Page 25 of Raptor

She doesn't need to be told. She already knows. "Yes. I'm sorry for all the calls."

"Hush, sweetie, it's okay. I'm on my way home. How are you doing?"

I cry. "I’m scared. I didn't think you'd make it. I've called Jess. She's also on her way."

"I would have always made it, Mallory. I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I'm about fifteen minutes from home. When I called, you were on another call so I left work instantly. I shouldn't be too long. Just let me know if you're not okay."

"I'm fine, Ma. I promise. Just scared and overwhelmed."

"That's to be expected. I'll be home soon. Love you, sweetie."

I close my eyes and let her words sink over me. "I love you too. Drive safe."

I waddle over to the front door, putting my cell into my bag so that it's ready for when I leave. My stomach tightens, and within seconds, a huge pop sounds, followed by a loud, gushing sound. Shit, my waters have just broken.

I glance down at the puddle at my feet and wonder why the midwife lied to me. She told me it wouldn't be a big gush like in the movies, rather just a small trickle. I call bullshit because right now I'm standing in what's akin to the bloody river Liffey.

Thankfully, I'm able to clean up the mess and my feet, but I don't have time to change. A car is pulling up out front. I peer through the window and see it's Ma’s car that's parked out front. She doesn't turn off the engine. Instead, she slides out of the front seat and races toward the house. "Mallory, are you okay?" she asks as she opens the front door.

"Yeah. I have some towels to put on the seat. My water has broken," I tell her, breathing hard as I waddle toward her. "I don't want to ruin your seats."

Ma smiles at me, pulling me into her arms. "It's okay. The interior can be washed. Are you ready?"

I nod. "Ready as I'll ever be. Is Jess here yet?"

"She parked out front while I parked in the drive. Let me help you into the car," she says softly as she takes my arm and leads me out of the house, stopping to pick up my hospital bag on the way out.

I get into the car and smile when I see Jess is already sitting in the seat beside me. She helps me to put on the seatbelt. "You're not alone."

I grin. "No. I should have never panicked," I say with a laugh. “But damn, Ma left it late."

Jess giggles. "She wanted to make you sweat. Jayne always loves to be the drama."

"I do not," Ma says from the front seat as she drives out of the driveway. "But either way, today is the day. I'm going to be a granny. I'm so damn excited."

Jess nods. "I'm going to be an auntie. I can't believe it's finally here. How are you feeling, Mal? Stressed, excited, overwhelmed?"

"Before I called you, I was all three. Now I'm excited, scared, nervous, and overwhelmed. The stress has gone now that you're both here with me." Before I can thank her, a contraction rips through me and steals my breath away. I try to breathe through it, trying my hardest not to scream out loud, knowing Ma will be upset and worried if I do. Instead, I bite my lip and try to breathe through my nose.

"That's it," Jess encourages me. "Like that, deep breaths. In and out. Breathe through it."

I glance at her, wondering where the hell she learned that.

She gives me a sheepish smile. "Um, I may have been taking online Lamaze classes in case you needed me."

"Oh Jess," I whisper, completely blown away by her. "You're amazing."

She lifts her shoulders and shrugs. "Hardly. You'd do the same for me. In fact, you've done a lot more," she says softly soonly I can hear her. "You're my best friend. We're closer than sisters. I'm here for you whenever you need me, just as I know that you are when the tables are turned. It's going to be okay."

Jess holds my hand as Ma drives us to the hospital. The contractions are now every four minutes, as timed by Jess. The fear that I had is intensifying as the pain of the contractions gets worse. Holy hell, how do people do this more than once? I'm about ready to lie down and call it a night. It's bloody sore.

"You're doing amazing, Mallory. Honest, you're so damn brilliant," Jess praises, and I want to cry at the pride in her voice.

"Ma, how much longer?" I ask through gritted teeth.

"We should be at the hospital in ten minutes or so depending on traffic."

I let out a harsh breath. Damn it, that's not what I meant.

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