In a Bit of a Hurry

By Marie S

By the time Lachlan got her home Ashley started having contractions beyond the more vague back discomfort she’d had that morning. He was trying to coach her in her breathing while maneuvering over the rutted lane. Both of them wanted the increased comfort of Marie by their side.

He helped her to the porch and ran inside to get her bag which she’d already prepared for the hospital. Lachlan grabbed his cell. He’d have to ring work as he was scheduled to fly this arvo. His paternity leave was about to start early.

Lach sent a prayer of thanks to Himself above for letting him be here when Ashley went into labor. He knew she’d been scared to be alone and without him. The he sent another prayer upward to ask for Ashley and the baby to be alright. A smile lit his face for a moment as he realized that this was the day he was going to become a father. Bloody hell! Where was that bag?

Meanwhile across the farm Egan was driving rapidly across the lane in the opposite direction toward Bud and Marie’s house. He almost drove off the road from distraction as Jessica pulled off his shirt started to dress in her own clothes. He’d remembered to bring her clothes out of his cabin when he went for his keys.

If Bud White saw Jessica clad in nothing but his shirt he knew there’d be trouble and there was enough of a different kind with Ashley. Jessica had told him that Ashley said it was too soon for her to have the baby. Egan knew nothing about having babies except in farm animals. He knew that too early was never good.

The tension was palpable in the cab of his truck. Egan wasn’t going to try to reassure Jessica that everything would be fine when he had no idea whether it was or not.

“Here we go, love.”

Egan pulled up to the front porch with a screeching halt before the White’s house. Jessica shot Egan a shaky smile and was out the door before anything else was said. As he watched her bang on the front door he realized how important this family had become to him in the last few months. It extended beyond Jessica to include Ashley, Marie, Lachlan and even Bud. Also it went well beyond being simply a job.

He’d been a solitary man most of his adult life. His family was gone and he’d been quite happy and content with his life as it was. Egan hadn’t thought about there being something different from what he knew. What he’d found here was very different and he liked it quite a bit.

Egan reached across to open the door for Marie and Jessica as they emerged from the house to save the time of getting out of his truck. Jessica was carrying some of Marie’s medical supplies as she spoke into her cell phone. Jessica handed them to him and he stowed them behind the seat so both the girls could ride in the front with him.

It didn’t take long to realize that Marie was talking to Bud on the phone.

“You don’t have to meet us at their house, Bud. You can meet us at the hospital in Coffs.”

Marie listened to the short burst of conversation from the other end of the phone. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and she nodded her head before responding.

“Okay, Bud. We’ll meet you at Lachlan and Ashley’s house in a few minutes. I love you. Bye.”

She flipped shut the lid of her phone and slipped it into her pocket as she climbed into the cab after Jessica and shut the door.

“Good morning, Egan. Bud will be meeting us at Ashley and Lachlan’s house. He is at the sheriff’s office in The Glen. There may be a full police contingent with him. He’s bringing a police cruiser to transport Ashley to Coffs. He was meeting with John Biebe.”

“G’day, Marie. I’m not at all surprised…regarding the police cruiser or Bud meeting us at the house.”

Egan suppressed a grin until Marie and Jessica both laughed. It helped to break their tension. There was no way that Bud White wouldn’t be there to escort his wife and Ashley to the hospital. And it was a bonzer idea to use the police cruiser. It would be roomier than either his or Lachlan’s truck and the sirens would get them to Coffs hospital much faster.

A few tics later Egan pulled up at the Curry house. Ashley was slowly pacing on the porch with Lachlan following coaching her in something. The girl glanced toward his truck. A huge look of relief passed over her face when she saw Marie. Lachlan shot a nervous glance in their direction and a similar look lit up his face. It was obvious they were scared and looking to Marie for expert help.

Marie hurried from the truck with the assurances that Egan and Jessica would gather and bring all her supplies. She rushed to Ashley’s side.

“Hi, Ashley. So you’re going to make me an Auntie today?” She put her arm around the young woman in comfort and support. There was a sudden easing of tension for both Ashley and Lachlan.

“Oh, Marie. It’s too early. I should still have a few weeks left.”

“At your last visit your doctor told you the baby weighed between four to five pounds. Closer to five by now. That’s big enough, Ash. How close are your contractions? Jessica told me your water broke.”

“They’re six minutes apart, love.” Lachlan had been timing the intervals.

“Oh, another one is staring now. And they’re getting much stronger.” Ashley started her breathing to get through the contraction.

“It’s too soon, Ash. It’s only been five minutes this time. Breathe, love.”

Ashley shot an irritated glance at Lachlan. “Don’t tell me. Tell our baby it’s too close. She has other ideas.” She gripped the edge of the porch at the height of the contraction with whitened knuckles. Ashley finally eased her hand off the post when the contraction began to lessen. A light sheen of perspiration had broken out on her forehead.

“That one really hurt, Marie. I’m not sure how much longer I can walk around.” The petite girl peered at her cousin.

“Five minutes is much closer than I expected your contractions to be, Ashley. It’s time to get you to the hospital. The walking is to help get you through the easy labor before the contractions are close. It seems to me that your labor is not going to be very long.”

Marie was about to suggest they leave for the hospital in Ashley’s car when Bud came roaring down the lane in the large police cruiser with tires screeching and sirens waling. He was out of the truck in a moment. Marie smiled at him. Her husband sure knew how to make an entrance.

“Hi, Honey. I’m glad you’re here. We need to get Ashley to the hospital right away.” She leaned up, kissed his cheek and then whispered in Bud’s ear. “Her labor is progressing rapidly. I’m hoping we’ll make it to the hospital in Coff’s, but I’m not positive. I may have to ask you to pull over for the delivery.” She leaned away from Bud and spoke more loudly.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Bud hardly missed a beat. For a split second the surprise crossed his face and then he went into an all business mode.

“The back seat’s all ready for you Little One. Your chariot awaits princess.” Bud gave Ashley a crooked smile and Marie fell in love with him just a little bit more if that was possible.

Ashley’s face lit up. “You can be a real charmer, Bud White.” She grinned and leaned in to give Lachlan a quick kiss as he slid his hand around her nonexistent waist.

“Let’s go have our baby, Lachlan. He’s ready to say g’day to his daddy.”

“Not as ready as I am, love.” The smile on Lachlan’s face was huge as he helped Ashley to the cruiser.

Ashley stopped before the truck and looked up at it with wide eyes.

“I can’t get up there, Lachlan. It’s too high. It would’ve been a climb before I was pregnant.” She looked first at Lachlan on her right and then at Bud who’d taken up the position on her left side.

“No worries, love. Bud and I have got this taken care of.” Lachlan left Ashley with Bud and scrambled up into the back seat. He held out his arms toward Ashley, but looked at Bud.

“Mate?”

Bud easily swept Ashley up into his arms and handed her to the waiting arms of Lachlan. They eased her into the back seat without difficulty to the accompaniment of Ashley’s giggles.

Egan handed the medical supplies to Bud who stowed them on the floor of the back seat and gave a hand to Marie to jump up into the cruiser. She was only a couple of inches taller than Ashley.

After closing the back door Bud turned to Jessica to see if she needed help into the front seat. She shook her head and smiled.

“Go ahead, Bud. Egan will drive me to the hospital. We’ll be right behind you in his truck.” She smiled at Egan in a way that made Bud’s eyes narrow as he took the two of them in his gaze for a moment. He nodded his head.

“Right.” Bud was up into the cruiser and peeling out of the driveway before Egan and Jessica were even in his truck.

Jessica glanced at Egan as he drove out of the driveway to follow Bud. A small smile passed across her lips.

“I’m glad I changed out of your shirt.”

“Me too, love.” They both laughed as they followed the cruiser out onto the road. Egan wondered if he’d be able to keep up with Bud as his tail lights already were putting distance between the two vehicles. He pressed his foot down on the gas pedal.

Back in the cruiser Ashley was having another contraction which was stronger again than the last. When it was over and she was relaxing in Lachlan’s arms Marie spoke frankly to the two of them.

“I don’t want either of you to be alarmed. It’s time for me to check how far you’re dilated, Ashley. I want to get clean sheets and towels under you before I do that, okay?”

Ashley nodded and glanced up at Lachlan. She looked scared.

“Am I going to make it to the hospital or am I going to deliver here, Marie?”

“I’m not sure, Ash. That’s why I’m going to look to see how far you’re dilated.” She smiled and patted her cousin’s arm.

Lachlan lifted Ashley off the seat as Marie smoothed medical drapes and towels across the back seat. Lach was whispering words of love and encouragement into Ashley’s ear as she stroked his face.

“You’re doing great, love. My brave sheila.” He kissed her fingers and then eased her down onto the prepared seat.

Marie examined Ashley’s cervix and she was nearly at full 10 cm dilation. She could actually feel the top of the baby’s head with the tip of her surgical glove. The baby would be crowning shortly. She massaged the cervix to help it expand completely without hopefully tearing.

“You’re almost fully dilated, Ash, and I can feel your baby’s head. It won’t be too much longer. I’m not sure we’ll make it to Coffs hospital on time. We can do this you two.” She smiled at Ashley and Lachlan. Marie was unsure which of them had more of a deer in the headlight’s expression on their face.

“You’re ready and we’re ready.” She was careful to include Lachlan as his tone would help to set the tone for the delivery. He was crucial to help keep Ashley calm. She was a first time mother who was scared. Marie had to rely on Lachlan to truly be her coach.

Ashley swallowed and nodded. “We’re ready. You didn’t by chance feel a bow on her head did you?” She smiled up at Lachlan with eyes sparkling.

“Too right. We’re ready, Marie. I say he’s coming out with footy shorts on. Or she’ll be wearing those bloody shoes you love so much, Ash.”

Ashley giggled. “Jimmy Choo’s. Your daughter better not come out wearing those heels, Lach. Or she’ll get her first scolding.”

Lachlan had been unable to decide whether he wanted a boy or girl first. He liked the idea of both. He hadn’t told Ashley that at first he’d secretly hoped she was having twins with one of each sex. She’d have hit him over the head with her purse if he’d suggested it. Truly he just wanted a healthy baby.

“You’ll not be reprimanding my sweet little princess that soon, love.” Lachlan gave her a jaunty grin.

“See, Marie. He’s going to spoil her so badly that I’ll have to fight to prevent a wee monster that’s got her father wrapped around her little finger.”

Marie finished preparing everything she’d need. She took off her gloves and disposed of this pair and washed her hands with gel again. Giving them a serious look she fought to keep a grin off her face.

“Considering he already spoils you I’d say that’s a for certain.”

“Are you saying she’s got me wrapped around her little finger?”

Marie laughed out loud.

“I’m saying Ashley has all you men wrapped around her little finger including my husband in the front seat. And if this is a little girl she just may inherit the talents of her mother.”

The men protested…too much. Marie knew Bud had been listening intently even while he drove at breakneck speeds down the highway.

“I certainly hope so.” Ashley grinned at Marie. She wasn’t protesting. And that’s when the next contraction started.

“Breathe, love.” Lachlan coached Ashley in her breathing. An exclamation of pain came from her as she fought to stay with the breathing.

“How long, Lachlan?”

“Only three minutes, Marie.” He continued coaching Ashley and breathing with her until the contraction finally subsided.

“That was the first one I felt I had to push, Marie.” Ashley sank back into Lachlan’s arms to get the short rest between her increasing contractions.

“You both did great.” Marie donned a fresh pair of gloves to check Ashley’s cervix again. As she suspected the baby had begun to crown and she was fully dilated. With the strength of that contraction she suspected the next would come shortly.

“Ashley, your next contraction will be coming shortly and I’m going to ask you to push. Wait until I tell you to push. Keep up your breathing with Lachlan. Bud, how much time until we arrive at the hospital?”

“About twenty minutes, Hon.” Bud’s eyes glanced at hers in the rearview mirror. He was questioning if he should pull over.

“Does the road continue this smoothly, Bud?”

“Yeah, it does, Hon. And this truck has a really smooth ride.”

“Okay, keep going. I’ll call to you if we need to pull over.” Marie looked at Lachlan and Ashley and they nodded. Ashley felt the last thing that she noticed was the movement of the vehicle. And then her next contraction started.

“Oh, not again!” She cried out as she squeezed Lachlan’s hand tightly and focused on her breathing with him. Marie checked her again and massaged the opening of the cervix. Ashley was ready and the baby’s head was emerging.

“Sit her up, Lachlan and then push, Ashley.”

Lachlan eased her up with her back against his chest as Marie positioned her legs.

“Come on, Ashley. Push.”

Ashley screamed and bore down as hard as she could until she ran out of breath.

“Deep breath, Ash. Again.”

“C’mon, love. You can do it.” Lachlan encouraged her.

Ashley prepared and bore down again.

Marie watched the baby’s head emerge.

“The head is out, Ashley. Take a deep breath and push the shoulders out.”

The perspiration beaded on her forehead from her effort. Lachlan helped her sit up even higher and Ashley bore down and gave a final huge push and scream which sent the baby out into the waiting hands of her Auntie Marie.

“That’s it, Ashley. You did it. You can stop pushing for now. She’s out. Congratulations you two. It’s a little girl.” Marie grinned as the baby let out a squeal and took her first breath in the world. She rapidly began to pink up.

Marie did a cursory exam. The baby appeared healthy. She was small. Not more than five pounds, but her lungs were working fine. And there was no meconium in sight for her to have aspirated. Marie said a little prayer of thanks to God.

She wrapped the baby in a blanket and set her on Ashley’s chest before applying the umbilical clamp. Ashley and Lachlan were in awe of the infant girl on Ashley’s chest and there were tears on both their cheeks.

“I’m going to have you cut the cord in just a moment, Lachlan. Are you ready?” She grinned at the two of them.

Lachlan nodded as he was momentarily dumbstruck. Marie had him wash his hands with gel and put on a pair of gloves. Then she showed him where to cut. He positioned the scissors and looked to Marie for reassurance before he cut. She nodded.

“That’s perfect, Lachlan. Right there.” He cut the umbilical cord and handed the scissors back to Marie. And then he took a deep breath which he’d been forgetting to do before grinning at Ashley.

“Look at her, love. She gorgeous. Our tiny beauty.” He beamed proudly.

Ashley nodded before she started having another contraction.

“You have to deliver the after birth now, Ashley. That’s it. Push it out.”

Once she pushed it out Marie placed it in a container for testing at the hospital lab.

Ashley winced as Marie massaged her fundus to make sure her uterus firmed up again.

“Ouch. Marie!”

“I’m sorry, Ash. You know I have to do it.”

“I know. It’s just I was expecting an epidural through all this.” She gave an exhausted and tired grin to Marie, but her eyes and Lachlan’s rarely left their squirming newborn daughter laying on her chest and cradled in her arms. There was a tiny shock of red hair on the top of her head.

“Thank you, Marie. I’ll never be able to really thank you for this.” Tears were slipping down her cheeks and Lachlan gave her a hug and a kiss on her cheek.

“Lucky, lucky, lucky,” Lachlan whispered to himself and then something to Ashley which brought a loving smile to her face.

“Meet Katie Marie Curry. The Katie is for Lachlan’s mother Katherine. Marie is after you. Congratulations Auntie Marie and Uncle Bud. We want you to be our godparents too.”

Marie felt a tear slip down her cheek and she glanced forward at Bud. He had the biggest smile on his face she’d ever seen as he drove with sirens blaring into the emergency entrance of the Coffs hospital.