Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“How’re you feeling?” Callum asks as he approaches me.
“Much better. The bruises are slowly fading.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay. You had us all very worried.”
I smile. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“How’s Felicity?”
My smile grows wider. “Seriously, she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Callum nods. “I agree.”
My phone chirps in my pocket, and I read the text from Felicity a few times before my brain registers the words.
Felicity: Baby’s coming. Meet me at the hospital.
“I... uh, gotta go,” I say, shoving the phone back into my pocket.
“Everything okay?” Callum asks, following me toward the back of the restaurant.
“Felicity’s in labor.”
“Oh shit. Go,” he says in a rush, but I’m already out the door.
I fly toward my truck, not even fully aware of my actions, just moving on autopilot. After today, my life will be forever changed. As I drive to the hospital, my phone blows up with text messages from my siblings, two phone calls from my mother and Felicity’s, and a lot of voicemails. I don’t waste time with any of it. I focus on the road ahead, leading me to Magnolia Ridge Hospital.
Once I’ve pulled into the parking lot, I shut off my engine and rush toward the labor and maternity ward. A few weeks back, Felicity and I took a tour of the hospital to familiarize ourselves with it. Now, that tour is paying off.
I rush to the nurse behind the desk. “Felicity Lark?” I ask breathlessly. I can’t wait until I can call her Felicity Atwood.
“Room three-twelve.” She points a finger to the left, and I head off in that direction.
When I enter the room, I’m expecting mayhem, but it’s all very calm and serene.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, crossing the room to stand beside Felicity, ready to give her anything she needs.
Felicity beams at me. “I’m only dilated three centimeters, but my water broke.”
I glance at Felicity and then at her mother, who’s also sitting in the room. I barely even registered she was here at all. “What does that mean?”
“It means you two are in for a rough night,” Helena says, flipping through a magazine.
“The doctor said they’ll give me some medication to help speed things...” Felicity stops talking and starts breathing in through her nose, deeply.
I reach for her hand, letting her squeeze onto me as hard as she needs to. “Breathe,” I tell her, because I really don’t have anything else to say.
She’s heavily breathing through her contraction, obviously not needing my gentle reminder, but still, I want to be here for her. The room fills with the rhythmic sound of her deep breaths, the gentle hum of hospital machinery, and the distant murmurs of other families in similar situations.
“Up,” she says, finishing her sentence from before the contraction began.
I kiss her on the lips once her breathing has returned to normal. “You’re doing amazing.”
“That one sort of hurt. Do you think they’ll give me the epidural now?” Her eyes stare at me like I have all the answers.
“I’ll find out.” I’ll search down every doctor in this hospital until they can figure out how to lessen the pain for her. “I’ll go ask.”
Helena moves closer to Felicity while I search for a nurse.
As I’m searching I run into Callum and Tripp.
“Did she have the baby yet?” Tripp asks, holding a blue balloon that says, ‘He’s here.’
I shake my head. “Apparently she’s got a long way to go. She’s at three centimeters.”
Callum’s big eyes blink. “What does she need to be at?”
I shrug. “I think ten, could be more.”
“Well, we’re here. Whatever you need,” Tripp says.
“Honestly, you guys can head on home and I can tell you when she’s closer. I’m thinking this might take a while.” I spot a nurse walking down the hallway. “Excuse me,” I say, turning my attention away from my brothers. “My girl in room three-twelve is in a lot of pain.”
The nurse nods. “Okay, I’ll come in and check her out.”
I nod at her, silently thanking her and then turn back to look at my brothers. “I better head back in there.”
“Listen, we’re not going anywhere, and more are headed here now. So just keep us updated,” Callum says.
“Okay, will do,” I say, giving him a half hug, and then moving onto Tripp. “Wish me luck.”
They both wish me luck and I head back into the room.
After the nurse checks out Felicity and they’ve given her some meds to ease the pain, the room fills with my whole family, and then some.
We’re all talking and laughing, and after another hour, Felicity really starts to experience some pain.
“She’s ready to push,” the nurse says, kicking everyone out of the room.
I hold onto Felicity’s hand, and smile. “I love you,” I tell her, knowing that our baby is on the way.
“I love you,” she says right before another contraction takes her breath away.