Chapter 79: George
Ernest
“GET OUT!” Gemma roared as she stood bent over the bed, her hair wet with sweat and matted to the sides of her face. Rowan backed through the doorway, tripping over Ethan, who caught him before Rowan could fall flat on his ass in the hallway of the medical clinic. Ethan was wide eyed, stealing a single glance at Rosalie before he dragged Rowan out of sight.
Dad was right behind them, but he stopped before shutting the door, giving me a soft, emotional smile. I nod ded, smiling back, just as Gemma roared again, this time screaming “F*CK!” loud enough for the glass panes in the window to tremble.
Rosalie was at her side, her arms coming around Gem ma’s shoulders. She was whispering in Gemma’s ear, and Gemma was shaking her head, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead.
Rosalie looked at the midwife, who was busy talking to my mom in the corner of the room as they folded towels. When Rosalie failed to get their attention, she moved her gaze to me. She slowly left Gemma’s side and glided across the room, dressed in a nightgown and robe.
“Talon made it seem like it was an emergency. Is she al right?”
“She’s fine,” I said a little too loudly. Gemma snapped her head in my direction, her eyes narrowed into slits. “She’ s doing a great job!” | paled as Gemma’s lip trembled, fury flashing behind her eyes.
“Easy for you to say. It must be nice-ow!” She bent her head toward the bed, rocking her hips from side to side.
“I’m terrified,” I leaned into Rosalie, whispering discreet ly into her ear.
“Don’t be, she’s going to be fine,”
“No, for myself,” | admitted, swallowing hard. “She wants to kill me. I can see it in her eyes.”
Rosalie arched her brow as she stifled a laugh.
“It won’t be long now,” the midwife said as she passed by with a stack of towels in her hands, setting them down on a table on the side of the room.
It was a cozy space with soft yellow walls and cream colored vinyl flooring. It looked more like a bedroom than a hospital room, but the midwife and her assistant had ex plained the reasoning for that during one of Gemma’s re
cent appointments. It was meant to make the patient feel more at home, calmer, and it seemed to prove successful
especially during births.
Winter Forest had had a baby boom over the past decade, and the midwife had delivered almost every single one in this village.
But despite the warm ambiance of the room, vases full of flowers, and a barrage of women tending to Gemma’s every whim, she was struggling.
ago, and the situa tion escalated rapidly from there. I had to carry her to the clinic, and she nearly skinned me alive with her fingernails during the short walk from her mother’s house along the shoreline. She had broken the skin in a few places where she gripped my arm for dear life, but I knew it paled in
her nose. Her face was stained with tears. I
of the bed and held onto her arms as another ripping contraction
carefully. I could see a moment of recognition pass behind Rosalie’s eyes, which was quickly replaced by relief as Gemma came out of the
the midwife said to Mom as she made a note of the time on her clipboard be
think it’s time,” I said gently, tucking her hair behind her ears as
out.
for that now, sweetheart. This baby was ready to
Gemma. Gemma saw her and tensed, her eyes meeting mine and giving me a
“You’re doing great, Gem.”
pressed her head against my shoulder, straining with all her might. I wasn’t totally sure what to do now, so
a birth class with the midwife, but it had been a
instant, her hands gently running down the length of Gemma’s arms as she began to coax her onto the
ecstatic as
have this baby?” The midwife posi tioned herself between Gemma’s legs, smiling up
cried, and I felt tears welling in my
en couragements to her. Rosalie placed her hand on my back, patting it gently before she took Gemma’s knee and held it in
hand. “You got this,
take my eyes off of her. I
to this very moment. I had spent every waking moment of the last nine months won dering how I would ever deserve her. She was so strong, so incredibly intelligent and all around perfect in every way. And now she was
the world. I only remember
been in the womb. Gemma was sobbing, and Rosalie was stroking her
his head. His head fit in the palm of my hand, his fine, jet-black hair soft against
I couldn’t believe it.
that I must have been dreaming. It felt like only yesterday I had
have this moment
little blue hat on his head. He felt heavy in my arms despite his size. I didn’t realize Rosalie had guid ed me into a chair until I looked up, seeing Gemma looking down at me
smiling, tears rolling down her
love you so much,” I said to her, my voice catching in
eyes creased with
***
Ethan walked into the living room carrying a round of beers in his arms, passing them
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!