Read Online Moments In Time: A Collection of Short Fiction by Dominic K. Alexander, Kahlen Aymes, Daryl Banner, C.C. Brown, Chelsea Camaron, Karina Halle, Lisa M. Harley, Nicole Jacquelyn, Sophie Monroe, Amber Lynn Natusch - Free Book Online
Authors: Dominic K. Alexander, Kahlen Aymes, Daryl Banner, C.C. Brown, Chelsea Camaron, Karina Halle, Lisa M. Harley, Nicole Jacquelyn, Sophie Monroe, Amber Lynn Natusch
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piercing me with those sparkling green eyes. She was a sight for sore eyes, and for my queasy stomach. I was afraid of what was to come, but staring into her eyes made me realize that she would be okay. And ultimately, with her being okay, I’d be okay.
The petty officer went through a checklist of questions, further pissing me off. She was asking so many questions, and it seemed Cassie’s discomfort grew with every single one of them. I wanted her to finally tell us that she was getting the doctor and that we’d have a baby soon, but that didn’t happen.
“I’m just going to check your cervix, because you’re definitely having regular contractions.”
“Then why aren’t we getting her ready to push my baby out?” I finally asked, unable to bite my tongue any longer.
Benson smiled, then sat down at the edge of the bed. “Staff Sergeant, I have to check her first to see just how much she’s dilated.” She moved her hand under the blanket, then I watched Cassie bite down on her lip, shutting her eyes as the nurse did whatever the hell she was doing down there. “You’re only at a two, Lance Corporal Cruz. I am going to let the doctor know, so hang tight.”
Before I could ask what any of this shit meant, she was out of the room, leaving me there with an agitated wife who now looked like she was ready to bite my head off and spit down my neck.
“I don’t understand this shit,” I said. “You’re obviously in pain, why aren’t they getting you set up to have this baby?” Sweat began to coat my hands, making them damn near useless in wiping the sweat already covering my brow. “How much pain are you in, Cassie? You need that shot to take the pain away? Because if you do, I’ll go and get that damn doctor myself.”
“Alex! Slow down.” Cassie’s face finally softened, putting me slightly at ease. “I’m in pain, yes, but I’m okay. I was trying to tell you at the house that it’s not time, but you wouldn’t listen to me.”
“How can you say that? Look at you. You’re fucking gripping my hand like you’re ready to rip it off. Your face scrunches and your stomach tightens. You’re delusional if you think it isn’t time, and I’m not even the one feeling this shit.”
“Did you hear Petty Officer Benson? I’m only dilated two centimeters.”
“And? That means your body is opening. That means a baby is ready to come out of there. That means these fuckers need to start taking this seriously, and damn it, so do you.”
Once again, I had lost all control of myself. Cassie was too fucking calm for me, and the passive nature of this hospital staff was enough to make me start taking matters in my own hands. Before I could act on my thoughts, Petty Officer Benson came back with a young male, much to my dismay.
“Hello, Lance Corporal Cruz. I’m Lieutenant Commander Paxton, ob-gyn on call tonight. How are you feeling?”
“She’s goddamn miserable,” I said with a barely disguised snarl. “Please move this along so we can finally get her comfortable.”
“You must be the husband, Staff Sergeant Cruz?”
“Yes. Back to Cassie. Is she ready to have this baby?”
“I’ll need to check her and we’ll go from there.”
I was beginning to lose it. Cassie had already been checked, and it seemed we were just circling the wagons now. The doctor sat at the edge of the bed, worming his creepy fucking hand up to check Cassie. I stood with my arms crossed, watching intently, hoping he would tell me that they would get the ball rolling with my wife.
No such luck.
The doc stood up and pulled off his gloves with a snap before tossing them into the trash. “It looks like you’ll be going home tonight, Lance Corporal Cruz.”
Now I fucking lost it.
“What? She’s in labor. Why the hell would you send her home? None of us are equipped to deal with this. She’s going to—”
“Staff Sergeant,” he said patiently, “I understand your concern, but I assure you, your wife is fine.
The petty officer went through a checklist of questions, further pissing me off. She was asking so many questions, and it seemed Cassie’s discomfort grew with every single one of them. I wanted her to finally tell us that she was getting the doctor and that we’d have a baby soon, but that didn’t happen.
“I’m just going to check your cervix, because you’re definitely having regular contractions.”
“Then why aren’t we getting her ready to push my baby out?” I finally asked, unable to bite my tongue any longer.
Benson smiled, then sat down at the edge of the bed. “Staff Sergeant, I have to check her first to see just how much she’s dilated.” She moved her hand under the blanket, then I watched Cassie bite down on her lip, shutting her eyes as the nurse did whatever the hell she was doing down there. “You’re only at a two, Lance Corporal Cruz. I am going to let the doctor know, so hang tight.”
Before I could ask what any of this shit meant, she was out of the room, leaving me there with an agitated wife who now looked like she was ready to bite my head off and spit down my neck.
“I don’t understand this shit,” I said. “You’re obviously in pain, why aren’t they getting you set up to have this baby?” Sweat began to coat my hands, making them damn near useless in wiping the sweat already covering my brow. “How much pain are you in, Cassie? You need that shot to take the pain away? Because if you do, I’ll go and get that damn doctor myself.”
“Alex! Slow down.” Cassie’s face finally softened, putting me slightly at ease. “I’m in pain, yes, but I’m okay. I was trying to tell you at the house that it’s not time, but you wouldn’t listen to me.”
“How can you say that? Look at you. You’re fucking gripping my hand like you’re ready to rip it off. Your face scrunches and your stomach tightens. You’re delusional if you think it isn’t time, and I’m not even the one feeling this shit.”
“Did you hear Petty Officer Benson? I’m only dilated two centimeters.”
“And? That means your body is opening. That means a baby is ready to come out of there. That means these fuckers need to start taking this seriously, and damn it, so do you.”
Once again, I had lost all control of myself. Cassie was too fucking calm for me, and the passive nature of this hospital staff was enough to make me start taking matters in my own hands. Before I could act on my thoughts, Petty Officer Benson came back with a young male, much to my dismay.
“Hello, Lance Corporal Cruz. I’m Lieutenant Commander Paxton, ob-gyn on call tonight. How are you feeling?”
“She’s goddamn miserable,” I said with a barely disguised snarl. “Please move this along so we can finally get her comfortable.”
“You must be the husband, Staff Sergeant Cruz?”
“Yes. Back to Cassie. Is she ready to have this baby?”
“I’ll need to check her and we’ll go from there.”
I was beginning to lose it. Cassie had already been checked, and it seemed we were just circling the wagons now. The doctor sat at the edge of the bed, worming his creepy fucking hand up to check Cassie. I stood with my arms crossed, watching intently, hoping he would tell me that they would get the ball rolling with my wife.
No such luck.
The doc stood up and pulled off his gloves with a snap before tossing them into the trash. “It looks like you’ll be going home tonight, Lance Corporal Cruz.”
Now I fucking lost it.
“What? She’s in labor. Why the hell would you send her home? None of us are equipped to deal with this. She’s going to—”
“Staff Sergeant,” he said patiently, “I understand your concern, but I assure you, your wife is fine.
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