Free Send the Snowplow by Lisa Kovanda

can’t lose them both.”
    Chris moved closer to Jaycee as she first tried to lift the cord from around the baby’s head, then clamped the two pairs of metal forceps onto the umbilical cord and cut between them. She needed to get the baby out. “Push, Valerie, push!”
    Valerie screamed as she pushed. Jaycee helped guide the baby’s shoulders. Another gush of fluid, and the body emerged, limp and blue. She grabbed one of the makeshift blankets and scrubbed his back while holding him head down. “Why isn’t he crying? Oh, my God, he’s dead. Please, no. No, no, no.”
    Valerie’s wails tore through Jaycee’s consciousness, even as she worked with the limp newborn. She clapped his back, then turned him over and blows a couple quick puffs into his mouth. “Come on, come on.” She flipped him back over, head down again, as Valerie sobbed and Brad tried to console her. She glanced up at Chris, who stood frozen in place as the overhead lights flickered. As if things couldn’t get any worse.
    After what seemed like an endless eternity, the baby let out a loud wail. Jaycee blew out a deep breath. She tied the cord with the string and cut it again, this time closer to the newborn’s body. His screams were a welcome sound to her ears, and each time he took in a deep breath, the dusky blue hue to his skin lightened to a healthy pink.
    Jaycee grabbed a fresh blanket and wrapped the baby in it. She didn’t have a baby warmer, and even in a heated hospital delivery room, hypothermia was a problem for brand-new babies. Getting him next to Valerie would help keep him warm, too. She placed the newborn in Valerie’s outstretched arms. “Oh, God, thank you.”
    While Valerie cradled her son, Jaycee returned to the foot of the bed. Chris stared at her with a renewed sense of panic. “I thought there was just one?”
    Marilyn’s voice came from the other side of the privacy divider. “Afterbirth, you moron.”
    “Oh, yeah. I knew that.”
    Jaycee hoped he did, but she had her doubts.
    Marilyn piped in again, “Can I have it? I could put it in a jar, like an appendix, or amputated toe.”
    “No!”
    “Some people eat the afterbirth. It’s full of iron.”
    Walter’s voice raised at least an octave. “Cannibalism? Disgusting.”
    Oh, for the love of God, these two would be the death of her yet. “Would you two please shut up?”
    “Gladly!” Walter practically snarled the word.
    The placenta slid out, and Jaycee gave it a quick inspection as she placed it into a basin. She handed the metal bowl to Chris, who gagged. He put the container onto a nearby rolling tray, then ran to a trash can and barfed.
    Jaycee stood up, took off her gloves, and went to check on the baby. Valerie handed the newborn to her. “Let Brad hold his namesake.”
    She took the newborn and placed him in Brad’s arms. She propped him in place with pillows. “Brad Junior? Perfect name choice.”
    Brad touched the baby’s cheek and kissed his forehead. He reached out and takes Valerie’s hand. “This is the best Christmas, ever.”
    Jaycee slipped her cell phone from her pocket and snapped photographs of the new family. “These are great—” Her face froze as she looked up from the screen to see Brad’s limp, dusky hand slip from Valerie’s grasp. Molly whined and nuzzled the lifeless fingers. She ran to Brad’s side and bent down to feel his neck.
    “Brad?” Valerie whispered her husband’s name.
    Jaycee choked back a sob. She lifted the baby from his father’s final embrace and handed him to Chris, who managed an awkward hold. As much as it ripped out her heart, she looked into the new mother’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
    Valerie let out an anguished wail. The feral sound reminded Jaycee of a wounded animal. She couldn’t wrap her mind around the emotions that had to be overwhelming her right now. Even though everyone knew Brad’s death was imminent, she couldn’t fathom losing a spouse and ushering a new life into the world