“How come I wasn’t invited to place a bet?” Grams huffs, reaching over to pat my leg. “I’m an excellent judge of timing.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re supposed to be on my side. Guess the only one I can count on not to profit from my impending pain is Heath—” I cut myself off when I remember I need to call him to have him meet us at the hospital.
I dial his number before pregnancy brain takes over again and put it on speaker so I can lean against the headrest without juggling my phone.
“Hey, hellcat,” he drawls. “How’s the baby shower?”
He was planning to meet me at his parents’ ranch house once it was over.
“I didn’t make it that far,” I pant.
“Why? Everything okay?” Concern creeps into his voice.
“Your wife is in labor!” Birdie hollers from the back seat.
“Her water broke. Good luck cleaning that up later. It’s a bitch to get out of leather,” Grams adds cheerfully.
“Damn, that hurts,” I hiss through gritted teeth as a strong cramp tightens in my lower abdomen.
“Charlie, please tell me you’re all right,” Heath says, remaining calm.
I exhale slowly. “I’m fine. Your daughter’s just trying to claw her way out of me, that’s all.”
I hear a door open and slam shut on his end, followed by the rumble of an engine starting.
“I’m on my way to the hospital now,” he informs me. “Briar’s Jeep just turned onto the road up ahead, so I assume the whole family will be in the waiting room eagerly anticipating this baby’s arrival here shortly.”
It makes me happy to know that we have so many people who are just as anxious to meet our little girl as we are, and that they’ll do whatever they can to support us.
“What about my hospital bag?” I blurt out. “I never packed one.” I was so sure this baby was coming late I hadn’t bothered to put one together yet.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I packed one last week, and it’s in the truck,” Heath reassures me. “I even threw in the blanket Grams gave us.”
“This is why I love you,” I say, blinking back tears.
“Good man,” Grams adds simultaneously.
When we visited her at Meadowbrook last week, she surprised us with the baby blanket I’d found in Florence’s room the morning after she passed. Grams had finished it and wanted me to have it before the baby shower, knowing we’d both be a blubbering mess when I opened it.
After we use it for newborn photos, I’ve decided to store it in the keepsake box Heath made, along with the Birkin. I don’t have the heart to sell it, so I’ll pass it on to my daughter someday. I know that’s what Florence would have wanted.
“I love you too, hellcat,” Heath says, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’ll see you real soon.”
“Stop and get me sushi on the way,” I reply before he can end the call.
There’s a new place in town that does the best vegetarian rolls, and it’s been my biggest craving these past few weeks. Still, I’d give anything to have a spicy tuna roll.
Heath’s warm chuckle echoes from the phone’s speaker. “With extra wasabi on the side, right? Don’t worry, the minute we meet our girl, you’ll have nine months’ worth of tuna and salmon rolls.”
“My savior,” I declare.
After I hang up, I lean against the headrest and close my eyes as the pain in my belly intensifies. I’m already counting down the minutes until I get the sweet relief of an epidural and can properly curse out my sweet husband for putting me in this predicament.
Isn’t She Lovely
“You were amazing, sweetheart,” I murmur against Charlie’s temple.
“She’s so much cuter than any alien or turtle, don’t you think?” Charlie muses, resting her head against my shoulder as she caresses our daughter’s cheek.
