Rhapsody
“Told you he would have a fucked up reason.” Queen B popped her gum.
“Fuck you.” I gritted out between clenched teeth.
“Rhapsody! I know it’s painful but no need for that language.” Grams said from a nearby chair where she was knitting.
“Sorry, Grams.”
“Ha. Ha. You got in trouble.” Queen B taunted.
If that bitch were real I’d throat punch her.
“Baby, how are you doing? I’m so sorry I’m late.” Chord ran toward me from the door.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“It’s a long story.” He gave me a slow blink.
“We have time.” Jimmy Ray said.
Why the fuck was that asshat still here? I get he’s now Emmerson’s…uhm…whatever he is and just so happens to be the baby’s grandpa but that didn’t mean he needed to see my vagina as it goes from a beautiful lily to bloody corn beef.
“Why are you here Jimmy?” Miranda asked.
“I’m being supportive.”
Miranda glared at him then looked at me. “If you want him to leave just let me know. I’d love to throw him out.” She cracked her knuckles.
“You’d do that to your own father.”
“Yes.” Chord and Miranda said together.
“Why don’t we give Chord and Rhapsody some time alone. I need something to drink.” Grams smiled as she stood from her chair.
“We don’t need to leave, Mom. I have something right here.” Emmerson pulled a giant bottle of booze out of her purse.
“Leigh Anne! That is not the kind of drink I am talking about. We all need some coffee. Let’s go, Cassie.” Grams grabbed Cassie by the arm and shot a look to everyone else.
“Hey. Why did you-“Alec’s voice was muffled.
“We are leaving.” Grams said as she grabbed Alec with her other hand.
Chord and I watched everyone shuffle out of the room. My nurse, whose name I’d finally learned was Bonnie, barely contained a grin as she also watched the group leave. When the last person was out the door, Bonnie looked over at Chord and I.
“I’m going to go see why that guy is bleeding from the face and make sure no one knows that a crazy person dressed as a super hero has shown up in the maternity ward. If you need me, Rhapsody, push that little button.” Bonnie let herself out of the room.
Chord pulled a chair over. I watched as he flicked his cape up so he wouldn’t sit on it. Good lord this man was the father of my baby.
“Yeah you could’ve picked better.” Queen B clucked.
He cleared his throat then stared at me. I waited for him to say something or fly through the roof with his super powers. Either would have been better than him staring at me.
“Uhm…how are you feeling?”
I lifted my eyebrow at him. “What do you think? I’m assuming mind reading isn’t your super power.”
“Yeah. Dumb question. I’m sorry I’m late. I didn’t expect to be taken as a mental patient then drugged. I think I’ve been at the hospital for a few hours but time kind of slipped away as I was passed out.”
“Well, I can’t really say I’m surprised. I mean you are dressed like your crazy. Where the hell did you get those clothes anyway? I know you didn’t leave the house looking like that.”
“I totally forgot it was super hero day at the library. Thankfully Mary had some extra pieces I could scrap together. The kids would have been disappointed if I hadn’t dressed up.”
I couldn’t help myself and I smiled which immediately turned into a grimace as pain shot through me. Breathing in and out wasn’t helping.
“Are you ok? Just breath.”
“What the fuck do you think I’m doing, Chord?” I gritted out.
He grabbed my hand in his and moved to sit on the bed with me. “Squeeze my hand. Let me help.”
I squeezed his hand so hard I heard bone crack. I fully expected him to have a hissy fit like Alec but Chord just met my eyes. If I wasn’t already in love with him the soft look in his eyes would have melted me. Little monster didn’t let me have that moment when another pain shot through me. These pains felt different.
“What’s wrong? You have a strange look on your face.” Chord pushed some hair off my forehead.
“Something doesn’t feel right.”
“I’m getting the nurse.” He pushed the next to the bed. When nothing immediately happened he kept pushing it.
Bonnie casually walked in and pushed the button to shut it off. “Everything ok?”
I slapped my hand over Chord’s mouth and said, “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“Ok. Let me check some things.”
Bonnie began checking my vitals. It felt like she was taking her time when it was just the intense pain. She lifted the blanket and I watched as the blood drained from her face. She placed the blanket back down and left the room.
“What’s going on?” I asked Chord.
“I have no idea. I’m sure it’s nothing.” He gave my hand another squeeze but the tense set of his shoulders ratcheted up my anxiety.
The handsome doctor from the emergency room walked in with his too bright smile. “How are we doing?”
Chord squinted at him then said, “What do you think, pretty boy?”
I sighed as another sharp pain made me grimace. Chord’s jealousy or whatever the hell was going on wasn’t something I wanted to deal with. The brighter smile from the doctor was the other thing I couldn’t deal with.
“Let’s have a look shall we.”
“Does this dick really need to be your doctor?” Chord whispered to me.
It wasn’t quiet enough because Bonnie let out a snort laugh as the doctor rolled to the end of the bed.
“Let’s see what’s going on down here.” Dr. Smiles said with another smile. “Just take a deep breath.”
I laid back trying to relax. Staring at the ceiling I tried to ignore the pain and pressure.
“Ok. Looks like we need to do an emergency C-section.” He turned away from me and whispered to the nurse.
“What’s going on?” I asked Chord.
“I don’t know.” He stood and approached the doctor and nurse.
If I hadn’t been in pain I would have laughed. Chord stood with his hands on his hips looking like the epitome of a super hero. The worry that colored his features made my pulse spike.
“What’s happening?” I called over to them.
“Tell her.” He snapped.
“It looks like the baby is in a bad position and has caused some abnormal bleeding. So, for yours and the baby’s safety we need to do a c-section.”
The doctor’s words floated through my mind. I looked over at Chord. My panic must have been evident because he rushed over to me. “It’s going to be fine. I’ll be right there with you.”
“Ok. As long as you’re there I’ll feel better.”
Bonnie cleared her throat. We need to get you moving.” She moved behind the bed and it began moving.”
“I’ll be right in.” Chord gave my hand one last squeeze before they pushed me quickly from the room.
I stared up at the lights on the ceiling as we passed. More pain shot through me and I groaned. Faintly, I heard voices asking questions but they got quieter and quieter as I moved further down the hall.
They pushed the bed that I now realized doubled as a birthing table into an operating room. Bonnie moved to my side when the bed was stopped.
“I’m going to have to help you to the table.”
Nodding, I let her grab my arm as I slid from the table. I glanced down toward my feet and saw blood soaked my gown. How had I missed this? Nauseous over took me. Another pain shot through my body. Something was seriously wrong.
“Hang in there. Little monster will enter this world with a bang.” Queen B patted my shoulder just as darkness overcame me.