never gonna happen!" she suddenly said. She turned to Vic with her hands on her hips.

Vic raised an eyebrow. "It will happen. We just need to pick a color and…"

"No." she said shaking her head. "It's never coming out!" she said pointing to her stomach.

Vic was confused. "What?"

"It's lodged in there and it's stuck! It's not coming out!"

Vic had to hold back a chuckle at her irrational thinking. He looked around, hoping she wasn't causing a scene with her yelling. "Honey…"

Reba shook her head and stepped away a bit. "No, I will not calm down. Don't tell me to calm down because I know that's what you are going to say. It just keeps growing, just getting bigger all the time. I forgot what it feels like not to be expanding! I've been doing everything to try and make it come out but it won't! I'm going to be carrying a thirty year old baby inside of me! I am tired of being pregnant. I want booze. I want a beer, a jello shot, a pink squirrel, and a side car and I want to give birth!" she said practically screaming.

Vic looked around and saw everyone starring at them. He smiled and led Reba to a secluded area. "Honey you need to calm down and just relax."

Reba shook her head. "Not till I'm skinny again."

"This is not good for you and the…"

"The baby." Reba finished with a roll of her eyes. "Yes I know but I am tired. I am just…so tired." She said, the tears threatening to fall.

Vic pulled her into his arms and held her close. "Honey I know. I know I say it a lot but you do need to calm down and if I could take over for you I would but I don't have the equipment to have the baby. You need to relax or you are going to go into labor when you're not ready. When the baby is ready he or she will make an appearance. I want you to calm yourself down or I will take you home and make you go to sleep." He said firmly.

Reba looked at him and knew he was serious. He could make her do anything, especially with those eyes. Reba sighed. "All right, I am just a little…"

"Crazy." He said finishing for her.

Reba chuckled and looked down at her feet shyly. "How loud was I back there?"

Vic shook his head. "Not loud."

Reba nodded. "Yeah right." Reba sighed and walked back to the wall of paint samples. "Now, after my break down, we need to decide what color we plan on painting the room."

Vic shrugged. "I don't know."

"What about yellow? Its gender neutral and once I finally do give birth we can give it more definition with a border." She turned to Vic. "What do you think?"

"Why does everyone think yellow is gender neutral?"

Reba rolled her eyes and groaned. "Vic…"

"I mean…" he said glancing at the samples. "Have you ever seen a guy with a yellow room?"

Reba rolled her eyes. "Is there something I can help you with?" A voice asked.

Reba turned and smiled when she saw a Sears's employee standing there. "Yes, I would like three cans of the custard yellow." She said pointing to the specific sample.

He nodded. "Right away."

The employee left and Vic stood there, starring at her. "We didn't agree on custard yellow." He said following her as she followed the employee.

Reba rolled her eyes. "I am deciding for the both of us so we can get home and paint."

Vic frowned. "I still don't think yellow is gender neutral." Reba just rolled her eyes again.

End of Chapter