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“They started again,” she squeaked out. “Can you check the time?”
“It’s after five. Let’s get to my place and I’ll get the rest of this later.” He helped her to the door. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I think so. Let’s see if another comes quickly.”
But she was okay on the way back. Once back up on the mountain, he got her comfortable with the remote and a milkshake they’d picked up on the way home. He unpacked the truck first and then changed the sheets in the master bedroom. She could have that space for now. The crib would fit perfectly in a nook that had once housed his mother’s crafting table.
“Aw, look what you did,” she said, pleased.
“Any more contractions?”
“No. But I can tell it dropped.” She ran her hands under her belly. “I feel like I need a sling around this thing. And I’m peeing every fifteen minutes.”
“I obviously can’t go into work. Once word gets out that you’re in labor, Rick will try to contact you.”
“He hasn’t yet, so don’t worry about Rick.”
She sat on the bed, watching him putter. “I love you, Devon.”
He looked up from his task. “Thank you. That was dumb, thanking you. But I love you, too. I always did love you.”
“I always loved you, too. Are you hungry for dinner?”
“I got those burgers.”
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’m going to eat. I’m starving.”
“Okay, I’ll be right in. Don’t wait for me.”
Happily moving back into his old bedroom, he knew if things went the way he hoped, that soon he’d be in the room with Aisling. The idea that he could recover from depression grave enough that he wanted to become a hermit and quit his job, to happily making a life with a wife and baby surprised him.Wife?They hadn’t talked about getting married.
Voices from the television disrupted his thoughts as he worked. Thinking he heard panting, he walked down the hallway to see if the dogs needed to go out. It was obvious there was a situation at hand when he found Aisling on the floor, on hands and knees.
“What happened?” he cried, running to her.
“I was trying to get to you. I can’t walk. I think the baby’s coming.”
“Did you have another contraction?”
“All of a sudden I need to push,” she said, having difficulty talking. “Here comes another one!”
She started to grunt, holding on to her belly.
“Pant!” he cried. “Don’t push. Not yet. You might not be ready.”
Waiting until it passed, he held onto her. “Can you stand? Let’s get you back to the bedroom at least.”
“I wrecked your couch,” she said, tearful. “My water broke on it.”
“Don’t worry, just walk. I don’t think I can carry you.”
She elbowed him, but chuckled. “Thanks.”
He tried to steer her to the bed, but she pushed to the bathroom. “Let me get in the tub.”
“Aisling, I’ll call the squad. You can’t have a baby in the bathtub.”
“It’s too late!” she cried. “I have to push.” She grunted again, it echoed in the bathroom, and the dogs started to bark. “Oh, great!”
