Chapter 77
Dee was getting herself ready to head to work when there was a phone call.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Denise Winchell?” the caller asked.
“This is she. What can I do for you?” Dee replied.
“Hi, this is Mrs. Johnson, the editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine. We would like to do a feature article about your latest designs and your company. Would you be interested?” the lady on the other end asked.
“Would I? Yeah! This is a chance in a lifetime. What do I need to do?” Dee asked excitedly.
“Well, we would like to meet with you next week, with a photographer, and do an interview. Could you bring along some of your designs and a few models? We will photograph everything, to give you some more exposure and then get all the information we need. We would like to put the article in the May issue, so the sooner we get started, the more time we have. Let’s say, next Friday, March 31 at 10:00 am here in our studios in New York. We will make all the transportation arrangements and call with more information. See you then.” Mrs. Johnson said as she hung up.
“OH MY GOD!!! Kevin!! Come here, hurry!” Dee yelled down the hallway.
Kevin scrambled as quickly as he could down the hallway, thinking there was some emergency. “What’s the matter Dee?” he panicked.
“You will never believe who just called?!” she screamed in excitement.
“Who?!” Kevin asked exasperated.
“Mrs. Johnson from Cosmopolitan Magazine. They want to do an article on my work and designs!! This is so exciting, it will bring so much press to my work!!! This is unbelievable! The only problem, I don’t have any models working for me that I can take. I need to bring a few models, next Friday, to show off my designs for a photo shoot.” Dee said, starting to get worried.
“Don’t worry Dee. I have an idea. Let me make a few phone calls, and see what I can do.” He said as he walked off to make some phone calls.
After about ten minutes, he returned with some good news. “Well, Dee, you have three males and one female. Will that be good enough?” he asked.
“Yeah...that is great! Who is going to do it?” she asked surprised.
“Well, me, Brian, AJ, and Leighanne. Howie and Kat can’t, they will be outta town, and I don’t think Heather and Nick are up to it. But, we will all be there. Is that okay?” Kevin asked.
“That is wonderful!!! I am sure you will look great in the designs. Thank you so much!” she said sweetly and then kissed him.
“You are most welcome.” He replied and returned the kiss.
*** *** ***
“Nick, my back is killing me, and I think I ate something that is making Little Bits angry. The baby has been moving around in my tummy like crazy. It’s like it is having ballroom dance lessons in there.” I said as I tried to stand up.
“Here, let me help you. Maybe if you sit over on this stool, I can rub your back a little. I know you could use a full massage, but I don’t think it is that easy.” He said as he walked across the room to help me up.
As I stood up, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. “Oh man! That is enough Little Bits! Stay still for a bit.” I said out loud.
“You okay?” Nick asked with concern.
“Yeah, just the baby keeps moving and....OUCH!!! Okay, I know you are mad, but enough already!” I said as I rubbed my belly.
Nick just looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Heather, are you sure it is just something you ate?”
“Yeah...I think so. I mean...” I tried to say as I felt a gush like someone opened the flood gates. “...Um, make that a no. Nick...umm, honey...” I said as I started to panic.
“Heather, what is it? Are you okay?”
“Umm, Nick, my water just broke.” I said as I bent over in pain.
“YOUR WHAT?!!!” Nick said as he frantically helped me to the couch.
“I think...it...it time to go to the hospital Nick...like now!!!” I yelled.
Nick immediately picked up the phone and dialed the only number that came to mind. “Dee!!! It’s Heather. HELP!!”
“What is wrong Nick?!” Dee yelled into the phone. In the background, she could hear me screaming at Nick to hurry.
“Heather is gonna have the baby!!! HELP ME!!!” Nick panicked and hung up. He then ran to my side and tried to calm himself down.
“Heather, okay, this is what we are going to do. I am going to help you out to the truck and we will go.” He said as he helped me up and walked me gently out to the car. “How much time has it been since the last pain you felt?”
“Umm, I don’t know...maybe about 4 minutes.” I said weakly.
“Keep track. Hopefully that baby can wait til we get to the hospital. Here’s my watch...let me know when you have the next contraction.” He said nervously but tried to remain calm.
I could only nod my head. As we got into the truck, he helped buckle me in as best as he could and then jumped in the driver’s side and raced towards the hospital. As he drove, he called Dr. Christine who said she would meet us there, and then called Brian and Leighanne. Then he dialed Howie’s number, but didn’t get a response. “Damn, he must be on the plane. I will try to get him once he lands in New York City.” He mumbled.
“Nick, umm, honey, ahhhhh!!!!” I screamed in pain.
“It’s been about 10 minutes honey, you will be okay. Don’t worry, we still have time. We only have about 5 minutes til we get there.” Nick said as he squeezed my hand. “Just stay calm sweetheart,...it will be okay.”
“Nick...” I started to cry.
“Heather, honey...it’s okay.”
“Nick...the baby...it’s coming too soon. It’s too early.” I said as I cried. Not only was I in pain, but I was soon realizing that this baby was coming about 5 weeks early.
“Heather...stay calm. It will be okay. Honest.” Nick said.
Nick then dialed Kevin’s cell phone. “Kevin, are you on the way? Heather is starting to panic. She is really scared.” He said shakily.
“We will be there in about 15 minutes.” He responded.
“Good, we are only about 2 minutes away.” He said as he hung up.
Within a few minutes, we arrived at the hospital and he jumped out to help. A nurse came racing out when she heard all the commotion and escorted me in wheelchair to the maternity ward. Nick went to park the car and then came racing in the doors.
“Where did they take her!?” he yelled at the desk nurse.
“Who sir?” she asked thoughtfully.
“My wife! The one having the baby?!” he said as he started to panic.
“They took her up to the third floor, to the maternity ward. Take the elevator around the corner and go to the sign in desk. They can help you.” She replied.
Nick ran frantically to the elevator and head up to the third floor. Once he arrived, a nurse took him aside to get all the medical information necessary. “Once we get her settled, then you can come into the delivery room.” She said.
“Fine...but I want to speak to Dr. Christine. Can you get her for me?” he asked and then sat down in the waiting room.
*** *** ***
Brian, Leighanne, Kevin and Dee all arrived within minutes of each other. AJ was on the way, as well as Nick’s parents. As the four made their way to the maternity ward, Dee spoke up.
“You do know the baby is early. Over a month early. Don’t you?”
“Yeah...but Dee, the doctors can do wonders these days. Don’t worry.” Brian said as he silently prayed.
“Heather sounded so scared. I hope she is alright.” Leighanne said.
As the walked to the waiting room, they soon found Nick standing there talking to Dr. Christine. They listened carefully as she explained what was happening.
“Heather has gone into labor, but the baby is coming to early. If her water hadn’t broken, we could have stopped the labor process, but now it is too late. She is at about 5 centimeters. She still has some time until the baby will come. We will make her as comfortable as possible. There is only one problem. She is at an already weakened state, if the baby’s birth doesn’t progress quickly enough, we may be forced to do a Cesarean section. I don’t think Heather can handle a difficult birth her in state, so, we will see what happens. Now, I must go and get ready. Nickolas, if you want to come with me, I will get you changed for the delivery.” She said as she started to walk away.
“You go dude!! Go help Heather...cuz you’re gonna be a daddy!” Brian cheered his best friend on. The others just looked at Nick with huge smiles and soon realized that all of them were about to become aunties and uncles.
Nick walked nervously into the dressing room and found a set of blue scrubs to put on. He was told he could put them on over his shirt and pants if he liked, but, as he had planned, he wore shorts and t-shirt underneath. Then he put the booties over his shoes and grabbed the face mask and cap and then met Dr. Christine. Within about 45 minutes after my arrival, he met me in the room.
“Nick...I am so...glad to see you. It hurts...really bad.” I said weakly. “I don’t know if I can do this Nick.”
“Heather, you are a strong person, you can do this. I am right here and I won’t leave your side.” He said sweetly and then kissed my forehead.
“Well, let’s just see how far along you are Heather.” Dr. Christine said as she examined me again. “Oh good, you are at 7 centimeters. Doing great. Remember to breathe properly and try to remain calm.” She said with a smile.
“Oh yeah...you try to breath and remain calm when something the size of a watermelon wants to squeeze through a space the size of a freaking lemon!!!” I yelled back. “AHHH!!!” I screamed as Nick took my hand.
“Breathe...one two three...Breathe...one two three.” Nick repeated. I actually think that the breathing was more for him. He was about to have a heart attack, so it was the only way to calm himself down.
“Nickolas...I am going to kill you after all this is done!” I yelled as another contraction came.
“No you won’t...you won’t even remember this.” He said with a laugh.
“You wanna bet you...you...YOU!! AHHH!”
After about three hours of extreme pain and intense labor, I could feel myself weakening. “Nick, I can’t do this much longer. It’s gonna kill me.” I said short of breath.
“No, it won’t. You are going to be fine.” He tried to reassure me.
He then went to talk to Dr. Christine. “Doc, what do you think? She is getting weaker. Is she going to be okay?” he asked nervously.
“Well, the labor is not progressing. She has been at 8 centimeters for over 2 hours now, and it doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere. I think we are going to have to do a C-section, her body can’t hold up much longer. Do you want to tell her or do you want me to?” she asked.
“No, I will.” He said as he walked back to my side.
“Heather, honey.” He whispered.
I looked at him weakly and listened.
“Dr. Christine says they are going to have to do a C-section. The stress you are being put through is too much, and the doctors need to help you. You are already very weak, and they don’t want you to be put through even more stress. It isn’t good for you or the baby. They are going to take you now to the operating room, and I will be there in a few minutes. Okay? Be strong...and remember that I love you very much.” He said as he leaned down and kissed me softly.
I remembered being moved to the operating room, and then being prepped for surgery.
*** *** ***
“Nick, how is she?” Jane asked.
“She needs to have a C-section. The doctors feel that there is little progress and it is causing her unneeded stress.” Nick said softly. “I will go there in a few minutes.”
Everyone stood there trying to keep him calm. They knew that my condition was not good. Although the baby was healthy, my body wasn’t. The stress from the labor was causing my body to weaken further, and they were concerned for my own wellbeing.
“Has anyone gotten a hold of Howie and Kat?” Nick asked.
“I reached him earlier, and they were trying to make arrangements to
take the next available flight back here. But, it looks like they
won’t make it until late tonight or early tomorrow. All the flights
are booked.” AJ said.