All I know is that’s bad.
I run into the packed restaurant screaming like a crazy person. “I need a doctor! A nurse! A paramedic! Someone who knows more than McDreamy references.” Everyone stares at me.
Fuck my life, nothing ever works like it does in the movies.
Rounding the truck, I open the passenger door. “How you doing?”
Sweat beads her forehead, and she reaches for me with a clammy hand. “Baby’s coming. Like, now.”
Can’t freak out.
Can’t.
Cannot.
“Everything’s gonna be okay.” I don’t recognize my voice because inside I’m losing my shit. “Ambulance is on its way.”
The Texas heat sears into me as I bounce on my toes with nervous energy and yank my hair into a massive bun on top of my head.
Why did I tell Brady to go? Why?
A small audience gathers behind me. Patrons from the restaurant and some neighbors. Scanning the faces, I spot one of the waitresses. “Get me some clean towels and some hot water. Maybe a glass of ice water too. Oh, and a clean turkey baster!”
She nods like this makes perfect sense, and I ignore the strange look on my sister’s face. No need to tell her what that last item is for.
“Let’s get you more comfortable.” I release the lever for Kat’s seat and shift the whole contraption back as slowly as possible before I recline her. “Better?”
“Yeah.” Her pasty, pale complexion freaks me out. She might be the one in labor, but I have to remind myself to breathe too.
I feel bad that she’s sitting here with a towel under her ass like a diaper and half of our town is watching this go down. Ugh, the indignity of childbirth.
Please, don’t poop, Kat. I know you’ll never forgive me for dropping a deuce in front of so many people.
The waitress runs up to me with the supplies I asked her for, and I lean over my sister and set everything on the driver’s seat except for the ice water, which I offer to Kat to drink.
“Tori!”
Goosebumps race up and down my arms. That voice.
When I see Ethan stalking toward me, weaving through the crowd, my knees almost buckle.
It takes two seconds to shake myself out of it.
Fuck that.
I don’t have time to deal with him right now even though my heart can’t decide if I’m elated to see him or so fucking mad, I wanna sock him in the nuts.
“What’s going on?” he asks over my shoulder.
I snort. “What does it look like? Kat’s having her baby.” Duh. I roll my eyes.
As discreetly as possible, I reach for the container of hand sanitizer and squirt it all over myself.
When Kat sees what I’m doing, her eyes widen. “Why do you need that?”
“In the event you pop out a living, breathing human before the paramedics arrive, I thought I should have clean hands. So I can catch him. Or her.” Damn it, why didn’t I bring any blankets? “I used to play basketball in high school. I got you, babe.”
I don’t remind her that I sucked at basketball and all that dribbling. I’m not good with big balls.
I’m too freaked out to mentally snicker at my dirty joke.
When her next contraction overwhelms her, a war-like shriek breaks from her lips, making me jump, but Ethan places a warm hand on my shoulder.
I clench my eyes shut and say a prayer for Kat and this baby. That they’re okay. That I can get them through this.
We can do this.
Behind me, I tell everyone behind me to back off, because I need to protect the sanctity of my sister’s vag, and Ethan helps me, making sure no one can see into the cab of the truck.
I hoist up Kat’s butt so I can push down her soggy underwear, which is tough to do standing outside the passenger side, leaning in, but it’s not like there’s an easier way. She lifts her swollen legs, balancing her feet on the edge of her seat, and grunts.
“Where’s Brady?” She’s crying and trembling.
Ethan leans over my shoulder. “He’s coming. I just talked to him.”
Holding her hand, I start spouting nonsense to distract her. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you lost your mucus plug. I thought sisters were supposed to tell each other everything.”
She sniffles in between contractions. “How do you know about mucus plugs?”
“Google. I told you I was studying up on pregnancy. You’re my big sister. My only sister. You think I’m going to let you pass a beach ball through your hoo-ha and not research it? Hello. I’m true blue.”
Ethan mumbles something behind me that sounds like, “You are,” but I don’t have time to figure it out because my sister is pushing and bawling and sweating. So much sweating.
“Do you want to squat? I hear squatting is a thing. It’s all natural and helps get more oxygen to the baby. And, like, women drop trou in the Amazon, squat, and squirt out their babies, but you know, without the actual squirting. Hopefully.” Please, Jesus, no squirting.
“Stop making me laugh.” She smacks me, and I flinch because she nailed that bruise on my arm, but she probably doesn’t know it because my t-shirt has three-quarter sleeves. “Yes, I want to squat. Help me.”
It’s a tough squeeze because she’s carrying a Goliath-sized child, but I help her plant her feet on the floor and wedge her body between the seat and the dash.
Pausing, she pulls me close until we’re eye to eye. Damn, she’s strong for a pregnant lady. “Catch. The. Baby. Or. Else.”
“On my life, I’ll catch this baby.” Truer words were never spoken.
Reaching underneath her, I ignore the weird gush of fluid and hope I don’t catch a turd instead of a child.
Holy shit. I’m really doing this.
Another contraction makes Kat wobble, but Ethan reaches over my shoulder and steadies her. She eyes me warily. “Sorry this is so gross.”
“It is gross, but it’s okay. I love you. Just don’t forget to name the baby after me.”
“No more jokes.”
“I can’t help it.”
Her face goes red with another contraction. More screaming and crying.
And then… a wet, squelching plop.
I fumble, but only a smidge.
Because I promised my sister.
Checking between the baby’s legs, I smile through my tears—I have a niece!
And I caught her with a prayer and my bare hands like a freaking wide receiver.
I am officially a badass.
“And then Tori sucked the fluid out of the baby’s mouth with a turkey baster!” my sister exclaims while she snuggles baby Annabelle Victoria Shepherd to her chest. “She was amazing!”
Everyone in the hospital room stares at me. Brady, his parents, my parents, Ethan.
I avert my teary eyes.
My mother crosses herself. “Gracias a Dios que estabas con tu hermana, Victoria.”
She thanks God I was with my sister.
“Yes, mija. We’re so glad you were there.” Dad gives me a weird side hug. “If anyone could do this, it’s you. You were always the brave one. Always so bold and strong.”
Wait. Whaaaat?
Dad smiles at Ethan. “But you know you have your hands full with this one, right?”
I look away, not wanting to see Ethan’s expression. It’s still too painful.