Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

work, and at times I even got so busy I didn’t think about Mr. Greg and his war stories, or Ms. Mary and her laughter. I had finished my third week, and my paycheck was in my hands. It wasn’t really needed yet, considering that the severance pay from Jax had been ridiculous and Jessica had refused to let me dispose of it. Ms. Mary had assured me everyone’s had been just as ridiculous. It mollified me a little, but not enough. Somehow I still felt bought off. I hated thinking of it that way, but I did.
    I parked my bike by the door and heard a scream from inside the house. My heart started racing. I jerked the door open and ran inside. Jessica was bent over in the kitchen, and bloody water was running down her legs and pooling on the floor. “What’s happening?” I asked, panicked.
    “Call 911
now
!”
    Her cell phone was lying on the countertop, and I grabbed it. She screamed again. My hands shook so badly it was hard to dial. Something was terribly wrong.
    “Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”
    “My mother, she’s bleeding and in a lot of pain, she is screaming. She’s eight months—maybe almost nine months pregnant. I think, I’m not sure.” My words were so rushed I hoped they made sense.
    “Help is on the way now. Tell me what your mother is doing.” The voice sounded so calm.
    “She’s breathing hard and sitting in a chair.”
    “Ask her how she feels.”
    I looked at her. All color had vanished from her face. Her eyes were big and scared. Seeing my mother worried and in pain made me want to panic.
    “How do you feel?” I asked shakily.
    “It’s okay right now, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’ll come back.” She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes.
    “She’s fine now, but she said it would come back.”
    “She’s correct, it will come back. Your mother is in labor. Now I need you to remain calm and get her a cold wet washcloth and wipe her face. It’ll help soothe her.”
    I did as the voice told me. Jessica sat silently while I washed her face.
    “How is she?” the voice asked.
    “She’s okay. I washed her face, and she is breathing easier.”
    “That’s good. The baby isn’t coming too quickly. Now, if you’ll get her some ice chips to suck on, or crushed ice in a cup, this will also help.”
    I started to go get some ice cubes and crush them when I heard the ambulance sirens outside.
    “The ambulance is here,” I told the voice on the phone.
    “Good. Then everything is going to be fine, and you did really well. I’ll let you go and talk to them.”
    “Thank you,” I said hastily, and hung up the phone. I ran to the door and threw it open wide, just as a guy was about to knock. “She is right here.”
    I motioned, and he came in quickly with a lady behind him. They talked to Jessica and checked her pulse and temperature. When they’d finished with their examination and questions, they got a stretcher, laid her on it, and slid her into the back of the ambulance. I stood frozen and unsure. Jessica wasn’t the best mother in the world, but I loved her, and tears ran down my face. I didn’t want to think about anything happening to her.
    The lady said to me, “Oh, honey, everything is just fine. Your mom is just in labor. Come on, now, wipe those tears before she sees you. The last thing she needs is to see you upset.”
    I did as she said. Suddenly I realized if I didn’t drive, we would be without transportation when we needed to come home. And then the fact that I needed to get the car seat and all the other things she needed for the hospital occurred to me.
    “I . . . we will need our car, and the stuff for the baby.”
    The male paramedic walked up, an easy smile on his face. “You go ahead, then, and get the things your mom and the baby will need and bring the car. When you get to the hospital, go to information, and they’ll direct you to her room.”
    I stared at the lady as she climbed into the back with Jessica.
    “Don’t forget her things too,” the lady said. “She will need toiletries and nightgowns, and then of course something to wear home.”
    I nodded, and the doors were closed. I couldn’t believe this was happening already. I watched them drive away, and then I rushed back inside to pack up everything Jessica and the baby would need. First things first, I mopped up the blood and water from the floor and the seat she had been sitting in. Having a baby really was gross stuff. After the kitchen was clean, I went to