Page 60 of Capturing Hearts

Chapter Thirty-Six

Annie

Seven minutes ago.

Mark’s rental car: going the fastest it’s ever gone.

Alone, the cave feels far more ominous and threatening than it did. What if something happens and Brendan doesn’t come? What if he gets in a car accident? How will I take care of my baby? How will I cut the cord, wipe his face, keep him warm? Simple things like this that would have been handled by someone who knows how to do these things. The contractions are getting closer and the pain is beyond anything I’ve ever known. If anyone ever says women aren’t brave again, I will punch them in the face. Giving birth has got to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Holding onto my stomach, the cold biting into my skin, I whisper, “Dear God, please help me! Please give me strength!” A figure in the doorway makes the light change and I look to it. “Brendan?” I cry, hopeful.

“No, he’s not here yet,” Tommy says, walking in, his mouth grim.

I cry out as another contraction clenches me all the way to my uterus. Tommy freezes at the sound, gripping onto the stone wall by the entrance with clawed fingers, a battle warring inside him. I cry out again and start to breathe fast to focus on anything but the pain. I feel his presence as he skids to my side.

Opening my eyes, I ask, “What are you doing? I thought you left me!”

He takes my hand, and shakes his head, his eyes determined. “I got halfway down the hill and had to come back. I can’t.”

“You’re going to go back to jail, Tommy! He won’t let you not!”

With a set jaw, he looks at my belly. “It doesn’t matter. How can I start a new life running like a coward?”

Screaming out, I squeeze his hand. “Thank you,” I whisper.

He squeezes back. “I don’t know what I’m doing, so I’ll just ask. How does it feel? Does it feel like he’s coming now?”

I wince, gasping for breath. “I don’t know. Why don’t you look?”

He smirks. “If I want to keep my balls, I’m not going to do that. When Brendan comes in here, I need to be up here by your face.”

“Well, then your guess is as good as mine. Ow! Oh my God. Why does it hurt so bad?!”

Tommy’s frown is deep as he gazes at me, wishing he could do something. His eyes change and he looks to the right. “He’s coming.”

“How can you tell?”

“No. Not the baby. Brendan. Brendan’s here,” Tommy quietly says, his eyes on the cave entrance. “Shit. This is going to be interesting.”

That’s when I hear him, the love of my life calling my name. “ANNIE!! ANNIE, I’M HERE!”

The relief that waves over me is so profound I start to weep. “I’M HERE! BRENDAN, I’M HERE!!”

“ANNIE!” he shouts again and again. I start to laugh as his voice grows closer, completely losing my sanity.

Bringing Tommy’s hand to my forehead, I cry out, “Oh, thank you. Thank you for calling him! Thank you!”

The light changes again as Brendan vaults into the cave, quickly followed by Mark, which is a surprise to me. They both scan the scene quickly. Tommy releases the grip on my hand and jumps up, stepping back to make room. Brendan gives him a scathing glare, and falls to his knees next to me, taking my face in his hands as tears race down both of our faces. “Freckles! I thought I was never going to see you again!”

“Brendan! Brendan! I can’t believe you’re really here! He’s coming! He’s finally coming! And that girl was right, he timed it on purpose!” I’m blabbering and Brendan has no idea what I’m talking about, he’s so beside himself. His hand goes to my stomach and he kisses me repeatedly, both of us gasping.

When he stops, I see Nicole and Rebecca standing behind him. “Nicole!”

“Hey gorgeous, seen better days?” she smiles, grabbing the fallen tote bag and lowering by my feet, hurriedly unzipping it and pulling out supplies.

Rebecca awkwardly looks from Tommy to me.

Laughing with relief, I meet her eyes. “Tell me you have Advil in that fucking clutch purse!”

Rebecca digs through her bag to victoriously produce a trial-size bottle. “Motrin?”

I drop my head on Tommy’s sweater and close my eyes with relief. “Okay, you can stay.”

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