DUST IN THE WIND
Chapter Eleven
Jack and Rose rushed upstairs to
see Samantha in bed, clutching her stomach, groaning in pain. George was next
to her, his face full of excitement, worry, and fear.
"George?" Jack pulled
Rose further into the room.
"Jack! The baby’s on the
way! Her water broke!" George snapped out of the trance he was in. He
grabbed his cousin and began pulling him to the door. "We have to get the
doctor! Rose, stay here with Sam until we get back!"
"Jack…what do I do?"
Rose looked at a loss. She had no idea how to get ready for a birth.
"Ah!" Samantha
screamed, her face squinted in pain. She grasped at the air for Rose’s hand.
"It hurts, Rose! God, it hurts!"
"I-it’ll be all right, Sam.
Jack and George have gone for the doctor. It’ll be all right. Just think, this
time tomorrow you’ll be holding your baby."
"I don’t want it
anymore!" Samantha cried, the pain hazing her ability to think. She just
wanted the pain to end so she could go back to sleep.
"You don’t mean that, Sam.
Of course you want the baby. You’re going to make a great mommy." Rose sat
on the bed, grasping the other woman’s hand. She looked out the window at the
empty driveway. Hurry up, Jack. The pain’s getting worse, and the baby will
be here before the doctor in a moment.
Samantha tried to smile as the
contraction came to an end. She had a need to reassure the other mother-to-be.
Goodness knew, she must be scaring Rose to death right now. "I’m sorry,
Rose. It’s not all that bad, really…"
"It’s perfectly okay, Sam. I
know how painful childbirth must be, and I’ve been through worse. Believe me.
If you need to scream, scream. Don’t you worry about me."
"Thank--ow." Samantha
whimpered as another contraction hit her. "The pains are getting closer
together."
"Where is that doctor?"
Rose looked out the window.
A whole hour had passed. Rose
pressed the cool cloth to Sam’s head and once again looked out the window. No
word from the men yet, and the pains were now two minutes apart. Maybe not even
that long. Rose closed her eyes in relief when she saw George’s truck pull into
the driveway and three men rush into the house.
"They’re here, Sam. They’re
here." Rose happily squeezed Sam’s hand.
"Where’s the little
lady?" Dr. Peterson entered the room, calm and collected, his medical bag
in his hand.
"It hurts, Dr.
Peterson." Samantha whimpered.
"Shall I get George?"
Rose asked.
"Well, it’s not common
practice for a man to be present during childbirth…but if he wants to be in
here, I’ll allow it." The doctor nodded.
Patting Samantha’s hand in a show
of support, Rose went to look for George, who was leaning against the far wall
with Jack. "George. The doctor said you can go in if you want." Rose
took a step out of the room.
"Really?" George asked,
his eyes bright with delight. He looked at Jack and hugged him. "I’ll keep
you both posted."
"Good luck." Jack
waved, watching his cousin disappear through the door.
"Jack." Rose sighed,
sinking into his arms. "She’s in so much pain."
"That’s to be expected, I
guess. Rose…this isn’t scaring you, is it?"
"Oh, no, Jack. I know it’s
painful. It’s just making me a little nervous, though." She cringed at the
sound of another scream from Sam. "She’s in so much pain."
"She’ll be fine, and so will
the baby," Jack reassured his wife.
Five hours later, the doctor
re-emerged, looking quite tired and pale.
"How is she, doctor?"
Jack asked.
"Why don’t you go in and
find out for yourselves?" The doctor tiredly smiled. "They’re waiting
for you." Jack and Rose watched the doctor leave and silently entered the
room. The first thing they saw was George hovering over the bed, his back
turned. Then they heard the soft coo of a baby.
"George?" Jack asked.
"Congratulate me, Jack. I
have a brand new daughter." George turned around, holding a squirming
bundle. Jack stepped up and smiled as he looked down into a tiny, yawning face.
"She’s beautiful. Rose, come
see." Jack happily smiled, holding his hand out to his wife.
Rose gasped in delight.
"She’s so tiny. Jack, look at her little hands and little toes." Rose
held one of the tiny fists in her own. "Our baby will be this tiny."
"What are you two going to
name her?" Jack looked at Samantha, who was trying not to drift off to
sleep.
"Rosanna. After her new
cousin." Samantha smiled. "My thank you for being here for me in my
weakest hour and not going screaming the other way."
Rose blushed, obviously touched
by the gesture. She didn’t know what to say. "You would have done the same
for me."
Samantha only smiled at Rose. It
was obvious to both Jack and George that it was a start of a beautiful
friendship. Something both women needed.
"Come on, Rose. Let’s leave
the new parents to themselves." Jack gently pulled on her hand, leading
her out of the room.
"They seem so happy."
Rose sighed, resting her head on his shoulder as he guided her to their room.
"They are. Babies bring a
whole lot of joy into a whole lot of happy marriages. Just think of what ours
will do for us."
"I hope our baby looks like
you, Jack. Your blue eyes and blonde hair."
"Your grace and poise."
Jack sighed.
"I’m so happy for both
George and Samantha. The light in their eyes every time they looked at that
little girl…it was heartwarming."
"We’ll have the same thing,
Rose. Trust me. When our little one is born, she’ll be so surrounded by love, I
don’t think there will be a baby as loved as ours, besides Rosanna, of
course."
Rose yawned and leaned back
against the headboard with Jack, cuddling close together. It had been a busy
evening, and now they were ready for some serious shut-eye.
"Get some sleep, Rose. It’s
almost morning."
"Shouldn’t we be getting up,
then?"
"Not today. After the night
we had, I think some sleep is well deserved. Good night, my love." Jack
kissed her forehead before drifting off into dreamland.
"Good night, Jack. Sweet
dreams." Rose yawned before drifting off herself.