Page 144 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

Panic surged through her as she recalled the chaos that followed, the frantic voices, the hospital staff rushing around her, and then—

Black. They had sedated her.

Her heart raced as the memories flooded back, intertwining with the present. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

She shifted her gaze to Angelo’s sleeping form, thankful she was not alone. She looked around, searching—

Where is she? Oh God, where is she?

The monitor beeped faster, matching the erratic rhythm of her heart as she looked for any sign of her baby girl.

The door opened, and a nurse rushed in, jolting Angelo awake. The nurse slowed as she noticed Allison was awake.

“Good morning,” the nurse said softly, approaching the bed. “How are you feeling?”

Her soothing voice was a stark contrast to the beeping that had initially greeted her. Allison tried to respond, but her throat was dry, and her voice came out as a croak. The nurse quickly handed her a cup of water, but Angelo was faster, bringing the cup to her lips and helping her take a few sips as he watched her in silence.

Where is our daughter?

It wasn’t until the nurse spoke again that Allison realized she had voiced her concern. “She’s upstairs in the NICU. She had a rough night, but she’s taking it like a champ. Two pounds, three ounces.”

Relief washed over Allison like a wave crashing on the shore as she learned her baby was fine. She was safe. The tension that had gripped her heart finally loosened, leaving her feeling lightheaded and grateful.

“She’s okay?” Allison asked, her tearful gaze locked on Angelo’s smile.

Angelo nodded, wiping away his own tears. “She’s a fighter, just like her mom.”

He moved to her side, wrapping his strong arms around her in a way that made her feel safe, reminding her that everything would be alright.

She didn’t notice when the nurse slipped away or when Dr. Montgomery, if she recalled correctly, entered the room. She didn’t focus on the obstetrician’s words as she explained the situation.

“You likely experienced a lot of stress, which caused the amniotic sac to burst and triggered preterm labor,” the red-haired woman explained. “We initially hoped to stop the contractions and keep the baby in a bit longer, but the cord had prolapsed through the sac, causing the baby distress. We had to perform an emergency C-section.” Allison’s heart raced at her words, but Dr. Montgomery pressed on, appearing certain. “She had a rough night but is doing perfectly fine now. We’ll keep you under observation for about a week, and she’ll stay in the NICU until she reaches full gestational age.”

Allison realized she had endured what her own mother had suffered, and she hadsurvived. She didn’t fully grasp everything that had happened but knew her baby was okay, and Angelo was holding her together.

He kissed her hair softly, as if afraid she might break into a thousand pieces if he applied too much pressure. “Don’t ever do that to me again, you hear?”

Allison nodded, tears still streaming down her face as she chuckled. “I promise.”

“I’m serious, Allison. I thought—” He moved back to look at her, his gaze intense and shaking her to her core. “I thought I lost you,” he whispered, his voice breaking along with Allison’s heart.

She placed a palm gently on his cheek, stroking it with her thumb. “You could never lose me, darling. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

His gaze hardened, though not in anger. “You bet your ass you’re not going anywhere. Once you and the baby are out of here and we’re all back home, I’m going to marry you.”

Her thumb froze on Angelo’s cheek, her heart skipping a beat as the monitor betrayed her emotions. “You are?”

He chuckled at her surprised squeak. “Yes, sweet girl. You should have realized it by now. You and I are inevitable.”

Tears gathered in her eyes once more, but for a new reason. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, not blinking in case it all vanished like a puff of smoke.

“You claimed my heart from day one. You sat on that barstool, confidence shining around you, and drew me to your side like a moth to a flame. Your laughter filled the room, and every word you spoke resonated deeply within me. From that moment, I was yours.”

Allison’s tears fell freely now, as did Angelo’s. He held her hand in his, anchoring her to this moment as he continued.

“Your presence brought warmth and light into my life that I never knew I needed. You made ordinary moments extraordinary, simply by being you. You are my heart, my home, and my everything. I love you, Allison Pink Lockwood.”

The monitor skipped a beat, just as Allison’s heart did a somersault. She laughed, a tearful sound of hiccups in her emotional state.

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