Page 125 of My Knotty Mountain Men

“Letty, focus.” Jenna gets my attention again. “How long have the Braxton Hicks lasted for when it hits you.”

“I don’t know. Like a minute for so.”

Jenna whispers something to Jenny, the two of them are talking low enough that I can’t hear them. Worry spikes through me. “What's going on? Why are you talking so I can’t hear you?”

Jenna’s face pops back into view. “Babe, I don’t think what you’re experiencing is Braxton Hicks anymore.”

“What do you mean?” my voice comes out panicked.

“Letty, where are the guys?” Jenny asks.

My breathing starts to pick up. “Aiden and Thomas are at work. Nolan is out back doing some yard work. Why? What's going on? I’m freaking out now!” I grunt, struggling to sit up.

“Don’t panic. Just breathe,” Jenny coaches.

“Breathe for what?” I shout at the phone when I’m finally in a sitting position. I’m panting like crazy as if I just bench-pressed a truck. Sad that I’m breaking out in a sweat from just sitting up.

“Braxton Hicks are meant to be very uncomfortable but bearable. They’re not supposed to be painful. And with how frequently you’ve been getting them, I think this is the real deal, babe,” Jenna answers me.

My eyes widen, and fear rushes over me. “No.” I shake my head. “No, I’m not ready. I know I said I wanted her out. But fuck that. No.” I shake my head.

“It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think you at least need to go in just to be safe. Because if this is the real thing, that would mean you’ve been in labor forhours now, and you don’t know how dilated you are. The baby could come any moment.”

“Why would you say that?!” I start to cry.Yup, I’m on the verge of a panic attack. “You're telling me I’ve been in labor all day, at home when I should have been in a hospital?”

“Actually, a lot of hospitals send laboring women home if they’re not anywhere near dilated enough and their contractions are far apart.”

Another blinding pain shoots through my stomach, and I cry out. “Ooooooohhh!” I sob. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“That wasn’t even ten minutes,” I hear Jenny’s frantic voice.

“You're not helping.” I’m crying now.

The girls talk me through it, but all I want is my pack. I need my pack. I can’t do it without them.

“I’m okay.” I suck in a few breaths. “It’s passed.”

“Okay. This is what I want you to do. Letty, are you listening to me?” Jenny asks.

“Yes.” I nod.

“Hang up with us and call Nolan, get him in here. Have him bring you to the hospital and call the others to meet you there. Then I want him to update us, okay?”

Just as I’m about to answer, there's a pounding on the door. “What the hell?”

“What's that?” Jenna asks.

“Someone’s at the door.” I think for a moment, wondering who it could be. Then I remember that Tessa was going to stop by with some old baby clothes. “I think it’s Aiden’s sister.”

“Good. Good. Have her go get Nolan. Keep us on the phone until after you answer the door, okay?”

“Yeah. okay.” I place the phone on the back of the couch and, with all my strength, manage to get to my feet. “Fucking hell, this walking bullshit sucks,” I mutter as I waddle my ass towards the door.

The knocking on the door starts again. “I’m coming!” I shout. “Hold on.” It feels like I’ve ran a marathon by the time I reach the door. “You know, you can just come in. You don’t have to–” I start but snap my mouth shut when I see that it’s not Tessa on the other side of the door. Nope. It’s literally my worst nightmare.

“What are you doing here?” I growl. Of all the times for this bitch to show up on my doorstep, now is not the time. I’m in pain, I’m pissed off, and I’m not gonna hold back this time.

“You!” Sylvia spits, stepping forward, taking me by surprise and forcing me to step back. “I’ve had enough of you.”

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