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“I’m having the baby,” she said. “Your dad’s on the line, and I need you to go grab my baby bag.”
“Good job, hon,” Blake said in support. “Tell him I’ll be there soon.”
“I’m on it,” Tommy said, and he hurried by her and into the master suite. He returned only a few seconds later. “What now?”
“Can you help me outside?” Lauren reached for him just as a slicing, horrible pain moved through her from sternum to pelvis. She cried out, and Tommy braced himself against her.
“Lauren,” he said. “I’m scared.”
“It’s okay,” Blake shouted through the phone. “Put me on speaker, Lauren.”
Instead of doing that, she handed the phone to Tommy. He fumbled it with the bag, trying to support Lauren, and he dropped the device. He swore and bent to get it.
“Dad,” he said as he swiped the call to speaker. “She’s…in a lot of pain.”
“I’m having a contraction,” Lauren said. “It’s…I’m okay.” It was new. It hurt. She didn’t know how to deal with the sharp pain, nor the radiating remnant of it as it faded away. “I can move now.”
“Tommy, son, take her outside between contractions. I’m almost there, and we’ll get her to the hospital.”
“Should I call Mom?” he asked as Lauren took the first step. Tommy stayed right at her side as they went down the hall. He opened the door, letting in the afternoon sunlight, and they stepped out into it.
“If you want,” Blake said. “But you can be home alone for a bit without someone with you, Tommy.”
“I’ll call her when you and Lauren go.”
Lauren clutched his arm as they navigated the steps down to the sidewalk, and she watched the street as she neared the driveway.
“I’m coming around the corner,” he said. “Everyone okay?”
“Yes,” Lauren and Tommy said at the same time. A few seconds later, Blake’s dark SUV came into view, and he roared into the driveway. He leapt from the vehicle almost before it came to a stop, and more relief struck through Lauren like lightning.
Blake was here, and now she’d be okay. “Come on, Lauren,” he said. “Let’s get you in the car.”
She took one step before another contraction tore through her. She yelped, froze, and Blaze pressed his hand against her lower back. That actually seemed to help, but every muscle from her scalp to her pinky toe had turned to concrete and wouldn’t move.
“Put the bag in the back, son,” Blake said. “Move when you can, Lauren.”
She suddenly thought of something she’d read. “Shouldn’t we be timing these?”
“Hon, your water broke. They’re going to admit you.”
The pain subsided, and Lauren moved around the vehicle to the passenger seat. Blake got behind the wheel, and he looked at her, pure nervous energy radiating from him. “We’re having the baby.”
“I’mhaving our baby,” she said with a wry smile. “Can you please get me to the hospital so I don’t have her in your car?”
32
Are you going to be okay away from Baby Daisy for the weekend?Ty teased in his text to Sage.
It’ll be touch and go,she sent back.But I’m headed home to pack. You can come over for dinner if you want. I don’t think I have time to go out and pack for our amazing weekend together.
Ty smiled to himself and looked at the open weekender bag on his bed. He’d already packed for an afternoon departure tomorrow. He and Sage were staying in the South Charleston Hotel, using the voucher he’d gotten her for her birthday.
Nerves ran up and down his spine, because he and Sage would be sharing a room. It had two queen beds, and he had no idea if they’d use both of them or not. He’d brought up the idea of this trip to go see his parents in Charleston, and she’d suggested they use the hotel voucher, go on the food tour, and make a whole weekend of it.
All the things he’d given her for her birthday that she hadn’t used yet, except for the pass to Hunting Island State Park, which was in the opposite direction from Charleston. She’d then called to book the two nights at the hotel, as well as the food tour, which was on Sunday morning.
He’d called his parents to set up a time to bring Sage to meet them, and they were all going to dinner on Saturday night. The whole trip had taken form in only a couple of hours, and Ty had never been more excited for a weekend trip to Charleston to see his parents.
