The pain in my stomach and around my lower back was becoming impossible to ignore. A few times, I almost keeled over from how severe it was but I tried to ignore it for as long as I could. After dinner, and through the pain, I gave the opening address for the Ball, letting everyone know how important it was that we raise as much money as we could for the benefit of others, and then welcomed them to head into the next room to view the presentation. When they all cheered and I left the stage, I doubled over, clutching my abdomen. 

"Soph, that's it, I'm getting Daniel," Emma said, exasperated by how I'd forbidden her from mentioning to anyone else just how bad I was. I grabbed her arm and pulled her back, mainly because I didn't want her getting Daniel but also because this ache was so intense that I was going to fall to the floor if I didn't hold onto something. "Sophie-"

"I'll be fine," I say through gritted teeth. When the pain passes and I'm finally able to stand upright, I plaster on a huge smile and say, "See, I'm alright."

Even though she doesn't fully believe me, she nods and tells me that we should go to the bathroom so that I could freshen up again. We've been in and out all evening, reapplying my make up so that when one coverage melted away, another went on. A few times, we'd seen Martha and Keira in the ladies' room, gossiping about something. The first time, Martha was irate, ranting about Sam and how he was such an arsehole. Keira readily agreed that point. Each time after that, however, all we heard was Keira gushing about her boyfriend, Logan Leahy, and how they were planning a life together. Emma was of the opinion that Keira was well and truly drunk off her face. 

I had to agree. 

"Where are you two off to?" Charlotte asked as we bypassed her. When Emma replied that we were going to the bathroom, Charlotte followed us. "I've been dying to pee all night but I can't go in this damned dress. Emma, you're going to have to come into the stall with me and hold up all this material."

Emma scoffed. "No chance. You didn't do that for me on my wedding day so I won't be doing it for you tonight. Do what I had to do and use the toilet back to front. Most of the fabric bulks up at the back so think of it as reverse cowgirl."

I laughed at Emma's comment but the little old lady that walked by just as my youngest sister said those words, well, she didn't find it as amusing. She turned to Constance Courtenay, Daniel's grandmother, and began to loudly explain that this is what is wrong with the youth of today. Connie nodded in agreement before looking over her shoulder as she walked away, winking at us. She probably would have said something similar to Emma if she was part of the conversation. 

Entering the bathroom, Charlotte took Emma's advice and used the little girl's room as directed. While Charlotte was in the stall, giving us a running commentary about how Emma's advice was actually quite good, Emma began to reapply my make up, keeping it simple yet striking. I had to stop her a few times so I could compose myself, gripping the basin of the sink in front of me. All the time, Emma was begging me to let her go and fetch Daniel. The answer was always 'no.' 

"Shall I go and get Isaac, then?" Charlotte offered as she washed and dried her hands. She too looked concerned for me, more so than your usual degree of worry. When I shook my head, Charlotte huffed and said, "Emma, don't let her leave."

Despite being annoyed with Charlotte for apparently leaving to fetch Isaac, I didn't kick up a fuss about it. As much as I wanted to, another wave of pain ripped through my body and this time, I fell to the floor, gasping through the agony. Emma panicked and started to hover, asking what she should do. It wasn't helpful that she was looking at me for advice since I couldn't get to my feet, but just as I was about to scream at her to get a fucking grip, the bathroom door swung open and Isaac rushed in. 

Seeing how I was placed on the floor, he rushed to me, sliding onto his knees as he started to check my face and body for any obvious signs that would explain my predicament. When he couldn't find anything, he asked me to describe my symptoms. Unfortunately, I couldn't. I was in too much distress to formulate words. Whatever was wrong with me was intolerable. I hadn't felt like this since...

"Oh, no," I cried, hot, heavy tears streaming down my cheeks. "Not again. I can't go through this again."

"Go through what again?" Isaac prompted. When I shook my head and let my emotions get the best of me, Isaac looked at both my sisters for answers. "What is she talking about?"

Charlotte was the first to piece it together. "Shit. Sophie had an ectopic pregnancy before, remember? Maybe that's what this is."

On high alert, Isaac instructed Charlotte and Emma to help me lie down, asking Charlotte to sit behind me so that my head rested on her thighs. He then hurried Emma to go and find help,  preferably Martha or Michael Taylor, and to get Daniel. I tried to tell him that I didn't want Daniel here but he said, in no uncertain terms, that I would and should want him here. 

"Ok, Soph, I'm just going to press on your abdomen. It's going to hurt," he says, his voice apologetic. Nodding, I let him put pressure on my stomach, grimacing through the shooting pain that emanated from my core. This was worse than last time. Composing myself in time for Daniel's arrival on the scene, I saw how Isaac's face scrunched up in confusion. "Um, Sophie... you're pregnant."

"Isaac! A bit insensitive," Charlotte tells him scathingly. "What the hell is-"

Isaac held up a hand to shush Charlotte. "Sophie," he uses my name to gain my attention. Seeing the seriousness on his face, I focus on him and listen intently to what he says. "I need to take a look. Downstairs. I'm going to lift your-"

"Dad, what's going on?" Martha comes rushing through the door, heels in one hand. Isaac looks over his shoulder at his daughter and tells her to man the door and not allow any of the guests in. It's a wise decision. This place will look like a horror scene when the bleeding starts. 

Isaac looks at me again. "I'm going to lift your dress to take a look, Soph." He does exactly as he says, pulling the dress up to around my hips and dipping his head to see what was going on. With a grin, he looks back up at me and says, "Well, you're definitely pregnant. And you're in labour."

His last word hangs in the air until Charlotte gasps. "But... but... no, that's not right."

According to Isaac, a doctor, it was very much right. He went on to say that, by his knowledge, I was nine centimetres dilated and it was too late to get me to hospital. "You're going to have your baby right here, Sophie," Isaac tells me. Springing into action, he runs off a list of things he needs Charlotte to do, only to then repeat the list to Emma, Adam, Mick and Lucas when they call come rushing through the door. My mother stormed in after, demanding to know what was going on. "You're about to become a grandmother. Again. Camille, come and hold Sophie's hand until Daniel gets here."

Everything happened in a rush after that. All the items Isaac had requested arrived and the audience to the whole thing doubled and then some. Too dazed to know what was going on, I couldn't tell them to leave; I was still wrapping my head around the idea that I was about to give birth, but thankfully, Charlotte and Emma were on the ball and demanded that everyone who didn't need to be in the bathroom get out of the bathroom. 

"You're going to feel an intense need to push soon, Sophie," Isaac tells me, getting more and more into doctor mode by the second. "Good news is that the baby is engaged and this should be relatively straightforward, alright. Don't push until I tell you to and if you want to scream and swear, go ahead. Your mum is here so squeeze her hand as much as you want and Charlotte will help you concentrate on your breathing, ok?"

I nod. "I want Daniel here."

I really, really, really wanted him here. I was scared of having to go through this on my own and I knew if he missed any of this, he'd kick himself. Just my luck, the door to the bathroom opened and Daniel stormed inside.

"Good, you're here, mate," Isaac said to Daniel, chill as anything. "Sophie's about to give birth so-" Isaac's words were cut off by the sound of a heavy thud as my husband fainted to the floor. Looking over his shoulder, Isaac took quick stock of the situation before turning back to me and laughing. "Guess it's just us, then, huh, ladies? Sophie, I'm going to ask you to push now, alright. On three, push. One, two, three..."

Emma's Dress

https://youtu.be/8QN6p66AtDc

Chapter Song - (You're) Having My Baby ~ Paul Anka