Page 31 of Breathe Me: Smith & Belle

“We’ll get settled, Daddy. Don’t worry.” The nurse lowered her voice. “This is all perfectly normal.”

My wife didn’t normally hate me, so I wasn’t convinced of that.

I stepped away to place the phone call. Striding past the door of another open room, I spotted a man at his wife’s side, comforting her through a contraction. It looked so peaceful that I found myself staring until a nurse hustled past, nearly bumping into me. I continued to the lobby, which due to the private nature of the wing, was completely empty.

I hadn’t thought to take Belle’s phone, which left me with Alexander’s number. He answered on the second ring, which somehow spoke to the nature of our relationship as much as the man himself. It was nearly midnight, but his tone was hushed.

“Yes?” He got straight to the point. It was usually business between us.

“Belle’s in labor. She wants Clara.” I didn’t bother to ask Alexander to request she come. If I had to break down the doors of Buckingham and drag the Queen away in my arms, I would. Not even he could stop me.

But Alexander didn’t press for more information. He simply replied in a clipped tone, “We’re on our way.”

Then, he hung up.

I’d done the only thing she’d asked of me, and what’s more the only thing she seemed to want me to do. I thought of the couple in the other hospital room, lovingly working through birth. I had no idea why my wife had decided she no longer wanted me here, and maybe, I’d pay for it, but there was no way I was going to let her push me away now.

I strode back to the room, already labeled with our names on the outside placard and burst inside. Belle had a plastic mask over her face and her eyes widened as she spotted me.

I rushed closer, peppering the midwife with questions as a nurse continued to take Belle’s vitals.

“It’s only laughing gas,” she cut me off. “It will help her cope with the pain a little better. Your wife is pretty far into labor.”

“That’s good news?” I looked to her for confirmation. I’d never been the type of man to feel uncertain in a crisis, but this was new territory for me.

“It is, but that means she’s in the worst of it now.”

“How much longer?” I asked grimly.

“Minutes? Hours?” She shrugged, shoving her hands into the pocket of her burgundy scrubs. “Days?”

“Days?” Belle’s voice piqued from the bed, and I looked over to see her staring dreamily at me from behind the mask.

“That’s the gas,” the midwife warned. “If she takes it off, it wears off instantly.”

I took advantage of the situation. The prickly version of Belle had been replaced by a drowsy, but calm one. As I reached her, her eyes slammed close and her hand shot out, searching for mine. I hated to see her in pain, but I was grateful that she seemed to not just tolerate my presence, but want it. My eyes skipped to the second hand of my watch, timing how long this one lasted. The midwife was right. Things were definitely picking up speed. When the pain waned, she collapsed against the bed, her hand clutching her mask like it was life support. Her eyes fluttered.

“You should rest between contractions,” the nurse advised her. “Soon, you won’t be able to.”

Belle turned bleary eyes on me.

“I’ll be right here, beautiful,” I promised.

“Clara?” she asked in a muffled voice.

She might no longer hate me, but I still wasn’t the one she wanted. I forced a tight smile and nodded, reminding myself that I would do anything to help her through this—even leave if that’s what she wanted. “She’s on her way. It shouldn’t take long.”

Belle’s hand withdrew from mine, and suddenly, she felt a million miles away.

“I’ll go find them,” I said, leaning over to kiss her forehead. “Rest.”

She was in good hands. I had to trust that. But I couldn't shake the fear that everything was about to change—forever.