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“I wouldn’t blame you if you did.” She couldn’t help a small, watery smile. “Though, please take a time-out until we see what’s going on.”
“No timeout needed.”
She didn’t deserve his forgiveness so quickly, not after such a grievous breach of trust. “I’ve been one hundred percent in charge of my life since I turned eighteen. I put myself through college and started my own business all while being a single mom, which means I’m used to making all the decisions of what’s best, and doing what needs to be done to get the job done without asking permission from anyone else.” When he took a breath to speak, she quickly added, “I’m not making excuses. I only hope you can understand what I did wasn’t out of disrespect.”
“I know. Your independence is part of what I love about you.”
Fresh tears threatened as she leaned into his warm touch. “But I forgot for a moment, I’m not the boss in our personal lives, and all the decisions aren’t mine to make. It’s an equal partnership. You and me together. I know it doesn’t mean much right now, and I’ll have to earn your trust back, but I swear I will never betray a promise to you again. I will be here for you as you’ve been here for me.”
“The thing is, you were right about me being afraid, and wanting to run away from facing my dad.”
When he averted his gaze, she reached to tilt his back to her. “But you didn’t.” She made sure her pride rang in her voice.
“Because a smart woman told me not trying is a sure way to fail.” He sighed lightly as he glanced out the windshield before turning back to her. “Before tonight, I thought my art was the only thing I had left that would make them proud. That would make me worthy to be a Diamond. I was afraid because if I failed at that, where would that leave me?”
Her heart broke at the weight behind his words. “Oh, Merit.” If she’d only known that. If he’d only explained that to her sooner.
“I know.” He gave a sheepish grimace. “I realize now how stupid it sounds.”
She quickly shook her head. “No. That’s not what I was going to say.”
“Well, it does sound stupid. Because just growing the hell up and being a man was all I needed to do. Being here for you, and Ian, and our baby. What I do to earn money doesn’t matter as long as I earn it. ”
“You are an amazing man.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed hard. As soon as his gaze connected with hers, she said in a firm voice, “You are more than worthy of being a Diamond. I’m sure your family would say you always have been. I know you have been from the second I told you I was pregnant and you never once wavered from being here for me.”
“I love you, Mae.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, but I swear, I will always be here for you.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered, her voice going hoarse as another contraction began.
He rubbed her back as she leaned her head into his chest while taking measured breaths.
“We’re here,” Honor advised from the front seat, the SUV swaying slightly as she made the final turn into the emergency room bay.
While she went to park, Merit helped Mae inside to check in. She watched in awe as he took command and had them on their way up to the Labor and Delivery unit by the time Asher and Honor strode in from the parking lot.
As a nurse wheeled her down the hall, she had a moment of panic and turned to her best friend. “Bryce took Ian overnight for the art show. Can you call and let him know I might not be able to pick him up in the morning?”
“Of course,” Honor answered without hesitation. “And Asher and I can get him if Bryce can’t keep him.”
“Thank you so much.” As she gave them both a grateful smile, another thought occurred to her. “Tell my brother not to say anything to Ian until we know what’s going on. I don’t want to scare him.”
While waiting for the elevator, Honor leaned down and gave her a quick hug. “We’ll make sure he’s taken care of so you don’t have to worry about him. Just take care of yourself a
nd the baby. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She blinked away tears as they shared a quick smile before the nurse pushed her into the elevator. Her last glimpse was her best friend’s anxious expression as she splayed her hand on her own pregnant belly.
Over the next few hours, Merit stayed at her side through every exam and test, then held her hand when their obstetrician advised the medication they’d given her to halt the early labor wasn’t working. She wanted to snap she could’ve already told them that from the frequency and increasing intensity of her contractions, but she bit her tongue.
She was already five centimeters dilated. The baby was definitely coming.
All those tests turned up no specific reason for the early labor, but Dr. Steven assured them the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was state of the art. Newborn survival rates at thirty-three weeks were greater than ninety-six percent, with less than ten percent of infants at risk for any long-term medical issues.
The words were supposed to ease her apprehension. Instead, they tightened the knot of fear in her belly. When it was just her and Merit in the room a few minutes later, she admitted in a small voice, “I’m scared.”
He leaned forward in his chair beside the bed and grabbed her hand without the I.V. with both of his. “We’ll get through this, Mae. Together.”
She nodded, concentrating on the comfort of his warm touch until another thought rushed forward. “Ian was three weeks early, and he was so tiny at six pounds five ounces.” The knot in her stomach duplicated in her throat. “I can’t imagine how little this one will be.”
