With a shake of my head, I say, “Only you would say shit like that at a time like this.”
His grip tightens around my neck, and he kisses me before saying, “It kept your mind off your contractions for a moment.” Letting my neck go, he reaches for the door handle. “Let’s get you inside.”
I exit the car and make it to the door that leads into our house when a contraction hits.
“Oh, God.” I press my hands to the door and lean into it, breathing through the pain.
J moves behind me and massages my lower back until the pain subsides.
“I’m never doing this again,” I say as he opens the door. I know I’m being dramatic, because I’m not even in active labour yet according to the doctor, so this pain isn’t as bad as it’s going to get, but still, I really don’t want to ever do this again.
J shows me again how smart he is by not commenting on my declaration. Instead, he places his hand to the small of my back and guides me inside to the exercise ball that I’ve found good to sit on.
“Do you want some water?” he asks, dropping his keys on the kitchen counter.
“No,” I say, feeling as whingy as I sound. “I just want this baby out of me.”
Like, now would be good.
With no more pain.
Full points to J. He doesn’t frown or grimace or show even one ounce of feeling like this is too much for him, too. He simply comes to me and kisses me before saying, “Let me know when you need something, okay?”
I clutch his shirt, about to tell him how much I love him when his phone rings.
He checks caller ID and then answers it. “Harlow. The doctor sent us back home.”
She says something, to which J says, “I’ll put Madison on.”
He hands me the phone.
“Hey, honey,” I say.
“Do you want me to come over? Scott said he’ll come home to look after Aurora if you need me.”
“No, I’ve got J, and I have to say this is his thing. He’s really good at looking after a whingy, dramatic, half-crazy pregnant woman.”
“You’re allowed to be all those things, Mads.”
“I know, but evenI’msick of me. God knows how J hasn’t throttled me already.”
She laughs. “He knows what’s good for his balls.”
I eye my husband who’s now in the kitchen making a sandwich. “Yeah, he does.” The ache in my lower back intensifies and I push up off the exercise ball, needing to walk for a bit. “Babe, I’ve gotta go. I need to walk this ache out of my back.”
“Okay. I’m here if you change your mind. I’m gonna get Scott to come home just in case.” She pauses. “You’ve got this, and so does J. I can’t wait to meet Willow.”
My heart squeezes with love. For Harlow and also for my baby girl who we’re all going to get to meet soon.
“I love you,” I say, and we end the call.
Standing, I pace the lounge room. I’ve covered the distance of the room five times when a knock sounds from the front door, followed by Nash calling out, “Madison, you home?”
J’s eyes meet mine. “Keep walking,” he says as he makes his way to the front door.
A few moments later, he returns with Nash who’s carrying three full grocery bags.
“I wasn’t sure if you guys would be here or not,” Nash says. “Velvet thought you’d already gone to the hospital.”
