Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157175 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
We all flinch when Ava lets out another almighty, bloodcurdling scream, grabbing onto me with both hands, her nails puncturing my forearms. ‘Fucking hell, Ava,’ I hiss, prising her buried claws one by one out of my flesh. ‘Sorry, kids.’
‘Does that hurt, Ward?’ she pants, bending, starting to sweat.
‘Just a bit.’ I play it down. I shouldn’t have. She sinks her nails into me again on an evil look.
‘Good.’
Jesus, she’s turning into a psycho. I watch the kids fly out of the kitchen to fulfil their orders, and realign my focus on Ava. ‘You want to sit?’
‘No!’
‘You want to stand, then?’
‘No!’
‘Right.’ I roll my eyes, accepting my mobile when Jacob thrusts it at me.
‘You okay, Mum?’
‘Yes, darling.’ She reaches blindly for his head and gives it a loving, reassuring pat. ‘I love you.’
I recoil, shaking my head in wonder. So she’s just a psycho bitch with me, then? Dialling the hospital, I keep hold of Ava as she moans, constantly cursing me and apologising to the kids. ‘Hi, my wife’s gone into labour. Ava Ward.’ I watch Ava’s face turn bright red. ‘We’ll be around half an hour.’ Her nostrils start to flare. ‘Yeah, great. Bye.’ I hang up and hand the phone to Jacob. ‘Call Nan and tell her to get her arse here quick.’
‘We can’t come?’ He looks totally put out.
‘Trust me, mate. You don’t want to be anywhere near your mother while she’s pushing Peanut Junior out.’
‘I’d rather him than you,’ Ava spits, going into another scream, grappling at my arms.
‘There’s no need for that now, is there?’ I sound so condescending, but other than dishing out a Retribution Fuck, which is off the cards right now, I have no other option but to humour her. ‘It’s your body that rejected the pill.’ She’s not slapping this on me. No way.
‘Really, Dad?’ Maddie smacks my arm. ‘You’re saying that to her when she’s in labour?’
So it’s gang up on Dad day? Has it escaped everyone’s notice that I’m the only calm one around here? ‘Jacob, call your nan,’ I order, this time less calmly. Ava’s contractions have come on fast, and there’s not much space between them. I pull Ava’s hair from her damp face and indicate for Maddie to tie it up with the hairband on her wrist as Jacob dials Elizabeth.
‘Nan, it’s Jacob.’ He dances on the spot, eyes on his mother. ‘Mum’s in labour. Dad said get your arse here now.’
I hear my mother-in-law’s screech of joy. ‘Tell her to hurry,’ I call.
‘Hurry, Nan!’ he shouts, hanging up and stuffing my phone in my pocket for me.
‘I love you,’ Ava tells Maddie while she secures the tie, feeling at her startled face. ‘You’re beautiful, smart and sassy, and I love you.’
‘Love you, too, Mum.’
If she wasn’t in labour, I would think Ava was drunk. What’s got into her? It’s a stupid question. I know what. It’s that whole replacement thing. ‘Come on, lady,’ I say, breaking up their moment. ‘Let’s get you to the car.’
Her answer is an epic scream, her body unmoving when it solidifies in a natural attempt to stem the pain. ‘Oh my fucking God!’ Pant, pant, pant. ‘Sorry, kids.’ She fists the front of my T-shirt and hauls me forward with a power Wonder Woman would be envious of. Her eyes are wild. ‘This baby is coming out now, Ward.’ Yet another scream pierces the air immediately after her statement.
And following that, my panic. ‘What?’ No. No, no, no. ‘Ava, we just need to get you in the car and I’ll have you at the hospital in no time at all.’
She starts to fold to the floor, moaning on her way down. I have no choice but to scoop her up and carry her through to the lounge where it’s more comfortable. ‘There is no time,’ she wails as I lay her on the couch. ‘Not on the couch! It’ll be ruined.’
‘For fuck’s sake.’ I can’t help it. ‘Sorry, kids.’ I lay her on the carpet and get her head comfy on a pillow. ‘Baby, I need to get you to the hospital.’
She shakes her head. ‘It’s coming.’
‘Jacob, Maddie, hold your mum’s hands,’ I order, sending them to the top end. Once they’re in position, I reach under Ava’s long skirt and pull her knickers down; the material is drenched. ‘I’m just going to check what’s going on down there,’ I tell her, to appease Ava more than myself. ‘Then we’ll get you to the hospital.’ I help her legs to bend, ensuring I keep her covered as best I can as the kids look on.
‘I need to push,’ she pants.
‘You do not need to push,’ I assure her as I take a peek between her legs. It’s way too soon. ‘Oh, fuck!’ I blurt, seeing the crown of a head breaching her vagina. ‘Shit, Ava!’