AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He hesitated, but Lyric stepped away from him. “Go.” No one could resist sweet Willow.
After snapping a few of her own pictures on her phone, she went back to the table and sat next to Tess.
Her friend seemed to be staring off into space. Something wasn’t right. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” Tess shifted in the chair. “I feel like I have indigestion or something. I’m drinking a ginger ale, but it’s not helping.” She patted her belly.
Uhh… maybe she was wrong, but a stomachache this close to her due date couldn’t be a good sign. “You haven’t felt good all day. Maybe you should get checked out.”
“Nah. I might’ve eaten too much earlier.” She sipped the ginger ale. “It was probably the pizza I had yesterday. I’ve felt off since I woke up.”
“Hopefully, you’re not in labor.” Tess would know, right? Lyric had never had babies, and Tess had already had two.
“No. There’s no way.” She shook her head, grimacing. “I can’t be in labor. We still have three and a half weeks!”
“But due dates aren’t always accurate, right?” Her friend liked everything scheduled and planned, but babies didn’t follow an agenda.
“I can’t be in labor.” Tess turned to Lyric, her eyes wide. “We’re not ready. The nursery’s not even done!” She began breathing harder. “I haven’t washed all the clothes and put them away. I was going to do that this week!”
“Don’t panic.” Lyric put an arm around her shoulders.“I’m sure you’re not in labor.” But was she sure? She couldn’t be. She wasn’t a doctor.
“There are pains, though.” Her friend poked at her belly. “And they seem to be getting worse.”
“Pains?” Lyric shot up out of her chair, kneeling in front of Tess. “Do they feel like labor pains?”
“I don’t know.” Her lips formed an O, and she exhaled loudly. “I mean, it’s been so long since I had Willow. But I don’t remember labor feeling like this.”
The tremors in her voice were enough to kindle Lyric’s panic. Labor didn’t always feel the same, did it? From what Lyric had heard, every experience was so different. “Maybe we should get Kyra, just in case.”
“But my suitcase isn’t even packed.” Tess staggered to a standing position. “We’re supposed to have plenty of time to get to Jackson.”
Oh, dear.Her friend was about to have a meltdown. “I’m sure everything’s fine, but Kyra could at least check.” Because God knew Lyric couldn’t deliver a baby.
“Oh.” Tess clutched her belly. “Oh, dear God. Now,thatfelt like a contraction.”
“Kyra!” Lyric sprinted out onto the dance floor. She found her friend and Aiden chatting with Minnie. “I think Tess is in labor.” She yanked on Kyra’s arm. “You have to come. Now.”
“Right behind you.” They raced back to the tables where Tess was doubled over again.
“Silas!” Lyric waved both of her arms to get his attention across the dance floor. “We have a situation.”
He scooped up both Morgan and Willow and jogged to the table. “What’s happening?”
“I’m pretty sure she’s in labor.” Lyric stared at Tess.No, she was more than sure. “And the contractions seem really close together.”
“Oh, God! Oh, God!” He set down his daughters. “This isn’t supposed to be happening yet.”
By now everyone had gathered around them. Willow hugged her mom’s waist.
“Are you okay, Mommy?”
“I’ll be fine, honey,” she grunted out.
“I don’t think we’ll make it an hour to the hospital. We need to go to the clinic.” Kyra supported Tess with an arm around her waist. “Now.”
Thatch grabbed Aiden. “We’ll go get your truck.”
Silas moved to the other side of Tess, holding her up. “It’s okay, hon. You’re doing great. We’ll—”
