Nine Months Later

Andrew

“How are you doing?” I rubbed Lanie’s shoulder, feeling silly for asking the question.

She huffed out a breath, looking out the window instead of at me.

I nodded. Right, then.

What was it I learned in that maternity class we took? For the life of me, I couldn’t remember one thing. My pulse was racing a million miles an hour, and all my nerves were bunching up in my stomach.

Lanie exhaled again, long and low, as she had another contraction.

The door opened, and the doctor strode into the room with a big smile. “Let’s check you out,” she said.

Lanie just pressed her lips tight together and nodded, her face growing red.

“You’re doing great, honey,” I told her.

She smiled up at me, but I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. She was ready for this to be over with.

Taking her hand, I held it tight as the doctor checked her dilation.

“Ten centimeters,” she announced. “We’re ready to push.”

“Thank god,” Lanie gasped. She gritted her teeth and squeezed my hand so tight, I thought it wa