Page 68 of Be My Baby

“Heck, Darb!” She glanced at her watch. “That wasn’t even three minutes!”

Darby’s face paled and Millie leaned forward to grip her hand. “Millie…”

Millie sent her what she hoped was a calm, comforting smile, because she felt anythingbutcalm. If she was completely honest, she was scared stiff.

“It’s okay. It’s just happening faster than we expected. All those pains you were having must’ve been the real thing, after all.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” Darby ground out.

Millie laughed self-consciously. She shook her head. “Sorry.”

Darby squeezed her hand in apology. “I need you to call Ryan.”

Millie waved her phone in the air as they rounded the corner of the road the hospital was on. “Already done. They’re on their way.”

Darby nodded and her face scrunched up in pain. She let out a keening moan. Millie checked the time again.

Less than two minutes.

Shit.

Finn glanced at her and she mouthedhurry. He nodded and focused on the road ahead, speeding up slightly.

Finn pulled the car up in a spray of gravel in front of the wide doors that opened onto the maternity ward and birthing rooms. He sprinted around to Darby’s side of the car, where she struggled to open the door. He yanked it open and helped her out, Millie fast on their heels.

Darby’s knees gave way as she shuffled toward the doors and Finn swore as he lowered her to the soft grass in front of the gardens that lay beneath the huge corridor windows. Millie gasped and cried out, grabbing at Darby as well. She kneeled beside her.

“I can’t get up!” Darby cried out, obviously shaken. “My legs…”

Millie and Finn both stared at her legs, sticking out at awkward angles from beneath her dress. They trembled and shook.

Finn leaned down and made Darby look at him. “Deep breath, Darby. Come on.” She stared at him and did as he asked. “Again.” She nodded and breathed deeply, her face lined in pain. “I’ll carry you, okay? We’ve got this.”

He glanced at Millie. “Go get the nurse. I’ll follow you in.”

“I thought first births were supposed to take forever?” Darby moaned. “You know, labour for days, and all that?”

Millie nodded and pushed to her feet, only to spin back around at the horrible cry of pain that left Darby’s lips. She stood rooted to the spot, staring at Darby’s terrified face.

“I have to push!”

“Hold on, Darb!” Finn shoved his arms beneath and around her and readied to lift.

“No!” She let out a horrible noise.

Millie dropped to her knees. “I’m sorry, Darby, but I have to look. You can’t be giving birth with your knickers on.”

Tears streaked Darby’s face as she nodded. Millie spoke without looking up as she focused on Darby. “Get behind her, Finn. Support her back and shoulders. Brace her.”

She noted he did as instructed while Millie removed Darby’s knickers. Her eyes widened.

“Oh shit.”

“What?” Darby and Finn asked simultaneously.

Millie looked up. “I can see the head.”

Darby reached up and Finn grabbed her hand. His face contorted as another contraction hit Darby hard, his hand scrunched within her death grip. He didn’t try to extricate his hand, knowing just how much Darby needed him.

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