Tombstone Estate

[Midori]

She was unable to sleep. The child within her was stirring and she knew it was time. Midori woke up and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. As she waited for the water to boil, she felt her stomach drop and her water break. Knowing she wouldn't have time for her tea, she had presence of mind enough to turn the water off. She also knew that her husband would be home shortly but pressed the button on her pager nonetheless which sent a signal to her husband's belt pager.

"Grady," she yelled as she leaned on the counter for support, looking around for the help she yelled for. A few seconds seemed like eternity so she yelled again, "Grady!" Before she could yell again, the first contraction hit and she gripped the counter and tried to breathe.

Grady came around the corner in his pajamas and bathrobe to witness the lady of the house in obvious labor.
"Good Lord," he said in his thick Bretonian accent as he ran up to her, "have you told Master Holliday?"
She just nodded as she focused on keeping herself up.
"Come, Midori, let me help you to your room, eh, if that is where you want to be," he asked.
Again, she nodded. Taking her arm, he motioned for one of the Estate guards to assist him.

Half way to her room, they had to stop, "Uhhhhh" she moaned as another contraction hit. Unsure of what else to do, Grady and the guard looked at each other, "Bloody Hell," Grady cursed, "I hope Master Holliday gets home shortly." They finally finished getting her to the room, helping her onto her bed in a seated position. The guard left but Grady stayed with her.
"I'm sorry, Midori, but I'm not sure what else to do," he confessed, helping her stay as comfortable as possible. She just smiled back at him through the pain, "You doing fine. Thank you."

Within that hour, John Holliday returned home still in his doctor's smock and found his way to the bedroom where Grady was helping her, "How are we, Grady?"
"Suh, her contractions are about every three or four minutes apart and last I dare say about twenty to thirty seconds each."
He then turned to Grady, "I need your help. I need some towels and my doctor's bag by the entry way table."
"Aye, Sir," replied Grady as he ran to do his bidding.

Doctor Holliday then helped her lay down and checked her dialation. She was crowning and another contraction hit as he looked. There was no time for further preparation.
"Dahlin'" he said to his bride, "it is time." He then got on his knees and spread her legs to begin delivering their daughter. He then looked to his bride again, "OK, push!"

And push she did as her hands gripped the comforter that she was laying on. Within a few seconds, the baby's head appeared. Midori had to stop to collect her breath as she hyperventilated. In the thick of it, Grady returned with towels and his bag only to see what was going on.
"Grady, you are officially my medical student," John said to him, "you have two kids of your own so I know you know something. Take her hand and let her grip."
"Yes, Suh," he answered. He took a position beside Midori, who managed a weak smile at his presence and took her hand.

"Ready, Dahlin?" John asked of her to be answered by a gentle nod.
Again she pushed, just about breaking Grady's hand in the process. The baby's shoulders cleared and finally, John was able to get a hold of her and pull her the rest of the way out. As Midori lay trying to find her breath, John then cleared the baby's nose and mouth.
"Grady," he instructed, "lay some towels out on the bed." Grady did so, making a spot where the baby would soon be.

For now, the baby was silent as John finished clearing her airways and preparing to cut the cord. Once he noticed Grady finished, he called him over.
"Hold this," he instructed Grady, making him pinch off the cord. He did so without question and John freed his daughter from her mother. He then tied it off and took his daughter in his arms to look her over for any problems. None were found. Almost like clockwork, the baby began crying.....and so did her mother.

"John Henry, please, let me have her," she insisted.
"Grady," John instructed, "give me that pink blanket over there." Grady did so and John wrapped the baby in the blanket. He then laid her on Midori's chest with a smile only a new father could give. But for now, he couldn't enjoy the moment as he had to finish putting her back together.

He pulled a pan out from his bag and told her to give a small push. She did and he removed the after birth. As he cleaned her up, he had Grady bring him a scale he kept in his West room. The baby was weighed upon it's arrival.
"Seven pounds, 12 ounces, Dahlin," he informed his wife but before he could hand the baby back to her, he looked at her. He was awestruck. He was proud and he felt instant love as her eyes met his. With a smile, he handed her back to his mother.
"I must get the crib ready as I have to, well, clean up in here," he mentioned.
Yes, it was a new beginning in the Holliday household.

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Married to Ambassador John Henry "Doc" Holliday