Chapter 20 - Molly

“Please, tell me we’re not too late!” said a familiar voice that shocked me but made me grin as my best friend entered my hospital room.

Not too long ago, I had finally been given my epidural, so I was feeling very good.

“Meadow!” I cried. “How are you here?”

“Girl, if you think I’d miss the birth of my nieces or nephews, you’re crazy!” Meadow beelined for me and hugged me tightly. “I brought someone else with me, too!”

“You didn’t think I would miss this either, did you?”

“Hunter fucking Montgomery!” Tyler said and stood from his chair at the side of my bed. “I have missed you, asshole!”

“I’ve missed you more than you know. The catcher they called up to replace you took your spot as my roommate, too. Not only is he not the best catcher, but he snores and doesn’t clean up after himself. It’s horrible!”

“He won’t last,” Ty said with a shrug after he gave Hunter a huge hug.

“Hey, Short Stuff!” Hunter said as he came over and gave me a big hug, too.

“How did you guys end up coming together?”

“I texted him that I wouldn’t miss this. There was a direct flight from New York to Cincinnati, and he should come, too.”

“I found a flight from Memphis to Cincinnati. Memphis was only a little over an hour drive from my parents’ house, and I made it just in time. My flight arrived only half an hour after Meadow’s, so we rented a car together and drove the 2 and a half hours here,” Hunter said.

“I love that you’re both here!” I said with a huge grin on my face. My babies were going to have so many of the best real and honorary aunts and uncles!

“I do, too,” Ty said. “But what were you doing at your parents’ house?”

“I’m staying there during the off-season,” Hunter said with a sigh. “Chloe kicked me out of our apartment in North Carolina after I broke up with her.”

“What?!” Meadow practically shrieked as she turned and gave the tall, attractive man all her attention. She placed her hands on her hips and said, “You didn’t tell me that.”

“There wasn’t a good time to tell you yet, Pip,” Hunter said, and I noticed that he and Tyler shared a look. “Especially after you told me that Ryan finally proposed…”

I wondered why Hunter called my best friend Pip but then heard the rest of what he said, and it was my turn to practically shriek. “What?! You told Hunter before you told me or Penelope?”

“I didn’t want to steal your thunder with having the babies. I was going to tell you after they were born,” Meadow explained. “Ryan just proposed right before I came here.”

“Right before you came here? What do you mean?” I asked. I gave Tyler a look, and he raised his eyebrows in answer. I was sure my husband was thinking what I was thinking. Ryan proposed because he knew she’d be spending time with Hunter.

“Where is your ring?” I asked. Ryan was a lawyer and made very good money. I could only imagine the ring he would buy her.

“Well, he said it’s at the jewelers getting sized. He would have it for me when I got back from visiting you.”

I nodded. I had never really liked Ryan, but Meadow already knew that. He was probably looking for a ring now and didn’t already have one.

“Sure…. ‘getting sized,’” Hunter said with air quotes. He didn’t believe Ryan’s bullshit either.

“Well, anyway,” Meadow said, ignoring what Hunter said. “I think we’re going to have a wedding next summer. You have to be my Maid of Honor, Molly.”

“Of course, I’ll be your Matron of Honor,” I exclaimed, even if I didn’t think she should marry him.

“I asked Ryan how he felt about you being a bridesman, Hunt, but he was against that.”

“What the hell is a bridesman?” Tyler asked with a laugh.

“A man who stands up next to the bride,” Meadow explained. “He is my best guy friend, after all.”

“I think I’m okay with not standing up there,” Hunter said with a shrug. “But you better save me a dance.”

I wasn’t sure when Hunter and Meadow got to be so close. I knew they texted each other, but apparently, their friendship was stronger than I knew. They even had nicknames for each other. Plus, she had thought about him being in her wedding party.

I didn’t have time to ponder much more because suddenly, there was a beeping sound coming from the monitors.

Nurse Olivia came rushing in and looked at the monitors. We had never seen her look anything but calm and collected. Another nurse we hadn’t met yet came in with her.

“I think I’m going to go to the waiting room and see if Pen and Emma will be bridesmaids, too. Come on, Hunt, let’s get out of their way.”

“Congrats, Meadow,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Love you, Molls.”

“Amy, why don’t you call Dr. Watkins and the doctor on call and let them know what the monitors are saying,” Olivia said to the other nurse.

“Livie, your shift ended fifteen minutes ago.”

“I’m fine,” Olivia said. “Just go call them.”

“You guys are scaring me. What’s going on?” I asked. I took a closer look at the monitors to see if anything stood out to me, but they were just a bunch of lines.

“Baby B’s heart rate is dropping quickly.” Livie said and reached out to take my shaking hand. “Don’t freak out yet. It happens fairly often, and I am not going to leave your side.”

“But you’re off work now,” I stammered.

“Which frees me up from my regular duties. I can be at your side if you want. I don’t want to be in the way, but I am invested in these babies. Plus, I need to know their genders and what you end up naming them.”

“We could never ask you to stay longer. You’ve been here all day already,” Tyler said.

“You didn’t ask me, I offered. That’s if you want me to stay?”

I was nervous and gave my new friend a nod.

“It’s settled. I’m staying.”

“Thanks, Livie,” I said and squeezed her hand. I felt my panic lessen a little knowing she’d be here the whole time.

“So what is happening now?” Tyler asked, and I could hear the panic in his voice.

“We can’t make any decisions, but the on-call doctor is on their way,” Amy said as she came back into the room. “Based on the baby’s heart rate, my thinking is that we will be doing a Cesarean delivery soon.”

I just nodded. I knew I had wanted to do a natural delivery, but after several hours of labor, I just wanted my babies to be delivered safely.

“But they can’t come yet. My parents aren’t here yet,” Tyler said as he looked down at his phone.

“Ty, why don’t you call them and see where they are,” Olivia suggested.

Tyler nodded and pulled out his phone. “Mom, where are you?” I heard him ask. “Are you kidding me? Get in here now, please!” Tyler hung up the phone and ran his fingers through his hair. “They’ve been in the waiting room talking to everyone for ‘some time,’ as she says.” He added air quotes around some time and rolled his eyes at the phrase.

“Tyler, honey? Can I come in?”

“Yes!” Tyler called out and met his mom at the doorway. His dad followed close behind him. “I can’t believe you guys didn’t come here first.”

“Well, we didn’t want to be in the way,” Tyler’s dad said.

“I need you,” Tyler said simply and hugged his mom. “We need you. They might have to do a C-section, and I’m scared.”

“Oh, sweetheart!” his mom said and pulled him into a hug. “If they need to do a C-section, it’s for a good reason, and they will get those babies out as safely as they need to. You trust the nurses and doctors. Just listen to them.”

Tyler just nodded and seemed to calm down with his mom in the room.

“Molly, honey, how are you?” his mom asked as she left her son’s embrace and came over to my bedside.

“Worried but ready for them to be here, and if the safest way is through C-section, then I totally understand.”

“Good,” Susan said. “So, which of you ladies is Olivia? I’ve heard all about how amazing the nursing staff has been!”

“That’s me,” Olivia said from where she was still sitting at the other side of my bed. “I guess you are Tyler’s mom, who is also a nurse.”

“That’s me,” she said with a huge grin. After she hugged me, she walked over and gave Olivia a hug like they were old friends. “Where is this wall of names? I have to see this.”

As Tyler’s mom checked out our baby name list, his dad gave him a big hug and then came over to give me a hug as well. “I’m glad we made it in time,” he said.

“Oh, I like the name Milo!” Tyler’s mom said. “And Lucy is just precious!”

After talking for a few more minutes, the on-call doctor came into the room. He was of average height and on the thinner side with glasses. He had a kind smile, and even though I had wanted a female doctor, I wanted healthier babies more at this point.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Nicholas Busch. Let’s see what is going on and which one of these twins is causing all the problems.”

“Nick was my dad’s name, too,” I said in lieu of a greeting.

“How serendipitous,” Dr. Busch said with a smile. “If you want to call me Dr. Nick, I am fine with that.”

He walked over to the monitors and began jotting things down on his tablet before adjusting the two belts around my waist. He whispered, so only I could hear him, “Is it okay to speak freely in front of all these guests? If not, I can ask them to leave. You can make me the bad guy.”

“Yes,” I said without any hesitation but appreciated his offer. “They can stay.”

“I think a Cesarean section would be the best bet at this point. You’ve been in active labor for several hours and are close to 7 centimeters dilated, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting to see how long until you’re fully dilated.”

“Then, let’s do what you think is safest,” I said. “Do you agree, Ty?”

“What are the risks if we wait and don’t do the surgery?” Tyler asked.

“That is a very good question. Babies who experience fetal distress are at greater risk of complications after birth. Prolonged lack of oxygen during pregnancy and birth can lead to serious complications that may include brain injury, cerebral palsy, and even stillbirth.”

“Okay. Let’s do the C-section,” my husband said and sat on the side of my bed that Olivia wasn’t on. He took my hand in his in a sign of solidarity.

“I agree,” I said.

“Let’s get these babies delivered,” Dr. Busch said. “Olivia, I thought your shift ended already?”

“It did, Dr. Busch. Are you okay if I come in the room and assist with Molly’s needs? I will be in the background, I promise. I can assist with breastfeeding or any questions she has.”

“If Mrs. Stone is okay with it, then I am fine. It’s your own time.”

“I am more than okay with it,” I said.

“I have two daughters,” I said as I looked down at the sleeping baby in my arms. She was wrapped securely in a yellow blanket, and her hospital hat had a big bow on it.“They are perfect!” Olivia said with tears in her eyes. “Some babies born at 36 weeks would need neonatal intensive care, but Dr. Busch and the pediatrician on call said your girls are healthy enough to stay with you!”

“Our girls! I love the sound of that,” Tyler said as he held our other little girl in his arms. He was looking down with so much love and emotion in his eyes. I knew exactly how he felt.

I couldn’t believe I was a mom and Ty was a dad. I loved them so much already.

“I think I’m going to leave you guys as a family of four,” Olivia said. “I’m exhausted. I can’t believe it’s after 1:30 in the morning.”

“Wait a minute?” I asked. “Does that mean the babies were born on October 17th?”

“Yeah, it does,” Tyler said with a chuckle. “Did you not notice the time? Hazel here was born at 12:17, and your baby to be named was born at 12:22 on October seventeenth.”

“October 17th is perfect! And yes, I guess we’ll have to give her a name,” I said and put my free arm around Olivia as she hugged me. I asked for a different nurse to get a picture of my family of four and our favorite nurse together. Tyler suggested we get a picture of her with both babies, and I loved that idea.

“I’m off the rest of today, but when I come in for my shift tomorrow, I’m going to find your room number and find out what you named her! Bye, Hazel. Bye, Baby TBN!”

“You better!” I said. “Thank you for everything!”

“Yeah, thank you. You went above and beyond!” Tyler added while he took the babies out of her arms and gave them to me. He gave Livie a hug, too.

The nurse that took our picture wheeled me in my hospital bed to my postpartum room. As soon as we were settled, Tyler took his phone out to take several pictures.

“I’m sure I look horrible,” I said with a small giggle.

“You look like the perfect mom that went through hours of labor and then surgery.”

I just shook my head and looked down at the sleeping babies in my arms. I looked over at my husband. “I don’t think any of the names from the board fit Baby TBN.”

“Oh, really? Do you have a new name in mind?” Tyler asked.

“I do,” I said.

When I told him the name, he got a huge smile on his face and nodded. “Yeah, that is the perfect name.”

A nurse came in and introduced herself as Joyce. She asked if we had any questions. She was an older nurse with her graying hair in a bun at the nape of her neck. She looked very nice and answered a lot of our questions. She asked if we were up for visitors.

“People are still here this early in the morning?” I asked in shock.

“Your whole room of people all waited,” she said with a laugh.

“Are you okay if I go tell everyone?” Tyler asked me. “I’m sure they are dying to know the genders.”

“I would love that!”

“I am going to take the girls to get their first baths and have the doctor look them over now that you’ve done a feeding. Your guests can look at them through the nursery window.” Joyce said. “Mom here can get some much-needed rest. Your babies will be in good hands.”

It had been a challenge to get them to latch on, but Olivia helped me. She seemed to know all the different tricks and holds to use to try to help me and our babies. We all had a good laugh at how Hazel was fussy when taken out of Tyler’s arms. I was pretty sure she was going to be a daddy’s girl. Her sister seemed to latch on better than her, but they had both finally had a good feeding. I still wasn’t confident in breastfeeding, but I knew I would try as long as I could.

“Hey, baby?” I called out to Tyler before he left the room. “Have someone take a picture from behind you when you tell everyone so we can get their reactions.”

Tyler nodded and said that was a great idea. I heard him ask one of the nurses at the nurse station to help him take a picture.

I soon heard a loud cheering, and I had to laugh. I loved our friends and how excited they were!