Leaving Haven A Novel by Kathleen McCleary

Author:Kathleen McCleary
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780062106254
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2013-08-19T21:00:00+00:00

Part 2

15

Georgia

June 18, 2012

Georgia refused to let John in the delivery room, which was awkward at first because the nurse kept insisting he should come in. Finally, panting in pain and exasperation, Georgia said, “I don’t want him in here because he’s having an affair with my best friend, okay?” She didn’t go on to say that this baby who was about to be born was the genetic child of her husband and said best friend, because it was too much for Georgia herself to get her mind around, let alone try to explain to a complete stranger. But after the nurse said, “Seriously?” and Georgia nodded and began to brace herself as another contraction rose deep within her, the nurse went to the door and said something to John and whoever else was out there, and Georgia didn’t see John again. The nurse, whose name was Lakesha, must have told all the other nurses because everyone was extra nice to Georgia after that, and one nurse even came in and told Georgia the whole story of her own lying, cheating, no-good husband, who had slept with her daughter’s teacher for a year.

“And she didn’t even get an A,” the nurse said with indignation, as though a top grade for her daughter might have eased the sting of her husband’s infidelity.

“Maybe if your ex was better in bed Olivia would have gotten the A,” one of the other nurses said, and they all laughed.

At that point, though, Georgia didn’t give a shit about the nurse’s ex-husband or his mistress or the nurse herself or even John, because she couldn’t think about anything but the towering pain that was ripping through her now at such short intervals that she couldn’t tell where one contraction ended and the next began. At some point Polly came in and took her hand and told Georgia to squeeze it, but Georgia didn’t want to touch anyone or anything or be touched by anyone or anything. Chessy arrived shortly after that and came over and said, “I thought I could help, but honestly it’s making my vagina hurt just to look at you. I’m still sore, you know.”

“Chessy, this is not about you,” Polly said.

“I know that,” Chessy said, “but you could still have a little sympathy. I gave birth six months ago to a kid with a head the size of a bowling ball. The memory is pretty fresh.”

“I’m sure,” Polly said, “but maybe you could get over it for just five minutes and support Georgia.”

“I am supporting Georgia,” Chessy said. “I’m here, aren’t I? Even though blood and hospitals freak me out. Just because you have a wide pelvis and babies with small heads doesn’t mean you have to be so unempathetic, Polly. Really.”

“Me, unempathetic?” Polly said. “Oh, that’s rich. Just listen to—”

“Shut up!” Georgia yelled. “I want drugs.”

Polly called the nurse, who paged the doctor, and the doctor came in and checked her and said, “You’re too far along. It’s too late.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Georgia yelled at her.

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