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J & MADISON
THEIR FIRST DAUGHTER IS BORN
Three years after Storm
Madison’s POV
“What if thecontractions start coming faster? What if we go back home and that happens and then we can’t get back to the hospital in time?” I take a breath, trying hard to get oxygen in and panic out while staring at J and hoping like hell he has good answers for me. Then, gripping his shirt, I forget leaving the panic behind and let it consume me. “Oh my God, J, I can’t do this. She has to stay in there. Like, sew me up and don’t let her out. Why did we ever think we’d make good parents? We’re going to screw her up.”
J doesn’t even hesitate. He takes hold of my face, cupping my cheek with one hand while running the thumb of his other hand over my lips, silencing me. “Babe, stop and take a breath. A long fucking one. And then let me take you home. The doctorwouldn’t send you back there if he thought the contractions were gonna speed up anytime soon.”
I keep hold of his shirt, still feeling anxious in a way I rarely do. “What if he doesn’t know his shit as well as we thought he does? I mean, maybe he’s one of those doctors who has ten thousand patients suing him for malpractice and we just don’t know it. Maybe I’m further along than he thinks. God knows I’m having enough contractions to warrant a second opinion.”
J’s lips quirk, but he manages to hold his laughter. My husband really is a smart man. “This is hardly the time to go looking for a second opinion. And where the hell do you pull this shit from? Ten thousand malpractice suits?” He lets go of my face and takes my hand before leading me towards the front door of the hospital. “We’re going home and I’m going to figure out how the fuck to distract you from all this worry.”
J gets me in the car while I continue to word-vomit all my fears.
My contractions started eight hours ago, and I honestly feel like I should be in the hospital now, but our doctor advised me I’ve still got a way to go and that I’m best to stay at home until my contractions get closer together.
We don’t live far from the hospital, but still, I’d feel better about everything if we just stayed there now.
J doesn’t talk much on the way home; he simply listens to everything I say while settling his hand on my thigh. It’s that gesture, I think, that actually gets me through this drive home. It’s comforting, reminding me of J’s strength. This man has gotten me through a lot of things in my life, but this might be the most important thing yet.
I look at him after he parks the car in our garage when we arrive home. “Thank you,” I say softly.
His eyes meet mine and the love I see there hits me deep in my belly. Leaning across the car, he curls his hand around myneck and pulls me in for a kiss. A kiss which he lingers over, taking his time. Letting me feel his love. When he ends it, he says, “This isn’t something you have to thank me for, Madison. We’re in this together. If I could do the hard fucking work for you, I would, but since I can’t, I’ll do every-fucking-thing else I can.”
I grip his hand as tears prick my eyes.
Goddam fucking hormones.
I’ve cried far more in the last nine months than I’ve ever cried. I’m pretty sure J’s had enough of it, even though he doesn’t ever say anything. I’ve spent my entire pregnancy grumbling while he’s been a saint doing everything for me and making sure I’m okay.
I wipe my tears and smile at him, wrapping my fingers around his forearm, holding his hand in place around my neck. “Do you know what my favourite part of being pregnant is?”
“What?”
“You.”
He frowns. “Me?”
I brush my lips over his and nod. “Yes, you. You’ve loved on me so much and I’m so grateful even though it probably hasn’t seemed like it.”
He processes that for a moment before saying, “Do you know what my favourite part of you being pregnant is?”
“My tits?”
Full points to him for keeping his eyes on mine when I know my man’s natural tendency would be to drop his gaze to my boobs at the very mention of them. He does give me one of his sexy grins for a beat, but then turns serious again when he says, “They’re up there, baby, but my favourite part has been lying with you late at night when you can’t sleep, talking about all the things we’re gonna give Willow.”
“I love making plans with you.” I grip his arm tighter. “Promise me we’ll never stop talking.”
He frowns. “Why the fuck would we stop talking?”
“Couples do that sometimes. Kids and life get in the way and before you know it, you’ve forgotten who you are as a person and who you are as a couple. I don’t want that to happen to us. We need to keep talking and always be honest with each other.”
“Honest, as in me telling you that you don’t suck my dick often enough?”
