A viva stood motionless in the hall outside her laundry room phone still in her hand after the doctor’s call that had taken place — when? A minute ago? An hour ago? All she knew was that the doctor’s words were still reverberating through her head in a thousand echoing blasts: “You’re having a baby! Baby! Baby!”
She held herself straight and still squeezing every muscle into place. Like a general surveying his troops. Head high… neck still working. Shoulders doing their job. Knees locked in place. She took a deep steadying breath.
Breathe in breathe out. In control.
She could handle this. She could handle anything.
She could handle another baby. On top of the eight children that she was already— Not handling.
