Page 42 of Prognosis Do Over

‘Why don’t you join her?’ Lou panted as the door shut behind Bree and the contraction ebbed.

Will hardened his armour against her barbs. ‘I’m not leaving you.’

Lou straightened, rubbing her back. ‘Well, you’re sure as hell not helping me.’

‘I do love you, Lou,’ he said. ‘It’s just complicated. You know that.’

‘Right. Complicated,’ she said bitterly. Ain’t that the truth!

‘Lou—’

She held up her hand. If she hadn’t been in the middle of giving birth, she might have felt sorry for him. She knew what he was saying was right, but knowing that they loved each other only worsened her predicament.

‘Save it,’ she said, as her uterine muscles began to tighten again. She mewed in pain and resumed her leaning-over-the-bed position, rocking back and forth through her arms and the balls of her feet.

She felt as if she was going to die as she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to ride the crest of the wave without crying out. This contraction was significantly worse, and she moaned loudly despite her clamped lips.

‘Will!’ she gasped, as the pain built to a crescendo, and she held out her arm to him, eyes still squeezed shut.

She couldn’t do it alone.

It was too painful, and she didn’t want to be all alone should the pain actually kill her. The same part of her that rejected him also wanted to cling to him for dear life, like her anchor.

Will didn’t need to be asked twice. He was by her side in two seconds and stood behind her, rubbing her back in rhythm with her pelvic rocking.

‘Thank you,’ she murmured, opening her eyes and straightening slowly as the pain disappeared. She turned to face him. ‘Will, I’m sorry for what I said. I do understand. Now probably more than ever.’ She looked down at the soon-to-be-here baby and rubbed her tummy. ‘This pain is just wearing me down.’

‘Of course,’ he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her forehead. ‘It’s okay.’

Lou inhaled deeply and smelt his pure male essence. She was grateful to have him there. He felt solid and male and strong, and she could lean on him — thank God. Her back was screaming at her, and Lou felt so tired she doubted she could stand or walk another second.

‘I’m exhausted,’ she said, pulling out of his embrace, looking for an alternative position.

‘You want to sit? Or lie?’ he asked.

Lou didn’t know what she wanted. All she knew was that she was about to fall over. She spied some exercise balls over in a corner, and it was like manna from heaven. She knew some women swore by them for labour.

‘A ball,’ she said.

Will retrieved one. ‘How about if I sit on the edge of the bed and put the ball between my legs and then you sit on the ball with your back to me and lean against me while you sit?’

Lou nodded. ‘Sounds divine.’ She touched his arm, and he smiled a smile of such gentleness it broke her heart. ‘Thanks, Will.’

He helped her get into position, and for the next twenty minutes they didn’t talk. Bree popped in and out. Her contractions were coming a minute apart now, and lasting for about ninety seconds. During the contractions she leant forward, her elbows on her knees, breathing heavily, rocking back and forth on the ball while Will rubbed her back. In between she leant back against Will and recovered.

‘I’m scared, Will,’ she said, after a particularly nasty one.

‘I know. I’m here.’

‘I’m not talking about the labour,’ she said. ‘I mean after. I have to get this right, Will. I don’t know the first thing about raising a child.’

‘You’re a paediatric nurse,’ he said, his low voice rumbling in her ear, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder. ‘Of course you do.’

‘It’s not the same as having your own,’ she said.

He shrugged. ‘You’ll be fine. And I’ll be here to help you.’

Lou shut her eyes and fantasised for a few brief seconds. Will and her together, with Candy and the baby. A family. Him being there for her. Helping her. But she knew that wasn’t what he’d meant.

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