Angie’s eyes flew open. She took a deep breath and sat up. It was June, and it was quite hot. As she walked across the room to turn on her fan, the pain hit again. It was time, she knew it was. The baby was due. Angie walked down the hall to Mr. and Mrs. Hanson’s room. She knocked on the door, breathing deeply, and telling herself to be calm. Mr. Hanson opened the door and took one look at Angie.
“Diana, wake up. Angie’s in labor,” He said, walking back into his room. Mrs. Hanson got out of bed quickly. Another contraction seized Angie. She had never been very pain tolerant, and this was only the beginning. Mr. Hanson was now dressed, and waking up his older two sons. Taylor came running down the hall, his eyes wide.
“You’re having the baby now?” He asked, excitedly. Angie nodded. Mrs. Hanson took Angie’s arm, and helped her downstairs.
“You’re not coming, Taylor,” Walker told his son. Taylor’s face formed a scowl.
“It’s my baby, of course I’m coming!” He snapped.
“Oh believe me, I know it’s your baby, and you are staying,” Walker said, opening the door. Taylor began to walk toward it, and Isaac grabbed his arm. Angie looked at Taylor, not saying a word. She walked out to the car and got in. As she was sitting down another contraction came. This time it was a little bit harder than the others were. Angie cried out in pain. She tried not to cry, but she hated pain. The tears began to stream down her face. Mrs. Hanson squeezed her hand, and told her it would be all right. Angie concentrated on her steady breathing. She tried to remember everything she had learned in the birthing classes. Everyone seemed to be moving so fast now. In a few minutes they were at the hospital, checking in. Angie was soon lying in a hospital bed. The contractions began to hit harder. Angie bit her lip to keep from screaming. Was this supposed to be going this fast?
“Okay, sweetheart,” The nurse said, “Take a deep breath.” Angie nodded, holding tightly to the railing on the side of her bed. Mrs. Hanson took her hand and talked to her. Angie didn’t really pay attention to what she said. She wanted Taylor there. The contractions were about three minutes apart by now, and Angie was sobbing. Why did having babies have to hurt so much? She vowed she’d never have another. This was just too much. Another contraction came. Angie screamed and squeezed Mrs. Hanson’s hand.
“Well, it’s certainly coming quickly, isn’t it?” The doctor said, walking into the room.
“It hurts,” Angie whimpered. She screamed again. She tried to look on the bright side. At least the pain would be shorter since the baby was coming so quickly.
“I’m guessing we won’t even have to wait another five minutes for this one,” The doctor said. Angie was still concentrating on her breathing practices.
“Hurry, hurry,” She told the baby. It was hurrying, all right. Another contraction.
“Holy fuck!!!” Angie screamed. Mrs. Hanson cringed, but didn’t say anything. The doctor peered between Angie’s legs.
“Okay, Angie, I want you to start pushing,” He said. Angie squeezed Mrs. Hanson’s hand. She pushed when the next contraction came, letting a scream of curses fly.
“Come on, you can do it,” The doctor encouraged. The sweat was pouring down Angie’s face. She took a deep breath as the next contraction came. Push. Scream and curse. Angie felt like she was being ripped apart.
“The head is coming! Push!” The doctor exclaimed. Angie pushed as hard as she could. She took a breath and pushed again.
“I’ve got it!” It’s a girl!” The doctor said. Angie was sobbing. She couldn’t believe it was all over. She had a daughter. Everything seemed to spin around her. Mrs. Hanson wiped Angie’s hair off of her forehead. She was smiling, and had tears in her eyes. Angie took a few deep breaths. The nurses were cleaning the baby off. The baby, her daughter. Angie’s heart was bursting. She tried to push the nagging thoughts of someone taking her, out of her mind. They handed the screaming newborn to Angie. She looked down at the pink baby.
“Shhh…” She said, softly. She thought that her daughter was beautiful. Even if she was red and screaming louder than anything Angie had ever heard. It was her baby. She had carried it, and she gave birth to it.
“I wish I could have been there,” Taylor said, with a sulking voice.
“No you don’t,” Angie laughed, “It was really loud.”
“I don’t care. I still can’t believe it’s happened, you know?”
“Me either.”
“What are we going to name her?”
“I don’t have any idea!”
“How about Katie?” Angie was quiet for a moment.
“I think that would be great. How about Kathleen Diana? Partially after your mother.”
“And we can call her Baby Katie.” Taylor laughed.
“Yeah. Baby Katie. Our baby, Katie.” Angie sighed.
“I’m going to let you go so you can sleep, okay?” Taylor said.
“Okay.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” Angie hung up the phone. She lay back on the flat hospital pillow. She could hear distant noises in the maternity ward. She laughed softly to herself. She had gone through all that not long ago. It was awe-inspiring. She couldn’t imagine herself taking care of a child. She had never pictured herself as a mother. Now she was one. For the first time in a long time, Angie prayed. She didn’t know if it would help or anything, but it made her feel a little better. She asked for the help to be a good mother. The best she could be. And that baby Katie would always know she was loved.