I don’t bother asking if he’s sure I can leave my shift early. We only have another hour to go, and the next shift is on their way in.
Besides, now isn’t the time to “work through it.”
I’m out the door as soon as I’m out of my gear, which the guys offer to put away for me.
I drive home. I don’t remember driving home, I’m in such a haze. But, somehow, I park my truck in the driveway and throw open the front door.
Delaney is pacing the foyer. She has a hand pressed to her back. The other is on her rounded stomach. The hospital bag is packed and sitting next to the door.
“Hey, baby.” I greet her with a quick brush of my lips against hers. Then I lean over to press a kiss to her swollen belly. “Hey, baby.” I swallow past a lump in my throat. “Are you both doing okay?”
“We’re fine. Now that you’re here.” She chews on the inside of her cheek. “Is it bad that I’m a little scared?”
“Aw, sweetheart.” I give her another kiss. “It’s not bad at all.” I rub her back soothingly. “It’s perfectly normal.”
I don’t tell her I’m scared, too. Right now, she doesn’t need my honesty.
The woman I love needs my comfort and support. “How far apart are your contractions?”
As if cueing one, she reaches for my hand and squeezes. I count to fifty in my head before her grip loosens up.
“Good girl.” I kiss the side of her head and cuddle her close. “Do you know how far apart they are?”
“About five minutes.”
“Five minutes?” I frown. “When did they start?”
“Oh…” She doesn’t meet my gaze. “A while ago.”
“Sweetheart.” I give her a pointed look. “How long have you been having contractions?”
Her lips twitch. “Since last night.”
“Son of a…” I bite off the swear before it can cross my lips. “Why didn’t you call me sooner?”
“Because you were halfway through your shift. I know how much you love your job. Plus, you hate leaving the guys to fend for themselves.”
“Delaney.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “That doesn’t really apply here.”
“And the doctor said we didn’t need to go to the hospital until they were five minutes apart. Or my water broke.”
My eyes narrow again. “Did your water break?”
“Yeah…”
I resist the urge to sigh, but only barely. “When?”
“Right before I texted you.”
Well, at least she didn’t wait another twenty hours before she brought me into the loop. “Should I call the doctor?”
“I already did.” She reaches for her hospital bag, but I intervene before she can pick it up. “And Hannah is already over at the neighbor’s house.”
“Did she take the menagerie with her?”
“She insisted that they all go along too.” Delaney chuckles lightly. “I told her that surely they could come back over to feed Mr. Gold IV, Spike, and Mr. Boots. But she said Rusty would be lonely without them.”
I can’t help but grin at that. Hannah is the only one who doesn’t believe that our cat and dog—the latest additions to the family—actually hate each other.
Oh well. “As long as the neighbors don’t mind.”
“Actually, I think they found it funny. They—” Delaney sucks in another breath and I take her hand.
I once again count to fifty before she lets me go.
“You’re doing great.” I give her another kiss and grab the back. “Come on, baby. Let’s go have our baby.”
