Page 67 of Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire

“We are ten minutes out, over.”

“Okay, we’re preparing for you now. Over.”

“Thanks. Sullivan Air, over and out.”

Roark rubbed her back. “Did you hear, Jessica? Just ten minutes, you can do it. Just hang on for a few more minutes, love.”

Jessica started breathing again. She had to remember to breathe when she had a contraction, not hold her breath. It was hard to remember. The natural thing to do seemed to be to hold her breath.

Three contractions later, they were landing at the hospital.

They’d barely hit the ground when hospital personnel opened the door and helped her out onto a gurney.

Roark kept pace beside her as they ran, pushing the bed into the hospital’s ER. They took her immediately to the elevator through the outer room of the ER with its green walls. She couldn’t see it, but she would bet the floor was pale yellow linoleum. He looked down at Jessica on the gurney and smiled. “We’re here. You made it, sweetheart. You made it.”

“Oww.” She reached for her belly, unable to put her thoughts into words. That was just as well, as her thoughts were angry ones. Where was the birthing room with its soft eggshell walls and brown speckled carpet?”

The doctor came out wearing green scrubs and a green hat. She had round glasses. “I’m Doctor Gable. I’ll be helping you deliver your baby today.” She looked up at Roark. “Has she had any problems with this pregnancy?”

“No. It’s been textbook from the beginning. Her ob-gyn has been thrilled with her and her progress.

“Oww,” Jessica moaned. She felt her body stretching as the baby moved downward. She felt a burning sensation as the baby kept moving down. “Where is Doctor Murtaugh?” She thought the doctor’s glasses looked like the ones John Lennon wore. It didn’t give her a lot of confidence in the poor doctor.

She checked her watch. “She couldn’t make it in time. I was already here. And it looks like you got here just in time. Her contractions are just under two minutes. She’ll be having the baby at any time. Are you attending the birth with your wife?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Let’s get you some scrubs. Nurse!”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“I need Mr. Sullivan dressed in scrubs, a hat, and mask.”

“Come with me, Mr. Sullivan,” said the nurse.

He leaned down and kissed Jessica’s forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

She nodded. “Fine.” Jessica knew she sounded angry, but she was. This was all his fault.

Once in the delivery room, they removed her dress and covered her with a sheet and a warm blanket. The room itself wasn’t anything like the birthing room they’d showed her. “Why aren’t we in the birthing room? They promised me a soft tranquil experience with soft music, things that are relaxing to me.” Instead, this room was non-descript. More green walls, no windows. And there had to be three nurses along with the doctor and some man she assumed was an anesthesiologist.

Dr. Gable looked down at her. “I’m sorry Jessica. Another mother already occupies the birthing room. According to your records here on the computer,” the doctor looked at a laptop screen. “You thought you’d be camping this weekend. I understand someone you know is familiar with that. Though I can’t imagine going camping when you’re this pregnant.”

Jessica rested between contractions. “It was a joke. I wouldn’t go even seven months pregnant. It would be too uncomfortable.”

“Would you like a warm blanket?”

“Thank you, I am cold. Why are these rooms always so cold?” She took a deep breath and then shivered as she rubbed her arms above the blanket.”

The doctor, whose manner never wavered and was always kind, looked at her. “It used to be done hoping it would prevent infections. However, now, it’s for the comfort of the physician and his staff.”

“I understand. It’s got to be hard work to deliver a baby for someone for hours at a time. Never knowing if the baby will come quickly or slowly, be breech or have other distress. I couldn’t do your job. It would be too stressful.”

“It is, but it’s also very rewarding to see a new life come into the world. Do you need another blanket?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

“All right, we’ll get you a blanket.” Doctor Gable signaled to someone. “In the meantime, I want to see what is happening down there. Raise your knees so we can put your feet in the stirrups.”