Page 137 of Connectio

Extended Epilogue

“Will!” I yell. “Wake up. I think it’s time.”

I hear him groan from our bedroom, and given it’s nearly midnight, I don’t blame him.

“I’m coming,” he grumbles.

“It’s okay, Snow. Mummy’s here. You’re doing so good, girl.” I kneel by the whelping box and pat her head.

Will stumbles into our living room, stretching his gigantic frame as he yawns. “She punch ’em out yet?”

I glare at him. “I’ll punch you out in a minute.”

He chuckles and combs his hand along Prince’s back. “I’m kidding, sweetheart. What’s happening?”

“I think her waters just broke, because she been licking a wet patch on the sheet underneath her. She’s been panting pretty hard, too, and shaking.” I flick my hands, a little panicked. “Okay, so I’ve got towels, sterile scissors, rubber gloves, antiseptic, dental floss—”

“Dental floss?” Will gives me his unexplained phenomenon expression.

“Yes. To tie the umbilical cords if we need to.” I huff. “I’ve told you this already.”

He scrubs his hand down the back of his neck and yawns again.

“So I’ve got the floss, a heating pad, the heat lamp is on, the vet is on call… what else?” I look around the room, and that dreaded feeling you get when you know you’re forgetting something settles in my stomach. “Ice cream!”

“What the hell do you need ice cream for? You hungry?”

“No, it’s not for me; it’s for her. It’s to keep her blood sugar levels up. Plus, she’s about to ‘punch’ out many babies. Bitch deserves ice cream. Don’t even argue with me on this.”

He holds up his hands. “I’m not arguing, sweetheart. Whatever you say goes. You got this.”

Prince tries to climb onto his lap, and he lets him. The two of them are best mates, inseparable, especially after Molly passed away last year. Prince has filled a void only a loyal dog can.

“Who’s gonna be a dad soon?” he coos, scruffing Prince’s ears. “You are.” Prince licks his face. “Yes, you are, big boy. Are you ready?”

Prince barks.

“Will! Keep him calm. Snow doesn’t need you two goofing off right now. She needs serenity, tranquillity. Shit! I forgot to put on my playlist.”

He stops scruffing Prince’s ears. “Your what?”

“My birthing playlist for Snow.”

Will cracks up laughing and crawls onto the floor next to me. “What’s on it… ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’?”

I whack his arm. “Very funny.”

He hugs me to him. “Just breathe. She knows what to do by instinct; she’ll do most of the work.”

Sighing, I slump against him. “I know. I’m just nervous.”

I run my hand ever so softly down the back of Snow’s head. It might sound silly, but I’ll never experience giving birth, and this will be the closest I’ll ever come. I don’t want to let her down.

“Not long now, girl.”

She shuffles and licks herself again, and this time her tail lifts, and a balloon-like membrane sac appears.

I gasp. “Look, it’s the first puppy.”