Page 28 of Captive Bride

"Tristan?" she murmured, her hand reaching out to grip mine with strength that belied her condition.

“Yup, I haven’t gone anywhere.”

I shifted in my wheelchair, the worn grip of the rubber wheels familiar under my palms as I listened to the operator's steady voice. "Now, you'll need some clean towels, and a bowl of warm water," she instructed, her tone a lifeline in the chaos.

"Right, towels and water," I repeated, pushing myself towards the bathroom. My arms strained against the wheels, muscles tensed with the urgency of the moment. Adriana needed me, and there wasn't a second to waste on self-pity or hesitation.

The tiled floor came into view, gleaming beneath the overhead lights as I grabbed several thick towels from the linen closet.Balancing them on my lap, I maneuvered back to the bedroom where Adriana lay, her breathing ragged with effort.

"Here for you, Ade," I said, laying the towels within reach. Her hand fluttered out, finding my cheek in a gesture that grounded me. It was hard, damn hard, not to be able to sweep her into my arms and take away the pain. But this—being here, following every directive—it had to be enough.

"Tristan... it's so close," she gasped, and I nodded, my focus laser-sharp as I soaked a towel in the warm water I'd managed to collect.

"Stay with me, love," I murmured, wringing out the excess liquid before gently bathing her forehead. The room felt like it was closing in, each sound amplified—the ticking of the clock, Adriana's labored breaths, the soft murmur of the operator's voice guiding me through what could very well be the most important minutes of our lives. “What do I do with the water and towels?”

"The wet towel is for her forehead, to keep her cool. The dry towels will be used once the baby arrives," the operator instructed calmly. "Is your wife comfortable where she is?"

“And the water?”

“You’ll need that to clean up. Is your wife somewhere comfortable?”

I nodded, then realized the operator couldn't see me. "Yes," I said out loud. "She's on the bed."

"Okay, great. Do not try to move her unless absolutely necessary. Please make sure she keeps breathing, slow and deep," she instructed as Adriana let out another groan.

"Alright," I whispered more to myself than into the phone, placing it on speaker again as I turned my attention back to Adriana.

"Keep talking to her, keep her focused," the operator continued, her calm cutting through my mounting fear.

"Adriana, you're the strongest person I know," I told her, meaning every word. "Our little one is almost here."

"Tristan," she whispered, her grip on my hand tightening with each contraction, "stay with me."

"Always," I promised, my voice a thread of steel woven with velvet tenderness. "Always. Okay.”

I spoke into the receiver again. “Now what do I do?”

“Put me on speakerphone,” the operator said. “I need to talk to your wife.”

I did as instructed, placing the phone beside Adriana. I threaded my fingers through hers, keeping the contact our tether in the storm raging around us.

"Adriana," came the operator's voice, steady and calm, "I need you to do exactly as I say. Can you do that for me?"

Adriana nodded, her eyes glassy with exhaustion but unwavering in their determination. "Yes," she said, her voicebarely above a whisper, but laden with a strength that made me fall in love with her all over again.

"Good," said the operator, "now, I want you to take deep breaths when you can, and push when you feel a contraction coming on. Don't force anything.”

I squeezed Adriana's hand reassuringly as she let out a shaky exhale, bracing herself for the next surge of pain. I watched as her face twisted with the effort of it all—the tension etched deep into her features was an agonizing sight.

“I can’t, I can’t,” she said.

"You can, Ade. You're the strongest woman I know," I reminded her, my gaze never leaving hers. "You've got this. We've got this."

The contraction passed, and Adriana sagged against the pillows, exhausted.

“Okay,” I said. “Okay. You’re doing great. What do you need me to do, uh…”

The operator had told me her name, but I’d already forgotten it.

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