The Marriage Clause by Dahlia Rose Page A

shirt she asked Mikael for over her shoulder. His scent comforted her as her labor progressed
    “Honey, you’re having another one,” Mikael pointed to the chart. “Look at the spikes.”
    “I can feel the pressure of it,” India said. “Oh, this one feels different, can you get Rhonda? Like, now.”
    “Is it time?” His eyes were alight with happiness.
    “I think so.” India started to pant.
    Mikael rushed out of the room without another word.
    “Should we leave?” Brownie asked.
    “If you want. I know Gran may get squeamish if she sees what comes next,” India tried to tease.
    “Can we um, just stay by the top half of your body?” Gran asked. “I’d like to see Isabella be brought into this world.”
    “I’d like that, a lot.”
    She held out both her hands to Gran and Brownie. Even with their age and grace they still rushed to her side.  They were holding her hands when Mikael came back in, and Rhonda was on his heels.
    “Let’s see if this baby is ready to be born.” She smiled brightly as she washed her hands at the sink in the room and put gloves on. Rhonda checked her cervix and nodded. “It’s time to get the doctor in the room, you’re fully dilated.”
    With those words there was flurry of activity. A small table with instruments was wheeled in and her body was draped with a clean sheets.  Brownie moved over to the other side of the bed with Gran so Mikael could take his place by her side.
    “Someone will have to brace her other leg so she can bear down, can you manage it or shall I take your spot?” Rhonda asked Gran.
    “I’m sure between the both of us we can manage,” Gran said primly. “We’re not that old, dollface.”
    Rhonda chuckled and Dr. Highland came in the room with a friendly disposition and took his place at the foot of her bed. With the encouragement of Mikael who helped brace her back and whispered word of love in her ears, she pushed and pushed to bring her daughter into the world. It took over an hour and through sweat and tears she didn’t falter or give up for one minute.  Gran and Brownie switched out positions on bracing her leg when either of them got tired.
    “I can see hair!” Mikael exclaimed in excitement. “Oh honey, keep pushing, our girl has curly dark hair! You’re doing so good!”
    “Her head is out, look at those chubby cheeks,” Dr. High said jovially. “I think two more good pushes and she’ll be here.”
    “Okay,” India panted. She clutched Mikael’s hand and bore down hard, making a low grunt of exertion she pushed.
    She felt her daughter slip from her body and fell back to the pillows on the bed in relief. Soon she heard the angry wail of Isabella fill the room, and through her laughter tears slipped from her eyes.
    “You have a very healthy little girl,” Dr. Highland said. “Dad, would you like to cut the cord?”
    Mikael nodded and when India looked at him she saw him swallow thickly as he held tight the reigns of his emotion.  He cut the cord with the surgical scissors and the baby was placed on India’s belly.
    “Hey my pretty love, oh how we’ve been waiting for you,” India said gently. She caressed the baby’s damp curls. “This is your daddy, he is a hero, he’s a soldier. And your grandmothers, they raised us, and they will love you so hard and teach you such amazing things. We all will.”
    Beside her Gran and Brownie openly cried in happiness. Nurse Rhonda took the baby to clean her, weigh, measure, and perform the APGAR test to evaluate the baby.
    Rhonda came back with the baby cleaned and wrapped in a blanket. “Daddy, would you like to hold your daughter who weighs in at nine pounds three ounces?”
    “Oh, she’s a big girl,” Dr. Highland exclaimed. “The biggest we’ve delivered so far.”
    India watched as Mikael took their daughter and rocked her gently in his arms.  “You’ve taken my heart, just like your mother. I love you so much already that it hurts.”
    “Mikael, she takes after