Page 4 of Open Net

“Olli Letang and Wyatt Hartman were in a vehicle collision this afternoon and both were taken to the hospital,” the news anchor said. “We’ve heard from Coach Romney that both are doing well and should be playing in the game this Saturday.”

“How have they already heard?” I shook my head and took a bite of pickle.

“It’s their job to know.” He changed the channel, hopefully looking for something less personal.

“This okay?” He’d stopped on a sitcom we watched occasionally, and I nodded. By the second episode, I was stuffed and tired.

“I’m going to head up to bed.” I tried to stand, but my stomach kept putting me off-balance. “I swear I’ve doubled in the past two days.”

Olli laughed and stood to help me up. “I’ll lock up and be there in a minute.”

I waddled up the stairs and changed into pajamas. By the time Olli walked into the room I was crawling into bed.

“That was fast.” He said with a laugh.

I smiled. “I’m a woman on a mission.”

He walked over and kissed my forehead before going into the bathroom.

I settled in and pulled the blankets up to my chin. It was hard to get comfortable these days but being back in my own bed felt like a dream. I pulled my body pillow between my knees and sighed. It was so good to be home…

A piercing pain.

I opened my eyes and scanned my darkened room. I slowly rolled over and pulled myself up.

“Ah.” I gripped my belly. Something was wrong.

The pain flashed again. “Olli.”

He sat up and turned to me. “What’s wrong?”

I was surprised by his alertness, but grateful.

“Something’s happening. I felt a pain. It’s nothing like they described in our Lamaze class, though.”

He rolled over and turned on his lamp. “We still have four weeks until you’re due.”

The pain started again. “Ah,” I cringed. “It hurts.”

“Like contractions?”

I blew out a breath. “I don’t know. Maybe?”

“How far apart are they?”

I tried to take a deep breath but was stopped by another sharp pain. “Too close.”

“Let’s go.” He was up and dressed before I could get my legs to the side of the bed. “I’ve got you.” He pulled me up to stand and half-carried me down the stairs. Once I was in the car, he leaned in and kissed my forehead. “I’ve got to grab the hospital bag.”

I nodded and focused on managing my breathing. Within seconds he was back and in the car. I watched the clock, timing the pain. I didn’t want to call them contractions. That made them too real. This wasn’t real. I wasn’t about to have a baby. It wasn’t time.

“It’s too soon to have this baby,” I said, gripping his arm. His eyes mirrored my terror, but he said, “It’s going to be okay.”

I wish I could believe him.

“Almost there, honey.”

I nodded and squeezed my eyes shut through another flash of searing pain.