Night Watch, Part 3

Victoria LeFrance swept past David into the house, leaving in her wake a whiff of incense and perfume mixed with moist summer air. David felt the swish of her long, flowing skirt and heard the creak of sturdy sandals. The doula had arrived. With hardly a handshake and a how-do-you-do, she asked David to put a kettle of water on for tea and then disappeared into the bedroom, where Angela waited.

David heard them conversing in low tones as he went to the kitchen. He read the business section of the day's Washington Post while the electric kettle slowly warmed and then rattled and then began to emit steam as the water neared boiling.

He poked his head into the bedroom. Several candles had been lit; they glowed from the nightstand, the dresser, and a small footstool by the window. A peculiar scent filled the air. Angela rarely lit candles. David wondered if the doula was going to tell Angela's fortune. "Water's almost hot. What kind of tea would you like?"

"Oh thank you, David," said Angela, sitting up in bed, leaning against a wedge of pillows. Even in the dim light he could see that her face was brighter and more relaxed. She was now in the doula's hands.

"I brought some herbal tea for stress reduction," said Victoria, handing David two tea bags. "We both need it. Would you like a cup, too?"

"No, thanks. I'm going to have coffee."

Upon returning to the kitchen, David dropped the tea bags into mugs and poured boiling water over them. While the tea steeped he made a small pot of coffee and finished reading the Post article about Alan Greenspan hiring someone to help write his eight-million-dollar memoir. When the tea was ready he placed the mugs on a tray. He was not sure if he would be allowed to stay in the room, but he decided to bring his coffee along just in case.

Angela now had her shirt pulled up to reveal her belly, and Victoria was pressing gently on the sides and bottom of the bulge. They studied it with a look of wonder. Backlit by candlelight, Angela's stomach reminded David of a basketball. Her face, in profile, was a series of curves from forehead to chin. The light emphasized the new puffiness that had come into her face in the last few weeks. She was looking more like a baby even as she was about to have one.

He set the tray on the bed. Neither of the women looked up; his presence was nothing compared to the kicking and squirming going on inside of Angela. David could not take his eyes off the enormous size and shape of her stomach. How could this possibly work?

"The head's right here," said Victoria. She guided Angela's fingers to a place low on the abdomen.

Angela looked at David as she patted the spot like she was comforting a child already born. "I feel him," she said, then winced as another contraction seized her. David wondered if Victoria was timing the contractions.

"I brought tea," said David. He lifted his mug of coffee and stood there, waiting for someone to shoo him away.

"Perfect," said Victoria.

Victoria took both mugs and handed one to Angela, who raised it to her mouth and drew in the hot beverage with extended lips. He could see the steam rising and mingling with the curls of her hair.

"How do you feel?" David asked.

"Much better. The baby is in a wonderful position."

"Great. When do we go to the hospital?"

"It will be a while," said Victoria. "We want to do as much of the labor at home as we can. We have to keep her relaxed."

"Why don't you take a little nap on the sofa, David?" said Angela.

"Maybe later. I need to call Paula. I promised we would give her an update."

"Good idea. Give her my love." Angela brought her lips together to make a small kiss, an air kiss from five feet away. David returned the gesture, then left the room.

Paula lived across the country from them, three time zones away. She had gone to high school in Virginia while their father finished up his last tour in the Army. Then she went to Stanford as a computer science major. When she graduated she moved up to the Seattle area. David and Angela were going to take Tony to visit her last year, but then Angela got pregnant and they never got around to it.

"Hi Paula," David said when she answered.

There was a gasp on the other end of the line. "Did Angela have the baby?"

"No. Not yet. But I'm calling to let you know she's in labor."

"That's wonderful. How is she feeling?"

"Well, she has this doula person to help her out," said David.

"That sounds exciting. What's she like?"

David lowered his voice. "Kind of a flower child. You know, Birkenstocks, incense, earth tone skirt."

"Now, David. She probably knows what she's doing. You're just like Dad, scared to death of anything new."

"That is not true. I'm as open-minded as they come."

Paula laughed. "I've heard that before. So, is Angela really going through with it? I mean, no epidural?"

"The strongest drug she plans to take is herbal tea. She's going all natural from start to finish."

"Wow, that takes guts," said Paula.

"Yeah, it sure does."

"You don't sound too enthusiastic about it."

"I'm a nervous wreck, to tell you the truth. What if something goes wrong? What if she's in unbearable pain?"

"David, you have to trust her judgment. At least let her try. Besides, you're not more than two minutes from the hospital."

"I suppose." David could not reconcile the apparent mismatch between the size of her stomach and the relatively tiny opening that the baby had to pass through. It seemed unnatural on the surface, yet he knew that millions and millions of women had given birth to babies before the invention of drugs and modern birthing methods. He also knew that many women died during childbirth.

"Have you called Mom and Dad?" asked Paula.

"Not yet. I'd rather wait until there is an actual baby to announce. I don't think Mom completely understands what Angela is doing."

"Of course not. Mom was knocked out and had a scheduled c-section for both of us. She had to wake up from surgery to find out what kind of baby she gave birth to."

"I guess predictability has its attractions."

"You don't want that, David. You need to support Angela. She's doing what's best for the baby. That's the way to look at it. I've read that passing through the birth canal is the healthiest way for a baby to enter the world."

David sighed. He was not going to get any sympathy from this direction either. He was resigned to a night of hand-wringing and imagining the worst possible outcomes. "You and Angela are obviously reading the same literature."

"Actually, she told me her references and I've been reading up."

"Wait a minute, are you getting serious again with what's-his-name?"

"Luke? Not really. That's an off-and-on thing. I'm holding out for Mister Right. Besides, Luke and I work in the same company so I don't really want to be involved with him."

"How's life on the island? What the heck is that place called again?"

"Bainbridge. Bainbridge Island. Not much of a singles lifestyle. I find myself staying in Seattle sometimes just to go out and socialize. But it's pleasant in every other respect. I'm definitely going to raise a family here."

"I knew you had something up your sleeve."

"Don't go spreading rumors. Should I make plans to come to Virginia? Do you need help?"

"Angela's cousin is coming down from New York. Of course her parents will be here. I'm going to be outnumbered. I need some reinforcements from my side of the family."

"It sounds like I'd better come. I can't wait to show Angela the baby clothes I've made."

"Great, Paula. She'll be glad to hear that."

They said good-bye. David sat at the dining room table and resumed his reading of the Post. It was going to be a long night.