“Okay...so, you don’t like that name?” she called out again.
“No, I like it. I just don’t really have a preference.”
She remained quiet for a moment, and I wondered if she picked up on my fear. And then she said, “Well, I think it is going to be a girl, so I am going to name her Sasha Jewel White.”
I swallowed the lump that appeared in my throat and forced out a reply. “Sure, Mom. Sounds good.”
Jessica ate in front of the window unit in her underwear, and I ate alone at the table. After we finished, I washed up the dishes and went to get a shower. I would be getting in bed earlier than usual, and sleep suddenly seemed very appealing.
“Sadie!”
I sat straight up in bed at the sound of my mother yelling my name. I slung my feet onto the hard wood floor and before I could even get to the door she began yelling again.
“Sadie!”
I ran across the hall and into her room. She was sitting up on the edge of the bed, holding her stomach, with sweat on her face.
“Something’s wrong,” she panted. “It hurts like hell!”
I grabbed her housecoat and slipped her arms in.
“Come on, we’re going to the hospital.”
She grunted and stood.
We made it half way down the hall before she let out another bloodcurdling scream and bent over holding her stomach.
“Help me, Sadie, this hurts so bad!” she said through tears.
It was hard to mask my panic. Seeing my mother screaming in pain terrified me. I got her into the car and remembered her purse and ran back inside to grab it. On my way in the door, she screamed again, and I hoped someone would hear her and offer to come help. Right now, I didn’t feel competent enough, and I really wanted help. I ran back out to the car, slung open the door, and jumped inside. I turned onto the road and headed for the local hospital. Luckily, we were only a few miles away. I glanced over at Jessica as she rested her head back on the seat.
“You okay?” I asked, praying for a yes.
“For now,” she said quietly.
I didn’t ask her anything else. I didn’t want to cause her any pain. We made it to the emergency room fast, since the roads were empty at four in the morning. I pulled up to the entrance and ran around to open her door. She hadn’t experienced any more pain since we left the house, and I was grateful. Focusing on the road was hard enough with your heart beating out of your chest and your palms sweating. “Wait here. I'm going to go get help. Don’t walk.”
She gave me a tight nod, and I ran inside.
The smell of sanitized hospital hit my nose and, for once, the smell comforted me. A lady stood at the door behind a desk watching me.
“My mom is in the car. She is pregnant and in a lot of pain.”
The lady went quickly into another room and came out with a wheelchair.
“The car is parked right out front,” I said as she came around the desk.
We walked out to the car quickly. The lady and I helped Jessica into the wheelchair. The lady immediately started asking her questions, and I bit my tongue to keep from asking her to stop for fear it would make the pain come back. Once inside, they got her information, and then instructed me to stay in the waiting area while they checked her out. Which sounded good to me. I didn’t want to go with them. Sitting down alone for a few minutes in order to calm my racing heart was greatly needed at that point. There were a lot of empty seats at that hour, so I found a chair facing a television hanging on the wall, and I watched the soundless news.
“Hello.” A hand lightly shook my shoulder and a woman’s voice woke me up.
I sat up in my chair. “Um, yes, sorry. Is my mom okay?”
The nurse smiled. “Yes, she is fine. She had a bad case of Braxton Hicks brought on by not drinking enough liquids, but she is fine and so is the baby.”
I sighed with relief.
“She is asleep, and we have moved her to a room. Once we have her hydrated and are sure her contractions have stopped, we will release her. You can come up to her room if you like.”
I nodded and stood. The soundless television said 7:30 in the right hand corner, and I froze and realized I should have been at work an hour ago. “I need to make a phone call before I go up. Do I need to go outside to use a cell phone?”
She smiled. “Yes, you do. I will be at the desk when you’re ready, and I'll take you up.”
I thanked her and headed for the door I’d brought Jessica through a few hours before.
I reached into my mother’s purse and pulled out her phone. I knew she’d stored Ms. Mary’s number in there somewhere. I scrolled down until I found it.
“Hello, Sadie,” Ms. Mary’s anxious voice answered on the first ring.
“Hey, Ms. Mary. I am so sorry! I had to bring my mother to the hospital at four this morning, and I fell asleep in the waiting room. They just came and got me. I am so sorry I didn’t call.”
“Oh, my lordy, is she okay?”
“Yes, yes, she’s fine. It was Braxton Hicks brought on by dehydration, and they are keeping her today until she is hydrated and stable. I have to stay and take her home when she is ready. I am so sorry.”
“Girl, you better stop apologizing to me. I’m just glad you’re all right. Now, here is Master Jax’s number. You need to call him. He has gone to your house looking for you. I ain’t never seen that boy all worked up and worried as he was when you didn’t show up. Don’t you worry about a thing, and call him, please, before he gets the police searching for you.”
I thanked her and said goodbye, and then quickly called Jax’s number.
“Hello?”
“Jax, it’s Sadie.”
“Are you all right? Where are you?”
“I’m fine. I brought my mother to the hospital around four this morning. She was in pain. But she’s fine now, and they are pumping fluids into her. She should be able to leave soon.”
“I’m on my way.”
“No, Jax, wait. You can’t come here.”
He paused. “Why?”
I laughed. “Because you will get mauled by adoring fans.”
He sighed. “I can make a few calls and get in privately.”
I laughed again. “No, there is no reason. We will be leaving soon, and I haven’t explained you to my mom yet, and today isn’t really a good day for that.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I am.”
“I miss you.”
I got all warm and tingly at his words. “I miss you too.”