“Labor? Already? Shit!” It was too soon. “No worries. I’ll get over there. Which hospital are you taking her to? Her doctor is out of Mount Sinai, right?”

“That’s exactly where we’re headed.” And with that he was gone.

“Kay!” I rushed into the bathroom. “You aren’t going to believe this. We got more kids coming over. So, don’t even think about going anywhere.”

“What?” he yelled over the shower water.

“We got three more kids coming over. Tasha is in labor. So, cancel ya plans, playboy, and get out of the shower. I’m headed to Mount Sinai to pick up the boys.”

I grabbed my keys. These girls were driving me nuts. I was glad to let Kaylin deal with them for an hour or two.

TRAE

I was flying at dangerous speeds and running through red lights as I rushed Tasha to the closest hospital in her Mercedes Sprinter. Her going into labor couldn’t have come at a more inconvenient time.

Good thing it was Sunday morning and not a lot of traffic. Tasha was moaning like she was about to drop the baby any minute. “Hold on, ma. I got you. We gon’ make it.” I had to be doing at least 100 miles and it felt like I was going to flip over at every turn.

“OHHHH, Trae!” She grabbed my shoulder and sunk her nails in. “Heh. Heh. Heh.” She released short breaths. “Baby, your mother was the one who told me this was supposed to be a breeze after the second or third child! She fuckin’ lied, Trae! Don’t ask me to have another baby. And you better not get me pregnant! Heh. Heh. Heh. I’m serious, Trae!”

“Let’s talk about it.”

“Traaaaaeee! And my water hasn’t even broke. I’m not having any more kids. I’m hurting like hell. I mean that shit.”

“Hang in there, bae.”

The boys were in the backseat whispering amongst themselves, obviously enjoying the heightened drama and me driving as if we were on somebody’s speedway. I pulled up in front of the emergency room entrance. “Y’all stay put and keep an eye on your mother,” I ordered. “She’s getting ready to have your baby sister.”

I jumped out the truck and ran into the emergency room lobby. I stopped the first person I saw wearing a pair of scrubs.

“My wife is having contractions!”

She grabbed a wheelchair and followed me outside.

“Tasha, what the fuck?”

She was already out of the car with the boys beside her. The nurse helped her into the wheelchair and headed inside with me and my three little soldiers right on her heels.

“It’s too early.” Tasha was crying. “I’m only seven months. Trae, call Dr. Peta. Something’s not right.”

“Has your water broke?” the nurse asked as she took her vitals and the other one took her insurance card.