When the anesthesiologist comes in, he tells me that I will need to leave the room while he administers the epidural, but not before showing me the extremely long needle he will be inserting into Lila’s spinal column.

If I wasn’t freaking the fuck out before, I am now.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Lila, then head to the waiting room.

All of my family is there waiting. Trish walks over and hugs me when I walk into the room.

“How is Lila?” she asks. “The nurses have been giving us updates.”

“She’s not doing well,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t think she can go through much more.”

“She is strong,” Trish says, patting my arm. “Much stronger than I am both mentally and physically. I survived and she will too. She’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

She holds out a fast food bag. “We brought you something to eat.”

“I can’t think about eating anything right now.”

She shoves it into my hands.

“Eat. I don’t want to hear any arguments. Lila will need you later, so eat the food.”

I plop down in one of the metal chairs and unwrap the cold hamburger.

“Thanks, Trish. You’re right. I’m starving.”

By the time I finish the hamburger and drink a cup of stale coffee, the nurse is waving to me from the doorway. “Mr. Mason, you had better get back in here.”

I jump up from my chair and rush after her. When I enter the room, Lila beckons me over to the hospital bed.

“The doctor says it’s almost time. I’m numb from the waist down so I’m not in any pain. In fact, I can’t feel a damn thing.”

“Thank God,” I say, leaning down to kiss her forehead. She already looks much better, and they’ve removed the oxygen mask. “That’s good news. What am I supposed to do now?”

“I don’t know,” she says with a tired laugh. “Try to stay out of the doctor’s way and don’t distract the nurses.”

“How would I distract the nurses?”

“Trust me, any woman who sees you will automatically be distracted. Don’t let them look at you. They might drop the baby on the floor or something.”

“I got it. Don’t talk to the doctor. Hide from the nurses.”

A few minutes later, the doctor hurries into the room followed by several nurses.

“Are you ready to do this, Mom?” he says. “You won’t be able to feel the contractions, but you can still push. Push with your mind and the body will follow.”

“I’m past being ready to get this over with.”

“Dad, hold her hand and encourage her to push,” the nurse says.

“Dad?” I look over at Lila. “Is she talking to me?”