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Then he heard a moan.
* * *
Ten
Chase's heart jumped to his throat and he fumbled with his keys, trying to find the one for her front door. He shoved open the door and saw her, on her knees, clutching her belly. For a moment he was frozen to the ground.
She twisted a look over her shoulder, flinging her hand out to him. "Chase! Help me!"
Two strides and he slid to his knees beside her. She was breathing fast, her body sheened in sweat.
"Jesus, Tessa. How long?" He pushed damp hair off her face to look at her. "Why didn't you call me?"
"I tried," she wailed and gestured to the cellular phone a few feet away on the floor. "It started yesterday. I didn't think much of it until the pains got stronger. Johanna said it could be a while, but then my water broke—" Suddenly she bent over as a contraction ripped through her body. "Oh God," she gasped. "I've been trying to get to the phone."
"It's okay, angel," he soothed, gathering her in his arms.
"No, it's early and I can't stand!"
Chase was surprised at how calm he was when he thought he'd choke on his heart any second. Carefully he stood, cradling her against his chest. "Breathe, angel. Look at me." He paused at the door, nudging it shut. "Tessa," he called when she was panting too hard, and she lifted her bleary gaze to his. "I won't let anything hurt you."
She scoffed, wetting her lips. "I don't think you can control this."
"Want those drugs yet?"
"Yes!" she groaned as he placed her carefully in the seat of his Jeep. Chase was inside and down the road in seconds. He dialed the doctor from his car phone, plastering what he hoped resembled a smile on his face. She looked as if she'd die before he got her to the hospital. En route he auto-dialed her family and his. Inside the hospital was no less hectic, the exam divulging that she was already dilated to nine centimeters.
Chase was going to be a father in a matter of minutes.
Panic set in. He couldn't go in there, he thought numbly as a nurse helped him into scrubs and a ridiculous-looking cap. He couldn't. He swallowed, looked at the nurse and shook his head. The young woman sent him a kind smile, then propelled him through the double doors like a cop taking a prisoner. Then he heard Tessa scream his name and Chase hurried alongside the nurse as she ushered him into a room. The sight of Tessa in a birthing chair made his knees weak, and his features tightened.
Johanna nodded supportively, then tipped the chair back slightly.
"Won't be long, Tessa," she said as she examined her. "Next time though, come in earlier."
"There won't be a next time," she said through gritted teeth, then glared accusingly at Chase.
"Hey," he whispered in her ear. "I didn't have the pleasure of putting this one in you." But I will the next one, he thought. I will.
He looked pale, she thought with malicious pleasure, yet he coached her, got in her face, helped her breathe, bathed her forehead, offered her ice chips, and Tessa thought if she got this baby out, she'd never consider doing it again. Never.
"Slow down, angel." She was panting too fast, her skin chalky.
"Okay, Tessa. Let's get this baby born." Johanna moved between her legs and Chase thought she looked like a quarterback ready for the snap. Johanna glanced at the fetal monitor. "Breathe, breathe. Come on, Tessa, you can do this. No, don't push, not yet."
"I have to!" Her cheeks puffed with her pant-blows, her effort not to push.
"Look at me, angel." Chase wiped a cloth over her face, pushing her head back, and she lifted tired eyes. "I love you. You can do this."
"I want to," she gasped. "But I can't." She was so tired.
"It's too late for drugs," he said with a smirk, and Tessa smiled weakly, sagging into the chair as the contraction ended. Johanna nodded to Chase.
"This is it, Tessa." Panic and fear streaked across her features at the doctor's words, then she calmed, amazing him, and concentrated. Tessa focused on nothing, yet her mind filled with fractured images—of Chase pulling her onto his lap in the restaurant and smoothing her belly, of his warm, strong hands massaging her back, pointing to the tiny fingers and claiming she carried his son, of his eyes tearing when he saw the sonogram. The contraction grew stronger, a tight, downward, yanking pressure she was certain would rip her in half. She clutched his hand, crushing his fingers.
Chase grit his teeth. Any pain he suffered couldn't be near what she was going through. He watched, glancing at Johanna, oblivious to the nurses and instructions filtering around them. He stared at Tessa, loving her so deeply and praying she'd make it. She looked so helpless as she fought to push out their child.
