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“Okay.I’mgoingtotell you what’s going on, but I don’t want anyone to panic.” I looked up and my eyes locked on Dawson’s because of all of them, he was the most likely to freak out and run after what I was about to tell them, and if he did that, I wasn’t sure any of us would ever forgive him.
He nodded like he knew my words were aimed at him.
“Sugar, you’re in labor.”
She screwed her eyes together, shaking her head. “No, no, no. I can’t be. I took a test. I’ve had a period every month. I know I’ve put on weight, but it was like half a stone. I can’t be.”
She started crying as another contraction ripped through her body.
“Sugar, I need you to listen. I can see the head, so you’re definitely having a baby.”
“Will it be okay?” she whispered, looking up at me. “I didn’t know. I swear. But we got on a plane here. I’ve been stressed and not eating properly.” Then she gasped. “Am I losing it? Is that what’s happening? Oh, God, Marshall, tell me that’s not what’s happening.”
I wished I could, but right now, that was exactly what I thought was happening. I looked to Fox, always the one to reassure any of us who needed it, and he leaned in and kissed her neck.
“Le, we’re right here. Whatever happens, you’re having our baby. Right now. That’s what I want you to focus on. Nothing else. Can you do that?”
She didn’t get a chance to answer as her body rolled in on itself and she squeezed Fox’s hands as her face screwed up as a long guttural moan fell from her lips.
“Okay, that’s it, Sugar. On the next contraction, I need you to push. Down through your bottom. As hard as you can.”
She nodded her head once before looking around the room. I followed her gaze to find Dawson standing next to the door, his hand around the handle, with his back to us.
“Dawson,” she whispered. “I can’t do this without you. You didn’t answer before. Do you want this… us, without the curse?”
He turned slowly, nodding. “I do. I want you all.”
“Then you don’t get to choose to leave when things get too hard. I’m so scared, Dawson. Please don’t leave me now.”
Squaring his shoulders, he closed the distance, kneeling down next to Lea and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’m all in. I guess we’re doing this then. A lifetime together.”
I smiled. I guess we are.
Fox
“Onemorepush,Sugar.One more.”
“I can’t. Fuck, it hurts so much. I can’t do this.”
I took her hands in mine as Daw pushed the hair back from her sweat-covered face. “Come on, Sunshine. You’ve got this. You are the strongest woman we know. Now, one more big push.”
Pushing down hard, she let out an almighty cry.
“That’s it. Keep going.”
I think we all held our breath as I whispered a silent prayer to whoever was listening that this story would have a happy ending.
The sound that tore from Lea was heartbreaking but then a tiny cry rang out, silencing us all. Marshall looked up, tears filling his eyes before he lifted up a tiny screaming, wrinkly, covered in God knows what, little girl. Her face was screwed up as if she was angry at the world for disturbing her, her arms and legs kicking wildly, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen anything as beautiful.
“She’s perfect, Le.”
“Is she, Marshall? Is she okay?”
He laid her down on a towel and wrapped her up, taking another one to clean up her face. “She looks perfect, Sugar. You did such a good job.”
He gently handed her to Lea, who pulled her to her chest, crying as she stared down at her. “Where did you come from, little one?”
Lea
