"And you know you can call me whenever?"
"Yes Kevin...you have told me that like three times in the past five minutes alone."
A smile crossed his features, "Just wanna get it through that thick skull of yours."
"Bite me,ok?"
"Lila!"
She finally laughed for the first time that day, "I'm just kidding! And I'm sorry for being so mean..but I am stuck in this stupid bed and I'm as huge as a house!"
"And I know the hormones are getting to you.," He said crossing his arms in front of him.
She nodded, "That too."
He smiled again, "It's okay..I've learned to live with it while I was home."
"I can't believe you're leaving...and I understand that you have to...but it's going to be weird not talking to you every day.."
"Well..I'll just have to call you every day, ok?"
"Ok..send the guys my best?"
He nodded, "I will..I'm sure they'll be wanting to call too.."
"That'll be great."
"And when the munchkin comes, I'll be here."
"Promise?"
"I promise Lila. Mary and my mom both know to call me, they have my cell, my home, and my pager, as well as the guy's cells and home numbers. Somehow I'll get contacted."
She nodded, looking at the blanket that covered her, "I never thought...that I'd be going through this alone..you know?"
He sat down on the bed next to her, "I know you're scared Lila. But you've got alot of people there for you..you know that, right?"
"Yeah..I am..scared. This is a scary thing."
"Yeah..but it's also exciting. I can't wait to be able to buy the kid things."
She smiled, "You better go."
"I know...you okay?"
She nodded, "Yep..call tonight?"
"I will..you get some rest, ok?"
She nodded again, "I will Kevin..have a safe flight."
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head, "You have to take care of yourself Lila..and I'll be on the first flight here when it happens."
"Ok..and I will."
He stood up and gathered his things, "Bye Lila."
"Bye Kevin."
The door shut as he walked out to his car.
Lila sighed as she was alone again. She understood that Kevin had a job to do but that didn't mean she wanted him to go all the way to Orlando. She had asked, once, if it was absolutely necessary for him to go back to Orlando right at that point. He said he didn't want to, but the label was pushing for a new album and in order to do that, the group was going to have to go do some pre-recording. In Orlando.
Lila was about two weeks from her due date and still on bed rest. Most of the time she was just plain bored out of her mind. Mary was off of work now and would try to keep Lila occupied and entertained but even she realized how happy it made Lila when Kevin would come for a visit. It was a riot to watch him, Lila, and the other guys together. They would joke and laugh and pick on one another till someone was in tears; usually from laughter. It was as if they had known one another for years, not several weeks.
Mary poked her head into the room, "You okay?"
Lila nodded from her bed, "Yeah..I'm ok."
"You sure?"
"Yeah.."
"Ok...need anything? I'm about to run to the store."
"Nope, I'm good.."
Mary smiled, "Ok..I should be back in like twenty minutes or so, you know the number if you need me."
"I'll be fine Mary, I promise."
She nodded, "Ok..I'll be back soon then."
"Ok."
The next few days passed by uneventfully. Lila spent most of her time up in her room in bed watching soap operas and talk shows. She loved talk shows. Kevin and all of the guys had called her at least once.
She was home alone now since Jack was at work and Mary had some errands to run. She was also waiting for Nick to call, it was his day and time to call. She smiled as she thought of him; he certainly was the epitome of the blonde-haired/blue-eyed God. He was so cute, and so sweet, you couldn't help but love him. Plus, he had been through 4 of his mom's pregnancies and kinda knew what he was talking about. The phone rang and she picked it up, "Hello?"
"Hey!"
"Hey Nick! How are you?"
"I'm doin' good..how are you?"
"Tired..and my back really hurts."
"really?"
"Yeah..probably from lying in bed for like 2 months."
He laughed, "Yeah..that'll do it to ya..."
"How's everything goin' down there?"
"Good, good. I'm actually on my way to the studio now. We've got like 2 tracks down."
"Is that good?"
"Yeah..it's pretty good. We're actually getting some work done, so Kev's excited."
Lila smiled, "He said he wasn't having to yell at you all too bad yet."
"Yeah..he hasn't pulled the dad act too much just yet..but I'm waiting for it to all just explode."
"He loves you guys though."
"I know, and we appreciate it. He's my big brother..well, they all are."
"So..when are you all going to come visit me?"
"Well..Kevin said he's going home after we finish recording next week...probably sometime early next month. Plus, we gotta see the baby when it's born."
"Hey! What did I tell you about calling it an 'it'?"
Nick laughed, "But you just did too!"
"I know!"
He laughed again, "Oh well..soon, right?"
"Yep. Goin' to the doctor's tomorrow morning."
"Oooo fuuun."
She rolled her eyes, "Yea..I love the doctor..they just get to poke and prode all the want while you lay there practically dying from pain."
"Thanks for the visual Lila."
"No problem."
"It's not THAT bad, is it?"
"No, not really. I just don't like doctors or hospitals...although, I don't really think anyone does."
"True."
"Ouch! Damnit!"
"What?"
"Nothin'"
"You sure?"
She nodded, although she knew he couldn't see her, "Yeah..it was nothing."
"Alrighty..I gotta get off here and go do some work."
"Ok..tell the guys I said hi?"
"I will..I think Brian'll call tomorrow."
"Yep..it's his day. And tell AJ to stop the smoking and that all the ladies love his voice just as raspy NOW without the nicotine helping."
"He told you??"
"Yep..I might as well be your all's therapist."
He laughed, "Should we pay by the house?"
"Yep..pretty much."
"Ok..I will...take care and I'll talk to you later Lila."
"Bye Nicky."
"Bye."
She hung up the phone and turned the tv volume up. Her back was really beginning to bug her.
About an hour later, Lila couldn't sit still. Mary still wasn't home, and she was getting antsy. The pain was getting worse now.
It was then, everything dawned on her. She was in labor.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!," She exclaimed as she got out of the bed slowly and stood up.
She heard the front door open and Mary yell up the stairs, "Lila! I'm back!"
Lila gripped the stair railing as she made her way out of her room. A contraction ripped through her and the urge to rip open her insides came. She gritted her teeth as she tried not to scream. "Mary?," She said shakily.
"Yes, dear?"
"I think...I think we need to get to the hospital."
Mary appeared at the foot of the stairs, the smile dropping off her face, "No!"
Lila nodded, "Yeah.."
Mary hurried up the stairs and helped her sit down, "Sit right there, let me go grab your things and we'll be on our way. Damn! I have to call Jack, and Ann, oh and Kevin!"
Lila put her head in her hands as she fought the urge to burst into tears. She was scared to death now, all this was really becoming reality now. And she wasn't sure she really wanted it just yet. She didn't think she was ready.
Mary was pacing back and forth across the room, looking from the clock back to Lila and back again. Lila sat in the hospital bed, her eyes following Mary back and forth. "Mary? Mary? HELLO! Mary!"
Mary looked to her, "Yes?"
"Sit? please?"
She sighed and did so, "Ok..sorry..I'm just nervous."
"Me and you both."
Mary smiled and took her hand, "You'll be okay Lila."
Lila nodded, "I hope so.."
"do you feel okay? Any pain?"
"No..the epiderayl is now my best friend in the WHOLe world."
Mary smiled, "I bet...Jack should be here soon, and Ann too.."
"Did she get ahold of Kevin?"
"I don't know yet. She said if she hadn't by the time she left that she'd get Tim or Jerald to call him and let him know."
"He won't be here in time..he promised!"
"I know, honey, but these things just can't be helped..this baby is coming and I don't think he..or she wants to wait for Kevin."
Lila nodded, "Mary...I wish Scott was here.."
"I know sweetie..so do I, truthfully. He'd be in here tellin' us to cheer up...and be telling his corny jokes trying to get us to laugh."
"His jokes were always SO bad. He couldn't tell one for anything."
"I know..I think he got that trait from his father."
Lila smiled, "I miss him.."
"Me too..."
A nurse poked her head in the door, "Mrs. Landon? Your husband is on the phone."
Mary nodded, "Ok..I'll be right back Lila."
It was nearing midnight and Lila was still in labor. The drugs were wearing off and she was very uncomfortable again. She was having trouble sleeping and couldn't find a comfortable position for more than five minutes. Jack and Ann had arrived and were outside with Mary and the doctor. The anesthesologist came in with a nurse and turned on the bedside lamp, "I've heard you need me again."
Lila nodded and smiled at the young man, "Yes..I need you and your magic drugs."
The nurse helped her sit up and the anesthesologist began to inject her with drugs. "This is also a bit of a sleeping sedative so you can get some rest tonight, as well as be comfortable."
"So, no baby tonight?"
"Don't think so. You're still at 5."
Lila groaned, "This sucks!"
The nurse smiled, she had been very nice and had been offering to get Lila magazines, books, anything to keep her entertained and comfortable. "That's what they all say.," She said, her name being Alison.
"I'm not having another one after this!," Lila said as she winced in pain.
"They all say that too."
"There, all done."
Allison smiled, "See? Not too bad."
"Not that time."
Alison helped her back into bed, "Now, try to get some sleep. I'll send Mrs. Landon back in later, ok?"
"Ok..thanks."
"No problem."
Lila laid on her back, staring at the ceiling. She could feel the drugs beginning to take effect as her eyes got heavy. Tears threatened to overflow from her eyes and she wiped them away as the slipped down the sides of her face. She couldn't do this alone, and she was practically...alone.
The woman that had been in the room with her when she checked in had been nice enough. But what made it the worst was that she had the most wonderful man coaching and helping her through her pre-labor pains. Her husband was wonderful, holding her hand, encouraging her, making her laugh; everything Lila didn't have at that point. She wanted more than anything to have Scott by her side. But she knew that wasn't possible. The next best solution was Kevin; but so far he was MIA. No one could get ahold of him, he either didn't have his cell on and wasn't at home and he wasn't answering his pages. Jerald and Tim were working on getting ahold of the other guys to tell them what was going on.
Lila sniffled a little as she tried not to just start all out sobbing. Life sure wasn't fair sometimes.
"Ok Lila..I believe we're ready to push."
"NOW?!"
"Yep..you're ready."
"N..no I'm not!"
"Come on Lila, you can do it!"
"I just don't think I'm ready for this...at all!"
"Come on, bear down and push. This baby wants out."
"Now!"
At 7:15 a.m. the next morning a healthy, 7 lb., 4 oz. baby boy was born to Lila. His name? Justin Patrick.
He made his way through the winding halls, his clothing in disarray, his hair awry. He was worn out from the long flight but he didn't care, pure adrenaline was pumping through him. Nick had finally called Kevin about 3 a.m. saying that Tim had been calling him about every fifteen minutes and that Lila was in labor. Kevin had dropped his cell phone, it was broken. He lost his pager and he didn't get home until about midnight and had gone straight to bed before Nick had woken him up. Trying to get a flight from Orlando to Lexington was harder than it sounded. He would either have a layover or have to go from Orlando to Texas to Detroit and then to Louisville. He finally got a flight about 6 that morning and flew into Louisville International and drove to Lexington from there.
He walked by the baby nursery on his way to the nurse's station and stopped to look at all the bundles that lay in front of the long window. He smiled and got one of the nurse's attention. She walked out, "Can I help you?"
"Yeah..my friend, Lila Robertson, had a baby this morning."
The nurse smiled, "Oh yes, I'm Alison, I was on duty last night. Come on, I'll show you the baby."
"Are..are you sure?"
Alison nodded, "Sure, come on in. I heard alot about you last night."
"Really?"
Alison led him inside the room,"Yeah, I was trying to keep her occupied while she got an epiderayl..she was telling me all about you and her friends."
Kevin smiled, "Is she okay?"
"Yeah, I think she's resting now. Here he is."
"He?"
"Baby boy. Justin Patrick. 7 pounds, 4 ounces."
Kevin peered into the incubator and smiled, "Wow.."
"They all say that."
"Can I see her?"
"Sure..her room is 445, be quiet though, ok?"
"Yeah..thanks Alison."
"Not a problem."
Kevin exited and walked down the hallway and past the nurses station. He peeked into the waiting room but didn't see Mary, Jack, his mom or brothers, so he figured they had probably gone home to change or get something to eat. He found the room number easily and walked in quietly.
The room was dark, as the curtains were drawn closed. Lila was on her side, sleeping. Kevin snuck in and put his things down on one of the chairs. The noise woke her and she rolled over. "Kevin?"
He smiled, "Hey."
"You came."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently, "Course I came. Took everyone awhile to get ahold of me, but I'm here."
"You look tired."
"I am..how're you doing?"
"I'm sore as hell."
"I thought no cussing when the baby came."
"I think that rule will have to be evaluated."
Kevin smiled, "Guess so."
"Pull up a chair."
He did so and sat down next to her bed. "Did you see him?," She asked fighting off a yawn.
"I did, your nurse Alison took me to see him. He's beautiful."
She smiled softly, "I can't believe he's actually here."
"Me neither."
She smiled, "You look like hell Kevin."
"I feel like Hell. I didn't get home till midnight, Nick called at like 3, I caught a flight to Louisville at 6, and am here now."
"You should get some sleep."
"You too.."
Their conversation dwindled as both succumbed to their exhaustion. Kevin was sleep with his head on his hand while Lila was in her bed, sleeping good for the first time in ages.
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