Page 117 of More Than Words

Adrian: We’re heading downstairs. Meet you at the end of the aisle.

Isobel: I’ll be the whale in pink.

Adrian: And you’ll be a gorgeous sea creature.

Isobel: Hate you. Aren’t you supposed to be complimenting me?

Adrian: Love you too. And I did. I called you gorgeous.

Once we reached the ground level where the wedding would be held in a covered atrium, the wedding planner ushered us into place. Evan looked nervous as fuck, but I knew once he saw Chase he’d be fine.

As the music from the quartet started, my eyes were fixed on the door at the back of the room. I may not have been the one getting married—yet—but I couldn’t wait to see Isobel. Despite her insistence she was huge, I still loved seeing her round with my child. There was something insanely sexy about knowing we did that. We created that child because of our connection, which had only strengthened with time.

And I wanted to put a ring on her finger, but she had enough things to adjust to over the next few months. I could be patient.

The ceremony went by quickly, both authors making the wedding guests cry with their heartfelt vows. Evan killed it, and I was so proud of how he’d finally found a way to cope with his anxiety and let his true personality shine.

I hadn’t realized how true that statement was as Isobel’s pained whimper met my ears over the melee in the ballroom during the reception an hour later.

“Oh, God. Oh, no...”

Her hand grasped my knee, her fingers digging into my suit pants as her face morphed into a grimace.

“Babe? You okay?”

Evan’s sister Kelly asked her if she was alright from her other side, and we both watched as Isobel panted, her face pinched with discomfort.

“I think my water just broke.” My pulse jumped as I registered what her scared voice had said.

“Holy...” Kelly sounded panicked from her other side, looking up and making eye contact with me.

“Babe? Is she coming?” It was too early. We weren’t ready for this.

“I think so...” Isobel’s grip on my knee tightened, and I watched as her stomach flexed.

“But it’s not time yet. We were supposed to be back home. She’s not due for over a month.” This was why I was afraid to come this weekend. We weren’t ready for this. Especially not so far away from home.

“Grab her wrap, hot shot,” Miguel said, grabbing my shoulder while I tried not to panic.

“Fuck, sorry, babe,” I responded, pulling Isobel’s wrap from the back of her chair and throwing it over her shoulders. “Do you think you can stand?”

“Maybe,” she whimpered, her face seeming to relax after the contraction was over.

“Let’s get you up then.”

Things seemed to speed up as I wrapped her velvet shawl around her waist and lifted her into my arms. “I’ve got yah, babe.” Tilting my head toward the table, I spoke to Kelly. “Grab her clutch and follow me to the front, would yah?”

As I made my way out the doors to the ballroom, a crowd was following us, including the bride and groom.

“I’m fine,” Isobel whimpered, but I knew she wasn’t from the terrified look on her face. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Chase insisted as she waved away Isobel’s comment. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

Isobel’s worried voice nearly broke me as I carried her out the front doors of the hotel. “I didn’t mean to ruin your wedding reception. I thought we still had a few weeks. My doctor said it was okay to fly.”

Well...the doctor was wrong in this situation. And as amniotic fluid soaked through my suit jacket, I hoped we would make it to the hospital before our daughter made her impromptu entrance into the world.

ADRIAN

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