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She made it four steps, Jake and Phoenix helping her walk before another contraction kicked in. Ava counted in her head. They were getting closer together and more intense. A few more steps and Cassie was crying, her legs buckling under her.
Jake didn’t hesitate.
He swept her into his arms and loped to the back door, Phoenix holding it open for them.
Ava led them into the first room with a door. They hadn’t yet decorated it, but it had the couch from Cole’s apartment in Sydney, a rug and spare pillows and cushions they’d accumulated from their various staging projects. Would a bed be better? She wasn’t sure whether it had everything they needed, but when Ezio smiled and nodded at her, she let out her breath.
Ezio instructed Cassie’s guys to get her comfortable as Robyn strode in with Ezio’s medical bag. Ava pointed out the bathroom so Ezio could wash up, while she and Robyn waited by the door.
“Ava, don’t go far,” Ezio called out as Robyn shut the door after he’d returned to Cassie.
“Right, I better make sure the kids have eaten or we’ll have gremlins on our hands,” Robyn said.
“Ava,” Ezio called. “We need you in here for a minute.” She poked her head in. “This baby is coming now. I need a plastic tablecloth or something to put down on the floor, a bag without any holes in it and a few towels.”
“Should I call an ambulance?”
“I’ll do that from in here,” Ezio explained.
“Can you get the bag out of the back of our car too? It’s got a few things in it we need.” Phoenix passed Ava his keys.
“Will do.” With a nod, she closed the door and dashed into the kitchen, her heart in her throat. Nerves and worry for her friend clawed at her, but at the same time, Ezio’s presence comforted her. He knew what he was doing. He would be there for Cassie and her bub. They were in safe hands.
“Cole, can you get the little speaker we have for Cassie. We need calm music. Find something for her to listen to.” He nodded and headed for the bedroom they’d set up as a gym. “Can you grab some towels too?”
“Yep,” he called out.
“Bryce, where are the scented candles we use for showings? We need them as well as a plastic tablecloth or something and a bag.”
“I know just the thing. I’ll get them.”
After dishing out her orders, she dashed to the front of the house, pulling Cassie’s bag out of the car and met her guys outside the room. She knocked and passed the items through to Jake as Cassie cried out and breathed hard and fast.
“Thank you,” he said, barely looking at her. His gaze was filled with concern, his effervescent joy from moments earlier replaced with fear.
“Hey, Jake,” she murmured encouragingly. “You’ve got this. Go become a dad.”
He smiled, stood up straighter and looked over his shoulder again. “Yeah.” He nodded and his gaze bounced between his husband and wife. “We’re gonna be parents.”
Ava closed the door, beaming as she held her hands to her chest. “It’s happening.”
“It really is. I’m so stoked for them,” Bryce whispered, wincing when Cassie cried out in pain.
“That’s it, Cass. You’re doing so well,” they heard Ezio murmur through the walls. “You’re nearly dilated enough to start pushing. Only a few more contractions to go before we can get bub out.”
Damn, it really was happening quickly if she was already nearly there. Thank goodness for Ezio’s expertise—if it wasn’t for him, Jake or Phoenix would be speeding down the mountain trying to get them to the hospital. Where were the paramedics?
Cole must have had the same thought, opting to wait at the open front gate for the ambulance while Bryce took off to see if the others needed anything. Ava hovered in the kitchen, wringing her hands and waiting.
She was practically climbing the walls, pacing the length of their little lounge room. Everything in there was a reminder that they’d made their cottage a home. It was the little things that she noticed—her origami rose and the gorgeous egg-shaped bowl Cole had crafted sat proudly on the mantle, framing Cole’s wedgetail eagle. They would always be reminders of their firsts—Christmas and birthdays—and Ava loved that they could create a place at the heart of their home just for them.
But it wasn’t only the trinkets that made the house home. It was as much the people around them. Their friends and family. And right now, their friends needed her to be within earshot, but far enough away that she wasn’t eavesdropping on them.
Ava waited.
She heard the sirens and smiled as the gaggle of children and adults drifted closer, waiting for news. Mike held open the door for the ambos pushing the stretcher. “Where’s our new mum and bub?” the woman asked.
“Right through here,” Ava answered, pointing the way as Bryce wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. Cole entered the house a moment later and joined them, leaning in to kiss Bryce’s shoulder and squeeze Ava in a cuddle.
