Page 124 of Salty Pickle

He brings my hand to his lips. “You’re staying with them?”

“We put my old nursery back together. Matilda is happy in the yard.”

He kisses my knuckles. “Where do they live?”

“About a half hour between here and Boulder.”

“My family lives in Boulder.”

They do? “That’s not far. Have you told them?”

“I called them when I landed. They’re waiting for me to tell them it’s okay to come.”

I hesitate. “But we haven’t done the test yet.”

“We don’t have to do the test.”

Tears prick my eyes. We don’t? “I’d like if we did.”

“Then we will.”

“Can he be Julian Armstrong?”

He kisses my hand again. “Yes, he can.”

The pressure in my belly increases, and I find I can’t lie on my side any longer. “Can you help me sit up?”

We work together to shift my position.

“Where are your parents?” he asks.

“I sent them away to check on Matilda. They’ll be back in an hour.”

“Do you want me to be here to meet them? I’m happy to do whatever you want.”

“Yes. In fact, I’ll text Dad so they know you’re here.”

I pick up Mom’s phone, but then I’m hit with a contraction so big that I drop it.

Court lunges to catch it before it hits the floor.

Something weird is happening between my legs. I scrunch down. “Call the nurse, Court! Call the nurse!”

He fumbles with the remote for the hospital bed and slams the button.

“Where is she? Where is she?” Panic edges my voice.

“Should I turn on the light?”

I grip his arm in a vise. “Don’t leave me!”

“Should I look?”

He flips the light on Mom’s phone.

We lift my gown.

“That looks like a head to me,” Court says. “Should I go get someone?”

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