| Chapter 2 "What?!" Gary said, worry in his eyes. "I said my water just broke," Leighanne restated. "I'll go get the car and bring it around," Nick said getting up. Leighanne grabbed her stomach and let out a small cry of pain. Tara got up and walked over to her, putting her hand on Leighanne's stomach and closing her eyes. "Forget the car Nick," Tara said, looking up at Leighanne, "We don't have time." "What do we do?" Brian asked. Tara looked around the room at everyone, "OK, um, Kristin and Kira, go find all the towels and blankets you can. Lyn and Nick, go get some warm water from the kitchen, and find a knife or some really sharp scissors, and one of those turkey baster things. Gary, you and Kevin move the furniture out of the way. Brian help me lay her down" Brian walked over to help. "Tara, what do we do?" Howie asked, standing next to A.J. "See if you can get an ambulance," she said. Gary and Kevin moved the furniture, and Brian and Tara laid Leighanne down on the floor. "Wouldn't the bed be better?" Gary asked. "It would, but we don't have time," Tara said. Kira and Kristin ran back in with some towels and couple of blankets, handing them over to Tara. They were followed by Lyn and Nick with the supplies from the kitchen. Gary knelt down next to Leighanne and held her hand. "Gary, something's really wrong," Leighanne said. "It'll be OK," he said, trying his best to comfort her. "Lyn, I need you to help me," Tara said. Together Lyn and Tara cut Leighanne's clothes off, and draped a blanket over her. Then they spread the other blanket on the floor. Tara pulled her sleeves up, handed her wedding ring to Brian, and quickly washed her hands, looking up at Leighanne. "Lee, the baby is coming and it hasn't turned yet," Tara said. "Oh God," Gary said. "What are you gonna do?" Brian asked. "I'm gonna turn it," Tara answered. "Have you done this before?" Lyn asked. "No," Tara said, focusing her attention on Leighanne. Everyone looked at each other, concern and fear in their faces. "I suggest you guys start praying," Tara said, "OK, Leighanne here we go." "Damn it the phones are out," A.J. said. "And I can't get any service on my cell," Howie said. "Keep trying," Lyn said. Tara took a deep breath, then proceeded to try and turn the baby. Leighanne screamed in pain. "Sorry," Tara said, continuing on. "Finally!" Howie said, "I got a signal!" He dialed 911 and waited for someone to answer. "Somebody go find some more light, I can't see what I'm doing," Tara said. Kevin and A.J. ran to find more candles. Howie was talking to the operator, while Brian and Gary held Leighanne's hands and tried to calm her down. Kevin ran in with a flashlight and some candles. "That's better," Tara said. Anxiously, everyone watched as Tara finished. "OK, the baby's turned now," she said. Leighanne again screamed in pain. Tara looked up at her, "Lee, you're gonna have to push." "I can't, it's to early," Leighanne said. "Well there's no turning back now, you're gonna have to," Tara said. "Tara, the baby's two months early, can't we stop it?" Leighanne said. "Lee, your water's already broke, you're gonna have this kid. I promise you I won't let anything happen," Tara said, staring her in the eyes. "You promise?" Leighanne pleaded. "I promise," Tara said. Leighanne nodded her head. "OK, Brian and Gary, lift her up a little," Tara said. They did, and Leighanne pushed. "That's good, Lee," Tara said. Leighanne felt like she was gonna pass out. Tara looked up at her, "Lee, you need to stay with us." "Honey, do your breathing," Gary said. Leighanne looked over at him, "Do your own damn breathing." Brian laughed. "Oh damn, here comes the head!" A.J. said from behind Tara. "OK, Lee, a couple more pushes and we got it," Tara said. Leighanne gathered all her strength and pushed. Gary and Brian were both squirming under Leighanne's grip. "Stop!" Tara said. "What is it?" Gary asked. "The cord is around the baby's neck," Tara said. Leighanne was breathing hard and getting paler by the minute. Tara quickly cut the cord and pulled the baby out. She laid the baby on a towel and began rubbing it with another towel, trying to stimulate it to breath. "Come on little one," Tara said. "What's wrong?" Leighanne asked. Gary looked down at her, "The baby's not breathing." A tear ran down Leighanne's cheek, and she tried to look over to where Tara was. Tara continued rubbing the child, until the baby coughed, then started crying. She grabbed the turkey baster and used it to suck some of the mucus from the baby's mouth and nose. She then pulled a small barrette from her hair, and used it to clamp where she had cut the cord. "Lyn, you and Kris clean her off and bundle her up," Tara said. Gary looked at Tara, "Her?" "Yes, you have a little girl," Tara said, smiling at them. Gary looked down at Leighanne, "Honey, we have a girl." Leighanne weakly smiled at Gary, then closed her eyes. "Lee?" Brian said. Tara moved up to Leighanne's side, "Lee, you gotta stay with us." Leighanne didn't wake up. "What's going on?" Gary asked, more scared than he had ever been in his entire life. Tara reached over and checked Leighanne's pulse and her breathing, both of which were slowing with every second that passed. "Come on Lee, don't do this," Tara said, "That little girl needs her mother." Kristin had just finished bundling up the little girl and was holding her. Nick was holding Lyn in his arms. Kevin walked over to Kris, to comfort her, and release his own tears. Howie was still on the phone with the operator, "No, they need to be here now, she's dying!" A.J. and Kira stood close to each other. Tara closed her eyes and prayed, God, please give me the strength to do what I have to. And please let Brian understand. Tara looked up, "Guys, move." "Honey, what are you gonna do?" Brian asked. Tara looked at him, and the look in her eyes sent chills down his spine. "Move, and whatever you do, don't touch either one of us," Tara said. Brian and Gary got up and moved a few steps away. Tara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to hold back her own tears. She placed one of her hands above Leighanne's heart, and the other above her forehead. She looked up at Brian. They locked eyes, and Brian knew something wasn't right. Brian, I'll always love you, Tara thought as she placed her hands on Leighanne. "NO!" Brian yelled, heading towards her. Gary grabbed him, holding him back. "Let me go! You don't know what she's doing!" Brian screamed. "Bri, she said not to go near them," Gary said. Brian was struggling against the larger man's grip, "God, don't let her do this!" Everyone was looking from one to the other, completely confused. Just then Leighanne took a deep breath, and opened her eyes, as Tara fell to the floor. Gary let Brian go, and went to Leighanne, as Brian ran to Tara. "Anne, are you OK?" Gary asked. Leighanne nodded her head and tried to sit up. "No, stay where you are," Gary said. Brian ran to Tara's side, pulling her into his arms. Nick was instantly by his side, "Bri, put her down." Brian was crying uncontrollably, "Why?" Nick reached over and pulled Tara from Brian's arms and laid her on the floor. Kevin came over and together he and Nick checked for a pulse, or any sign of breathing. There was none. "OK, let's start," Kevin said. He and Nick started CPR on Tara. Lyn held Brian as he cried. "Oh thank God, they're here!" Howie said, looking at the ambulance pull up the drive. He and A.J. ran to meet them. "Come on Angel, you can't leave us yet," Nick said in between giving her breaths of air. The paramedics ran in and took over for Nick and Kevin. They pulled out the portable defibulator and shocked her several times. Finally they got a faint heartbeat. They quickly prepped her and took her out to the ambulance. Leighanne had insisted she was OK to ride in the car to the hospital, so the paramedics left with Tara. Gary and Kevin helped Leighanne into the car, followed by the rest. Nick and Lyn were walking Brian to the car, as he continued to cry. "Bri, she'll be OK," Lyn said, praying it was true. Brian just shook his head. "OK, hold on," A.J. said as he sped down the drive, following Gary to the hospital. Chapter 3 |